“Rocky” 50th Anniversary Release Poster & Trailers are Here!

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Sylvester Stallone and Rocky fans have to love the love that Rocky is getting for the 50th anniversary of the film’s release.  Check out these trailers as we get ready to see the original film back in theaters!

Struggling Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa has a chance to become a somebody when heavyweight champion Apollo Creed come up with the Bicentennial gimmick of fighting a sure-ringer and easily winning the bout himself. But someone forgot to tell Rocky, who trains earnestly. And in the climactic fight sequence, the “Italian Stallion” gets his wish: to go the distance…against all the odds!

Rocky 50 will also feature an exclusive look at the widely-anticipated biographical feature film, I Play Rocky, a Baha Fireside Production from Amazon MGM Studios and directed by Academy Award®️-winning director Peter Farrelly (Green Book, There’s Something About Mary), alongside an introduction from the I Play Rocky cast.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Rocky, The Italian Stallion returns to the big screen worldwide this November.

Get tickets now for ‪@fathom_entertainment‬ screenings in the US from 7-11 November, featuring an exclusive look at I Play Rocky and limited-edition concession vessels at select participating sites: https://www.fathomentertainment.com/r…

UK & International screenings begin 6 November. Check local listings for tickets and showtimes.

Celebrate 50 years of an underdog legacy! Enjoy this look back at the most iconic moments from the Rocky and Creed film series, honoring five decades of heart, grit, and glory.

Rocky™ (1976)
Directed By: John G. Avildsen
Written By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith as Mickey
Rated PG
Rocky is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Rocky II (1979)
Written and Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith as “Mickey”
Rated PG
ROCKY is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms

Rocky III™ (1982)
Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Written By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith as Mickey
Rated PG
Rocky is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Rocky IV™ (1985)
Directed By: Sylvester Stallone
Written By: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Brigitte Nielsen, Dolph Lundgren as Drago
Rated PG
Rocky is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Creed (2015)
Directed By: Ryan Coogler
Screenplay By: Ryan Coogler & Aaron Covington
Story by: Ryan Coogler
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Anthony Bellew
Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality
CREED is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Creed II (2018)
Directed By: Steven Caple Jr.
Screenplay by: Juel Taylor and Sylvester Stallone
Story by Sascha Penn and Cheo Hodari Coker
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, with Phylicia Rashad and Dolph Lundgren
Rated PG-13 for sports action violence, language, and a scene of sensuality
CREED is a trademark of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

Creed III (2023)
Directed By: Michael B. Jordan
Screenplay By: Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Story By: Ryan Coogler and Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad
Rated PG-13 for intense sports action, violence and some strong language
Available on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital platforms.

“Platoon” written & directed by Oliver Stone; starring Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen / Z-View

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Platoon (1986)

Director: Oliver Stone

Screenplay:  Oliver Stone

Stars:  Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Mark Moses, Tony Todd, Dale Dye, Oliver Stone and Johnny Depp.

Tagline: The first casualty of war is innocence.

The Plot…

1967.  The Viet Nam war rages.  While most US soldiers are drafted, Chris Taylor volunteered for duty.  Taylor arrives in Viet Nam and finds himself in a Platoon under the command of a young and inexperienced Lieutenant named Wolfe.  Although Wolfe gives the final orders, it is the two battle-tested Sergeants, Barnes and Elias, that the men respect.

Staff Sergeant Barnes has a soul as scarred as his face.  Barnes is there to get the job done.  He is hard, even brutal…to the enemy as well as those soldiers under him.  To Barnes the only good gook is a dead gook. Sergeant Elias has compassion for his men and an understanding of his enemy.  Elias is more of a “hearts and minds” soldier.

Each Sergeant has members of the platoon that prefer their leadership.  A mission goes sideways.  Members of the platoon are killed.  Barnes incites and leads his men as they commit war crimes.

Taylor will have to make a choice.  Look the other way or take a stand.  Either decision could mark him for death.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Platoon was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won four…

  • Nominee for Best Cinematography – Robert Richardson
  • Nominee for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen – Oliver Stone
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Willem Dafoe
  • Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Tom Berenger
  • Winner for Best Film Editing – Claire Simpson
  • Winner for Best Sound –  John Wilkinson, Richard D. Rogers, Charles Grenzbach, Simon Kaye
  • Winner for Best Director – Oliver Stone
  • Winner for Best Picture – Arnold Kopelson

Oliver Stone cast his leads against type.  Before Platoon Tom Berenger was usually the hero and Willem Dafoe the villian.  It worked.  Each man was nominated for an Academy Award.

When Jim Morrison (lead singer of The Doors) died, a Platoon script was in his possession.  Oliver Stone sent it to him in hopes that he would play Chris Taylor.

I saw Platoon when it was first released.  I thought it was good.  I went back a week later for another viewing and liked it much better.

