In another Sylvester Stallone Podcast Network crossover, hosts Ryan Rebalkin of Going The Distance, Craig Cohen of Slycast, and Doug Greenberg of Rocky Minute reluctantly dissect The Expendables 4 (aka Expend4bles, 2023), Scott Waugh's underwhelming R-rated swan song that squanders a $100M budget on PlayStation 2-level CGI boats, forgettable ship-bound climax, and charisma-vacuum newcomers like Megan Fox's abrasive Gina and 50 Cent's placeholder Easy Day. The trio mourns the franchise's faded glory—praising Jason Statham's elevated Lee Christmas lead, Tony Jaa's disciplined fighter, and fleeting OG chemistry with Stallone's four-day cameo and Dolph Lundgren's aged Gunner—while eviscerating phoned-in villains (Iko Uwais' Rahmat, Andy Garcia's Ocelot), choppy AI-like banter, zero stakes, and passionless filmmaking that prioritizes F-bombs over practical '80s-style explosions, deeming it a fine-but-forgettable misfire that killed the series despite meta nods and martial arts flair.

In a rollicking Sylvester Stallone Podcast Network crossover, hosts Craig Cohen of Slycast, Doug Greenberg of Rocky Minute, and Ryan Rebalkin of Going The Distance team up to eviscerate and occasionally defend The Expendables 3 (2014), Patrick Hughes' PG-13 pivot that swaps brutal R-rated gore for broader appeal, introducing fresh blood like Wesley Snipes' Doc, Antonio Banderas' chatterbox Galgo, and Harrison Ford's gruff Church replacement while benching Bruce Willis amid salary disputes. The panel raves over Mel Gibson's magnetic Conrad Stonebanks as a betrayed co-founder turned arms-dealing menace, Snipes' tax-evasion quips and knife flair, and Banderas' scene-stealing energy, but lambasts the toned-down violence, convoluted Somalia skyscraper finale, forgettable young recruits (Ronda Rousey, Kellan Lutz), and Stallone's directorial absence, ultimately deeming it a flawed yet watchable franchise low with standout villainy and meta nods that still honors '80s excess despite corporate meddling.

In a high-octane crossover episode from the Sylvester Stallone Podcast Network, hosts Ryan Rebalkin of Going The Distance, Craig Cohen of Slycast, and Doug Greenberg of Rocky Minute reunite to dissect The Expendables 2 (2012), the Simon West-directed sequel that amps up the '80s action homage with relentless set pieces, meta quips, and an all-star mercenary ensemble led by Stallone's Barney Ross. The trio celebrates the film's non-stop gunfire, explosive Nepal rescue opener, and villainous tour-de-force by Jean-Claude Van Damme as Vilain, while critiquing tonal shifts toward goofiness, underdeveloped newbies like Liam Hemsworth's Billy, and scheduling quirks that sidelined Jet Li; they laud Van Damme's scene-stealing improv, Jason Statham's priest-disguised brawls, and cameos from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, and a meme-spouting Chuck Norris, ultimately hailing it as a fun, fan-service thrill ride that grossed $300 million despite minor script flaws in dialogue and realism.

In a thrilling crossover installment of the Sylvester Stallone Podcast Network, veteran hosts Craig Cohen of Slycast, Doug Greenberg of Rocky Minute, and Ryan Rebalkin of Going The Distance converge to unpack the explosive 2010 action opus The Expendables, Stallone's directorial homage to '80s muscle-bound cinema. The trio dissects the high-stakes tale of a ragtag team of mercenaries—led by Stallone's battle-hardened Barney Ross—tackling a tyrannical dictator on a remote island, praising the film's relentless gunfire, machete-wielding mayhem, and star power from Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, and cameos by icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis, while sharing laughs over production lore, character arcs, and why this testosterone-fueled ensemble piece endures as a guilty pleasure for genre aficionados despite its formulaic flair.

