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Rocky #2
Rocky II
Vintage movie tie-in paperback
- GenresFiction
180 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1979
About the author
Sylvester Stallone
39 books137 followersSylvester Gardenzio Stallone (July 6, 1946 - ) is an American actor, director, producer and screenwriter.
One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the '70s to the '90s, international megastar Sylvester Stallone is a global icon. He has played two characters who have become a part of the American cultural lexicon: Rocky Balboa, the boxer who overcame all odds to fight for love and glory, and John Rambo, a courageous soldier who specialized in violent rescue and revenge missions.
During the 1980s, he enjoyed phenomenal popularity and was one of the biggest movie stars in the world with the Rocky and Rambo franchises. Stallone's culturally influential films changed pop culture history and he has largely enjoyed a career on the Hollywood A list for over 30 years.
He is considered by many (including the mayor of Philadelphia) as the one who made the city of Philadelphia an international tourist attraction with the Rocky Steps. His immense popularity there has led to a statue of his Rocky character being placed permanently near the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a cultural landmark. In August 2007, a statue of Rocky was also erected in the Serbian village of Žitište. Stallone's film Rocky has also been inducted into the National Film Registry as well as having its film props placed in the Smithsonian Museum as a national treasure.
One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the '70s to the '90s, international megastar Sylvester Stallone is a global icon. He has played two characters who have become a part of the American cultural lexicon: Rocky Balboa, the boxer who overcame all odds to fight for love and glory, and John Rambo, a courageous soldier who specialized in violent rescue and revenge missions.
During the 1980s, he enjoyed phenomenal popularity and was one of the biggest movie stars in the world with the Rocky and Rambo franchises. Stallone's culturally influential films changed pop culture history and he has largely enjoyed a career on the Hollywood A list for over 30 years.
He is considered by many (including the mayor of Philadelphia) as the one who made the city of Philadelphia an international tourist attraction with the Rocky Steps. His immense popularity there has led to a statue of his Rocky character being placed permanently near the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a cultural landmark. In August 2007, a statue of Rocky was also erected in the Serbian village of Žitište. Stallone's film Rocky has also been inducted into the National Film Registry as well as having its film props placed in the Smithsonian Museum as a national treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 14, 2020
The desire for Apollo to draw First Blood
Rocky 2 always felt like a more downbeat film for me, and the novelization is no different. It’s told almost completely from Rocky’s point of view, in his “voice”, and since the author is credited as Stallone, this must have been quite easy to write, adapted from his screenplay. (I believe that the other novelizations have been written by Stallone too, despite the different author’s names on the covers.)
It’s a really introspective novelization, as you really get into Rocky’s head, during all the pain after the fight is over, his wonderment at Adrian and his frustration and exasperation as he tries to find another job apart from boxing. I thought I might struggle with the way it was told, as it was a departure from the first novelization, however this was not the case, as it was still as wonderfully descriptive seeing the world through Rocky’s battered and swollen eyes.
The one issue I had with the film, was the completely reversal in Apollo’a personality from the first to the second. I didn’t like his sheer nastiness towards Rocky. While this doesn’t come across as much in the novelization, as his scenes are limited, you do see Rocky’s almost pain, at seeing someone he thought of as a “friend”, treat him so. Especially when Apollo was against a rematch in the first place.
The other short portrayals that aren’t told from Rocky’s point of view, are mostly from his surrounding cast, mostly from Adrian and Paulie (who hilariously gets referred to as Pauline near the beginning of the book.)
Most of the book is kept pretty close to the film, apart from a couple of scenes that are changed around or where the dialogue is transplanted into different scenes. For example, they lose the house, after Rocky throws money at everything, whereas they never lost the house in the film. There’s also the “condominium” joke that was used in both the film and the novelization, that I needed explained to me. D’oh!
It is 180 pages so it is 42 pages longer than the first novelization but because of the way it is told, it reads a lot quicker than the first. The chapters are short and snappy, someone little more than 1-2 pages.
