Category: 2009

Matthew Warlick’s Jack Carter

Craig / / 2009, Craig's Sly Art, Get Carter

Matthew Warlick is a studio mate of my buddy Evan Bryce.  Matthew is also freelance illustrator, art director and comic book artist based in Dallas, Texas.    Matthew contacted me to say that he’d been talking to Evan and wanted to work up a Stallone sketch for the SZ.  We exchanged a couple of e-mails and soon enough, Matthew sent in his very, very cool take on Jack Carter. 

How could it get any better than that, you ask?  And I’m glad you did because Matthew created a video of himself inking the piece.  I love the art and the video is the icing on the cake.  You can check it out here.  You can also see more of Matthew’s art at his website and artblog.

BIG THANKS to Matthew for sharing his talents and to Evan for talking up the SZ.  Hopefully we’ll see more from Matthew in the future!

“Cliffhanger 2” Speculation

Craig / / 2009, Cliffhanger

Will Sly return to the role of Gabe Walker for “Cliffhanger 2”? There’s renewed speculation that it could become a reality. Alex Billington of FirstShowing.net attended a screening of the 1987 cult classic “Monster Squad” and in attendance were the film’s writer, Shane Black and director, Fred Dekker. During the Q&A session, Dekker said he was currently working on the screenplay to “Cliffhanger 2”.  Unfortunately, Dekker didn’t elaborate on the screenplay, so we don’t know much else.  

“Cliffhanger 2” could be written as a starring vehicle for Sly, it could be written as a reboot with a cameo by Stallone, or even with totally new characters.   One of the things that was shocking about the original was that it opened with a failed rescue and what could have been a major character died.  They wouldn’t kill off Gabe in the opening would they?  Of couse, that, like most everything else in FirstShowing.net’s post and SlashFilm.com’s follow up is pure speculation.

Chris Moreno’s “Cop Land”

Craig / / 2009, Cop Land, Craig's Sly Art

Chris Moreno worked up this very nice color take on Sly from “Cop Land” for me at a convention last year.  My buddy picked it up when I had to leave the show early and I didn’t end up getting it in my possession until just recently.  Man, I really like Chris’ art and my piece is an excellent example of “why.”  He’s a talented artist with a huge sense of humor.  What a great combination!  You can check out more of Chris’ art here.

More “Expendables” Coverage

Craig / / 2009, Expendables

Ethelmae’s Blog posted some cool shots from the set of “The Expendables” last week and they are being reposted at:

The Den of Geek who are following the movie in detail!

The Insider.com got in on the action.

So did Celebuzz.

The LatinoReview also wanted in on the coverage.

RopeofSilicon.com added the new photos to their continuing “Expendables’ coverage.

EmpireOnLine.com showed “The Expendables” some love.

AceShowBiz.com, Screencave.com, and FirstShowing.net all followed suit.

TheSun.co.uk provided some coverage.

“Rocky” All Time Favorite Again

Craig / / 2009, Honors, Rocky

On July 26, 2009, Nathan Dominitz of Savanah Now.com posted his All Time Top Ten Favorite Sports Movies.  “Rocky” came in 3rd and here’s what he had to say:

3. Rocky (1976)

Hero: Boxer Robert “Rocky” Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)

Plot: Balboa, a palooka fighter/inept loanshark muscle, has few career options until heavyweight champ Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) needs a hand-picked tomato can for a Philadelphia bout. Enter the Italian Stallion to prove that underdogs, through earnest training and guts, can go toe-to-toe with superior talent, speed, experience and size. It’s often forgotten by politicians and the like adopting the underdog “Rocky” persona that he lost (by 15-round split decision) in the original. Oscars went to “Rocky” in 1977 for best picture and director.

Quotable: “Yo, Adrian!” “Cut me, Mick.” Anything uttered by Balboa’s crusty trainer, Mickey Goldmill.

Backstory: The story goes that Stallone, a broke actor/screenwriter, sold his screenplay for $350,000, contingent that he star as Balboa. He did, but made scale as the lead actor and nothing more for writing. Studio United Artists wanted a big name (Burt Reynolds? Robert Redford?) but was contractually stuck with Stallone. The rest, including numerous sequels, is cinematic history.

You can read the complete list by clicking here.