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 |
Category: Rocky
2 of 3 Wepner Claims Dismissed in Suit Against Sly
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
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
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!
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!
|
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:
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] |
POW – “Rocky”
A classic shot.
– Craig
Premiere Names “Rocky” An All-Time Greatest
Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes checked in with the above item…
Hey kids,
This pic appeared in the current issue ( April 2004 ) of PREMIERE where it lists the 100 GREATEST MOVIE CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME. Really no surprise that Rocky Balboa was on there…:-) Rocko comes in at # 64.
Have a great one !
Peace,
Jazz
Paul Thomas Anderson Credits “Rocky”!
Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes wrote in to tell of another filmmaker influenced by Sly:
Hey kids,
I got this recent interview from the Paul Thomas Anderson site, Coffee and Cigarettes. Paul Thomas Anderson credits Stallone’s ROCKY in influencing him to become a filmmaker.
It would be a personal dream of mine to have Sly work with PTA the way Tom Cruise did in Magnolia.
Question: Was there any one film that you remembered seeing when you were younger that instantly made you realize that you wanted to be a film director?
Paul Thomas Anderson: So many films that I saw — Jaws, Wizard of Oz, Rocky, all the Disney movies.
Thanks Jazz!
– Craig Zablo
Rocky vs The World
Jorge writes:I wanted to share a link on an interesting article maybe you can post on your next batch of news or whatever. The article is about a sequel to the Rocky game that came out about two years ago. Here’s the article and the link.
Rocky Vs. The World
Internal development sources from Europe have given IGN the details on the sequel to the sleeper hit Rocky. It’s tentatively called Rocky Vs. The World, it’s online for both PS2 and Xbox (sorry, no GameCube version), and the engine is nearly identical to the first game. The new online title features more characters, stages, and upgraded visuals. Look for this to appear on PS2 and Xbox by the end of the year.
Thanks Jorge! – Craig Zablo