Rocky Scores Again

On December 19, 2008, AskMen.com reviewed "Rocky" and gave it an overall 98% rating. Even more impressive is that AskMen readers rated it with a 99% rating. Here are a few quotes:

(Rocky is)... the ultimate male icon who represents, in a completely unassuming manner, values that are dear to every man such as standing up for your girl and doing your best regardless of the circumstances.

Rocky won’t just move you; it’ll lift your spirit.

You can read the whole review here. - Craig

Superfan from France

SZoner, M. Christopher Paquereau sent in these photos taken when Sly was in France for the promotion of "Rocky Balboa."

Chris got an autographed photo!

And Sly even posed for a picture!

Here is Christopher's display case full of Sly Stallone memorabilia including a title belt and Rocky statue! [Rocky collector statues are still available from A. Thomas Schomberg -- the artist who created the original statue for "Rocky III" -- and if you order now, you can get one at the special holiday rate!] Thanks to Chris for sharing his photos! - Craig

"Rocky" Tops Again

"Rocky" tops another "Best All Time Sports Movie" list. - Craig

Rocky's Tough Territory

If you're planning to tour Rocky's Philly neighborhood, then you might want to first check out this article that Joe Bordsen wrote for The Age.com. - Craig

Rocky Statue Special!

Hey SZoners!

The holidays are quickly approaching and I wanted to remind everyone that Rocky sculptures are still available through A. Thomas Schomberg studios. These statues were created by Mr. Schomberg [who created the original Rocky sculpture seen in the Rocky movies] in collaboration with Sylvester Stallone and MGM studios. Here's my interview with Mr. Schomberg. [part two of the interview is here] for the SZ.

Mr. Schomberg and his lovely wife, Cynthia, are offering the following discounts for statues purchased between November 26th, 2008 to January 7th, 2009:

20" ROCKY - Bronze Plated - $468 reduced to $395 plus free shipping in the US!
12" ROCKY - Resin and Hand Painted - $98 reduced to $89 plus free shipping in the US!

Limited Supply Available - International orders please inquire as to shipping costs.

Remember, if you've purchases a statue, I'd love to post a picture of you with it! - Craig

Rocky Minimates

The ad above appears in the August 2008 issue of Previews which goes out to comic and specialty shops throughout the USA. If you're interested in getting them, let your local shop know! - Craig

Rocky #1 Again

Here is Sly as drawn by the uber-talented, Mort Drucker for the August 2008 issue of Muscle & Fitness. This is page one of a two page spread that also features Arnold, Kurt Russell and Jean-Claude Van Damme. The article looks at the Top 10 Movie Training Montages and rates "Rocky" as #1. Who could argue with that? - Craig

Another Honor for Rocky

The American Film Institute recently posted their list of The 10 Greatest Films in 10 Classic Genres. "Rocky" came in at #2 on their Sports list. - Craig

Differences Between Rocky and Rambo

Askmen.com has a short video of Sly discussing the differences between Rocky and Rambo. You can see it here. - Craig

Rocky Wins Yet Again

"Rocky" has been crowned the Best Sports Movie Ever in a survey by LoveFilm.com. It was a landslide victory with "Rocky" earning 20% of all votes cast! Take that "Raging Bull," "Field of Drams," and "Million Dollar Baby"! For the full details click HERE. - Craig

Rocky Wins Again

Rotten Tomatoes has posted their picks for the 20 Greats Fight Scenes Ever. They picked Rocky Balboa vs Apollo Creed as their #1 choice. Can't say that I disagree. - Craig

Rocky: One of the Best Movie Endings

Deke Farrow, a writer for McClatchy Newspapers, looks back at some of the great movie endings of all time. He chooses Rocky and says:

Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) crying out for his wife (Talia Shire) after his bloody bout with Apollo Creed in "Rocky" (1976).

--"Adriaaaaan"

For the full article, click HERE. - Craig

Burt Young Reflects

Stephen Williams wrote a great little piece on Burt Young for Newsday.com. Here's what is said about Sly and appearing in the Rocky movies:

"Rocky" soon followed. Young had worked with the original's producers, Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, which led to Stallone selecting the plucky Young to play the character - Paulie was Rocky's cinematic brother-in-law - that would span all six "Rockys."

