Where Sly Could Take Expendables 3

Craig / / 2013, Expendables 3

On March 14, 2013, Flickering Myth posted a piece which took a look at The Expendables 3: Where Stallone Could / Should Take the Third Installment.  Here are a few quotes…

  • The key thing for the next film isn’t just about the next action icons who get cast. First and foremost is the quality of the film…the third film must work, not just as a piece of stunt casting, and a gimmick laden homage, but as a piece of film.
  • Predator, taking the alien aspects out, was the perfect template for an Expendables movie to be. The toughest of the tough, taking out the trash. Something simple, yet made with brilliant efficiency and wonderful clarity in its action.
  • There are plenty of potential directors out there…  John Woo has thrown his hat into the ring…   there’s a feeling, a bit like the Mission: Impossible franchise, that a different director for each film is the way to go…  Shane Black would be a great choice, to not only direct but script as well. After all, if The Expendables unites the crème de la crème of action stars, why not add one of the best action screenwriters.
  • Many rumours have already circulated. Nicolas Cage has been mentioned consistently, as has Jackie Chan. A popular choice amongst fans (and even current cast) is Wesley Snipes. All three would add a great deal. I’m not a Cage fan by any stretch, but his manic style could provide entertainment and enliven a potentially forgettable side character. I can see him as a crazy government agent perhaps. Chan would be brilliant.
  • Wesley Snipes could be an ideal villain.
  • This is a potential sticking point. It’s the young cast members. Firstly it goes against what the films represent and why people watch them. It also seems in some part, a possible way to gradually let the old dogs go out into pasture and let the fresh blood take over.
  • Also for many, another group remains largely untapped from the first two film, and that is from the plethora of 80’s/90’s video action stars who could make appearances… such as Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson, Cynthia Rothrock, Mark Dacascos, Olivier Gruner, Lorenzo Lamas and more… like Rutger Hauer, Christopher Lambert and Gary Busey (I could go on even more).
  • One thing that needs addressing is a lack of expendability from The Expendables. There needs to be some culling to offer some dramatic impact and at least some semblance of vulnerability… Then there’s Dolph. Gunnar went from crazy and unbalanced in the first to a comical Frankenstein’s monster in the second. In both films Lundgren is a scene stealer, but for the third things should take a darker turn again. Gunner is a character who was written to die. He’s destined to burn out in style. Dolph is awesome and I enjoyed his performance in the second but logic dictate he should have died in the first film as originally intended. This time around Gunnar has to explode out in a blaze of glory.

I agree with everything quoted in this piece and most everything in Tom Jolliffe’s article. 

 

Rocky to Get Champion Treatment at Concert

Craig / / 2013, Honors, Rocky

From the Daily Yomiuri Online:

The Yomiuri Shimbun

For anyone who has ever dreamed of “going the distance,” this year’s Cinema Meets Symphony event on April 6 is the perfect place to do it. The concert will feature music from Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rocky film series about a rags-to-riches boxer, as performed by the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo.

Led by conductor Masahiko Enkoji and popular male vocal group jammin’ Zeb, the concert will be accompanied by some of the series’ most memorable scenes shown on a large screen.

The 1976 John G. Avildsen film launched Stallone’s career, as well as five sequels.

Stallone, who wrote the script in just three days, portrays the title role of Rocky Balboa, a struggling boxer who takes on a heavyweight champion with the support of his girlfriend Adrian. Although Rocky does not win, he manages to last an impressive 15 rounds.

The film won Best Picture at the 49th Academy Awards, and the climactic scene in which Rocky calls out Adrian’s name is one of the most iconic in cinema history.

The film’s theme song, “Gonna Fly Now” by composer Bill Conti, was a big hit and will be performed at the April 6 event.

Michio Hazama, the voice actor who dubbed Stallone’s dialogue in the Japanese films, and Kazutomo Miyamoto, a former pro baseball player, will attend the concert as guests.