In this episode of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," host Ryan, joined by co-host Katie (with Kyle absent due to an unforeseen event), dives into the Rocky franchise with a focus on a heartfelt scene where Adrian tends to Rocky’s injuries after his meat-punching training, while also addressing recent developments in Sylvester Stallone’s life, including his new film Samaritan and personal struggles. The hosts discuss listener emails, including a Samaritan review from Donald and a note from Doug about the filming of Rocky’s iconic stair-running scenes, highlighting Stallone’s acting range. They analyze the emotional nuances of Rocky and Adrian’s relationship, the cultural context of 1970s boxing myths, and engage with their Discord community, blending humor, trivia, and deep insights into Rocky’s enduring appeal and Stallone’s real-life parallels.

In this episode of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," host Ryan reunites with co-hosts Katie and Kyle to discuss Sylvester Stallone’s recent personal and professional developments, including his divorce from Jennifer Flavin after 25 years and his new film, Samaritan. The trio reflects on the emotional weight of Stallone’s divorce, wishing both parties well, and speculates on how personal stress may have fueled his public disputes with producer Irwin Winkler. They dive into a pivotal scene from Rocky where Rocky trains at Paulie’s meat factory, analyzing the tension between Rocky and Paulie, the latter’s alcoholism, and the iconic meat-punching moment that underscores Rocky’s vulnerability and determination. Engaging with Discord listeners and tackling Rocky trivia, the hosts blend humor, personal anecdotes, and deep analysis, drawing parallels between Stallone’s life and Rocky’s struggles, while celebrating the film’s enduring cinematic impact.

In this episode of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," host Ryan, joined by regular co-host Kyle and guest host Doug, replacing Katie, delivers a heartfelt exploration of the Rocky franchise, focusing on a pivotal scene where Mickey visits Rocky’s apartment to offer his managerial expertise. The episode kicks off with humorous banter about Katie’s absence and Doug’s introduction as the host of "Rocky Minute," a podcast dissecting Rocky films minute-by-minute. Ryan reads an email from Doug himself, highlighting the symbolic Italian flag colors in a gym scene and Jurgens’ antagonistic role, sparking a discussion on the film’s themes of opportunity and manipulation. The hosts dive into Rocky’s emotional confrontation with Mickey, analyzing its authenticity and parallels to Sylvester Stallone’s real-life struggles, while engaging with Discord listeners and tackling challenging Rocky trivia, blending fandom, humor, and deep cinematic analysis.

In this episode of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," host Ryan, joined by co-host Katie and guest Jared Tockstein, delves into the Rocky franchise with a mix of humor, fan interaction, and deep analysis. The episode kicks off with introductions, spotlighting Jared’s podcasting credentials and his prior collaborations with Ryan on other shows within the network. Ryan addresses recent developments in Sylvester Stallone’s ongoing feud with producer Irwin Winkler, clarifying a misunderstanding with another YouTuber, Viking Samurai, over shared insider information about the Rocky franchise and Creed 3’s storyline. The hosts discuss a listener email from filmmaker Simon Drake, whose work was inspired by Rocky’s cinematography, and analyze a pivotal scene where Rocky is offered a life-changing fight against Apollo Creed. The episode blends trivia, Discord engagement, and reflections on Rocky’s emotional depth, particularly his vulnerability and relationship with Adrian, offering fans a rich exploration of the film’s themes and Stallone’s real-life parallels.

In this episode of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," host Ryan, along with co-hosts Katie and Kyle, dive into a passionate discussion about the Rocky franchise, focusing on Sylvester Stallone's ongoing disputes with producer Irwin Winkler over the rights to the Rocky series. The episode begins with Ryan addressing a recording mishap and providing a disclaimer about insider information regarding Stallone’s lack of control over the franchise, particularly highlighting tensions surrounding a new Drago spin-off series. The hosts explore Stallone’s public frustrations, the Winkler family’s control, and the broader implications for the Rocky legacy, weaving in personal anecdotes, listener interactions via Discord, and trivia about the Rocky films. The conversation balances fandom with critical analysis, drawing parallels between Stallone’s real-life struggles and Rocky Balboa’s narrative, while also celebrating the cultural impact of the series and its relevance to themes of opportunity and legacy.