Although the way this novelization is told is a departure from the first, it’s still definitely worth getting if you enjoyed the first novelization, and the films too. Try and get it a reasonable price though - my copy is pretty well battered around the spine/edges and the edges of the pages are quite yellowed and I paid £7.95 for it! The price has significantly increased so you’re best to keep an eye on it and nab if you see a reasonable price.
Rocky 2 always felt like a more downbeat film for me, and the novelization is no different. It’s told almost completely from Rocky’s point of view, in his “voice”, and since the author is credited as Stallone, this must have been quite easy to write, adapted from his screenplay. (I believe that the other novelizations have been written by Stallone too, despite the different author’s names on the covers.)
It’s a really introspective novelization, as you really get into Rocky’s head, during all the pain after the fight is over, his wonderment at Adrian and his frustration and exasperation as he tries to find another job apart from boxing. I thought I might struggle with the way it was told, as it was a departure from the first novelization, however this was not the case, as it was still as wonderfully descriptive seeing the world through Rocky’s battered and swollen eyes.
The one issue I had with the film, was the completely reversal in Apollo’a personality from the first to the second. I didn’t like his sheer nastiness towards Rocky. While this doesn’t come across as much in the novelization, as his scenes are limited, you do see Rocky’s almost pain, at seeing someone he thought of as a “friend”, treat him so. Especially when Apollo was against a rematch in the first place.
The other short portrayals that aren’t told from Rocky’s point of view, are mostly from his surrounding cast, mostly from Adrian and Paulie (who hilariously gets referred to as Pauline near the beginning of the book.)
Most of the book is kept pretty close to the film, apart from a couple of scenes that are changed around or where the dialogue is transplanted into different scenes. For example, they lose the house, after Rocky throws money at everything, whereas they never lost the house in the film. There’s also the “condominium” joke that was used in both the film and the novelization, that I needed explained to me. D’oh!
It is 180 pages so it is 42 pages longer than the first novelization but because of the way it is told, it reads a lot quicker than the first. The chapters are short and snappy, someone little more than 1-2 pages.
Although the way this novelization is told is a departure from the first, it’s still definitely worth getting if you enjoyed the first novelization, and the films too. Try and get it a reasonable price though - my copy is pretty well battered around the spine/edges and the edges of the pages are quite yellowed and I paid £7.95 for it! The price has significantly increased so you’re best to keep an eye on it and nab if you see a reasonable price.
December 14, 2014
I give up. I bought this because someone online posted passages from the book. It looked amusing and actually well written in a hardboiled way. So I started reading it and at first, sure, wow. But the stupidity of it eventually got to me.
It's dumb. It is written dumbly. The attempt to write it in vernacular gets tiring.
"...I was headin' home, and I seen Adrian workin' in the Pet Shop..."
Stop it. Just stop. After chapters of this, you want to throw the book in the garbage. Even as a campy read of some trashy fun, it fails.
This is crap. Don't waste your time thinking you've found some kitsch oddity off the beaten path. This is just garbage.
It's dumb. It is written dumbly. The attempt to write it in vernacular gets tiring.
"...I was headin' home, and I seen Adrian workin' in the Pet Shop..."
Stop it. Just stop. After chapters of this, you want to throw the book in the garbage. Even as a campy read of some trashy fun, it fails.
This is crap. Don't waste your time thinking you've found some kitsch oddity off the beaten path. This is just garbage.
March 12, 2026
How Screenplay differs from Movie: Rocky II
-The end of the Rocky script had a different ending than the movie did. Rocky 2 screenplay starts with the Rocky movie ending and not screenplay ending. Very interesting!!!
-After Rocky is taken to the hospital and he is getting wheeled back to surgery, Adrian turns to Mickey and asks him, “Do you think he’ll fight again?” Mickey says “Not with that eye.” This was not in the movie, I feel it should have been to help solidify why Adrian was so against him fighting later on.
