This week we have Sly from Cliffhanger as our POW [Picture of the Week]. Click on the photo to see a fullsize version. – Craig
Category: Cliffhanger
Mike Torrance Goes Out on a Cliff
Mike Torrance aka The Krayola Kidd is back and he’s brought Gabe Walker with him!
Over the coming weeks/months I’ll be posting more of Mike’s sketch card commissions. My goal is to eventually get a card for every character Sly has played. We’re well on our way!
You can see more of Mike’s art at his Deviant Art site. Mike is available for commissions and his prices are very reasonable.
How “Cliffhanger” and “First Blood” Were Affected by Test Screenings
On October 10, 2014, Den of Geek posted 51 Movies and How They Were Affected by Test Screenings. Two of Sly’s movies, Cliffhanger and First Blood made the list.
CLIFFHANGER
Interesting one, this. In the trailer for Renny Harlin’s 1993 hit Cliffhanger, Sylvester Stallone is seen jumping from one cliff to another. It’s a 40 foot leap, and when test audiences were presentated with this, they guffawed. The reason? They just didn’t buy it could be possible. As such, the jump was re-edited – ironically needing the help of some CG work – to make the jump appear shorter. Nobody guffawed. It made it to the film.
FIRST BLOOD
Another ending story this one, and in this case, Sylvester Stallone probably owes the test audiences of his first Rambo film a cut. In the original story, John Rambo perished at the hands of Trautman. This is also what happens in the novel upon which Rambo is based.
Yet the test audiences were not happy with this, and demanded that Rambo lived. Sylvester Stallone duly obliged, along came a new ending, and when Rambo went on to be a huge hit, the sequel – First Blood: Part II – followed shortly.
Now, Stallone is getting to work on Rambo 5. Every time he does a balance enquiry at his local brand of NatWest, he must do a silent grin to himself…
Sly’s Trio of Memorial Day Movies
On May 26, 2014, Flavorwire posted 30 Years of Memorial Day Movies, Ranked. Sly made the list three times…
25. Cobra (1986)
20. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
5. Cliffhanger (1993)
Michael Rooker: The Dangerous “Cliffhanger” Shoot
Stallone vs Schwarzenegger
On October 18, 2013, We Got This Covered posted: Arnold Schwarzenegger vs. Sylvester Stallone: 5 Of Their Best Movies.
Sylvester Stallone: The 10 Best Movies
Stallone Craves Pizza in ET Flashback
On May 29, 2013, ET posted Stallone Craves Pizza in ET Flashback.
Thanks to SZoner, Didier for the link. – Craig
Why Renny Harlin Tricked Sly
On February 21, 2013, Express posted, Renny Harlin Tricked Sylvester Stallone into Facing his Fear of Heights for Cliffhanger. Harlin explains how he worked to get Sly to overcome his fear of heights for scenes in Cliffhanger.
Sylvester Stallone: 5 Awesome Performances and 5 That Sucked.
On February 1, 2013, WhatCulture! posted Sylvester Stallone: 5 Awesome Performances and 5 That Sucked.
- According to WhatCulture! 5 that were Awesome: Rambo [First Blood and sequels], John Spartan [Demolition Man], Gabe Walker [Cliffhanger], Freddy Heflin [Cop Land], and Rocky Balboa [Rocky and sequels].
- Their Choices for Not-So-Awesome: Judge Dredd [same name], Ray Quick [The Specialist], Marion Cobretti [Cobra], Jack Carter [Get Carter], and Joe Bomoski [Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!].
To Awesome I would delete Spartan and Walker to make room for Jack Carter and Deke Dasilva [Nighthawks]. To Not-So-Awesome I would delete Carter and add Nick from Rhinestone. – Craig