Songs from the Rocky soundtrack to be played at the concert:

— “Take You Back,” “Gonna Fly Now,” “Fanfare for Rocky,” “Going the Distance” from Rocky (1976).

— “Conquest” from Rocky II (1979).

— “Eye of the Tiger,” “Adrian” and “Mickey” from Rocky III (1982).

— “The Sweetest Victory,” “Training Montage,” “No Easy Way Out,” “Hearts on Fire,” “Burning Heart” and “Living in America” from Rocky IV (1985).

— “The Measure of a Man” from Rocky V (1990).

Sly: “You Always Have to do What You are Capable of.”

Craig / / 2013


On March 13, 2013, the Belfast Telegraph ran a piece on Sly they titled Sly Stallone: My Bones Creak.  Here are some quotes…

“Everything hurts; every bone cracks… I have to do something otherwise I get bored.

“I feel old, to be honest. But you know; everyone gets older these days! I have one of the most beautiful jobs in the world. Life is just fun.”

“I have the body of a life-long athlete. Every muscle has its own memories. I have to exercise every day – it’s like eating,” he explained.

I am capable of [doing] movies – and you always have to do what you are capable of. I have fun doing it, too. I will make movies till I die!”

Sly Tweets “Expendables 3”

Craig / / 2013, Expendables 3

Earlier this month Sly sent out a series of four tweets about Expendables 3…

Writing EX3 at the moment… there are going to be mountains of surprises…

EX3 needs NEW blood and more humor…. The films were always meant to be more on the humorous side with moments of drama

No S. Seagal, sorry ,but maybe we get lucky with J. Chan! And some young bloods!!!

By young I mean 22 to 27. Not big bruisers but tech wizard, super brains and a young woman who is not a sex symbol but funny ,tough,REAL

This, of course, made news at several sites…

 

Does “Staying Alive” Pass The Test of Time

Craig / / 2013, Staying Alive


On March 13, 2013, William Bibbiani at CraveOnline, in his Test of Time column looks at Staying Alive.  Here are some tidbits…

  • Time has not been kind to Staying Alive’s reputation. It ranks high on nearly every list of “The Worst Sequels Ever Made.” Entertainment Weekly even gave it the #1 spot, above Batman & Robin.
  • Staying Alive isn’t as bad as we all remember. It’s not a classic, and it certainly lacks the cohesion, cool and barely post-pubescent passion of Saturday Night Fever, but it’s a surprisingly soulful examination of young manhood, told from the perspective of a filmmaker who, like Tony Manero, struggled en route to stardom in the heart of New York City. Staying Alive feels like a highly personal film and, like most personal films, it’s a jumble of hit-or-miss ideas.
  • …it’s easy to grow fond of Sylvester Stallone’s attempt to turn a Saturday Night Fever sequel – a doomed proposition if ever there was one – into something personal and heartfelt.
  • Does Staying Alive pass The Test of Time? Better than you’d think. It’s a misfire, but at least it grazed the target. It’s nowhere near the quality of The Godfather Part II or Spider-Man 2 or any other sequel that arguably surpassed the original, but it continues the emotional arc of the hero and it doesn’t just regurgitate the first film’s plot. It doesn’t feel like a soulless studio cash-in. In that respect, Staying Alive is at least a hell of a lot better than The Hangover Part II or Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. No, Staying Alive is not the worst sequel ever made. In fact, it’s halfway decent.


Mike Torrance, Deke DaSilva are Nighthawks

Craig / / 2013, Craig's Sly Art, Nighthawks

Mike Torrance aka The Krayola Kidd is back! Mike has given us his take on Sly as Deke DaSilva from Nighthawks.

You can see more of Mike’s art at The Daily Sketch with The Krayola Kidd (and if you’ve never checked out Mike’s site, you ought to if only to see his Walking Dead cards!) and his Deviant Art site. Mike is available for commissions and his prices are very reasonable.


