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Published on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 - 8:53pm |
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Round Six With Sly Stallone! His funniest yet!!!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with the honor of posting Round Six of AICN's 200 Questions for Sylvester Stallone. Let me tell you this... having done nearly 200 interviews for this site in the last 10 years... This is something extremely rare. Stallone isn't just giving in-depth answers, but he's being incredibly honest about himself, his past, his present, his future and the people he's worked with. On top of all that, he's being funny as all hell. This is by far the funniest 10 Questions so far. From "Damn you, Batman," to what he'd do if he could go back in time and do-over Rocky IV...
I'd love to see this become a regular feature on the site. I'm having a blast reading them and I hope you are, too. Many thanks to Mr. Stallone and his assistant Celeste Salzer. Enjoy Round 6!!!
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND ONE!
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND TWO!
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND THREE!
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND FOUR!
CLICK HERE FOR ROUND FIVE!
Now for Round Six!!!!
1. Were you disappointed with the demise of 'Sly' magazine? What exactly happened there? It seemed by the time of the fourth issue, you had little or no involvement in the project.
curiousvinnie
Mahwah, NJ
You’re absolutely right, the magazine was doing well to a degree, but a magazine lives or dies on advertising and I didn’t get any advertising. I was about to go around and solicit help from my dentist, my florist, and the guy who runs the 7-Eleven. I was looking to get it from anywhere, but it was not to be. I enjoyed Sly Magazine and writing the stories was therapeutic and fun, but it’s incredibly time consuming. It is like doing a silent movie every month. You’re right, I had zero involvement with the last issue, actually, I was shocked to see Sharon Stone coming at me from the cover of Sly Magazine. I thought I was being sucked into a nostalgic whirlpool of a series of THE SPECIALIST outtakes.
2. How do you think the template for cinematic heroes has evolved from that of the action stars of the eighties? Where do you see it evolving in the future?
Joe- Norwood, MA
I think the evolution has been startling. I believe the culprit in the transformation of action films can be traced to BATMAN starring Michael Keaton. By that I mean, when an individual can step into a latex suit bulging with muscles and Velcro himself into an action star body we knew the times they were a-changing. It’s tough enough to go to the gym and stay in good shape, but when you have the option to step into a Herculean Halloween costume; working out doesn’t look like much fun. Damn you, Batman.
3. Please reconsider writing your autobiography! If not, would you consider writing a sequel to 'Sly Moves' which would focus primarily on mental health & attitude instead of physical health? I'm picturing a Stallone version of 'The Power of Positive Thinking' - what do you think?
curiousvinnie
Mahwah, NJ
Thank you very much. I’m flattered that you think I’m a candidate for stable mental health. But the truth be known, I am insane with long, horrible fits of sanity. Now, if you can make insanity work for you, that’s actually called creativity. If you can’t, that’s called a menace to society. Thank you.
4. Of all of your movies to date, which one do you think received the most unfair treatment from critics?
Donny
Virginia Beach, VA
I think the film that got lambasted, full frontal, double barrel, tic-tac wack-packed into a cinematic coma was PARADISE ALLEY. But at that time I didn’t actually endear myself to the critics when I used to invite them to step into an alley so I could critique their jaw. Let’s face it; my powers of communication were a little bit below that of a knuckle-dragging, ooze-dwelling cretin from another galaxy.
Actually, I haven’t progressed that much. I just lie better.
5. I have heard about the difficult phone call you had to make to Talia Shire, explaining the absence of Adrian in 'Rocky Balboa.'
How easy or difficult was it to get Burt Young back? Tony Burton?
curiousvinnie
Mahwah, NJ
To get Burt Young back was a blessing in disguise because he is the only true family member from the original. He’s absolutely fantastic in ROCKY BALBOA, conveying all the bittersweet pain and reluctant tough love for Rocky. Tony Burton was also a great find. He delivers one of the key lines in the movie, so I thank him for that and for staying alive all these years.
6. Here's my question. Two-fold.....
I just finished watching all five Rocky DVDs back-to-back to prepare myself for the final installment. Enjoyed it thoroughly -- part II is still my absolute favorite. Now, all five movies seem to be one big whole, with one exception: Rocky IV. It didn't have any Mickey, it didn't have Bill Conti doing the score, it didn't have the standard opening fanfare, it just seems.....different, a bit "out of place".
Do you agree with this and if so, was this all intentional?
Now how will the final movie fit in the series, now that there's no Adrian, no Mickey, and no Apollo?
Thanks!
