SZoner, Rob Hoskins sent in a copy of a vintage Sylvester Stallone newsletter from the 80’s. Click here to see a larger version.
Category: Rambo 2
David Morrell and Rambo
One of the best things about creating and running the StalloneZone is the people I “meet” because of it. This week I received an e-mail from one of my all-time favorite authors, David Morrell. Mr. Morrell is probably best known to fans here for creating Rambo in his novel First Blood. [Mr. Morrell has written over 30 books in a wide range of genres and all are excellent.]
Mr. Morrell wants Stallone fans to know that his newly designed website has a Rambo page and that he recently finished up revisions of his novelizations of Rambo, First Blood Part II and Rambo III [both of which will contain lengthy introductions].
Check out Mr. Morrell’s site and if your interested in some of his other novels, pick any of them because you can not go wrong!
Rambo: First Blood, Part II Story Notes
AMC recently posted trivia about Rambo: First Blood, Part II which is part of a series called Story Notes.
Rambo DVD Collectors Set
SZoner, Gerardo Moreno sent in the photo above and this link for folks wanting more information.
Top Five Stallone Eighties Movies
AMC recently posted their choices for the Top Five Stallone Eighties Movies. Here’s a taste of the piece:
1. Rocky III (1982)
The third movie in the saga changes the pace, and Sly deftly walks a fine line between the Oscar-worthy drama of the movie’s predecessors and straight-up action… Rocky III is bigger, better, and more exciting than any sports movie that came before (or after)…
2. Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
… one of the greatest action flicks of all time.
3. First Blood (1982)
…First Blood has a realism that is lacking from many eighties action movies…
4. Cobra (1986)
… Cobra is like Dirty Harry after five shots, three Red Bulls, and a trip to a military arsenal.
5. Rocky IV (1985)
The Rocky formula is taken to a whole new level with better training scenes and musical montages, bigger opponents (the truly monstrous Russian, Ivan Drago, played by Dolph Lundgren), and Cold War themes…
You can read the whole article here.
Why Rambo Matters
On June 2, 2010, Winona 360 posted a piece titled, “Why Rambo Matters’ written by Nathan Wardinski. Here are a few excerpts from the well written article:
First Blood Part II didn’t win any Academy Awards; the Best Picture Oscar for films of 1985 went to Out of Africa. But First Blood Part II did take Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Picture, Actor, and Screenplay. With the amount of effort and emphasis placed on the Hollywood awards circuit, we would expect the Oscar winner to be enshrined in cultural immortality and the Razzie “winner” to sink into obscurity. But, 25 years later, nothing could be further from the truth.
Is First Blood Part II a good movie? Perhaps, in its own way it is. But that’s really beside the point, which is that First Blood Part II is an important movie. I would go so far as to argue it is among the most important movies of the last 25 years.
First Blood Part II stands out in several ways, not the least of which is its impact on filmmaking itself… Later action films like Die Hard, Bad Boys, Braveheart, Black Hawk Down and even Avatar owe their style in whole or in part to First Blood Part II.
Rambo #1 Again!
EmpireOnLine.com recently posted their list of The Top 25 Best One Man Armies in the Movies. Of course, Rambo came in at #1. Who could argue with that? The rest of the list can [and should] be debated. Isn’t that the purpose of lists? Here are my suggestions for the top ten:
- Rambo played by SYLVESTER STALLONE in FIRST BLOOD, RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD, PART II, RAMBO III, RAMBO
- Lee played by BRUCE LEE in ENTER THE DRAGON
- Bryan Mills played by LIAM NEESON in TAKEN
- Geno Felino played by STEVEN SEAGAL in OUT FOR JUSTICE
- Creasy played by DENZEL WASHINGTON in MAN ON FIRE
- Walker played by LEE MARVIN in POINT BLANK
- El Mariachi played by ANTONIO BANDERAS in DESPERADO, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO
- John Matrix played by ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER in COMMANDO
- Blade played by WESLEY SNIPES in BLADE, BLADE II, BLADE TRINITY
- John Preston played by CHRISTIAN BALE in EQUILIBRIUM
SZ Discount @ Hollywood Collectibles
Mark, from the Hollywood Collectibles Group recently dropped an e-mail to give SZoners an update on their Rambo II Sylvester Stallone Signature Knife. The museum quality replica knife was officially authorized by Sly, features an authentic reproduction of his signature, and is a strictly limited edition of just 10,000 individually numbered pieces worldwide. Mark also provided SZoners with the following 10% dicount code: R2SLY [all uppercase]. You can read more about the piece here.Thanks to Mark for the StalloneZone discount! – Craig
Rambo Collector’s Set Contest
On Tuesday, May 27th, for the first time, LIONSGATE will release all four Rambo films together in Rambo: The Complete Collector’s Set. To celebrate the release of these great action movies, LIONSGATE has provided me with three sets to award to three lucky winners.
