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Rocky [SYLVESTER STALLONE] takes a hard shot from Mason Dixon [ANTONIO TARVER] when the final round of the Academy Award-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres on December 20, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE. Sly and former light heavyweight champ, Antonio Tarver traded real blows in an effort to make Rocky’s last fight his most realistic.
-Craig Zablo

Photo by: John Bramley

2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC

And now as an added bonus, an interview question and answer from Sly!

QUESTION: What motivated you to bring back Rocky for a final chapter?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: I just didn’t like the way the last one ended. Truthfully I thought the last one it, it just wasn’t over, you know, you think it’s over, and you really go back and you rehash it in your own mind like an athlete. You go, “God, you know, maybe I just retired too soon. Maybe Rocky just retired too soon.” And yeah, someone told him he had problems. He had health problems. He, he had a little brain damage, but he never even had a second opinion. He just automatically assumed it. We do have our ups and downs, and it was a down side of his life. But I think that the real affirmation of life is what comes after that? Do you come out of that valley or not, you know?

Sly fans will also want to check out the great questions and answers that Sly is delivering each day at AIN’T IT COOL NEWS! Click HERE to get there!
-Craig Zablo

Rocky (SYLVESTER STALLONE) and Mason Dixon (ANTONIO TARVER) battle from bell to bell standing toe to toe. Rocky Jr. (MILO VENTIMIGLIA) comes out to assist the ref as he attempts to separate these modern day gladiators as the round ends.
-Craig Zablo

The final chapter of the Academy Award-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Wednesday, December 20, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

Photo by: John Bramley

And as an added bonus, here’s another question for Sly!

Craig Zablo: Sly, how about a shout out to the SZoners?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: Hey SZoners, it’s Sylvester Stallone!! Thank you very much. You’re doing great, ya know. You’re doing very good and I appreciate you hanging in there! Thanks.

Here’s great news for “Rocky” and SYLVESTER STALLONE fans [and just in time for holiday gift giving]!! A. THOMAS SCHOMBERG, the creator of the original “Rocky” statue for the movie “Rocky III”, and MGM studios, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of “Rocky”, are teaming to produce miniature ROCKY sculptures for fans!

That’s right, you too, can own a miniature “Rocky” sculpture as seen in the “Rocky” movies! They come in two sizes and a price range that can fit any budget! Click HERE to learn more!

I’m sure by now that most of SYLVESTER STALLONE / “Rocky Balboa” fans have seen the second trailer for “Rocky Balboa”, but if you haven’t click HERE and you will!

Click HERE for a link to a really cool “Rocky Balboa” resource site. Get the stuff you need to help spread the word!

Finally for today’s update we have another question with Sly!

Enjoy!
-Craig Zablo

Craig Zablo: Do you ever consider revisiting “The Bodyguard” or “Maggie’s Eyes” [two unproduced screenplays that Sly wrote]?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: Well, “The Bodyguard” could work. I don’t know if it’s right for me because, you know, you write it in a certain time in your life when you’re thinking like that, so that may be a naiveté. I would revisit them to direct. But I’m spending a lot of time on Rambo right now. That, that’s really an important film because I think that action films have somewhat gone out of favor or just gone out of style. Today it’s more fantasy, more sci-fi, more colorful action characters. It’s not so much flesh and blood. So I, I’d like to explore Rambo in a way that it’s almost an homage to action films because I don’t think they’re gonna stick around the way they were…[with]such a force, such a presence like in the 80’s and 70’s and, you know, up into the 90’s.

So doing Rambo’s going to be a real challenge because it’s kind of like a, you know, what you call a handmade, hands on film. Not a lot of CGI. It’s things that are actually feasible you know. I think it’s great what they do with “Spider-Man” and “X-Men”… it’s very creative. But I think this would also be a challenge too.

Rocky Balboa [SYLVESTER STALLONE] tags Heavyweight Champion, Mason Dixon [ANTONIO TARVER], as the two modern-day gladiators go toe-to-toe!

And for all of you SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fanatics we’ve got some great news! Tomorrow night we are going exclusive on Yahoo with the second trailer for “Rocky Balboa.” Look for it at ‘Yahoo Trailers!’ Click Here!

The trailer should premiere on Access Hollywood tonight or tomorrow and then with “Casino Royale” which opens on Friday [11/17]. We are also adding trivia, polls and a soundboard to the official site so keep a look out for that.
-Craig Zablo

For a larger version of this picture click HERE!

The final round of the Academy Award-winning® Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

Photo by: John Bramley

2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC

As an added bonus for SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fans, here’s Sly’s response to another question sent in by STALLONEZONErs!