Platoon (1986) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Neagley” Season 1 starring Maria Sten / Z-View

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Neagley: Season 1 (2026)

Based on: Characters by Lee Child

Developed by: Nick Santora, Nicholas Wootton

Directors: Sam Hill (Eps.1–2); Gary Fleder (Eps. 3–4); Phil Abraham (Eps. 5–6);  MJ Bassett (Eps. 7–8)

Teleplay: Nick Santora & Nicholas Wootton (Ep. 1-2; 7-8); Adam Higgs (Eps. 3; 6); Kyle Long (Ep. 4); Lacey Herbert (Ep. 5)

Starring: Maria Sten, Greyston Holt, Adeline Rudolph, Jasper Jones, Matthew Del Negro, Damon Herriman, Rebecca Liddiard and Alan Ritchson

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Frances Neagley, an ex-Military Police Investigator, now works as a Chicago Private Eye.  When a childhood friend turns up dead, police rule it a suicide.  Neagley doesn’t believe it and starts to investigate.  Clues point to Echo Farm, a new age cult led by Lawrence Cole.

Neagley is sure Cole has sinister motives for creating Echo Farm.  But what?  And why was her friend murdered?  As Neagley digs deeper she becomes a target.  Neagley will learn too late that someone with money, power and influence is pulling Cole’s strings… and trying to eliminate her.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Maria Sten is perfect as France Neagley.

Dewey Crowe will always be my favorite character played by Damon Herriman, but he’s also great as Lawrence Cole.

I loved this season of Neagley.  However, I thought much of the decisions made by Keno at Echo Park were dumber than they needed to be.  With that said, I must also add that I do like the character.

The Frances Neagley personal subplot was a nice addition that added depth to the character.

It was cool having Alan Ritchson make cameo bookends in season one.

Bring on Season 2!

THE BOXER by Tom Reilly!

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I’m a sucker for a good crime story.  Especially ones with a tough guy who refuses to bow down to mobsters.  Way back in 2019, I’d never heard of Tom Reilly (or seen his art).  I came across the pieces above and below and was SOLD.  I thought they were preview art for a new series.  I immediately e-mailed Tom to find out where/when I could purchase the series.

Tom wrote back to say, that there wasn’t one.  He created the art for himself… just toying around with ideas.  I asked Tom if he took commissions.  He did and so I requested Sly Stallone as Jack Carter teamed with Keanu Reeves as John Wick. (No surprise, right?).

Tom came through with a winner.  He also surprised me by gifting me the art above and below.  I was (and remain) blown away.  What a wonderful, kind thing to do.

Maybe someday Tom will return to the idea that sparked these drawings.  You just KNOW it would make for an awesome story.

“The Street Fighter” starring Sonny Chiba / Z-View

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The Street Fighter (1974)

Director:  Shigehiro Ozawa

Screenplay:  Kōji Takada, Motohiro Torii

Stars:  Sonny Chiba, Yutaka Nakajima

Tagline: If you’ve got to fight…fight dirty!

The Plot…

Terry Tsurugi, a martial arts master, is approached by the Yakuza to kidnap Sari, a billionaire’s daughter.   Terry opts to instead protect her.

Now the forces of the Yakuza are gunning for Terry and Sari.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I wanted to see The Street Fighter when it was first released in 1974.  I couldn’t because it was rated X because of the violent fight scenes.  No one under 17 admitted.  I had just turned 16.  When I finally got to see The Street Fighter I was so disappointed.

Sonny Chiba is a legend among many martial arts fans.  To me his facial expressions/grimaces were over the top and even comical.

The Street Fighter (1974) rates 2 of 5 stars.

THE STEPS: A MEMOIR by Sylvester Stallone / Z-View

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THE STEPS: A MEMOIR by Sylvester Stallone

First sentence…

On a dirt road leading to the sea, deep in the Pyrenees Mountains, I saw a sign.

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Most everyone thinks they know Sylvester Stallone’s story.  He’s that famous.

The child raised by dysfunctional divorced parents.  The student expelled from twelve schools.  The young man who wanted to be an actor, but was rejected time and time again.  So incredibly determined to get just one shot that he turned to writing… and struck gold with a screenplay.  He created a story that producers wanted so much that they were willing to pay a small fortune for him NOT to star in it.  But Sylvester Stallone stuck to his guns.  He got his shot for less money, but a percentage of the profits.  Rocky was made and the rest is history.

Yeah, most everyone thinks they know Sylvester Stallone’s story.  And they do, if you’re just talking broadstrokes.  The amazing thing is that what we know just scratches the surface.

Until now.

