Hey folks, Harry here... Due to Stallone's Publicity schedule, he'll be picking up Day 3 on Monday... so enjoy Day 2 - there's some awesome stuff here.
1) As much as I love the whole Rocky series, the first and last ones fit so well together. Would you consider doing a "Godfather Saga" like cut of Rocky incorporating much of the first and last, and bits from the others? Misterpat Portland, OR
1.) I would welcome the opportunity to join the first Rocky and the last Rocky together because I think it would make an extraordinary visual to see young Rocky with his life just starting out and when we last see him he’s in love with Adrian and the world is all green lights and sunshine. As the music fades, we dissolve into the present day where Rocky is visiting Adrian’s grave. It would just show how drastic, cruel, and unpredictable life can be. The other ROCKYs, had wonderful moments but rest assure the making of Rocky Balboa was unbelievably cathartic for me. I’ve never made a more personal film and hopefully I never have to go through that again, but knowing the peaks and valleys that all of us have to journey up and down to get through life I’m sure someday in the future I’ll be making another “personal journey” film.
Hello there, my name is Matt and I'm from Iowa. I'm sooo giddy that a new Rambo film will be coming out. It will be the first one that I ever got to see on the big screen (much like Rocky Balboa was the first Rocky film I was able to see at the theater). I wish you the best of luck with the film Mr. Stallone. Question 2: How was it working on the music for Rambo with composer Brian Tyler? Is there a lot of that certain "Jerry Goldsmith" magic/themes that made the scores for the other Rambo films classic? Thank you for your time Mr. Stallone. You and your films have been a huge inspiration to me when I was growing up. Good luck with Rambo, it looks wonderful.
2.) Yes, working with Brian was such a pleasure because he had crossed paths with Jerry early on in his career, so he was very familiar with the master composer’s style. The difficulty was Goldsmith scores specific beats and movements of the film that wouldn’t apply to the type of film we had just completed. Brian’s challenge was to embrace the Goldsmith score but take it into a much more primal, combative, moody area that would elevate the Burmese atrocities and terror. He did a fantastic job. At first I was just going to score the film with dueling banjos, a flute and a piccolo, but I thought some of the viewers might object.
Long time fan here, especially of the Rambo franchise. Question 3: I am so glad that you have made another Rambo film. I had been waiting for a fourth one ever since I saw part 3 as a kid. My question is, I heard you say something in a interview where you said you may continue the Rambo franchise. If this is true, when can we expect a new installment, and what would the storyline be about? Thanks for the great films, and keep up the good work! Saynt Jaymz Oklahoma City, Oklahoma United States
3.) I truly can’t tell you yet because I think it would be bad luck, but I think a challenge would be to take the character which has been perceived mostly in a realistic vein and add another element of the surreal that would actually take the audience into a slightly different genre. It’s not like I’m going to turn it into a full on Broadway musical starring the Muppets, but it is ambitious.
Questions for the living legend... 4) Are you having any problems with the studio about editing out some violence in 'Rambo' to achieve a lower rating or can you release the balls-out movie you promised with that (now legendary) trailer? You are simply the best and most entertaining movie star of all time. Thanks. Graham From Watford, England
4.) This film has its balls intact. The original premise was met with objections by certain powerful personalities in the studio because of the inherent violence. I told them to water this down to make a sugar free war movie, something that is diluted would be a true disservice to the millions of slaughtered Burmese. Then it was suggested that the tone of the film should be more about corruption within the system. For example, the ubiquitous corrupt CIA official or a film that deals with a “caper”, such as Rambo goes to Burma and finds Americans selling plutonium rods to the enemy or some other viral horse crap. I truly hate “caper” movies. I think if I ever developed a cancer, it’ll be a caper tumor lodged at the back of my brain. So, I said to the studio, “What’s wrong with doing a film about man’s inhumanity to man and sometimes God’s indifference to his loyal followers?” To their credit, they said, “Go for it.”
