Post: #1

Sylvester Stallone talks about making the movie while in poverty...





There are four parts.

Post: #2

One hell of a story, thanks for the link. The way Stallone tells it and describes some of the moments is so touching. I love the guy. It's also amazing to see how, regardless of your effort or dedication (which are important nevertheless), luck plays such a central part in many of the great things we achieve in life.

“I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” ― Thomas Jefferson

Watch the 4 clips, you'll enjoy it.

Post: #3

I never saw Rocky (or Stallone) quite the same when I learned he ripped the story off wholesale from a real dude's life (and never gave him credit or money for it).

I saw a whole thing on it ESPN about it:

Post: #4

(01-24-2013 11:03 PM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  I never saw Rocky (or Stallone) quite the same when I learned he ripped the story off wholesale from a real dude's life (and never gave him credit or money for it).

I saw a whole thing on it ESPN about it:

My understanding is that in the mid seventies, Chuck Wepner was paid a relatively low amount for the film rights and that a few years ago, he initiated a lawsuit against Stallone, which either got kicked or was settled for a low amount. Stallone should have paid that guy several million dollars and everyone would have been happy.

Post: #5

(01-24-2013 10:59 PM)Ringo Wrote:  One hell of a story, thanks for the link. The way Stallone tells it and describes some of the moments is so touching. I love the guy. It's also amazing to see how, regardless of your effort or dedication (which are important nevertheless), luck plays such a central part in many of the great things we achieve in life.

“I'm a greater believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it” ― Thomas Jefferson

Watch the 4 clips, you'll enjoy it.

I suppose this is a trivial comment, but that quote you just used runs in exact opposition to the point you just made. Just sayin'.

Post: #6

(01-24-2013 11:03 PM)Tuthmosis Wrote:  I never saw Rocky (or Stallone) quite the same when I learned he ripped the story off wholesale from a real dude's life (and never gave him credit or money for it).

I saw a whole thing on it ESPN about it:

He does mention Wepner in the 2nd or 3rd clip, and said the fight against Ali was his inspiration. Besides the fact that Wepner was the underdog and that he survived 15 rounds against the Champ, what else did Sly rip off? The dedicated wife? Honest question.

(01-24-2013 11:55 PM)Beyond Borders Wrote:  I suppose this is a trivial comment, but that quote you just used runs in exact opposition to the point you just made. Just sayin'.

Haha. You really think so? I don't really see it that way, but rereading what I wrote, it does seem contradictory.
What I mean is: working hard is important, it is what gets us most of the way through, what motivates us. Still, there are times when we need a little extra push, and that's when chance (or luck) comes in. If we hadn't worked so hard for so long, luck wouldn't have had any chance to help us; if we had worked so hard and not have had luck, we wouldn't have gotten some of the opportunities we did, which actually made the difference between you and the average. It's hard work that leads us to places where luck can help us, and as little of a contribution it may make, it sometimes is the most decisive part of the whole trajectory.

Post: #7

Anthony Robbins tells the Rocky story best:

Post: #8

Chuck Wepner, The Real Rocky

Full movie:

Post: #9

Sylvester Stallone did a little porn before "Rocky".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Party_a...and_Stud's

Post: #10

Original Story or Not...Rocky 4 still has the some of the GREATEST TRAINING MONTAGES I have ever seen in the history of film:






These scenes are now over 30 years old and I still don't get tired of watching them.

Post: #11

(01-25-2016 09:10 AM)Mercenary Wrote:  Original Story or Not...Rocky 4 still has the some of the GREATEST TRAINING MONTAGES I have ever seen in the history of film:






These scenes are now over 30 years old and I still don't get tired of watching them.

What's funny is that in the mid 80's when that movie came out, people thought that it was so unrealistic that an Eastern European guy was fighting for the heavyweight championship. Nowadays, it's almost more surprising when a guy who is not Eastern European is fighting for the heavyweight championship.

Post: #12

There are holes in the story. "One night I went to see Muhammad Ali fight Chuck Wepner." That fight took place in Ohio. Stallone was living in Los Angeles at the time and didn't have a pot to piss in. No way in hell he went to that fight, unless he went somewhere to watch it on television, but that's not the story I heard. I heard that he spent almost every dime he had on a t.v., watched the fight on that t.v., then came up with the idea for Rocky.

Post: #13

Mercenary, how do you decide which ancient threads to revive, anyway? Or is it random?

Post: #14

(01-25-2016 10:34 AM)262 Wrote:  Mercenary, how do you decide which ancient threads to revive, anyway? Or is it random?

My inspiration for all the thread revivals I do is this great post by Thomas the Rhymer:

/thread-22925...pid1118017


Many guys here miss great threads because they were being discussed years ago before they became members, or because they were not online when they were last updated.


I think in most cases, it's better to add to (or improve) something that already exists, rather than duplicating or ignoring it.
That's the difference between real progress and starting things from zero each time.

Post: #15

Clubber Lang is one of my all time fave movie villains, the guy is classic.

Post: #16

I hope he wins the Oscar next month.