-When Adrian and Paulie leave the hospital to get a cab, Paulie asks her if she is going to marry him. She says yes, and he tells her that he has known Rock a long time and all he knows is fighting. Adrian says they will manage and she decides to stay at hospital. Again, a good scene not in the movie that helps set up who Rocky is as a person.
-In hospital, Rocky asks what room Apollo is in. (not in movie)
-After Rocky visits Apollo’s room he goes back to his room. In his room waiting is Adrian. She tells him she couldn’t find a cab. (not in movie)
-In screenplay Gazzo is visiting Rocky after visiting hours and asked what he is going to do next. This Is when Rocky asks if Gazzo will take Paulie on as a collector. In the movie, its Paulie visiting Rocky after hours, not Gazzo.
-In the movie, when Rocky is released from the hospital he takes Adrian to the Zoo. This is where he asks her to marry him. This is not in screenplay. Screenplay jumps right into the wedding. I like the Zoo scene only because its iconic how he asks her to marry him.
-Short scene where Apollo is at home in the middle of the night gets up and goes into the bathroom and is starring at a picture of Rocky. His wife comes in and they say nothing and she puts her arms around him. Don’t remember this scene. (will confirm)
-Rocky is at the mayor’s office and he receives a plaque for one of the finest moments in sports and a symbol of pride for Philadelphia. Then he goes to his former high school and is awarded an honorary diploma. (Not in movie)
-While Rocky is spending money, buying things, doing his commercials they keep going to Apollo training hard with a picture of Rocky always around. He is not saying a work, just training his butt off. (not in movie).
-When Rocky is buying jewelry, he buys Paulie a watch. He also buys Butkus, and himself, a spike collar. These were not in the screenplay.
-During the commercial scene when Rocky gets embarrassed and tells the director he is a rude guy, he then takes the after-shave lotion and pours it on the director’s head. I am glad this was not in movie. Screenplay Rocky is way angrier than movie Rocky.
-When Rocky is working on his reading with Adrian, they are sitting outside on the steps with Butkus. Adrian is fanning herself. In movie, he is reading to her in bed.
-In screenplay, when Rocky tells Adrian he got fired from his meat job, they are in a Lamaze class. He tells her he was thinking about fighting again. They kept talking during the class and it was disruptive to teacher and other students. That scene in the movie is in the basement of his house while he is hitting the heavy bag. Not sure which I like more. I like the idea of the Lamaze class because it makes it appear more like he has moved away from fighting.
-After Rocky gives Butkus a bath, he then takes him out for a walk. He continues to talk about life with Butkus. He lays on Butkus by the river. Then he takes him to the museum steps (Rocky Steps) and looks up at them.
-After Rocky and Adrian walk home from work (Gym and Pet Shop), there are tons of telegrams at the house from Apollo trying to get Rocky to fight. Rocky then answers someone at the door and gets served. The bank is taking the house. (Not in movie)
-Rocky and Adrian go to the bank and he tries to argue about getting an extension on his house payments. The banker is not budging and Rocky gets very frustrated and yells and banker and throws the letter at him. Angry Screenplay Rocky. (not in movie)
-After Adrian’s coma and Rocky is finally motivated, we have the training montage. The screenplay is very similar to the movie except after he finishes the run on the Rocky Steps with all the kids. He then runs over to Mickey’s gym and finds Chink, he is the fighter giving him crap all movie long. Rocky runs up to him and just lays him out with one punch. The gym cheers. Glad this was cut from movie. Kind of cheesy.
-After Rocky is rocking the baby to sleep, he goes to see Adrian in the bedroom. She has him close his eyes and gives him a gift. He opens to see boxing trunks and shoes with his black and yellow colors. He loves them and thanks her. I wish this was in the movie. It shows Adrian is truly ok with him fighting and is supporting him.