Sly Stallone’s memoir THE STEPS is an unvarnished look at his life.  He takes us from his difficult birth in a charity ward (which left him with a partially paralyzed face due to an accident with forceps) to his international stardom thanks to Rocky.   Most Stallone fans know it wasn’t an easy journey.  It wasn’t.  But even his most ardent fans will be surprised by Stallone’s candor and the things we didn’t know.

THE STEPS is an easy read, even when the situations are tough.  Stallone’s writing style makes you feel as if Sly is sitting with you telling you stories of his life. (And if you get the audible version, he will be!)  Sly’s sense of humor comes through.  So does his determination.  Although THE STEPS isn’t a self-help book, there are lessons that Sly learned that can be adapted to one’s daily life.

I’ve been a Sly Stallone fan, and followed his career since Lords of Flatbush. Yet there’s so much in THE STEPS I didn’t know.  And even the things I did know, Sly discusses in greater depth.  THE MEMOIR is everything Sylvester Stallone / Rocky fans could want.

Hopefully Sly enjoyed the process of writing THE STEPS enough for him to take the story farther.  Who wouldn’t love to get Sly’s thoughts and behind-the-scenes stories on each project in his career?

THE STEPS by Sylvester Stallone gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

“Icefall” (2025) starring Joel Kinnaman / Z-View

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Icefall (2025)

Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky

Screenplay:  George Mahaffey, Steve Isles

Stars:  Joel Kinnaman, Cara Jade Myers, Danny Huston and Graham Greene.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Harlan, a loner, is on a remote frozen lake preparing to ice fish.  His plans change when he finds a case full of money. Harlan decides to keep the cash and sets out across the ice.

Ani, the local Game Warden, sees Harlan out on the ice and decides to see what he’s up to.

When the plane carrying the stolen loot went down, everyone on board died in the crash.  The transmitter on the case didn’t.   The thieves on the ground have been on a mission to retrieve the case of cash.

As Ani questions Harlan, the crooks show up.  A gunfight ensues.

Ani and Harlan barely escape into the wilderness with the criminals closing in.  Ani and Harlan are utnumbered and outgunned.

As the temperature drops so do their odds of survival.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Graham Greene has a small role and sadly it was his last feature film appearance.

Icefall can accurately be described as Cliffhanger Horizontal or Cliffhanger Lite.

Icefall (2025) rates 2 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone is Rambo by Jim Ivey!

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I was going through the vault and found this piece that Jim Ivey surprised me one day when I was visiting him.  Jim (and most of my other friends) liked to occasionally razz me about my admiration for Sylvester Stallone.

Jim was one of my oldest (in age and length of time) and dearest friends. Jim was the owner of The Cartoon Museum in Orlando, Florida, when I first met him. At the same time, Jim also worked as a syndicated cartoonist [The Thoughts of Man], a political cartoonist [The Orlando Sentinel], a publisher [CartooNews], teacher [UCF cartooning class] and comic book convention organizer [OrlandoCon]. Jim made a lot of life-long friends through these activities and I was one of them.

“The Last Outlaw” (1993) starring Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, Steve Buscemi, Keith David and Paul Ben-Victor / Z-View

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The Last Outlaw (1993)

Director: Geoff Murphy

Screenplay:  Eric Red

Stars:  Mickey Rourke, Dermot Mulroney, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley, Steve Buscemi, Keith David and Paul Ben-Victor.

Tagline: You’re looking at the face of a killer with nothing left to lose

The Plot…

After the Civil War a renegade band of outlaws terrorize frontier towns robbing banks. They are a former Confederate squad that decided to stay together after the war ended. Under the command of Graff and his second-in-command Eustis, the outlaws are deadly.

Things go south during a robbery.  Several members of Graff’s squad are shot as they ride out of town.  Just slightly ahead of the posse, the outlaws stop to assess injuries.  One of the team is badly wounded.  Graf is ready to put him out down, despite the man’s protest that he can ride.  Eustis intervenes.  Things quickly escalate.  Eustis shoots Graf off his horse as the outlaws ride away.

Graf is taken prisoner by the posse.  In order to save his life, Graf offers to help the posse bring down his former teammates.  They accept.

As Eustis attempts to lead the few remaining soldiers to safety, Graff and the posse close in with murderous intentions.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Keith David, Ted Levine, John C. McGinley and Steve Buscemi do a lot of the heavy lifting.  They’re always good.

I’m usually a Mickey Rourke fan, but this role didn’t work for me.

The Last Outlaw could be subtitled Josey Wales Lite.

The Last Outlaw (1993) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“Spartacus” (1960) directed by Stanley Kubrick, starring Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Tony Curtis and Woody Strode / Z-View

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Spartacus (1960)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Screenplay: Dalton Trumbo; based on SPARTACUS by Howard Fast.

Stars:  Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Tony Curtis, John Ireland, Herbert Lom, John Dall, Charles McGraw, Harold J. Stone, Hume Cronyn, Richard Farnsworth and Woody Strode.

