Stallone marketing latest, saddest "Rocky" movie as religious film...

[Crankie Avalon]

The marketing of "Rocky": The release date for Sylvester Stallone's final installment of the Rocky story -- "Rocky Balboa" comes out Dec. 22 -- is no coincidence. The film is being marketed directly to Christian audiences, and the Christmastime opening is a part of that effort. Church groups have been provided with study guides and special screenings, and Stallone himself has been reaching out to the faith community to peddle his boxer's tale; in a recent teleconference with religious leaders, he admitted his own faith had influenced the Rocky story greatly. "The more I go to church and the more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus and listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, I feel as though the pressure is off me now," he said. "You need to have the expertise and the guidance of someone else. You cannot train yourself. I feel the same way about Christianity and about what the church is: The church is the gym of the soul." (RockyResources, CitizenLink via Drudge)

http://www.salon.com/ent/col/fix/2006/11/29/wed/

He put out a real crazy webpage to go with it, too: http://www.rockyresources.com/

[AllegroRondo]

1. Making it the only movie franchise to jump the shark twice

[Lautremont]

2. I'm fairly sure it took a massive leap of faith by financiers

to put money into it, so in that sense maybe he's right. Or maybe it's more the fact that, upon hearing he was making this movie, a million people shook their heads and said "Jesus Christ!"

[Orsino]

3. "He punched people--for CHRIST."

Worst movie tagline ever.

[Phillycat]

5. .

:rofl:

[KamaAina]

4. Sounds like somebody took a few too many shots to the head

from Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang, and that Russian dude. Ouch. :puke:

[mockmonkey]

6. I guess my dream for a

Rocky vs. Rambo movie will have to wait.