Category: Rocky

“Rocky” Still the Standard!

Craig / / 2005, Honors, Rocky
Now that “Cinderella Man” is out and doing well, writers are creating their lists of the best boxing  movies ever. I’m happy to say that “Rocky” is always listed and usually at the top.

Joe Holleman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ranks “Rocky” at #2 and says, “Sylvester Stallone  reinvented the underdog film with this Best Picture Oscar winner.”

Louis B. Hobson of the Winnipeg Sun writes: Stallone deserves kudos for writing and starring in a simple, time-honoured story told with style, heart and passion. Stallone made Rocky Balboa a symbol of the extraordinary things ordinary people can achieve if they have a dream and the passion to pursue it.

Nearly 30 years later, “Rocky” is still the standard! – Craig

.

Sly Talk and Rumors

Craig / / 2005, Rambo, Rocky, Rumors

Lately there’s been quite a bit of talk on the internet that Sly is working on bringing back Rocky and Rambo to the big screen. Of course SZoners have been hearing these rumors for years.

Still, the word is that Sly’s serious about bring back his cornerstone characters. Stallone promises fans a
Rambo IV says one site. Stallone to bring back Rambo says another. While “Rambo Lives!” cries a third. Not to be out done another site [using the same info as the others] posts “Stallone Promises Rocky VI!”

As always, I’ll believe it when I see it. [And I hope to soon!] – Craig

Rocky Legends

Craig / / 2004, Rocky

Ernest Jazzman Resendes sent in the following:

The latest Game Stop flyer has a cool ” coming soon” ad for the new Rocky Legends video game. Here’s a scan…

*****

Thanks to Jazz for the scan and quotes! – Craig

Rocky: One of the All Time Best

Craig / / 2004, Honors, Rocky

Dennis O’Connell’s Entertainment Column for October 15, 2004 at AskMen.com lists the Top Ten All Time Best Movie Characters. And you just know that Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky made the list. Coming in at #9, here is what was said:9. Rocky

Rocky Balboa has delivered some cheesy speeches in his lifetime (anyone remember Rocky IV, where Balboa single-handedly melted the Cold War?). Regardless, no one saw Rocky for its intricate plots or Oscar worthy acting. They did, however, watch the Rocky series for the macho and epic battles between man and his enemy. Rocky made you want to be a boxer, executed flawlessly by all-around class act, Sylvester Stallone.
– Craig

2 of 3 Wepner Claims Dismissed in Suit Against Sly

Craig / / 2004, Celebs, Rocky

On September 28th, U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden denied Sylvester Stallone‘s bid to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Chuck Wepner which claims that Stallone inappropriately used Wepner‘s name to promote his “Rocky” movies.

However, Judge Katharine S. Hayden dismissed two other claims by the ex-boxer: 1) that Stallone was unjustly enriched by trading on Wepner‘s life story and 2) that Wepner suffered by relying on Stallone‘s promises.

Wepner‘s lawyer Anthony G. Mango called the ruling a “100% victory.” [Uh, but weren’t TWO of the THREE claims dismissed? 100% Victory? More like 33%, I’d say. – Craig] Sly‘s attorney, Jon Paul Robbins, declined to comment preferring to not try the case in the media.

As to the one claim that was allowed to go forward Judge Hayden stated that “Wepner contends, and Stallone does not contest, that the main character, Rocky Balboa, was based on Wepner and the plot of the first movie was inspired on the 1975 fight.”

We’ll keep you posted of updates as the case progresses.

It’s not unusual for a judge to allow a case to proceed to trial so that a jury can decide the outcome of the claims. The fact that two of Wepner‘s claims were dismissed is good news for Sly. The claim that did go forward doesn’t seem to have a solid foundation since Wepner has no contracts and he benefitted from his association to Rocky. I’m sure it can be easily proved that his appearances and income went up AFTER Sly spoke of his inspiration for Rocky. I’d also bet that Wepner used Sly‘s name in his appearances! – Craig

“Rocky” Legends

Craig / / 2004, Rocky

If you’re into home video games, then you should visit the Rocky Legends site.

It’s loaded with screenshots, trailers, music, and more. You have 40 fighters to choose from, including Rocky as he was in each of the five films. You can train and increase your fighter’s skills and there are twenty venues in which to hold your events.

I’m not the video game fan that I used to be, but this site has me wanting to grab a joystick to see how I’d fare against those 40 boxers!

Thanks, Jorge Napoles for the tip! – Craig

“Rocky” Anthology DVD

Craig / / 2004, Rocky, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 4, Rocky 5

MGM Home Entertainment has announced a new Rocky Anthology dvd giftset for release on December 14, 2004.

Each film will boast brand new high-definition transfers along with a new DTS track on Rocky and 5.1 Surround on the four sequels.

The selling point for me is the new audio commentaries on all five films

The set will also include a bonus sixth disc containing the A&E Biography “Sylvester Stallone: The Rocky Road to the Top”.

The six-disc package will list for around $63.00. If you order using a link on the SZ, not only do you save money but you also help support us!

You can pre-order it HERE for 30% off.

Thanks to Tarek for the heads-up – Craig

3 of Total Films’ 25 Greatest Sports Movies of All Time are Stallone’s!

Craig / / 2004, Honors, Rocky, Rocky 4, Victory

Ernest Jazzman Resendes sent in the following:

This month’s (issue 91) of TOTAL FILM lists The 25 Greatest Sports Movies (voted by filmgoers!) and guess who comes in at #1, #2 and #24?

You guessed it !!!

Here’s a taste of what they had to say…

#1 ROCKY (1976) : A film about a palooka, made by a palooka-but it’s your greatest sports movie of all time. The palooka being Sylvester Stallone, a bit-part guy who, like his character, made the most of his one shot.

“I was as marketable as tear gas, ” recalls Stallone. “Nobody wanted me, but I wasn’t about to let this thing go.” His tenacity paid off — three Oscars, $220-million worldwide and a string of sequels that made him one of Hollywood‘s most bankable stars.

#2 ESCAPE TO VICTORY (1981) : It’s a fairytale football for those who want to believe–in jumpers for goalposts, sudden- death penalty saves and Caine‘s man’s-man persona, epitomized by his advice to the soccer stars nervous about [ “Once I’d said to them:’ Come on, don’t worry about it, just say say the lines!’ ].

#24 ROCKY IV (1985) : It’s the only Rocky movie that doesn’t feature Bill Conti‘s score-it returns in Rocky V -yet, of the four sequels, you voted it the one challenger to the John G. Avildsen‘s big-hitting original.

Someone should send an issue over to MGM ! – Jazzman

Thanks to Jazz for passing along the news! – Craig Zablo

 

AMC’s RockyFest Scores a Knockout!

Craig / / 2004, Rocky, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 4, Rocky 5, TV

SZoner, JPolli1034, e-mailed to say that AMC‘s recent Rockyfest brought AMC some of the highest ratings that it’s had all season.

Here’s what MediaWeek.com had to say:

Ratings Box: What’s Hot/What’s Not

-AMC’s RockyFest Scores a Knockout:


AMC’s RockyFest: 5 Titles in 5 Nights from June 28-July 2 lifted the cable network to increases of 42 percent in households (.84 to 1.2), 92 percent in adults 18-49 delivery (380,000 to 728,000), and 80 percent in adults 25-54 delivery (384,000 to 722,000) over the June 2004 time period average. RockyFest, which averaged a 1.2 household rating, is now the second highest rated stunt on AMC this season to-date.

This just proves what we’ve known all along. People still love and, more imortantly, want to see Rocky. The time is right for Rocky VI.

– Craig Zablo [July 11, 2004]