Category: 2021

Sly Stallone Directed Films, Ranked

Craig / / 2021, Expendables, Paradise Alley, Rambo, Rocky Balboa, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Staying Alive

Jake Dee at ScreenRant looked at the IMDb to come up with Every Movie Sylvester Stallone Has Directed, Ranked.  I decided to compare the IMDb rankings with my own.  After the chart are my thoughts…

Jake Dee (ScreenRant)

Zablo

1. Rocky II

1. Rocky Balboa

2. Rocky Balboa

2. Rocky III

3. Rambo

3. Rambo

4. Rocky IV

4. Paradise Alley

5. Rocky III

5. The Expendables

6. The Expendables

6. Rocky II

7. Paradise Alley

7. Rocky IV

8. Staying Alive

8. Staying Alive

Dee and I agreed on two rankings: #3 – Rambo and #8 – Staying Alive.

I placed Rocky Balboa in the #1 spot for a few reasons. Sly did a wonderful job of capturing the feel of the first movie, but making sure that it also captured how things had changed with the passing of time. I also have a special place for Rocky Balboa because it was such a longshot to be made and it gave the series a wonderful bookend closing.

Rocky III made the #2 spot because Sly was able to take the classic Rocky format (from 1 and 2) and modernize it. It was a dangerous move (Rocky loses, Mickey dies, new music, fast pace, add pro-wrestling) but it worked.

Rambo is #3. Sly placed Rambo with a team and made the battle scenes more graphic. Many thought an older Rambo wouldn’t work, but Sly showed that it would not only work but be one of the best films in the Rambo series.

Paradise Alley comes in at #4. Paradise Alley doesn’t get enough love. Sly’s directorial debut and he chooses a period piece that walks the fine line between drama and comedy. I’m a huge Paradise Alley fan.

#5 is The Expendables. Don’t call it a comeback. What a cool idea. Sly brings together fan favorite action stars and he makes it work not only for this film, but also a new movie series.

Rocky 2 is #6. Sly taking over the directing chores from the man who won the Oscar for directing Rocky. It was a big step, but Sly didn’t falter. Rocky II is a worthy follow-up.

Rocky IV comes in at #7. I like the idea for Rocky IV but it falters just a bit with the Miami Vice quick-cut editing to music. I have grown to enjoy Rocky IV more over time and especially with the way it sets up Creed.

The final spot goes to Stayin’ Alive. I enjoyed this film, but one of Sly’s movies has to come in at #8. Taking on this movie was a huge challenge and props to Sly for stepping up.

“Rocky IV” by Carles Ganya

Craig / / 2021, Rocky IV, Sly Fan

Carles Ganya is the artist of the wonderful Rocky 4 poster above.  Ganya creates all of his pieces traditionally, using graphite pencils on wood!  He’s a big movie fan (especially the 70s and 80s), so if you click over to his Instagram you’ll see Ganya’s art for Terminator, Indiana Jones, Superman and many other classic film heroes.    Ganya’s art can also be found at his PosterSpy page.

Sly and the Family Stallone News for the Week

Craig / / 2021, Celebs, Expendables, Family, Frank Stallone, Paradise Alley, Rambo, Rocky, Rocky Balboa, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, Rocky VI, Staying Alive

Sly and the Family Stallone News for the Week:

Sly and the Family Stallone News for the Week

Craig / / 2021, Cobra, Creed, Creed II, Demolition Man, Family, First Blood, Frank Stallone, Judge Dredd, Rambo, Rambo 5, Rambo II, Rambo III, Rambo IV, Rambo: Last Blood, Rocky, Rocky Balboa, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V

Sly and the Family Stallone News for the Week:

The Rambo Franchise’s 5 Best Characters (& 5 Best Action Sequences) – & 1 Scene that Should Have Made the List!

Craig / / 2021, Rambo

Ben Sherlock at ScreenRant posted The Rambo Franchise’s 5 Best Characters (& 5 Best Action Sequences).  His list is a good one. Before you click over let me show you a clip of an action scene that I think should have been included in Sherlock’s list.  It is the scene with the river pirates from Rambo.

I love how the tension builds as Rambo and crew move past the pirates’ dock. Just when it looks like they may have escaped trouble, you hear the pirates’ boat start up. Then they are hit with an intensely bright spotlight and machine gun fire churns the water around them.  As Rambo tries to negotiate with the pirate leader, Rambo’s eyes move to each of the pirates to see what weapons they possess and their level of danger.  Rambo is already determining the order that he will have to take them out should it come to that… and it does.

Be aware before watching the video it contains some profanity and violence.

Sly and the Family Stallone News for the Week

Craig / / 2021, Celebs, First Blood, Hunter, Isobar, Rambo, Rambo 5, Rambo II, Rambo III, Rambo IV, Rambo: Last Blood, Rhinestone, Rocky V, The Train, Unmade Films

Sly and the Family Stallone News for the Week: