Our POW [Picture of the Week] is a rare shot of Sly and Sasha on location during the filming of “Victory” and comes to us from my personal collection.
– Craig
Gerardo Moreno’s “Rocky Balboa Boxed Set”
SZoner, Gerardo Moreno checked in with some new digital art of how he’d like to someday see a Rocky DVD Boxed Set!
Sweet! – Craig
With a Little Help From My Friends
It’s prefight time as Rocky [SYLVESTER STALLONE] spends a contemplative moment with an old friend before going to do battle with a much younger and more skilled opponent.
– 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
SKILL vs WILL
Mason Dixon (ANTONIO TARVER) looks on as Rocky Balboa (SYLVESTER STALLONE) steps out of retirement for one last battle! Written and directed by SYLVESTER STALLONE, the final round of the Academy Award ®-winning Rocky franchise hits theatres Friday, December 22, 2006.
– Craig Zablo
Photo by: John Bramley
2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC
StalloneZone Honored at New Action Movie Site
The StalloneZone was recently honored as the first featured site at Awsom 50: The On-Line Source for Action Movies. Here’s what they had to say about the SZ:
| STALLONE ZONE – The #1 Sylvester Stallone Fan Site in the World! Now in its’ 10th year on-line, Craig Zablo’s quite excellent Sly Stallone site shows no signs of letting up. Quite simply this is the place to be for any self respecting Sly fan and is in all honesty far better than his official site. |
High praise indeed!
As most SZoners know, the name Awsom 50 comes from the tag of Cobra‘s car. So you just KNOW that the webmaster must be a huge Stallone fan! This is definitely a site to watch!
– Craig
POW: Sly Reflective
Our POW [Picture of the Week] is a rare shot of Sly and comes to us from my personal collection.
– Craig
Reel Life Meets Real Life
Writer, director and star SYLVESTER STALLONE oversees scene preparations by real-life boxing commentators JIM LAMPLEY, MAX KELLERMAN and LARRY MERCHANT.
– Craig Zablo
The final round of the Academy Award ® -winning “Rocky” franchise hits theaters on Friday, December 22, 2006!
Photo by Neil Leifer
2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC
Hammer Time
It’s “Hammer Time” as in sledge hammer time when Rocky Balboa [SYLVESTER STALLONE] trains to build “hurtin’ bombs.”
– 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
2006 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc., Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., and Revolution Studios Distribution Company, LLC
Bill Pruitt’s “Rocky Balboa” Painting
SZoner, Bill Pruitt, checked in with his cool “Rocky Balboa” painting and here’s what he had to say about it:
Hi Craig,
How are things with you? Just busy here painting a lot. The site and blog look really great. Wanted to send pics of the finished painting of my Rocky Balboa piece so you can post it on your weekly update at the earliest convenience. As mentioned before, the meaning
of this 36″x48″ oil painting is profound. The light rays coming down on Rocky are from the heavens and represent Micky, Apollo and especially Adrian. They are like angels on his shoulder (as mentioned in Rocky V) watching over him. I am more proud of this painting than any other piece I’ve done and could write a book
on the whole process from its conception to finished
painting.
Thanks a lot Craig. – Bill
Longtime SZoners will know just how much work Bill has put into this piece, and it really shows. Thanks to Bill for sharing his talents with us. We always look forward to seing his work. Check out his site and tell him I sent ya! – Craig
SZ Exclusive: Sly at Rocky Statue
Back in 1979 my Mother took me to see Rocky II, and from that moment on I was hooked on Rocky. Just before Rocky IV came out, I had gotten hurt pretty bad. My arm was in a sling and I was supposed to go back to the hospital on that Friday to have it put in a cast, but I refused to go because it was opening day for Rocky IV. I had waited too long for that day, and I wasn’t going to miss it by going to the hospital. I was in the front of the line, and when the usher opened the door, the line surged and sent me flying into the steel frame of the door. I let out a scream and the usher took me inside and helped me ice my arm. As an ironic side note, I wound up getting a job that I kept for four years 🙂 Then when Rocky V was filming, my Mom told me, “I heard that last week they were looking for extras to be in the Spectrum for the fight scenes in the new Rocky.” I couldn’t believe I missed my opportunity to see Stallone in person! But when I was surfing online last week I learned that he was going to be in Philly on Friday, and I knew I had to be there. Friday morning we left Buffalo nice and early and headed to Philly. We got there right at 5, and headed for the museum. As we were walking over there we could hear the music from the Rocky soundtracks blasting from the speakers and my heart started pumping. We worked our way up pretty close to the front, and I left my wife and headed over to the press area and checked in, and was given a press kit showing the schedule of events for the weekend. I was also told that Stallone was going to be at the top of the stairs at 5:50, and I had the choice if I wanted to be up there, or down at the podium for the statue unveiling. I chose the statue dedication because I figured as cool as it would be to be with Stallone on the steps, the unveiling would give me more time to see him.
Sure enough, the music began to play again and the cheer of “Rocky, Rocky” was coming from all around me. I strained to find him, and then I saw Stallone coming down a ramp from the stairs to the area we were at. People were cheering wildly, and then he appeared and climbed up on the stage and waved to everyone, and the cheer raged even louder.
The speakers before Stallone introduced him and talked about his amazing charitable work that he has done for the city of Philadelphia and other organizations. While this was going on I enjoyed watching Stallone and seeing his reactions to the nice things that were being said about him. He seemed genuinely embarrassed at all of the hype. As the Mayor of Philadelphia was talking about him he said that Stallone is always asking “what can I do to help.” At that point someone in the crowd yelled, “run for Mayor!” and obviously that got quite a laugh. Then finally he came up to the podium to an even bigger chant of “Rocky, Rocky!” He smiled, waved to the crowd then said “Yo Philly! How you doin?” The place went nuts! He gave a great speech, everywhere I looked around, people were laughing, smiling, and just having a great time. After his speech he walked over by the statue, and the Rocky music began playing again. and then they pulled the tarp off of the statue unveiling Rocky where he belongs! Stallone walked over to the statue and placed his hand on it’s heart, stepped back and just looked at it. He then walked over to it and made a fist like he was really happy about what was finally happening, then he stepped back and just seemed to be enjoying the moment.
The music was blaring, the crowd was chanting “Rocky, Rocky” again, it really was an amazing place to be, and I felt incredibly lucky to be a part of it, and right in the middle of it. Stallone looked around at everyone, and you could really tell he was just soaking it all in. There is no way that 30 years ago when he ran up those steps right here, he could have possibly ever imagined the impact he would have on so many people, and how it would change his life, and bring him to this point.
I really had a great time, and I can honestly say it was worth the wait! I hope to be back in Philly to see him again during the premier of Rocky Balboa. If so, I will definitely let you guys see the photos I take home with me.
Mike
Mike Lynaugh Photography
www.mikelynaugh.com
www.virtualcivilwar.com
*****
Great report Mike! Thanks for sharing your talent! – Craig