"I'm not Paulie," said Young, "but there's a part of Paulie in all of us ... cowardice, bravado, false bravado. And I knew how to beat the drum to make the guy interesting and ugly and pathetic."

Young initially balked at the invitation to do the first sequel - "I didn't want to be part of an ensemble," he said - but eventually agreed. "It wasn't the money," he says. "It don't mean that much to me, I find a way to get by, and I find a way to blow it."

Will he see the new "Rambo" with Stallone when it opens Jan. 25?

"You know," he said, and this is why you have to love Burt Young, "I've never seen a 'Rambo.'"

Burt Young on Paulie, Rocky, and Sly:

"I first met Stallone, I was in the studio commissary, he comes to my table, he says, 'Mr. Young, I'm Sylvester Stallone, I wrote "Rocky." You gotta do a part, you gotta do a part.'

"I says, 'Shush, whaddaya doin'? Let me twist their arms [the producers] a little bit, lemme make a buck.' And he lit up. Turns out I was the highest-paid actor in the first one.

"Stallone wrote exquisitely; he wrote street prose. I think he saw me when he wrote it. Like Arthur Miller, he'd cut the commas off. You'd say, hey, he saying somethin' without the commas.

"Seventeen years after 'Rocky V,' we came back [for 'Rocky Balboa'], and it was pretty sentimental for me. Stallone was [...] Michelangelo painting the chapel. He wouldn't let anything alone. He was a force. It was touching."

For the full article click HERE. - Craig

Rocky Musical in Development

According to Playbill On-Line, the long discussed Rocky Musical is now in development. It will be based on the original Academy Award Winning movie written and starring Sylvester Stallone. Although Sly will not star in the musical, he has "given it his blessing."

Already attached to the project are Tony Award winner Meehan who will adapt the musical (he also took on the writing chores for the musicals Annie, The Producers and Young Frankenstein) along with the Tony Award-winning team of lyricist Lynn Ahrens and composer Stephen Flaherty.

Fans will be happy to know that "Gonna Fly Now," by Bill Conti, Carol Connors and Ayn Robbins [which was nominated for an Academy Award] - will be a part of the score! For complete details click HERE. - Craig

EW: The Things They Carried

The October 19, 2007 issue of Entertainment Weekly has a piece by Tom Schierlitz and Josh Rottenberg entitled "The Things They Carried". It looks at some of the great props from motion pictures. The article leads with a two page spread of Sly's boxing gloves from "Rocky". Here's what they have to say:

Rocky Boxing Gloves The sleeper hit of 1976 and a surprise Best Picture winner, the underdog-palooka fable kick-started the career of writer-director-star Sylvester Stallone, launched a six-film franchise, and roused untold millions of couch potatoes with dreams of "Eye of the Tiger" glory. Stallone donated the gloves from "Rocky II" to the Smithsonian, but he wore these gloves in the first "Rocky", where he duked it out for 15 rounds with Apollo Creed. This pair clearly has a strong sentimental appeal for him - it has remained in his private collection for more than 30 years.
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- Craig

SZoner @ AFI "Rocky" Screening

SZoner, Joshua Tapia sent StalloneZone an exclusive summary of his experience at the AFI "Rocky" screening:

Hi Craig, Just wanted to write in and share my incredible experience at the AFI 40th Anniversary screening of Rocky. Sorry I could not provide some photos but they were restricted and security was very tight. If we were caught with a camera we would be ejected from the theater.

So after sitting in line for hours and finally getting into the theater lobby we were able to get our hands on a AFI 40th Anniversary collectors book. Finally as we all sat down in our designated seats a member of the AFI entered the room to tell us that all the Film Legends were in a theater for a photo shoot and that they would soon be coming in for the presentation. It was at this time he told us of the surprise guest who would introduce Mr Stallone....none other than Talia Shire. The crowd responded with cheers and applause.

Finally around 7:30pm Talia Shire entered the room to applause. She took the stand and talked about how while making the film they never really said it but they all thought they were making something special. After a few more words she introduced the man himself Sylvester Stallone. As Stallone emerged from the entrance the crowd stood up to give him a standing ovation. Stallone took stepped up to the podium and thanked everyone for coming. He shared a few stories from the production about how when they showed up for the Ice Rink scene that he was told all the extras were not available, he also told us about how Talia Shire had the flu and he knew when he went in for that first kiss he knew he'd be sick the next day but he was so lost in the moment that he just forgot everything and kissed her.

