Sylvester Stallone Reflects On Rocky 3 With Heartfelt Instagram Post

Instagram/@officialslystallone

On a reminiscing evening last week, Stallone was highly affectionate with his reminiscences over the shooting of Rocky III. At seventy-seven years of age, the legendary actor considers it a “glorious moment” he will forever cherish. Coming at a time long before today, the 1982 underdog story still packs a terrific emotional blow.

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Stealing a few words from a thousand cries of boxing gloves, he went on: “I consider this has been said many times, but as time flies, the moment time went by, Rocky three was a glorious moment I like to share with all the loyal fans… Keep punching!”

Already, just a few hours into the markings, Worldwide Lemondrop was taking shape in the comments. “Share always because we love it,” said one commenter from Brazil, while another from Uruguay quoted, “Fans from Uruguay, Rocky 3!” It was just a huge moment to witness the international reach of Stallone’s greatest character, with comments coming in from Italy, Germany, and Turkey, to name a few. Then a truly serious, tongue-in-cheek Spanish-speaking person said, “Te amo más que a mi esposa Rocky, gracias por tus películas Sly,” which might raise some eyebrows back home but gives you very clear insight into just how deeply these characters are felt.

There were several revelations from the fan base that Rocky 3 marked their first exposure to the series. “Like many kids of my generation, it was Rocky 3 that started it all!” commented a user. “It was the first and favorite Rocky movie,” another said, “that I have seen more times than I could ever count.” Those training montages and that soundtrack by the Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger,” drifted deep inside these people’s souls forever. One in-the-know workout man-athlete even admitted to keeping that soundtrack in their gym playlist to this day.

“Rocky is my all-time favorite franchise,” declared one of the many passionate fans who intends to pass the tradition down to their offspring. Another one said, “This was the best time to be alive,” whereas yet another declared it to be life-changing. The Italians also went poetic with, “È stata una saga di film pazzesca,” or “It was an insane saga of films.”

Then came the ones who were run dry with memories. At least one hopeful contender threw in a plea: “make another rocky please,” accompanied by the emoji of hands in prayer. Stallone himself has stated on many occasions that the last time he portrayed the fighter was in 2006’s Rocky Balboa, counting out any Creed spin-offs. Yet, obviously, the need to know more regarding this world has only grown louder.

The most significant thing conveyed in these responses is that Rocky, more specifically Rocky 3, managed to transcend the whole sports movie thing. It became personal inspiration, a family tradition, and basically a life philosophy for many people. When Stallone signs off with “Keep punching!”, it is more than just a throwaway line from a screenplay. For millions all over the globe, they have lived it for over forty years.

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This clearly meant something rare to Hollywood: a Rockstar aging like fine wine rather than fading into nostalgia. Despite the underdog tales, the iconic soundtrack, or more soulful acting from Stallone himself, this one was going to feel different. And judging by the huge outpour of emotion coming from generations and lots of nations, that punch is still thrown hard.