Craig Zablo: Have you ever regretted passing on a role in a movie?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: Sure, oh my God, there are so many things… like, “Witness” and “Romancing The Stone.” I think at one time I was mentioned for “Coming Home.” I don’t know if that’s true but, you know, when you’re at your peak you’re offered so much. And quite often you don’t do it and it’s a big mistake.

Mason Dixon [ANTONIO TARVER] takes it to Rocky Balboa [SYLVESTER STALLONE] when the two meet in the center of the ring with neither willing to give an inch.
– Craig Zablo

It’s the final round of the Academy Award® -winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

For a larger version of this picture click HERE!

Photo by: John Bramley

2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC

As an added bonus for SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fans, here’s Sly’s response to another question sent in by STALLONEZONErs!

Craig Zablo: Is writing an autobiography in your plans?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: [LAUGHS] No, ’cause I can’t tell the truth. I have to wait until like hundreds of people are dead and it’s gonna take forever. I don’t want to embarrass anyone. If they wait until I’m dead, is it possible to write an autobiography from the grave? Now there’s a trick.

Rocky Balboa (SYLVESTER STALLONE), out of retirement and back into the ring with his new rival, Heavyweight Champion, Mason Dixon (ANTONIO TARVER). It’s Old Lion against young lion, and will vs skill, when The Italian Stallion squares off against Mason “The Line” Dixon.
– Craig Zablo

The final round of the Academy Award-winning® Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.
Photo by: John Bramley

As an added bonus for SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fans, here’s Sly’s response to another question sent in by STALLONEZONErs!

Craig Zablo: After “Rambo IV” concludes, what will be your next project?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: I’m gonna direct “Edgar Allen Poe” [without] being in it. “Yo, Poe!” doesn’t work. I’d like to direct some nice young actor in it who can get the soul of Poe. It’s a dark story, but the challenge is how to make it enjoyable, so it isn’t that depressing. And then there’s a book I’ve been looking at for a while called Homefront, which is pretty good and, you know, there’s certain things that will crop up. The main thing is I’d, I’d much rather spend more time directing than actually acting.

Happy Halloween to all Sylvester Stallone / Rocky fanatics around the world! We found one more picture of Rocky [SYLVESTER STALLONE] and his pal Punchy. We thought that it would make a sweet Halloween treat [and it won’t rot your teeth]!
– Craig Zablo

The final round of the Academy Award®-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

Photo by: John Bramley

As an added bonus for SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fans, here’s Sly’s response to another question sent in by STALLONEZONErs!

Craig: Sly, fans would love for you to do commentary tracks if and when your movies are re-released on DVD. Are you up for that? Is this something you enjoy?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: I do enjoy it. You sit down and you just have a glass of wine and you start to look at something in the cold light of day and it’s good. And I think [if] you find humor in it, the one thing is, you know, you try not, at least I try not to take myself too seriously. But quite often when you’re doing the film you’re like you’re in this deep, you know, morass of moodiness. And you go, you’re not thinking straight but, you know, afterwards you go, “Oh that’s just a movie. Now lets talk about it and have some fun with it, maybe.”

Enjoy! -Craig Zablo

The final round of the Academy Award®-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

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It’s come down to this… Rocky Balboa [SYLVESTER STALLONE] steps out of his corner, ready to mix it up with Heavyweight Champion Mason Dixon [ANTONIO TARVER].
– Craig Zablo

The final round of the Academy Award®-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

For a larger version of this image click HERE!

Photo by: John Bramley

As an added bonus for SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fans, here’s Sly’s response to another question sent in by STALLONEZONEr!

Craig: Do you still paint?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: I do. [LAUGHS] I, you know, the other day I, I usually paint characters or situations that are, you know, kind of emotional… bizarre. But lately I’ve been painting, dare I say it, flowers for the house. But they’re bizarre flowers.

Rocky Balboa (SYLVESTER STALLONE), looking fit and cut, steps out of retirement and back into the ring to face a younger and more skilled rival in a dramatically different era. The final round of the Academy Award®-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006. Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE.

For a larger version of this image click HERE!

Photo by: John Bramley

As an added bonus for SYLVESTER STALLONE / ROCKY fans, for the next few weeks we’re going to run Sly’s responses to questions sent in by STALLONEZONErs from around the world!

Craig: You’ve returned to Rocky and soon will start work on your next Rambo film. Are there other characters that you’d like to revisit?

SYLVESTER STALLONE: [LAUGHS ] Well, you know, there’s some things that I, I, I felt as though maybe I didn’t pay [enough] attention [to]. I thought Judge Dredd would have been fantastic, great character just didn’t work. Cobra was also an interesting character, yet could have been fleshed out. I thought Tango and Cash could have hung around for another version. So yeah there, there are always those. There’s about three or four characters I thought still could have hung around for a sequel.