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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Clothes on Film recently took a look at Rocky in an article they call Rocky: Talia Shire as Adrian, From Geek to Chic.
On March 16,2010, The Metro Film Fight Club pitted Rocky against Rambo to determine which “original Stallone classic is better.” You can click here to read each side’s arguments. The cool thing is that no matter who wins, Stallone and Stallone fans come out on top.
It couldn’t be more appropriate [since there were several pieces about Rocky and the Oscars in this week’s update] that we have Rocky by Dave Wachter for this week’s Stallone art. Dave’s work has appeared on the SZ before with his riff on Sly from Paradise Alley.
After the recent earthquake in Haiti, Dave offered everyone who made a donation to Doctors Without Borders to aide earthquake victims in Haiti a free sketch. The piece about is what I got for my donation. You can see what others selected, and more of Dave’s art by heading over to his website.
Thanks to Dave for my great sketch as well as his efforts to help the people in Haiti.
On March 7, 2010, Ron Kantowski of the Las Vegas Review-Journal posted his choice for The Top 10 Inspirational Movies. Coming in at #1, you guessed it, Rocky.
NO. 1: “ROCKY” (1976) — In the immortal words of Rocky Balboa, this Academy Award winner for best picture “fills gaps” in the pantheon of exemplary sports movies and became the model upon which all inspirational imitators are based. Yo, Adrian: When they cue that powerful “Rocky” music, you’re gonna eat lightning and … well, you remember what his trainer, Mickey, said.