Update on "Rocky Balboa" Collector Cards

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa, Sly Fan

Miguel checked in with this update on the “Rocky Balboa” Trading Cards:

Hello Craig! Hope your New Year is off to a great start. Congratulations on the sharp new look to the Stallonezone website–the updated photos of Sly’s world tour are awesome!
I wanted to let you and fellow SZoners know that we (MIGBIZ) will be at the FX Convention in Orlando, FL this Jan 26-28th booth #526. Come by and check out the full Rocky Balboa trading card set along with many cool surprises!
We have also produced a Limited Edition promotional Rocky Balboa trading card that will be given out by the FX staff while they last!!
Look forward to seeing all of you there. Keep up the great work! Miguel A. Insignares MIG.BIZ,LLC
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Great to hear from Mig! I’ll be at FX and will get pics and a full report. For more details check out

his website. – Craig

Sly in Wales

Craig / / 2007, Celebs

SZoner, Clay Jones checked in with these pics and the following:

Hi Craig

Thought you might like to see a couple of pictures that were published in the ‘Wales on Sunday’ newspaper. They show Sly with Welsh super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe at a gala boxing dinner. The article said that Sly will be in Peter Manfredo Junior’s corner when Calzaghe defends his titles against him on the 3rd April in the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

Really good site, keep up the good work!

Clay Jones

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Thanks to Clay for the kind words and sharing the pics! – Craig

SZoners Promote "Rocky Balboa"

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa, Sly Fan, StalloneZone

SZoner, Ernest “Jazzman” Resendes sent in the picture above and the message below:
Hey guys,

A local paper just did a piece on our whole Vegas/Boston Q&A experience. Writer Rick Snizek was doing a story on a local musician who just happened to be my buddy Bob’s uncle. Bob mentioned the unbelievable RB experience and Rick immediately wanted to do a story.

Here’s the pic they used and some excerpts. The photo was taken at the end pf our last day on the set as we were leaving. Sly is between us in the far distance looking over fight footage with Frank and the crew.

BRUSH WITH FAME
City natives share screen time with Stallone By Rick Snizek
“We all have obstacles to overcome,” Resendes says, noting how much a labor of love the film, which took in more than $51 million at the box office in its first two weeks alone, was for Stallone. He made this picture on a comparatively shoestring budget of $24 million, with Hollywood uncertain of how Rocky Balboa’s saga would play to a new generation.

“It’s defied a lot of people’s expectations,” Resendes adds, feeling that Stallone’s intended soulful approach to living one’s life resonates with audiences young and old. In one scene in the movie, unfortunately one that did land on the cutting room floor, Resendes actually rushes out of his seat at the end of the bout thrusting both hands into the air in victory to congratulate the champ as he makes his way from the ring.

Although the pair came in very close proximity to Stallone during the filming, they didn’t get a chance to speak to him about their admiration for his work. But little did they know at the time that such an opportunity would present itself before the film would be released.

The experience was indeed a dream come true for Resendes and Manuels, one which they say has inspired them to push even harder to achieve their goals in life.

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Thanks to Jazz for sharing! – Craig

SZ Exclusive: Sly in Spain!

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa, Sly Fan

SZoner, Juan Mogica, from Madrid, Spain checked in with these exclusive pics of Sly taken Monday, January 8, 2007 when Sly was in Madrid promoting “Rocky Balboa.” In addition to being a huge Stallone/Rocky fan, Juan is a songwriter/producer, and if you want to take check out his website you can at: www.juanmogica.com.

Before we close, Juan included a photo of his A. Thomas Shomberg “Rocky” statue. Here’s what Juan had to say about it: “I just receive today my 12 inches Rocky statue, and I ordered it only two days ago!! Incredible!”

I couldn’t agree more about the statue! Thanks for sharing your pictures! – Craig

Empire’s Review of "Rocky Balboa"

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa

SZoner, Brett Dexter, sent in a copy of Empire magazine’s review of “Rocky Balboa.” Overall they gave it a three star rating and seemed to really like it despite the fact that they really didn’t want to… Here are some excerpts:
* “Rocky Balboa”… pulls off the unique cinematic feat of being totally terrible and completely brillant at the same time.
* There have been no “Casino Royale” style re-inventions here but, in some senses, this is equally smart.
* Completely understanding the level on which the movie needs to work, “Rocky Balboa” is bold, broad and magnificently big-hearted.
* Stallone clearly loves his character and knows that we feel the same. As a director he is not afraid to commit to the material… as an actor he has an inate dignity and hangdog charm that can make the corniest dialogue palatable…
* And the final showdown with Mason Dixon [Antonio Tarver], with its full-bloodied, hyper-real, toe-to-toe pugilism is up there with the Apollo Creed/Clubber Lang fight nights of old.
– Craig Zablo

Empire’s Review of "Rocky Balboa"

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa

SZoner, Brett Dexter, sent in a copy of Empire magazine’s review of “Rocky Balboa.” Overall they gave it a three star rating and seemed to really like it despite the fact that they really didn’t want to… Here are some excerpts:
* “Rocky Balboa”… pulls off the unique cinematic feat of being totally terrible and completely brillant at the same time.
* There have been no “Casino Royale” style re-inventions here but, in some senses, this is equally smart.
* Completely understanding the level on which the movie needs to work, “Rocky Balboa” is bold, broad and magnificently big-hearted.
* Stallone clearly loves his character and knows that we feel the same. As a director he is not afraid to commit to the material… as an actor he has an inate dignity and hangdog charm that can make the corniest dialogue palatable…
* And the final showdown with Mason Dixon [Antonio Tarver], with its full-bloodied, hyper-real, toe-to-toe pugilism is up there with the Apollo Creed/Clubber Lang fight nights of old.
– Craig Zablo

Empire’s Review of "Rocky Balboa"

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa

SZoner, Brett Dexter, sent in a copy of Empire magazine’s review of “Rocky Balboa.” Overall they gave it a three star rating and seemed to really like it despite the fact that they really didn’t want to… Here are some excerpts:
* “Rocky Balboa”… pulls off the unique cinematic feat of being totally terrible and completely brillant at the same time.
* There have been no “Casino Royale” style re-inventions here but, in some senses, this is equally smart.
* Completely understanding the level on which the movie needs to work, “Rocky Balboa” is bold, broad and magnificently big-hearted.
* Stallone clearly loves his character and knows that we feel the same. As a director he is not afraid to commit to the material… as an actor he has an inate dignity and hangdog charm that can make the corniest dialogue palatable…
* And the final showdown with Mason Dixon [Antonio Tarver], with its full-bloodied, hyper-real, toe-to-toe pugilism is up there with the Apollo Creed/Clubber Lang fight nights of old.
– Craig Zablo

SZ Exclusive: Vegas Photos!

Craig / / 2007, Rocky Balboa, Sly Fan
SZoner, Bridget is back with more exclusive photos. This time she has behind-the-scene shots of the “Rocky Balboa” filming in Vegas.


Here’s a cool shot of Sly and Antonio Tarver locking up. You can catch a glimpse of Bridget in the left side of the shot!


Sly and Antonio are still going at it. Yep, Bridget is still cheering!


Frank Stallone films some shots of the crowd as the crew gets ready for another shot.


SZoners, led by Bridget are there representing!