Mark from Montreal, Canada
The reason ROCKY IV seems a little disjointed is because I was having a conflict with Bill Conti at the time and decided to go in a different direction, which I’m sorry for. Also, I think the whole premise of the film was based too much on “the fight” and not the personal struggles that preceded the fight. If I had to do it all over again, I would’ve hired Bill Conti, married Ivan Drago and punched out Brigitte Nielsen.
7. Question: At the end of Rocky III you and Apollo fought as a "favor" to Apollo for helping you pummel Clubber Lang. I gotta know…who won Rocky vs. Apollo III?
The Albino Mack
West Des Moines, IA
In ROCKY III I freeze the frame as both men are throwing their power shots. Rocky is left handed, Apollo is right handed. Since I am the shorter of the two, my punches will travel shorter distance. Apollo is looping his right hand so Rocky lands first and thirty seconds later, Apollo’s attorney shows up and sues Rocky for assault.
8. Hi Sylvester
This is a great thing to do. I've been a fan (particularly of the Rocky series, but generally) since 77. Also my late son, whom we lost this September aged 24. James. I don't have a religion, but in some way, I know he's by my side as I ask this one. It is.....
What movie(s) fired you up as a kid/teenager in the same way that the Rockys surely have for millions of kids over the years?
Thanks. Hope I get chosen! Very best of luck with the movie.
Andy Dickenson
I live in Royston Vasey, UK
I used to go leaping from chair to chair listening to the theme of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. HERCULES starring Steve Reeves put me into orbit and the theme from THE VIKINGS, I believe that was 1957, got my blood boiling. I think that is why I’m drawn to big scores, because of the impression it made on me during my youth. Thank God I didn’t listen to bongo solos.
9. Hello Mr. Stallone, I have seen all your Rambo movies and they are fantastic!
My question is, why do you want to film a 4th part? Should maybe the character Rambo find peace?
I hope I will get an answer. Thank you.
Miroslav Dojcinovic
Germany
I want to film a fourth RAMBO because I’m incredibly greedy. Just kidding. To do another RAMBO will be a very, very difficult shoot. It would hopefully look reminiscent of APOCALYPSE NOW - not that I’m putting myself in the great Coppola category - but it would be a huge undertaking. I think the story of RAMBO is one about being considered obsolete, not part of the new technological mode of warfare, kind of a savage turned loose in Microsoft’s headquarters, a man completely out of step with his time a la THE WILD BUNCH. That presents an interesting dilemma because I feel Rambo is always destined to wander the earth, cursed with rage and self-doubt. So, an “up” ending wouldn’t be easy, but a challenge.
10. My Question:
Can you recount in detail the process of writing the Oscar-winning Rocky screenplay in just three days? I can only imagine it had to be a very intense period of time. Where were you? Was there anyone distracting you? Did you act it out? Who inspired the characters? Thanks!
Chris
NYC
I was sitting at a small plywood table when I started to write ROCKY. At that time I was chain-smoking cigarettes. My brand was a cancer stick called “Tramps.” So I pretty much barricaded myself in the room and started to pound away, thinking “What would be an interesting vehicle if I had one shot to perform?” I was influenced by MEAN STREETS and Marty and I always had an affection for sports. Three and a half days later I had a shabby 89 pages of a script called ROCKY. (At one time John Avildsen, the man who eventually wanted to direct ROCKY, wanted to rename the film ROCKY, AIN’T NO MARSHMALLOW. OOOOOOOkkkkay….) Of this hand-written script, maybe only 10 percent was usable, but what worked for me was to write fast, even though I know it’s flawed and scenes are half-baked. But I will slowly try to correct them in the rewrites. I enjoy rewriting.
