Author: Craig

The Expendables Comic

Craig / / 2010, Expendables

If you can’t wait for The Expendables to premiere in theaters later this year, then perhaps an Expendables comic prequel will help hold you over.  CBR.com has an interview with Chuck Dixon, the writer of the project.  Here’s a bit of what Dixon had to say:

“This is a movie that Sylvester Stallone has been trying to get together for years; an action movie packed with as many well-known action stars as possible…

“Sly’s not re-inventing the wheel here. He’s just built a really bad-ass, killer wheel of awesomeness…

“My job is to tell a story that takes place before the events of the movie without revealing anything that’s to come in the movie’s story…

To read the full interview as well as see some preliminary art for the comic, simply click here.

Dave Wachter’s Rocky

Craig / / 2010, Craig's Sly Art, Rocky

It couldn’t be more appropriate [since there were several pieces about Rocky and the Oscars in this week’s update] that we have Rocky by Dave Wachter for this week’s Stallone art.  Dave’s work has appeared on the SZ before with his riff on Sly from Paradise Alley.

After the recent earthquake in Haiti, Dave offered everyone who made a donation to Doctors Without Borders to aide earthquake victims in Haiti a free sketch.  The piece about is what I got for my donation.  You can see what others selected, and more of Dave’s art by heading over to his website.

Thanks to Dave for my great sketch as well as his efforts to help the people in Haiti.

Sly’s Empire Interview

Craig / / 2010, Expendables

SZoner, Bill Pruitt checked in with scans of Sly’s interview from the April 2010 issue of Empire magazine.

Hi Craig,
I posted the scanned article on the forum because I bought it and I know people were antsy to read it.  In case you wanted to still add it for a weekly update…
Bill
So thanks to Bill, we can see the interview:  Page 1….. Page 2 ….. Page 3 ….. Page 4
Check out Bill’s site where you’ll find some amazing art by a long time SZoner!

Sly & Movie Star Syndrome

Craig / / 2010

On March 7, 2010, MusicRooms.net posted a piece on Sly called Sylvester Stallone Blames His Career Nosedive on ‘Movie Star Syndrome.'” The piece quotes from an article about Sly that appeared in Empire magazine.  Here’s a taste:

“I think the thing that got into me was Movie Star Syndrome, which is being incredibly pampered… Well, I’ve been on both sides of the fence and the softer you are, the worse you are as an actor…”

“I went into Rocky Balboa as my final film… The greatest privilege is to go out on your own terms, and that’s what I wanted with Rocky. Little did I know that afterwards it would be, ‘Hey, wanna make another Rambo?’ ”

To read the full piece, click here.

“Rocky” #1 Most Inspirational

Craig / / 2010, Honors, Rocky

On March 7, 2010, Ron Kantowski of the Las Vegas Review-Journal posted his choice for The Top 10 Inspirational Movies.  Coming in at #1, you guessed it, Rocky.

NO. 1: “ROCKY” (1976) — In the immortal words of Rocky Balboa, this Academy Award winner for best picture “fills gaps” in the pantheon of exemplary sports movies and became the model upon which all inspirational imitators are based. Yo, Adrian: When they cue that powerful “Rocky” music, you’re gonna eat lightning and … well, you remember what his trainer, Mickey, said.

Rocky’s City Packs a Punch

Craig / / 2010, Honors, Rocky

On March 7, 2010, NewsOfTheWorld.co.uk wrote an nice profile piece on the city of Philadelphia.  The article says that although the Declaration of Independence was written in Philadelphia, as was the U.S. Constitution, and Philadelphia was the home of Benjamin Franklin and has of one of America’s largest museums of art, it is Rocky that made the city famous.

It’s hard to argue with the facts.  To read the complete article “Rocky’s City Really Packs a Punch” click here.

“Rocky” Honored Once Again

Craig / / 2010, Honors, Rocky

MarketWatch.com listed 10 Oscar Movies You Must Have in Your DVD Collection.  Rocky made the list at #6 and here is what they had to say:

“Rocky” is the only film to make both Hunt’s and Galbraith’s 10-best lists. “It’s just a very human story,” Hunt said. “It proves that you can tell a really great story about a guy who just wants to go 10 rounds with the champ.”

“It’s funny to think about it now, but back in 1976 when this was first released serious film critics regarded Sylvester Stallone’s performance to be on a level with Marlon Brando at his peak, from the time of ‘On the Waterfront’ and ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,'” Galbraith said.

You can read the full article here.

“Rocky” Honored Again & Again

Craig / / 2010, Honors, Rocky

Stephen Ripley yesterday in the Chatham Daily News noted that…

in 81 years only 10 sports-themed films (12 if you consider horse racing and billiards to be sports) have been nominated for best picture…

Mr. Ripley went on to rate them and Rocky came in at #2.  Here’s what he had to say:

2. Rocky (1976)

After five sequels, it’s easy to forget what a great film the original Rocky was when it hit theatres in 1976. The tale of a journeyman boxer who makes the most of his shot at the title was written by struggling actor Sylvester Stallone, who also starred in the title role. The film received 10 noms, earning the judges’ decision for best picture, best director and best editing.

The Patriot-Ledger also posted their own Oscar & Sports Article. Rocky , Sly, Talia Shire, and Burgess Meredith all got nods…

  • Best film –The nominees are A League of Their Own, Brian’s Song, Chariots of Fire, Fever Pitch, Hoosiers, Million Dollar Baby, Raging Bull, Remember the Titans, Rocky, and The Natural.    The winner: Fever Pitch…  [He’s a Red Sox fan, what can I say?]

  • Best actor in a leading role – The nominees are Kevin Costner (Bull Durham), Robert DeNiro (Raging Bull), Robert Redford (The Natural), Sylvester Stallone (Rocky), and Denzel Washington (Remember the Titans).  The winner: Robert DeNiro…
  • Best actress in a leading role – The nominees are Kim Basinger (The Natural), Geena Davis (A League of Their Own), Amy Madigan (Field of Dreams), Susan Sarandon (Bull Durham), and Talia Shire (Rocky).  The winner: Kim Basinger…
  • Best supporting actor – The nominees are Burgess Meredith (Rocky), Bill Murray (Caddyshack), Joe Pesci (Raging Bull), Tim Robbins (Bull Durham), and Wesley Snipes (Major League). The winner: Burgess Meredith. His portrayal of the crusty trainer, Mick, is rivaled only by his riveting performance as The Penguin.

“The Expendables” Was a Tough Shoot

Craig / / 2010, Expendables

On March 5, 2010, Stuff.co.nz posted a piece titled, “Sylvester Stallone Feels the Strain.” Sly is quoted about how rough The Expendables shoot was…

“I’ve never been so happy to wrap a film in my life,” he told Empire magazine. “I swear, if you took all the Rambos together, it wouldn’t equal four weeks of that shoot. It was unbelievable. Everything was difficult.

“I’ve just had my throat operated on. I had to have my neck fused. There are three screws in my spinal cord – I had to have a cadaver bone put in my neck! I had my leg operated on too. I had my whole calf pulled up. That was brutal. That hurt. And I need both rotator cuffs done in three weeks. It’s a b***h.”

The article also runs one of the x-ray photos that Sly sent to the StalloneZone.  To check out the full article, simply click here.