More from Thanksgiving 2015.
Nico, Naoko, the kids and I went to see CREED on Thanksgiving. I confess it as loudly as possible. I LOVE Sylvester Stallone. I love what he shares of himself and what he tries to package as a lasting message. I grew up watching ROCKY and admiring Sylvester Stallone. I often share his messages with my kids. In fact… Here’s the SYNC with ROCKY and a small film clip to share.
Thanksgiving 1976. (Time of the 333 Prayer on the Bridge.) ROCKY! I loved it. Saw it many many Times. Loved Bill Conti’s Music. Loved Sly.
Approaching Christmas 2006. ROCKY BALBOA. We were in Connecticut for my Mom’s funeral. All the kids from mine and my Brothers' families went to see it. When that light bulb needed replacing, I leaned over and told Nick, “Watch, in some later scene he’s gonna come back with a light bulb. No show… just a bulb.” How did I know? Because that’s just what my Grandfather would have done, just what my Mom would have done. Missed “Midwest” that year and then lost my taste for it. It was a Time for my Mom and Christmas.
Thanksgiving 2015: CREED. There are so many SYNCS in this film I can’t list them. I mean that there are SYNCS that seem planted there just for my family. LOVED CREED. Love Sylvester Stallone. Here’s what I want to share:
Together in Connecticut for my Mom’s funeral in 2006, we took the kids to see Rocky Balboa (6). This is one of my favorite dialogues. I was reminded of it tonight watching CREED, which has its own timely messages.
Right after the Rocky scene… you’ll also find one of my all time favorite dialogues from Superman. Enjoy.
Rocky Balboa: You ain't gonna believe this, but you used to fit right here.
[taps on the inside of his hand]
Rocky Balboa: I'd hold you up to say to your mother, "this kid's gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid's gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew." And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilege. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good. And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow. Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life. Don't forget to visit your mother.
Dialogue starts at around 2:00
SUPERMAN
JONATHAN KENT, much older now, stands with stooped shoulders, a scythe in one hand. He looks care-worn, but deeply concerned as CLARK joins him in the yard.
CLARK
I don't mean...to show off, Dad.
It's just that...
JONATHAN
(total understanding)
You got all these amazin' things you can do
and sometimes you think you'll go bust if
you don't let other people know ..
CLARK
(misty-eyed frustration)
I could score a touchdown every time I had
the ball. Every time, Dad. Is it showing off
for a person to do what he's capable of? Is
a bird Showing off when it flies?
(no reply)
I'm sorry, Dad. I know I made a promise,
but I just don't think I can handle it anymore.
CLARK turns away. JONATHAN watches with compassion.
JONATHAN
Look, son. You've been nothin' but a blessing to your mother and me. In the beginning - when you first
came -we thought they'd take you away from us if
people found out about. . . the things you could do.
But a man thinks different as he gets older, 'thinks...
better. Wiser. Starts to see things clear. And I
know now that as sure as we're gonna see the moon
tonight there's a reason why you're here. Don't ask me
what reason, don't ask me whose reason.
But whoever, and whatever, there's one thing I do know...
(soft smile)
It ain't to score touchdowns.