It is sadly ironic that Sylvester Stallone made his mark in Hollywood playing a professional boxer.
Everybody over thirty knows that he hit the big time in 1976 as Rocky Balboa, the pugilist who became a blue collar hero. The film won an Oscar for Best Picture. John G. Avildsen, who would "borrow" the plot for three Karate Kid films, collected a statue for Best Director.
Where there's smoke, there's fire. And where there's celluloid success, there's sequels. In the case of Rocky, lots of 'em.
But like a lot of boxers, Stallone doesn't know when to quit. After his performance in Spy Kids 3D (which either saved his career or mocked it, depending on who you talk to), Stallone is now throwing his weight behind proposed sequels from his two big franchises. If Stallone can find the backing, and it looks like he probably will, the further adventures of Rocky Balboa and John Rambo will be coming to a theater near you.
Now, I have to admit to liking the Rocky movies. Even the fifth one didn't turn my stomach. But a sixth would be a joke. Making sequels was fine when Stallone was a young man, fighting for respect and crying out for his old lady. If he makes another, he'll just be an over-the-hill afterthought crying out for his OLD lady.
Is Talia Shire still alive? She is? Who knew.
As for another Rambo film, First Blood was a great way to kill a couple of hours. There's nothing like watching pigheaded fools being hunted by a borderline psychotic madman with a chip the size of the Washington Monument on his shoulder. Oh, the first sequel had some good moments, too. ButRambo III was a complete waste of film stock. Saving Private Ryan it ain't. Enough, already.
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