Before we learn about how to enter the contest, let’s take a look at this 6-disc super set which comes in a limited edition metal tin and includes First Blood: Ultimate Edition, Rambo First Blood Part II: Ultimate Edition, Rambo III: Ultimate Edition and the latest installment, Rambo: 2-Disc Special Edition (which includes a digital copy of the film). Each film comes with bonus features (over 20 in all) plus the set includes a special bonus disc with 10 featurettes and the theatrical trailers for all four films.
First Blood: Ultimate Edition: DVD Special Features:
- Audio commentary with Sylvester Stallone
- Audio commentary with author David Morrell
- Alternate Ending
- Seven Interactive Military Special Operations Features
Rambo First Blood Part II: DVD Special Features:
- Audio commentary with director George P. Cosmatos
- Seven Interactive Military Special Operations Features
Rambo III: Ultimate Edition Synopsis: DVD Special Features:
- Audio commentary with director Peter MacDonald
- Deleted Scenes
- Seven Interactive Military Special Operations Features
Rambo: 2-Disc Special Edition Synopsis: Rambo Disc 1 DVD Special Features:
- Audio commentary by Sylvester Stallone
- Deleted Scenes
- “Legacy of Despair: The Struggle in Burma” featurette
- “It’s a Long Road: Resurrection of an Icon” featurette
- “A Score to Settle: The Music of Rambo” featurette
- “The Art of War: Completing Rambo” featurette
- “The Weaponry of Rambo” featurette
- “A Hero’s Welcome: Release & Reaction” featurette
Rambo Disc 2 DVD Special Features:
- Digital Copy of the feature film
BONUS FEATURES DISC
- “The Real Nam: Voices from Within” featurette
- “Guts and Glory” featurette
- “The Forging of Heroes: America’s Green Berets” featurette
- “Rambo-nomics” featurette
- “Selling a Hero” featurette
- “Suiting Up” featurette
- “An American Hero’s Journey: The Rambo Trilogy” featurette
- “Drawing First Blood” featurette
- “We Get to Win This Time” featurette
- “Afghanistan: Land in Crisis” featurette
- Plus – Theatrical Trailers for all 4 Films
Now on to the contest:
- Simply post which of the Rambo movies is your favorite and why.
- E-mail Craig at stallonezone.com with your name and mailing address. In the subject line put RAMBO CONTEST.
- The contest runs from today until 12pm EST May 31, 2008.
- I will then randomly draw three names and forward the winners information to LIONSGATE who will then send out the prizes.
- At the request of the LIONSGATE, only U.S. readers may enter.
- Winners will be announced on the next update following the conclusion of the contest.
- Only one entry per mailing address will be accepted.
- If you can not wait to win, then click HERE.
First Blood Exclusive
On May 15th at 7:30 p.m. at select theaters nationwide, Stallone fans will be able to see a special showing of “First Blood.” Then, following the film, the alternate ending (where Rambo dies) will be shown for the first time ever in theatres. Then to top off this one night event an exclusive, never-before-seen interview with Sylvester Stallone [who will discuss all of the Rambo films] will be screened. For full details, click HERE. – Craig