Rocky Helps Keep the Faith

Craig / / 2013, Rocky Balboa, Sly Fan

Hey Craig,

I thought I would show you some work I had done over the weekend.  2nd Timothy 4:7 has always been on of my favorite verses so I had an amazing tattoo artist named Noah Minuskin combine two of my favorite things.
Hope you are well.
Cheers,
Ron Robledo

 

Hey Ron, THAT is some cool ink!  – Craig

 

Mike Kunda Meets Chuck Wepner – Sounds like a Monster Movie!

Craig / / 2013, Celebs, Rocky

Recently, SZoner, Mike Kunda had an extended visit and great meal with Chuck Wepner.  Wepner vs Ali was, of course, the fight that gave Sly the spark of inspiration that led to Rocky.  Here’s how Mike describes the evening…

Craig,

Thought  I’d share a Rocky related story with the StalloneZone. This past July, I had a gig in Philly as “Rocky” helping a young lady with cerebral palsy achieve a check on her bucket list – to climb the Rocky steps. http://youtu.be/-rEVdAMoFZA   The featured celebrity guest was Mr. Chuck Wepner, who went fifteen rounds with Muhammad Ali, providing the catalyst for a less than broke Sylvester Stallone to write Rocky and had a charity match with Andre The Giant. Well, Chuck and I hit it off, talking about a great many things. This began a series of phone calls at all hours, discussing life, Chuck’s amazing journey and of course, Sly.


Recently, Chuck and I and our family’s gathered at The Victors (Adrian’s) in Philadelphia for nearly six hours of great food, red wine and amazing opera. We drifted from topic to topic. I patiently waited to hear two stories – 15 rounds with Ali and fighting Andre The Giant.

I asked him who hit hardest, Ali, Foreman or Liston. (Liston by a mile)

When listening to Chuck, his respect for both men was bombastic. Chuck repeated numerous times how fond of Ali he is and how they were never mad at each other. It was always for show. He said he and Andre went to dinner to “discuss” the match. It was Chuck’s idea to be thrown out of the ring; Andre’s suggestion to end the fight was more brutal.

The conversation led to WrestleMania 13, where Chuck served as a ringside judge, his friendship with Vince McMahon and many of the WWF wrestlers; the coolest was his many talks with Jimmy “Superfly” Snooka (my wife’s favorite back in the day).

While we ate at an Opera Themed restaurant, he told us of a Soprano he knew well… Jimmy Gandolfini and the rest of his crew.

We knew it was Chuck’s birthday, so we got him a cake and had the staff Opera-sing Happy Birthday to him.

By now, we’re into our fourth of six hours at dinner. We began sharing “gig” stories, trying to make the other laugh more. It was close but I think I had him.

Now, this was my invite and I desperately wanted to show my deep pockets. While my wife was talking with Linda, Chuck’s wife, I was in the men’s room when Chuck decided to tell the manager he was to get the check… no matter what. When I heard this I walked to our table and told Chuck we had to go outside to settle the check. He suggested I “get a ladder first”. Sound familiar?

After dinner we went upstairs to the loft area where Chuck bought more wine, shared more stories including his time being detained for twenty months or so. I was riveted.

 We’ve spoke about his lawsuit with Sly – “it was just business”.  Chuck has Titanic respect for Sly, and truly loves him, he has from day one. He said without Ali/Rocky he’d be a different person. It was a gift that fate called on him the way it did.

 He’s in pre-production with Hollywood for his life’s story – THE BLEEDER, Lev Schrieber playing Chuck. He thought I might make a good Stallone, purchasing a ticket to the fight, showing that moment when Rocky was born in Sly’s eyes. He said he’d tell the producer. What could I say to something like that? I nodded and tried not to pass out.

Craig, Zoners may have their own opinion about the man, but they can’t deny he’s had an extraordinary life.

It’s my pleasure to call him a friend.

Mike Kunda

Sounds like a very, very cool evening.  Thanks for sharing it with us, Mike. – Craig