Tagline: They trained him to kill for their pleasure. . .but they trained him a little too well. . .

The Plot…

Spartacus, a Thracian slave, is so rebellious that he is sentenced to die.  Before the execution is carried out, Lentulus Batiatus buys Spartacus. Batiatus trains former slaves to become gladiators.  These gladiators will die fighting each other to provide entertainment for rich and powerful Romans.

Spartacus’ rebellious ways continue at the school for gladiators.  Pushed to his limit, Spartacus fights back against one of his oppressors.  To his (and everyone’s surprise) the other gladiators-in-training join in Spartacus’ revolt.

Spartacus and his well-trained gladiators move from village to village freeing slaves along the way.  Most freed slaves join the rebellion.

Rome is worried.  The slave uprising must be put down.   So the most powerful army in the world turns its sights on Spartacus.  The revolt must be crushed!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Spartacus was nominated for six 1961 Academy Awards and won four…

  • Nominee for Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture – Alex North
  • Nominee for Best Film Editing – Robert Lawrence
  • Winner for Best Costume Design, Color– Valles, Bill Thomas
  • Winner for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color – Alexander Golitzen, Eric Orbom, Russell A. Gausman, Julia Heron
  • Winner for Best Cinematography, Color – Russell Metty
  • Winner for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Peter Ustinov

Anthony Mann was the original director of Spartacus.  Creative differences between Mann and Kirk Douglas led to Stanley Kubrick coming on as director.  The salt mine locations were the only Mann directed scenes to make the final cut.  Ironically, Douglas and Kubrick also had major creative differences.

A few years after the release of Spartacus, Anthony Mann directed Kirk Douglas in The Heroes of Telemark.

Stanley Kubrick disliked the working conditions of this film.  It is the only “work-for-hire” credit on his resume.  On every other Kubrick film, he had complete control.

A scene cut for the original release was restored in 1991.  It is the scene where Marcus Licinius Crassus (Sir Laurence Olivier) attempts to seduce Antoninus (Tony Curtis) using inuendo of snails and oysters.  The original soundtrack was lost.  Curtis re-recorded his lines.  Since Olivier had died, Anthony Hopkins (who was known to imitate Olivier’s voice) was brought in to re-record Olivier’s lines.  Hopkins is thanked in the updated credits

The 1991 restoration contains exactly four additional minutes of footage than the original release.  Two minutes are the famous “snails and oysters” scene with the additional two minutes going to the overture, intermission, and exit music.

Kirk Douglas said that he made Spartacus because he was turned down for the lead in Ben-Hur.

I was surprised to see Hume Cronyn as a gladiator!

Spartacus is a classic.  A film everyone should see.

Spartacus (1960) rates 5 of 5 stars.

Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa by Gagnu!

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Sly Stallone as Rocky Balboa by Gagnu!

“It really don’t matter if I lose this fight. It really don’t matter if this guy opens my head, either. ‘Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody’s ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I’m still standin’, I’m gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren’t just another bum from the neighborhood.” – Rocky Balboa

A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper / Z-View

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A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE by Jordan Harper

First sentence…

He tells them, “This place is a crime.”

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

Jake Deal makes his living live-streaming nightly from L.A.’s dark, dangerous, crime-ridden hot spots. Jake takes his subcribers “live” to scenes of murders, crimes in progress, or whatever location that needs a police response. Jake’s car is loaded with a police scanner, cameras, wifi, and more. Jake planned to livestream the locations of the LA Ripper, a serial killer still on the loose.  That changed when Jake was hired to follow and compile dirt on a list of powerful and influential folks.

Doug Gibson is a lawyer for the common man.  Gibson’s clients are the under-served, the poor and the powerless.  So you can imagine Gibson’s surprise when Eric Alger contacts him. Alger needs a defense attorney and wants Gibson.

Eric Alger became rich as the producer of tween television shows.  Alger became even richer with his behind-the-scenes sex trafficking of youngsters.  He also served as a conduit to others with similar tastes.  Now Alger is behind bars.  Alger says if he’s not released, he’s going to name names.  If he’s going down, he’s taking rich and powerful sex deviants (like himself) with him.

Kara Delgado works for an underground concierge that gets the super-rich whatever they want. It could be the location for a private sex party, drugs, men, women, whatever the customer wants and can afford.   When Kara’s best friend goes missing and her apartment is scrubbed clean, Kara decides to investigate.

When Eric Alger is found dead in his jail cell, Jake, Doug and Kara’s paths cross.  Now they’re on the wrong side of powerful people with the money and contacts to make them disappear… and perhaps even the LA Ripper.

+++

Jordan Harper has another winner. A VIOLENT MASTERPIECE is a great follow-up to EVERYBODY KNOWS and gets my highest recommendation.

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