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Reader Talkback
Wow by mrfan | Dec 6th, 2006 08:02:17 PM | first? by misnomer | Dec 6th, 2006 08:02:32 PM | DEATHRACE 2000!!! by CarmillaVonDoom | Dec 6th, 2006 08:03:07 PM | Double Wow. by mrfan | Dec 6th, 2006 08:03:18 PM | first? by BackRiverCatfish | Dec 6th, 2006 08:04:09 PM | damn you first! by misnomer | Dec 6th, 2006 08:04:27 PM | Can we still submit questions
or is it too late? by mrfan | Dec 6th, 2006 08:04:32 PM | third! by BackRiverCatfish | Dec 6th, 2006 08:05:53 PM | Almost misnomer. by mrfan | Dec 6th, 2006 08:06:03 PM | Sly's gotta be on the sauce. by veritasses | Dec 6th, 2006 08:09:19 PM | Fanboy bullshit. by vivavitalogy | Dec 6th, 2006 08:10:32 PM | Rambo IV:Rambo leads a bunch
of young studs to action.. by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 6th, 2006 08:11:38 PM | curious vinnie got three
questions by Bobo_Vision | Dec 6th, 2006 08:16:09 PM | fantastic vision for the
alternate Rocky IV by keyserSOZE | Dec 6th, 2006 08:18:38 PM | Tiny Toons already made fun of
Keaton Batman..... by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 6th, 2006 08:18:39 PM | Yeah Rocky IV was out of
place. by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 6th, 2006 08:29:04 PM | NOTHING IS OVA! NOTHING! by damagedinc | Dec 6th, 2006 08:37:13 PM | wait get sly back on the
phone! by jonboy83 | Dec 6th, 2006 08:41:41 PM | Erm questioner No.8... by Rendell | Dec 6th, 2006 08:42:26 PM | I noticed that... by Quint | Dec 6th, 2006 08:45:09 PM | That was fantastic! by super Cucaracha | Dec 6th, 2006 09:00:25 PM | You take this post, and shovel
it! by Womb2dooM | Dec 6th, 2006 09:02:59 PM | Stallone is the F***kng man! by super Cucaracha | Dec 6th, 2006 09:04:50 PM | Reading this just as... by Dasher | Dec 6th, 2006 09:06:21 PM | jonboy83 by veritasses | Dec 6th, 2006 09:09:19 PM | thx sly by Toddstarwatcher | Dec 6th, 2006 09:11:21 PM | This is great! Thanks! by Atomik Steve | Dec 6th, 2006 09:25:13 PM | super Cucaracha... by Womb2dooM | Dec 6th, 2006 09:26:49 PM | Rambo 2 and 3 by pjdon | Dec 6th, 2006 09:44:51 PM | pjdon by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 6th, 2006 09:54:15 PM | The answer to 6 is comedy gold by tiredpm | Dec 6th, 2006 10:05:21 PM | Rambo II was awesome by Bobo_Vision | Dec 6th, 2006 10:22:04 PM | rocky rocks by onefatman | Dec 6th, 2006 10:27:58 PM | 'Incredibly Greedy" LOL. by PornKing | Dec 6th, 2006 10:34:25 PM | married Ivan Drago and punched
out Brigitte Nielsen. by Alonzo Mosely | Dec 6th, 2006 10:57:18 PM | Thanks alot by aknasas | Dec 6th, 2006 11:01:47 PM | This is some great stuff ...
Stallone gets mad props! by Lamerz | Dec 6th, 2006 11:17:50 PM | tiredpm by Quint | Dec 6th, 2006 11:25:06 PM | At first, by dregmobile | Dec 6th, 2006 11:27:37 PM | We need to do this with none
other than by dregmobile | Dec 6th, 2006 11:28:25 PM | How come AICN isn't doing
Transformer updates anymore? by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 6th, 2006 11:31:08 PM | Shatner... by Rendell | Dec 6th, 2006 11:36:43 PM | different questions by JimmyJoe RedSky | Dec 6th, 2006 11:57:47 PM | Very interesting by viranth | Dec 7th, 2006 12:43:24 AM | Stallone + armwrestling = ARM
TV by armtv | Dec 7th, 2006 12:46:10 AM | Rocky 4 was awesome by Neo Zeed | Dec 7th, 2006 12:47:39 AM | timmer33, if you are
listening... by Seph_J | Dec 7th, 2006 12:53:54 AM | James Cameron! by Rindain | Dec 7th, 2006 01:55:28 AM | Damn you Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI | Dec 7th, 2006 02:08:57 AM | Question 8 by BenBraddock | Dec 7th, 2006 02:42:28 AM | Terrific, really enjoying
this Q&A, great to have by KillaKane | Dec 7th, 2006 03:24:47 AM | RE: How come AICN isn't doing
Transformer updates anymo by photoboy | Dec 7th, 2006 03:49:46 AM | Question: Possibility of Rocky
IV redux? by ricster | Dec 7th, 2006 04:01:30 AM | "removing the robot" by DocPazuzu | Dec 7th, 2006 04:22:31 AM | ricster, that's pauly's
girlfriend! by Talkbacker with no name | Dec 7th, 2006 06:15:48 AM | This was hilarioius! by abominate | Dec 7th, 2006 07:20:35 AM | 200 questions with Seagal,
mediated by Vern by triplefive | Dec 7th, 2006 07:35:57 AM | Bruce Willis should be next. by Gilkuliehe | Dec 7th, 2006 07:37:51 AM | As a filmmaker by Vampire's rock | Dec 7th, 2006 08:28:20 AM | AICN should by veritasses | Dec 7th, 2006 08:35:20 AM | Tango and Cash 2 by thefreeagents | Dec 7th, 2006 08:54:07 AM | Hey PJdon by abominate | Dec 7th, 2006 08:57:43 AM | I cant believe this guy is
doing these questions by godzillasushi | Dec 7th, 2006 09:00:21 AM | "Married Ivan Drago and
Punched Out Brigitte Nielson." by Read and Shut Up | Dec 7th, 2006 09:14:45 AM | Next? Legend Clint Eastwood.
