Rocky's back and fighting for Jesus

[kskiska]

It seems like a title guaranteed to make an audience groan: Rocky VI. It's star is old, the franchise is worn out and the idea of a 60-year-old boxer is ridiculous.

But Sylvester Stallone and the creators of the final addition to the Rocky stable have gone all out to market the movie, not to sports fans, but to Christians. Rocky, it turns out, is a metaphor for Jesus.

In one of the strangest twists in Hollywood history, Stallone is selling Rocky VI as a Christian parable of rebirth and redemption akin to Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, which stunned the film industry by showing profit in religious movie-making. A trailer, 'Fight for the Faith', is aimed at Christians while promotional packs explain how to use the film to teach Christian values, with tips for using Rocky in sermons.

(snip)

And there's more: in the upcoming Rambo IV, the grizzled Vietnam veteran will rescue a group of Christian missionaries trapped in Burma.

more…
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1962710,00.html

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. Maybe it's different in the UK, but in the US it's called "Rocky Balboa"

Either way, nobody's going to pay money to see it.

[Eric J in MN]

5. I want to see it.

It's been a long time since the previous "Rocky" movie ("Rocky V" was 1990), and my demand for seeing Stallone play Rocky again has built up.

[Pale Blue Dot]

7. Well, you're obviously one of the 10 people who saw "Rocky V" in the theater.

I'm sure you'll be on the edge of your seat with suspense.

Enjoy!

[Eric J in MN]

19. No, actually "Rocky V" came out at a time when I'd had enough

...of the series for then.

I've just seen some of it on TV.

But it's now been 16 years since "Rocky V."

[porphyrian]

2. That's stupid. Jesus wouldn't throw a punch. - n/t

[951-Riverside]

3. Is he really as dumb as he sounds? n/t

[spoony]

14. Stallone? He's quite bright, actually.

Whether you like his movies or not, you have to respect how many of the scripts he's done himself.

[Armstead]

4. I guess a stalled career can make one "see the light"

[brettdale]

6. Rocky is the man!

Go Rocky! How can anyone not like Rocky!!!

[Conan_The_Barbarian]

10. Amen! Hallejeuah!

Rocky is undeniably my favor movie of all times. Rocky 4 is somewhere in the top 10 as well!

[Bluebear]

12. Praises be and glory!

:crazy:

[TlalocW]

8. The Passion would have been so much better

If Pontius Pilate and Jesus settled their differences in the ring. I could totally see Jesus sitting in his corner between rounds, get spritzed with water and having his mouth guard put in for him before he got up, did some shucking and jiving, before laying a holy beat down on Pilate and exclaiming, "I am the greatest! No seriously... Son of God. I really am the greatest."

I am proud to say I have never seen a Rocky movie.

TlalocW

[Bucky]

9. Co-starring Burt Young as "St Peter" and Brigitte Nielsen as "The Devil" and

[Cleita]

11. You know, Stallone's mum used to be a lady wrestler.

I wonder how she fits in with the Virgin Mary concept?

[laconicsax]

13. Is it the Rapture yet?

I'm really tired of this sort of thing. Can it just be the damn Rapture already?

[spoony]

15. What sort of thing? Allegory? n/t

[laconicsax]

23. Nonsensical Christian allegories.

Rocky as Jesus, Harry Potter as Jesus (but only after he was supposed to be evil for practicing witchcraft), etc.

[spoony]

25. Well buy a ouija board and whine to Dickens.

Christian allegory has been a part of western literature since its beginning, and now the same with film.

[laconicsax]

27. Not Christian allegory in general

Nonsensical. If it's a complete stretch of the imagination (or rational thought) or was retroactively considered to take advantage of something popular that really was never intended by its creator to be an allegory, then it's quite often stupid.

[H2O Man]

16. I have never been able

to stand those movies. As a person who comes from a "boxing family," I always thought they were trash. I dis like two of the songs, as far as good music to train by. But the guy is a clown, who doesn't really understand the sport.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

17. Stallone is a prize example of what HGH, steroids, plastic surgery and CGI can do for a 60 year old.

It would be interesting to see how well Sly would be doing without the support of all of "mother's little helpers" and modern rejuvenative medical procedures. He may know how to make money but him and Arnie are in the same class as really bad actors.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

22. Disagree there

Stallone is not a great actor, but he is far better than Ahnold. He was very good in "Copland" and his portrayal of Rocky has generally been good. I've never seen Ahnold display any acting talent.

[dollydew]

18. Go Stallone!

My husband met Sly Stallone. He's a nice guy. His movies, except for COP LAND, suck but he is a nice person.

[terrya]

20. Jesus loved the idea of two men pummelling each other senseless, I'm sure.

I agree with some of the sentiments here suggesting that Stallone may be one of the stupidest, most clueless people around.

[neebob]

21. I laughed so hard the first time I saw that trailer.

And I wasn't the only one laughing. Someone, please, make him stop.

[PCIntern]

24. As a Philadelphian I am repulsed

by what they did to the series. Yeah, Jesus would just love the thought of these two gladiators beating the living crap out of each other for that great Rethug, Don King.

[cynatnite]

26. It might be good n/t