Sly Stallone’s battle with Apollo Creed in the first Rocky movie won second place in an online poll to determine America’s favorite Fourth of July movie moment. To see the other choices, click here.
Category: Rocky
“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.
“Rocky” Selected: Top Movie Fight Scenes
Recently Moviephone posted their selections for the Top 25 Movie Fight Scenes. There were a lot of great choices and one of them was Rocky Balboa vs Apollo Creed from the very first Rocky movie! You can go here to see all of the choices and watch the fight scenes!
Hollywood Collectibles Rocky Statue
Hey SZoners! Mark from Hollywood Collectibles is going to hook us up again. Hollywood Collectibles is currently taking pre-orders on a limited edition [just 500 pieces worldwide] 12″ Rocky statue. Here’s how they describe it…
Rocky needs no introduction. A movie and cultural icon, the “Italian Stallion” created by Sylvester Stallone has become a part of popular culture. This highly detailed 12” statue portrays Rocky in a classic fight pose, as he is about to throw another huge punch at his opponent.
This incredible piece of art is constructed from heavyweight polystone and then hand painted to the finest detail. Approximately 12” tall.
Strictly Limited to 500 Pieces Worldwide
Sculpted by Edinho Maga.
Painted by Dan “Danno” Cope.
Once again, Mark and the fine folks at Hollywood Collectibles have created a password for StalloneZone fans. Simply enter “Rocky” at check out and you will receive a 10% discount! Another feature that Hollywood Collectibles has started is the ability to spread the cost of owning an item out over four equal payments.
You’d be surprised at the number of SZoners who contact me asking about how they can get one of the sold out: Rambo statues, Rambo busts, Rambo color busts, Rambo bobbleheads, Rambo Xtreme DForm statues, Rocky color busts, and Rambo Xtreme DForm statues. Folks, when they are gone, they are gone. And they do sell out. So if you want one, I wouldn’t wait too long!
Gonna Fly Now with the Eye of the Tiger
Realbuzz.com asked polled marathon runners as to which songs kept them motivated while they ran. “Eye of the Tiger” from Rocky III came out in the #1 spot for the fourth year, uh, running. Also making the top ten, in the 10th spot was “Gonna Fly Now” which is, of course, from Rocky.
You can see the whole list by clicking here.
The “Rocky” Series Most Inspiring!
On May 2, 2010, PasteMagazine.com posted their list of the Five Inspiring Movie Montages. Of course the Rocky series had to be represented… and what better way than to include ALL of the Rocky movies. Here’s what they had to say:
5. All the Rocky movies
Each Rocky movie could honestly have occupied a slot on this list—if you’re watching one, you’re eventually going to see Sylvester Stallone pulling a cart through the snow, or doing one-armed pullups on a Philly playground, or doing wind sprints down a beach with Carl Weathers. Eye of the tiger, baby.
To see the full list as well as the montages for the movies, click here.
AMC: Top 5 Sly Stallone Movies
On April 30, 2010, the AMC Movie Blog posted their choices for The Five Best Movies of Sylvester Stallone. Here are their choices and a little of the rationale for selection:
5. Demolition Man: …Nothing about this movie should work — dated jokes about Taco Bell, a ridiculous time-travel setup — but it work it does, from start to finish. Credit Stallone’s amusing fish-out-of-water performance…
4. Cliffhanger: …Die Hard on a mountain, Cliffhanger is as cool as it sounds… Stallone reminds us why he’s one of the best action stars ever. He radiates intensity.
3. Copland: …Stallone turned his career around with this serious (and underappreciated) drama…
2. Rambo: No. We’re not talking about the original — that’s First Blood. We’re not even talking about Rambo: First Blood II, the sequel. While we love those both, this bare-bones, bloody action film ranks as one of the best flicks in years..
1. Rocky: Not just Stallone’s best but also one of Hollywood’s best…
If I were making the list Rocky Balboa would have been near the top forcing Demolition Man off the list. And while it may not be one of Sly’s Top 5 best, Get Carter still is one of my favorites. To see AMC’s whole post with all of their comments as well as some Stallone movies that nearly made it to the Top 5, then click here.
“Rocky” Series Makes the Cut
On April 29, 2010, Mike Gorman listed in his weekly column his choices for the Top Ten Movies Series. Coming in at # 9 [Number 9? And how did Rambo not make the cut?] is the Rocky series. Here’s what Gorman had to say:
Sure, sometimes the Rocky films lose sight of their core ideals and veer off in strange directions that involve obnoxious robot butlers and training in a cabin in the Russian wastelands, but all it takes is that bell to clang in the ring and they have our attention again. The story of Rocky Balboa’s rise to stardom in the boxing world was iconic and Sylvester Stallone carried on his shoulders the hopes and dreams of a nation that had seen brighter days. Rocky, in all of his battles, reminds you that the underdog can reign victorious in the end and also that sometimes those victories can be too much, and take you away from your roots. Sounds like I am all over the place when it comes to this franchise and it is true. I believe the greatest thing about the Rocky series is the journey that we have taken with the characters, from rags to riches and back again. This is what a truly successful series about to me.
To see the full list click here.
Rocky or Rambo?
Recently the AMC Movie Blog posted a piece called Rocky or Rambo… Five Simple Ways to Tell Them Apart. So if you’re at all confused on which character is which, click here and the good folks at AMC will help you out.
Ray Anthony-Height’s Rocky
I had the good fortune to meet Ray-Anthony Height at MegaCon this year. I was talking with a con buddy who had a table near where Ray was set up and I saw him knock out one cool sketch after another. It didn’t take long before I checked to see if Ray would be interested in doing a Stallone sketch. He was, and created the nice Rocky piece that you see above.
You can see more of Ray-Anthony Height’s art here and here. And if you’re so inclined, tell him I sent ya!