Rocky IV – Training Montage
Scene Interpretation
First Viewing: What I noticed immediately is the immediate cuts to crucial but similar moments in his different training exercises. This makes me feel like I’m actively training with Rocky just as a viewer with the illusion of time passing by even though there’s cuts through time. The different angles makes me see the struggle Rocky has from angles above him showing the physical strain, to close ups which emphasizes what Rocky is feeling at the moment, to even angles below showing the rise of Rocky after finishing. The lighting of some scenes describe how much time goes by and shows how harsh the environments are to express the dedication Rocky gives to become a great boxer.
Second Viewing: Focusing on the audio, the most striking impact of the audio is the inspirational, rhythmic music. Without looking at the scenes, the pacing of the music makes me feel intensity the scene builds and dips with synchronization with where the peaks and falls of the training in progress. I noticed that the sound effects such as boxing glove thuds, heavy breathing, metal clanking shows me these aren’t just background noises; but they are intentional layers to emphasize Rocky’s physical exhaustion. The silence or quiet moments in the music acts as a breath or pause before the music strikes again, which creates anticipation for the next stage of his training.
Third Viewing: Watching the scene as a whole paints a clear whole picture on how the editing rhythm is blended to the tempo of the music. When the camera cuts to a close-up moment, it aligns with a specific beat or sound effect within the score, creating an intense experience. The most surprising aspect of the third viewing is how the camera angles helps me feel even more impacted when the music swells. It’s not only a visual choice, but a sensory experience that makes Rocky’s rise seem inevitable.
Reflection
This three-stage viewing process made me interpret the training montage in a different point of view besides making Rocky an Icon. By isolating the visuals, I noticed the deliberate use of framing to establish Rocky’s struggle. By isolating the audio, I heard the precision in the score that dictates the emotional intensity of the training. Basing off of Ebert’s ideas, it’s clear that the montage is not only a well blended collection of shots, but a carefully constructed sequence in hearing. The use of low-angle shots reinforces the power dynamic from the viewer and the character, while the rhythm of the music guides my pulse throughout the scene. This experience has shown me that reading a movie is about recognizing that every cut, sound, and angle is a intentional design to guide the audience’s emotional response to the scene.
Leave a Reply