Formal Film Study Project

         For my formal film studies project, I watched three boxing movies.  I watched Cinderella Man, Rocky, and Raging Bull.  These films mainly had a lot in common, but there were a few differences I noticed with the themes.  I thought as far as plot went that Rocky, and Cinderella Man had the most in common.  The reason being is because James Braddock, and Rocky Balboa both seemed to be hometown favorites, and underdogs.  They were fighting for not just themselves but in James Braddock's case, his family and country.  As Rocky was fighting for his girlfriend and hometown.  Meanwhile Jake Lamotta, who is the man character in Raging Bull, seems to be a big time boxer, who causes most of his problems on himself.
             James Braddock's adversity throughout the movie was not caused by himself, it was caused by the American economy.  Rocky's problems are tough read how they were inflicted.  Part of me feels he is a little slow mentally, but I also feel that he chose bad paths as they show in many scenes he plays the role of a bounty for one of his bosses.  He also didn't seem like he chose good friends, such as Adrian's brother, who was a bad influence on him.  Meanwhile, in Raging Bull I felt that most of Jake's problems where self inflicted.  He was involved deeply with the mob, and cheated on his wife in many occasions.
           All three movies did have a women present as one of the main characters.  Rocky had his girlfriend, Adrian, who was his only real family throughout the film.  James had a wife who he was fighting for, along with 3 kids.  Family was present the most throughout Cinderella Man, as James Braddock had to fight for his family and his lively hood.  And Jake had many wives in which he was never really concerned about.
         The main difference between Raging Bull, and Cinderella Man and Rocky was the ending.  In Rocky and Cinderella man, both men came from almost nothing to achieving there goals.  James Braddock's story was about how he rose then fell horribly, and then rose again.  As for Jake's story, it was how he rose then fell horribly, which turns the film into somewhat of a tragedy.
                                                                                  All three of these boxing films are very well respected and are a top of the boxing movies.  These movies have taught our society.  They have showed us that no man is perfect, and people make mistakes.  But there are always opportunities to fight and keep fighting after mistakes and adversity has been present.