Sly to Return as Rambo

Craig / / 2009, Rambo 5

The news broke today that Sylvester Stallone will return to write, direct and star as Rambo in a 5th film.  Word is that Rambo will be crossing the border to bring back a girl kidnapped by Mexican drug lords. As you can imagine, Sly returning to one of his signature characters is making headlines in places like:

Sly’s Award & “Rambo – Director’s Cut”

Craig / / 2009, Honors, Rambo

WorldTempus.com posted a piece about Sly being awarded the “Jaeger- LeCoultre Glory to the Filmmaker Award” on September 12, 2009,  during the closing ceremony of the 66th Venice International Film Festival.  Here’s a bit of what it says:

…the prize is intended to celebrate Sylvester Stallone’s stature as a filmmaker. Ever since the visionary opening sequence of his first film as a writer and director, “Paradise Alley” –a chase across the rooftops of New York City in the 1940s– Stallone has shown an original eye and an auteur’s determination

“Being honored at the Venice Film Festival – says Sylvester Stallone – is something I have always hoped would become a reality and now that it’s actually happened it’s been well worth the wait”.

During the presentation of the award, there will be a world-premiere screening of some sequences from the new film written by, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables, with Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and Mickey Rourke. “The Expendables – explains Stallone – is a story of heroism and the price that people pay to save others. It’s a great deal of action and human comedy as well”.

In addition, at 11 p.m. in the Sala Grande – with the support of Jaeger-LeCoultre – there will be a screening of Rambo – Director’s Cut by Sylvester Stallone, about which the director also says: “I’m very happy because I wish the director’s cut had been the actual cut. The problem with releasing a film is when you revisit it a year or some later you see all the wasted possibilities that you didn’t pay attention to the first time because of a rushed schedule. The new one has a great deal more heart to go along with the physicality of the film.”

To read the whole article click here.    [“Rambo – Director’s Cut” is music to my ears.]

Here’s another article on Sly’s Award.

Variety also covers the award.

Rocky Stands Tall in Serbia

Craig / / 2009, Rocky Balboa

There’s a touching little article at CaliforniaChronicle.com that ran on August 24, 2009.  It concerns a poor little hamlet in Serbia where the town folk decided to erect a statue of Rocky Balboa in tribute to the ultimate underdog. 

Film maker Barry Avrich went to the village and planned to make a “Borat”-style documentary making fun of the whole thing.  However, once he arrived he was moved by how sincere the villagers were.   The statue was made of cement because they couldn’t afford bronze.  Avrich’s film took a whole new direction.  He was even able to interview Sylvester Stallone who in turn was so moved by the villagers that he taped a special message that played for the huge crowds that turned out during the three day celebration leading up to the unveiling of the statue.  Barry Avrich’s documentary, “American Idol” is now on the festival circuit and has qualified for the Oscars.

To read the full article, click here.

Andrew Charipar: Nighthawks

Craig / / 2009, Craig's Sly Art, Nighthawks

This is the second piece of Stallone art that I’ve gotten from Andrew Charipar. You may remember the Cobra piece that he did at FX. A few months later, Andrew was sketching at the Florida SuperCon and so I hit him up for another piece.

Andrew worked up this very cool shot of Deke from “Nighthawks.” Love the design and how Andrew went back in with the colored pencil for highlights. When I picked up the piece Andrew said he already had an idea for his next Stallone drawing, and I can’t wait to see what it is. Until then we have Andrew’s blog and his DA site to hold us over.

“Rocky” The Undisputed Collection

Craig / / 2009, Rocky, Rocky 2, Rocky 3, Rocky 4, Rocky 5, Rocky Balboa

The HDRoom.com has announced that on November 3rd, a seven disc collection of all of the “Rocky” movies will be released on Blu-ray.  Amazon.com has the collection listed at 30% off for pre-orders.  Hopefully this will be the definitve collection that all fans have requested.  As more information on the extras becomes available, we’ll post the information.

“Rocky Balboa” Makes the List

Craig / / 2009, Honors, Rocky Balboa

“Rocky Balboa” made the list of the TOP 15 FILMS of the NEW MILLENNIUM over at the Big Hollwood site.  Here’s what they had to say about “Rocky Balboa”:

“Rocky Balboa” might not be better written, photographed or acted than any number of films not on this list, but I’m going to watch it a helluva lot more, that’s for sure.   Who would have ever thought writer/director Sylvester Stallone could pull this off? But he did. And I love it more each time I see it.

I couldn’t agree more.  You can see the entire list by clicking here.