Did you know that Sly donated Adrian’s headstone (used in filming Rocky Balboa) to the cemetery where the scenes were filmed? I didn’t. Did you know that the headstone is now a tourist attraction? Check out this article for all the details.
Category: Rocky Balboa
“Rocky” Rated Top Film Franchise
On June 22, 2010, We Are Movie Geeks.com posted their selections for the Top Ten Film Franchises. Back to the Future; Planet of the Apes; Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter; Rocky; Alien(s); Lord of the Rings; James Bond; The Godfather and Star Wars all made the list. Here’s some of what they had to say about the Rocky series:
…you cannot dismiss the genius of the character of Rocky Balboa.
Rocky was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Screenplay that Stallone wrote, and won 3, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Rocky stole the heart of America and reminded us why we should always root for the underdog.
Life Ain’t All Sunshine and Rainbows…
Recently the DVD rental firm Lovefilm put together a poll of the most motivating speeches given in movies. The top 10 choices, as selected by film fans have been sent to manager Fabio Capello to help motivate England’s world cup team. Rocky’s speech to his son from Rocky Balboa placed fifth on the list.
You can see the entire article here.
“Rocky Balboa” Honored Again
On April 7, 2010, FilmSchoolRejects.com selected Rocky Balboa for their Movies We Love column. Here’s a taste:
Of all the sequels in one of cinema’s most popular franchises this one feels most authentic and honest to the original, or at least the most connected since the third film. Not to diminish the entertainment value of the other installments (even the fifth…to a degree), Rocky Balboa is just more of a return to the emotional struggles of the character.
To read the entire piece, simply click here.
“Rocky Balboa” Honored Again
On April 2, 2010, ESPN’s Page 2, in anticipation of the Tiger Woods’ comeback to golf, posted their choices for the 50 Most Anticipated Comebacks. Coming in at #36 Rocky Balboa.
Many thought the 2006 installment of the Sylvester Stallone franchise would only exacerbate the awful taste left by “Rocky V.” Instead, it brought closure to the greatest sports movie franchise, with the title character doing what he does best — take a beating, sure, but lose standing up.
You can discover who else made the Top 50 by clicking here.
Tom Hodges’ Rambo
This week we have Sly as Rambo by Tom Hodges. I discovered Tom’s art through his DA site and then last August, Tom had a 24 Hour Draw-A-Thon live on UStream. I got on board and commissioned a sketch of Jack Carter and this Rambo. Tom still draws regularly on UStream and it’s always fun watching him go at it.
Andy Kuhn’s Rocky
I discovered Andy Kuhn’s art through his blog. This led me to his DA site. Andy has a unique style which I totally enjoy. I was lucky enough to meet and get the sketch above from Andy earlier this year. Although it was our first meeting and my first sketch from Andy, hopefully it won’t be my last!
Rambo Plot Change News Everywhere
Since we broke the story of Sly’s e-mail to the StalloneZone about changing the direction of the next “Rambo” movie and the potential for Hunter to be made, several sites picked up the story and ran with it:
- AICN: Stallone Says Rambo is No Longer Rambo vs that Horrible Monster Guy
- Movie Web: “Rambo V: A Savage Hunt Changes Direction”
- ScreenRant: “Is ‘Rambo 5’ Heading Back to Mexico?”
- Empire Movies: “Rambo V Changes Again”
- SlashFilm: Sylvester Stallone Updates on Rambo 5, Saves Monster Plot for Unrelated Film
- Icon vs Icon: Sylvester Stallone Issues ‘Rambo V’ Update
- WorstPreviews: Sylvester Stallone Changes “Rambo 5” Storyline
- Screencave: Rambo 5 Won’t Be Man vs Beast
- Coming Soon: Rambo V Changes Direction
- JoBlo.com: Rambo 5 Update
- Greek Tyrant: Change in Direction of Rambo 5
- IndieMoviesOnLine: John Rambo No Longer Has Monster Problem
- The Press Association: Stallone Ditches Sci-Fi Plans
- CinemaBlend: Stallone Flips the Script on Rambo 5
- Hollywood.com: Is John Rambo Heading to Juarez?
- Collider.com: Rambo V Goes Hunting in a New Direction…
- Digital Spy: Stallone’s “Rambo 5” Loses Sci-Fi Twist
- CinemaSpy: So Just What Will Stallone’s ‘Rambo 5’ Be About?
- MTV Movies Blog: “Rambo” Folow-Up Changes Direction…
Rambo Changes Course
Hey SZoners – I just received an e-mail from Sly for all SZoners:
From Sly
Hi Craig,
This is from Sly to your followers:
To all the loyal SZoners out there,
I’m letting you know that Rambo has changed course and the story about hunting the man/beast will be done using another character in the lead. RAMBO himself will be heading over the border to a violent city where many young women have vanished .
There will be blood.
Best,
Sly Stallone
This is great news since it means that we should get two Stallone movies – a new “Rambo” [back to the concept everyone seemed to dig] and what sounds like “Hunter” based on the novel written specifically for Sly by James Byron Huggins. It’s no secret that I and many SZoners have been hoping that Sly would adapt the novel for the big screen. – Craig
“Rambo: The Savage Hunt”
On November 4, 2009, Clint Morris did a report on the American Film Market for Moviehole.com. At this event companies try to get distribution deals for their films. One of the films marketed was “Rambo V: The Savage Hunt”. Here’s what was said:
Rambo 5 – Nu Image/Millennium Films will be selling shares in the latest bullet-in-the-abdomen commercial. The flyer says the Sylvester Stallone is now in pre-production, which means it’ll be the big guy’s next film. I’m assuming Lionsgate have the U.S rights in the bag – since they released “Rambo” – but I’m not certain. Either way, if you represent a Croatian distributor, and know there’s an audience out there who’d kill to see another protein shake advert headlined by a 65-year-old mass of mutton, then pull up a seat…. Avi Lerner has a number he wants to show you.
One suggestion, I would change the title to simply “Rambo: The Savage Hunt”.
++++++++++
On November 6, 2009, Movieline.com posted an article by Mark Lisanti about the American Film Market and “Ten Modestly Budgeted Mindblowing Films to Watch”. “Rambo V: The Savage Hunt” was listed first under the subheading :“The Big One”. Here’s what was said:
2008’s surprisingly excellent Rambo (and by “surprisingly excellent,” we mean “so incredibly ultramegaviolent that the entire theater whooped with delight each time an evil Burmese soldier was sheared in half by machine-gun fire”) left many unanswered questions: How will our mom-jeans-wearing hero readjust to life in an ass-hugging, boot-cut world? Can Stallone improve upon his frenetic 2.59 kills-per-minutes pace? Will a back-to-basics Rambo abandon high-powered weaponry in favor of eviscerating each foe with his bare hands, jamming his meaty, battle-hardened paws into the soft bellies of his enemies and withdrawing steaming handfuls of wriggling, soupy guts? We may finally get those answers, and sooner rather than later. (More on the actual plot here, for those who aren’t content to let their imaginations run wild.)