-When Rocky finally arrives at the fight (late), Apollo sees him in the tunnels and asks to talk with Rocky. Mickey objects, but Rocky does anyway. Apollo tells him that all the public stuff was just to draw Rocky out and for the public. Apollo really does respect Rocky as a fighter, but he is going to win and knock Rocky out. He hopes Rocky doesn’t get hurt in the process. Rocky tells Apollo he too hopes he doesn’t get hurt, but he also wants to win. I liked this scene and wish it was in the movie. It shows that Apollo does respect Rocky after that first fight.
-Apollo, before the fight, keeps telling Rocky “You in two!’ You are going down in 2 rounds. I liked that. I wish it was in the movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2021
Yes the writing is terrible but it's the feeling that the story conveys which is the main point here. With Rocky trying to adjust to a normal life without fighting, he knows deep down that he is and will always be a fighter and he has to return to the ring against Apollo. Always humble his mental drive and never give up attitude takes him to the top of the world.
August 17, 2009
Loved the movie, loved the book. Surprised Sly was the author.
July 8, 2016
The entire book is written in first person, from Rocky's perspective, using Rocky's terrible broken English.
It is the sort of horrific mistake, only an auteur could make.
It is the sort of horrific mistake, only an auteur could make.
April 27, 2023
I read this boxing story back in high school, not as required reading, but because I love the Rocky story. Stallone is a very good writer. As well as an actor.
May 14, 2026
9/10
Read
May 21, 2018My book is rocky II by sylvester stallone. The book is based in philadelphia and is about the fighter Rocky Balboa. I found this book because i thought it would have been interesting because it was a book about fighting.
The book is about his second fight with apollo creed. After the fist fight he had to go into surgery to fix something that would destroy his vision. He went into surgery and got the problem fixed and while apollo was recovering he challenged rocky to another fight because the last one wasn't good enough for the public saying it was luck that rock lasted that long. Adrian wasn’t okay with the fight being pregnant, and neither was micky his trainer. Adrian was confronted by her brother and fainted. She was sent to the hospital and went into labor. Being premature the baby was healthy. Rocky didn't leave her side, after she had the baby she went into a coma, he didn't leave her until she woke up. When she woke up she gave the okay for him to go with the fight. He trained with mickey and the fight came. He fought with his right hand, because he was a lefty, to protect his eye. He went through nine rounds they were both exhausted creed was leading in points. With little time left he switched back to his dominant hand and won the round with a knockout.
The book had a great ending. The book ended with his win against apollo. they were fighting because of the previous fight that they had that ended with a win with apollo but wasn't good enough for the public.
The book was great it was interesting all the way through it. The setting was good and the fight was interesting. I wanted to read it continuously until I finished. If you like the fighting type books you will most likely like this book. In it very interesting.
The book is about his second fight with apollo creed. After the fist fight he had to go into surgery to fix something that would destroy his vision. He went into surgery and got the problem fixed and while apollo was recovering he challenged rocky to another fight because the last one wasn't good enough for the public saying it was luck that rock lasted that long. Adrian wasn’t okay with the fight being pregnant, and neither was micky his trainer. Adrian was confronted by her brother and fainted. She was sent to the hospital and went into labor. Being premature the baby was healthy. Rocky didn't leave her side, after she had the baby she went into a coma, he didn't leave her until she woke up. When she woke up she gave the okay for him to go with the fight. He trained with mickey and the fight came. He fought with his right hand, because he was a lefty, to protect his eye. He went through nine rounds they were both exhausted creed was leading in points. With little time left he switched back to his dominant hand and won the round with a knockout.
The book had a great ending. The book ended with his win against apollo. they were fighting because of the previous fight that they had that ended with a win with apollo but wasn't good enough for the public.
The book was great it was interesting all the way through it. The setting was good and the fight was interesting. I wanted to read it continuously until I finished. If you like the fighting type books you will most likely like this book. In it very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews