Posted on 08/28/2010 9:58:46 PM PDT by This Just In
Stallone: ‘America Apologizes Too Much’
Posted By AWR Hawkins On August 26, 2010
Recently, FOX NEWS’ Bill O’Reilly interviewed Sylvester Stallone [1] about his immensely popular movie, “The Expendables.” As I watched the interaction between O’Reilly and Stallone, it was readily apparent that Stallone was cut from a different cloth than many inside Hollywood: he loves this country and he’s proud to be an American.
The interview took place because the L.A. Times took a critical stance against “The Expendables,” reporting that Stallone created it to promote “apple-pie patriotism” among movie-goers. When O’Reilly asked Stallone if exploiting such patriotism was the intention behind the film, Stallone laughed and said no. He said it was a movie where “good guys…take out the trash.” After pausing he then said: “It’s pretty simple, [if] you’re bad you’ve got to go.” Other than this, Stallone said the move emphasizes a redemption of sorts, inasmuch as “The Expendables” ultimately risk their own lives (on screen) to do something good for somebody, and by so doing, get “their morality back.”
As O’Reilly reiterated other criticisms that have been aimed at “The Expendables,” Stallone said he didn’t mind people focusing on the fact that the characters in the movie “are patriots” and “are proud to be Americans.” Stallone did say he had read some criticisms where people tried to say the movie communicated a veiled disapproval of our military and CIA actions abroad, and that it put the “focal point on our intrusion into other countries around the world” and how “we tend to over-extend our boundaries.” But Stallone shot all that blather down by saying “I don’t believe that at all.” (i.e., he doesn’t believe our armed forces and intelligence ops are running around the world making things worse rather than better.)
From what I understand, Stallone said that it was as if they were on a mission to completely destroy their acting careers (regarding Rhinestone).
Also, I read that he considers ‘Stop, or my Mom Will Shoot’ his worse film.
The movie was pretty good, some good action scenes, and certainly worth seeing. I didn’t see much if any “America is great” patriotism though. Barely mentioned America at all. This was strictly about a group of mercenaries for hire who go and kick bad-guy ass. Could have been from any decent country, basically.
Fixed.
Apparently, when he was born the doctor used forceps, and the instrument was fastened on his face rather than around his head. The procedure damaged his facial muscles and mouth, thus affecting his speech and appearance.
One of my personal favorites is “Copland.”
Yeah, good call ... I forgot about Copland, but it WAS a good flick ... I also liked Cliffhanger ... a little corny, but it had Janine Turner, who aside from being a babe, was the only conservative babe in Hollywood and Lithgow was such a great villian. The chopper scene was a classic.
You are right about Copland ... He really was good in that and it was a whole different thing for him.
“ALRIGHT ROCK-O!!!! ALRIGHT, SLY!!!”
How about for those of us who wish to say, "Gun grabber!" instead of "Draft dodger!"?
Eddie Murphy right???
“You just saw the ‘Rocky’ movie?” HILLARIOUS!!!
“I didn’t see much if any “America is great” patriotism though.”
But you did not see anything akin to:
Bourne trilogies
Green Zone
G.I. Jane
G.I. Joe
Born On The Fourth of July
Nixon
Platoon
and on, and on............
great link 6. I remember his police ‘door to door’ confiscation statement very well.
Copland was very good with a very good cast. I always liked Ray Liotta.
It’s more likely the entertainment journolist lied than you misheard...
Yes, that statement was made after he heard about Phil Hartman’s death, which occurred in ‘98. Don’t know where he stands today, but as I mentioned, he is a Hollywood Republican who gives no apologies for his love of country.
“Copland” was a very good movie and Stallone was a totally different character in that movie and still stood out despite that cast. Great stuff.
“Cliffhanger” was more than alright.....though the opening scene still sends a shiver down my spine. Lord.
But, “Stop, or my Mom will shoot” wasn’t that bad. It was a Stallone film that my mom could watch and find “cute. Is that a bad thing?
“Judge Dredd”.....? I’ll always remember the line “throw down your weapons and prepare to be judged!” There is some sort of poetic justice in that.
The main thug’s (Eric Roberts) repeated comments about the “company sent you” were a reference to the CIA, as in “the comapny sent you” to take down his thug ###. Very pro-America subtext there.
He must have heard about Hartman's death two months before Hartman's death, because that's when he said this:
"...until America, door to door, takes every handgun, this is what you're gonna have... It really is pathetic... We're livin' in the Dark Ages over there." Sylvester Stallone, March 28, 1998
“Rocky Balboa,” is, I think, one of the all-time great characters in movie history. Stallone deserves credit as a writer, too. Very well done.
Except Cop Land.....the guy stepped up to the plate in that film. I had to respect him: he did a great job.
My top 5 Stallone movies:
1. Rocky
2. Copland - IMHO, Stallone’s best work outside of Rocky.
3. Death Race 2000 - It’s a cheesefest, but a highly entertaining one!
4. Rocky II - Doesn’t have the same charm for me as the original, but it’s still a very good movie.
5. Lords of Flatbush - always had a soft spot for this one.
Honorable mention to Cliffhanger. It’s not Shakespeare, but it’s a pretty good action flick.
Least favorite Stallone film (of the ones I’ve seen) would be either Over the Top or Cobra. (Didn’t see Stop or My Mom Will Shoot or Rhinestone).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.