Sneak Peak: Rocky VI:
Rocky Balboa
By
Sean Lynch
Click
here to view the Rocky Balboa Teaser Trailer
It ain't over until it's over - and if
Sylvester Stallone has his way - it ain't over just yet.
It's
been sixteen years since Rocky Balboa last graced the silver screen
with his presence, the generally poorly regarded disaster Rocky
V in 1990, and it's almost been that long since a legitimate
Stallone hit.
He
was, as we all recall, part of the Hollywood Action flick Rat-Pack.
Stallone, Swchwarzeneggar, Van Damme and to a lesser extent Chuck
Norris (and to an even lesser extent, Pee Wee Herman) were the kings of
the box office for almost a decade. However, the fickle fortune of fame
soon took it's toll on the aging muscle-men.
Schwartzeneggar stumbled and never quite
regained his composure after 1994's Last Action Hero,
Van Damme with anything involving Dennis Rodmann while Stallone entered
into a series of (in hindsight, rather good flicks) box office
disasters including 1994's Judge Dredd (Budget:
$90million, Box Office: $34million), 1995's Assassins
(written by the Pre-Matrix Wachowski
Brothers and Superman Director Richard Donner) and
1996's underrated Daylight
(Budget: $80million, Box Office: $32million). The new millennium hasn't
been any kinder to Stallone either with his comeback flicks Get
Carter, Driven and D-Tox losing a
combined total of over $120 million.
In
a superb case of life imitating art, Rocky and Stallone are back for
one last shot at the title - it's literally make or break time. In this
new sixth installment of the Rocky series, Rocky Balboa returns to the
ring to fight the present world champion. It's been many years since
Rocky has been in the ring, his wife Adrian died of cancer, and he and
his son, Rocky Jr., have been growing apart. When a computer simulated
boxing match declares Rocky Balboa the victor over current champion
Mason "The Line" Dixon, the legendary fighter's passion and spirit are
reignited. But when his desire to fight in small, regional competitions
is trumped by promoters calling for a rematch of the cyber-fight,
Balboa must weigh the mental and physical risks of a high profile
exhibition match against his need to be in the ring. A true battle of
Will vs. Skill. With the help of Paulie, Tony (his old trainer), and of
course his son, will this be the final countdown?
This
concept has been floating around the Hollywood traps for years.
However, it seems the sticking point between Stallone and studio MGM
was the budget. MGM for several years made it clear they only intended
to spend $10 million, with Stallone holding out for more like a $20
million budget (keeping in mind that's for the whole film, not just his
talents).
However, with the relative success of 80's
franchises set to take the box office by storm over the next few years (Superman,
Batman, Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles and
the Michael Bay's live action adaption of Transformers)
Sylvester Stallone has finally gotten the deal he's been holding out
for, with talk that this could even lead to a Rambo
revival too.
However, judging by the latest trailer and
his appearances on the Foxtel series The Contender
it looks like good ol' Sly has put a few pounds on in recent years (in
fairness, he does turns 60 next July - I don't see my Grandpa taking on
a World Champ anytime soon!), but one has to expect that for this
latest film to succeed, there has to be at least one "Getting Fit,
Punching Meat" montage to help the Balboa lose a few pounds!
It
may be all a bit dated, but surely you can all hear the chant beginning
to emerge..."Rocky, Rocky, Rocky"...Let's get ready to rumble!
Rocky
VI: Rocky Balboa sucker punches it's way into cinemas
December 22nd, 2006.
Visit the ROCKY
BALBOA Official Site
Check out the ROCKY BALBOA Teaser Trailer
|
|
|
|
Stallone
has taken on the role of
Director, Writer and Star for the sixth Rocky
|
At
the age of 60, Stallone can still pack a punch
|
|
|
|
|
In
rare pics from the set, Rocky
returns to the ring - but will he be victorious?
|
Rocky's
final bout,
almost 20 years after his retirement
|
|