But GOOD LUCK with that! by JDanielP | Dec 7th, 2006 09:46:49 AM | These questions are really
getting me interested... by Cotton McKnight | Dec 7th, 2006 09:57:07 AM | Even though my question didn't
get picked... by Doctor_Sin | Dec 7th, 2006 09:58:05 AM | Death Race 2000 by Sly Fox | Dec 7th, 2006 10:22:40 AM | Rocky Balboa opens... by abominate | Dec 7th, 2006 10:40:04 AM | Damn you Batman by Wazoo | Dec 7th, 2006 11:10:15 AM | the new 'damn you michael bay' by occula | Dec 7th, 2006 11:21:51 AM | Damn you Batman! by Billyeveryteen | Dec 7th, 2006 11:31:54 AM | Occula by abominate | Dec 7th, 2006 11:58:28 AM | AICN should Thank
Stallone......... by ptindy | Dec 7th, 2006 12:00:08 PM | Next Q&A: Michael J. Fox by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 7th, 2006 12:12:31 PM | I've got to give it to Sly... by Childe Roland | Dec 7th, 2006 12:22:15 PM | ptindy by Cl_Kilgore | Dec 7th, 2006 12:28:58 PM | Ok missed one or two... by ptindy | Dec 7th, 2006 12:33:07 PM | This is a local talkback... by blotter | Dec 7th, 2006 12:43:15 PM | Sly has made AICN interesting
again by Razorback | Dec 7th, 2006 12:51:40 PM | All thank Celeste, who took
her time... by JackPumpkinhead | Dec 7th, 2006 01:07:33 PM | you know what razorback? by occula | Dec 7th, 2006 01:45:24 PM | ps abominate by occula | Dec 7th, 2006 01:54:45 PM | Yes, they could do a Cobra
special edition... by abominate | Dec 7th, 2006 02:31:04 PM | Waitaminute..... by playahatersball | Dec 7th, 2006 02:37:02 PM | R.E. Sly: by playahatersball | Dec 7th, 2006 02:40:23 PM | Great by Nightwood | Dec 7th, 2006 03:01:36 PM | That Sly Stallone, ...he's one
of us, now. (heh,heh) by JDanielP | Dec 7th, 2006 03:04:19 PM | did he catch all the 'damn you
m.bay' posts?? by Exeter | Dec 7th, 2006 03:37:00 PM | Cobra... by Cult Exiter | Dec 7th, 2006 03:43:25 PM | Rocky's whole life was a
million to one shot. by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 7th, 2006 04:02:26 PM | ptindy by Cl_Kilgore | Dec 7th, 2006 04:50:50 PM | Shatastic!!! by DarfurOnTheRocks | Dec 7th, 2006 05:18:28 PM | Cool. Stallone apparently has
a great sense of humor by Orbots Commander | Dec 7th, 2006 06:38:39 PM | I thought "Oscar" was a fun
movie by eraser_x | Dec 7th, 2006 06:47:30 PM | Also... by Orbots Commander | Dec 7th, 2006 06:51:44 PM | Damn you, Michael Keaton... by lynxpro | Dec 7th, 2006 06:56:39 PM | Hey, Keaton was a pretty good
Batman. by Orbots Commander | Dec 7th, 2006 07:00:28 PM | Thanks for the heads up on the
Trailer YakBacker! by vivavitalogy | Dec 7th, 2006 07:04:49 PM | ORANGE JULIUS! by SK909 | Dec 7th, 2006 07:08:04 PM | man that trailer gives me the
chills by occula | Dec 7th, 2006 07:09:07 PM | The Watchmen by vivavitalogy | Dec 7th, 2006 07:24:18 PM | "TONIGHT WE DINE IN
HELL!!!!!!!" by Kai_Mah'gra | Dec 7th, 2006 07:38:28 PM | i'd also like to point out... by occula | Dec 7th, 2006 07:54:31 PM | I'd put Keaton #1 as Batman by GibsonUSA Returns | Dec 7th, 2006 08:47:53 PM | Judge Dread Henderson by hoorayforeric | Dec 8th, 2006 11:42:40 PM | sly magazine? by roccotheripper | Dec 9th, 2006 02:21:28 PM |
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