5. Mr. Stallone, could you please settle the old urban legend about your "ducking the draft" during the Vietnam War? I know that you sued The Spectator in 1991 for printing this and then won the suit, but it still seems to pop up from time to time. Dead Cowboy from New Orleans, Louisiana
5.) I’m glad you brought that up. I’ve never ducked anything in my life except a few punches thrown by angry individuals, usually my school teachers. At the University of Miami, my draft number came up in 1969. So, myself, along with thirty other young men appeared before the draft board and we went though all the rigors of mandatory testing. Some of the guys there were ingenious. I remember the fellow standing to my right had packed a heavy dose of peanut butter in his ass crack before entering so when he was asked to bend over for a check you can imagine that visual. Anyway, I was certainly not in the mood to go to Vietnam, but there was little else I could do. After the testing, I recorded a rating of, don’t hold me to this, but I think it was an H1 or H4. Anyway, I was only to be inducted in the case of a national emergency. Truthfully, that’s how it went down. PS – They must’ve seen something in the psychological profile that made them question my viability.
6. Who could take who in a smackdown between Jackie Stallone and Estelle Getty? All the best!! Loved Rocky Balboa so bring on Rambo 4! Boz Bolton, England
6.) My mother is a physical specimen to behold. She still, to this day, hangs from a low level trapeze, tap dances, and can do a full back bend. Not only would she turn Estelle Getty into geriatric tartar she might even break my neck for good measure.
7. I know Reagan always insisted that Rambo was a republican, how do you think the character sits politically and do you get offended at the character being politicized? Kane Banner Adelaide, Australia.
7.) Yes, I do get offended at the character being politicized. Rambo questions the leadership of the country to the point where he doesn’t even live in it. I liked Ronald Reagan. He was a fine man and I’ll never forget the time we sat in the lower level of the White House on folding chairs watching a print of “Escape to Victory”, while sharing a bowl of popcorn that was plopped between us. No, Rambo is completely a-political but once President Reagan declared Rambo a republican, the media decided to make me into a right wing dart board.
Dear Mr. Stallone, Thank you so much for bringing Rambo back. I can't even describe how exciting it is to see your name on posters in my local movie theater lobby once more. I have a quick question: 8. When First Blood was released, what sort of response did you receive from veterans of the Vietnam war? The first film definitely gives him the voice of the many disaffected soldiers, but it also portrays him as a crazy person who attacks police and U.S. soldiers (in effect attacking America itself for wronging him) so I could see some people being offended. Thanks for your time, and for the years of sweet, sweet on-screen carnage. Jeff Miller Seattle, WA
8.) Two weeks ago I was in Las Vegas and a burley ex Veteran came up to me still wearing his Veterans cap and held my hand for what seemed like ten minutes. As he spoke, tears ran down his broad face, and he continued to thank me for “First Blood” for the final speech and trying to convey what they went through.
9HI sly Was just listening to your great commentary for Rocky Balboa somewhere in the commentary you allude to the their maybe a directors cut of Rocky Balboa just wondering if there is any chance of that happening?. Also are there any plans to release the other 5 Rocky films in special editions I would love to hear your thoughts on all the 5 previous films in the series?. Would love to hear your thoughts on the films now that so much time has passed since they were made and you could properly dissect them. Thanks for reading. Good luck with Rambo Look forward to it. Mark Ocean Grove Australia
9.) Most likely the studio is waiting until their old inventory is depleted but they’re definitely coming out with a “Rocky” six pack. As for a director’s cut, I could do it, but I didn’t think it’d be that much different from what you saw. There is an exception. There was one scene when Rocky went back to the gym and was training poorly because all the conflict with his son, but other than the inclusion of that scene I don’t believe I would change much from what you saw. It took a long time to blend the narrative and drama and try to keep the natural slow Rocky pace interesting so the audience wouldn’t emotionally abandon the film. So in hindsight, I think what you see is the best of what we have.
10. One of my favorite parts in First Blood is when Trautman explains that Rambo is trained to eat things that would make a billygoat puke. Could you tell us how this unique skill has come in handy for Rambo and whether or not he uses it in the new movie? your friend, Vern
10.) Trautman is basically saying that we’ve taken this normal human being and reduced him to an animal that will now rely upon savage instinct to survive. It’s as though his morality and sense of self has been beaten out of him through all the intense training so he has no other purpose but to be a fighting machine willing to die for a worthy cause, or one that would even be unworthy. In the new film, Rambo reacts purely on a subconscious level like an animal with acute survival instincts. Having spent the last twenty years in a primitive, unforgiving location he’s more attuned to his animal cunning and physical self than he’s ever been before which also presents a dilemma because he’s also removed further and further from society so that his ability to be in touch with human emotions is nearly at a fragile end.