Stallone finished his speech and thanked everyone again as we applauded him. As he made his way out a gentleman ran out of his seat with a copy of Stallone's last book SLY MOVES. This caused several other people to jump from there seat with stuff to autograph. Stallone being the great guy he is stopped and signed everything that was put in front of him. I saw this as my chance, i got up from my seat and made my through the crowd. As I did this the theater started to lower the lights so that people would sit down. Right before he exited i was able to walk up to him. As i approached him he looked at my hands as if he expected me to have something for him to sign. I just stuck out my hand and said "I would just like shake your hand and thank you for coming." Sly shook my hand and thanked me.

The lights went down and we watched the film. This was one of the best film going experiences i have ever had. Second would be last year when thanks to StalloneZone I got to see Rocky Balboa a week before it was released in Tampa and if not for StalloneZone I would of not of known about the AFI screening. Thanks Craig and keep up the good work. Joshua Tapia
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Thanks for the write-up Josh. What a cool experience! - Craig

Some Rocky Inspiration

Ehren Cheung, on his recent trip to Philadelphia couldn't help but notice the...

"...constant flow of tourists who flocked to the statue of Rocky. Posing with Rocky Balboa was one of the primary attractions but not only did it seem that Rocky inspired people to pose, people ran up the stairs of the Museum of Art reenacting the scene in Rocky, and people would applaud and smile each time a group of people raced up the stairs. Some people were so enthused that they almost fell down the stairs!"

It's amazing how Rocky continues to inspire so many people worldwide. I love how the Rocky statue has become a "must see stop" for those who go to Philadelphia. For Ethan's full blog post, click HERE. - Craig

Sly Presents Rocky

From American Film Institute Press Release - Wednesday September 12, 1:48 pm ET LOS ANGELES, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/

The American Film Institute today announced a historic public event to mark the institute's 40th anniversary. Target Presents AFI's 40th Anniversary is an event of unprecedented scale -- even for Hollywood. Eleven classic American films will screen on a single night, in a single location -- each with a live introduction by the film's legendary star or filmmaker.

The event will be held October 3 at ArcLight Hollywood. All film programs will begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on September 19.

The films and artists that are confirmed to take part in this momentous occasion are:

    Julie Andrews will present THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
  Warren Beatty will present BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
  Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner will present WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... (1989)
  Kirk Douglas will present SPARTACUS (1960)
  Clint Eastwood will present UNFORGIVEN (1992)
  Morgan Freeman will present THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)
  Tippi Hedren will present THE BIRDS (1963)
  Angela Lansbury will present BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991)
  George Lucas will present STAR WARS -- EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE (1977)
  Jack Nicholson will present ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
  Sylvester Stallone will present ROCKY (1976)

"What better way to celebrate 40 years of AFI than to bring together movie artists and movie-goers in the flickering light of these classic American films," stated Jean Picker Firstenberg, AFI's President and CEO. "We thank Target for their continued support of AFI, providing the opportunity to honor AFI's 40th Anniversary with an epic celebration worthy of America's national educational and cultural organization."

"We are thrilled to honor 40 great years of the American Film Institute by celebrating the magic and artistry of the silver screen," said Laura Sandall, director, events marketing and publicity, Target. "By building relationships with leading cultural organizations like AFI, Target is able to foster creativity, promote learning and build stronger communities."

Tickets to all screenings are $25 and can be purchased at AFI.com or in person at the ArcLight box office at 6360 W Sunset Boulevard (at Ivar) beginning Wednesday, September 19. Event tickets include free popcorn and soda for all guests. The first 100 guests to arrive in each theater will receive a free copy of the special commemorative AFI 40th Anniversary Tribute book.
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What a great line up of films and presenters. Obviously "Rocky" would be THE one to attend, but it would also be cool to see Kirk Douglas present "Spartacus", Clint Eastwood show us "Unforgiven", or Jack Nicholson showcase "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". If any SZoner attends, please send in photos and a report! - Craig

Rocky Minimates

I really like this MiniMates replica of the original "Rocky" movie poster. Here's a page to tell you more about the Rocky Minimates. - Craig

Inspiration Strikes

Sly attends the pay-per-view of the Muhammad Ali vs Chuck Wepner fight. This provides the spark of inspiration that leads to "Rocky."