The Stallone Podcast Network episode features hosts Ryan, Doug, and Craig diving into a lively discussion about Sylvester Stallone’s career, focusing on the 1993 action film Cliffhanger. They explore Stallone’s recent appearance at the Conn Film Festival, where he unveiled a 4K edition of First Blood and shared updates on Rambo: Last Blood, alongside his surprising pitch for a new Rocky story involving an undocumented immigrant. The hosts also discuss a potential Cobra streaming series, expressing skepticism about its viability without Stallone’s iconic character. The bulk of the episode is dedicated to a detailed analysis of Cliffhanger, praising its visceral action, practical effects, and iconic stunts, like the plane-to-plane transfer, while critiquing its dated dialogue and certain unrealistic sequences. With personal anecdotes, like Craig’s passion for the Ramones and Ryan’s military training, the hosts blend humor, nostalgia, and critical insight, celebrating Stallone’s legacy while acknowledging the film’s flaws and its place in 90s action cinema.

Hosts Ryan, Doug, and Craig, along with guest Walt from The Wilder Ride, dissect the 1987 Sylvester Stallone film Over the Top in a simultaneous YouTube and Facebook live broadcast. They discuss the film’s surprising fan-voted selection over Cliffhanger in a listener poll, expressing mixed feelings about its campy charm and significant flaws, including a weak script and questionable plot points like Lincoln Hawk’s unexplained 10-year absence from his son Michael’s life. The hosts critique the film’s arm-wrestling premise, outdated 1980s tropes, and problematic scenes, such as a child traveling alone and a father-son relationship that feels forced, while praising Stallone’s genuine performance and the nostalgic soundtrack featuring Kenny Loggins. They engage with live chat comments, debate the film’s production choices, and reflect on its poor box office performance, ultimately labeling it a “good bad movie” that disappointed some expectations but retains a cult following.

In this episode of "It's a Long Road," host Ryan welcomes special guest John Rivoli, the official Rocky artist for MGM and Sylvester Stallone, to discuss Stallone's iconic films, particularly "Rambo: First Blood." Rivoli shares his background as an artist curating Rocky and Rambo-inspired paintings, his personal encounters with Stallone, and a new Rambo artwork depicting the character's emotional breakdown. The conversation delves into Stallone's acting prowess, the film's themes of veteran trauma and the American nightmare, behind-the-scenes insights like natural lighting in mine scenes and real rats, comparisons to biblical narratives, and scene breakdowns from the movie, including Rambo's escape from the mine shaft. They touch on Stallone's history in films like "Lords of Flatbush," the film's Christmas setting, and Rivoli's excitement about upcoming Rambo merchandise.

In this episode of "It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast," host Ryan welcomes guest Scott from the "All 90s Action All the Time" podcast, now part of the Last of the Action Heroes Podcast Network, to discuss Sylvester Stallone's "First Blood." They explore Scott's history with the Rambo franchise, his preference for Rocky over Rambo, and a detailed scene-by-scene breakdown of the film's mine shaft sequence involving Rambo's evasion tactics, the National Guard's incompetence, and key interactions between characters like Sheriff Teasel and Colonel Trautman. The conversation touches on the movie's tone shifts from thriller to action, Jerry Goldsmith's score, filming locations in British Columbia, comparisons to other films like "Southern Comfort," and humorous critiques of the National Guard's portrayal as "weekend warriors." They also share personal anecdotes, podcast network details, and listener feedback, ending with anticipation for future episodes.

In this episode of "It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast," host Ryan delves into the 1982 film "First Blood" with guest Scott from the Church of Tarantino Podcast. They discuss Scott's podcast, which chronologically explores Quentin Tarantino's films and related works, and share insights on Rambo's evolution from a serious PTSD-focused story to action-packed sequels. The conversation covers Rambo fandom, comparisons to other films, listener emails about rankings, deleted scenes, and military details, before breaking down key movie sequences involving John Rambo's survival, radio communications with Colonel Trautman, and escalating tensions with Sheriff Teasle. They analyze character motivations, production anecdotes, and themes of veteran struggles, wrapping up with reflections on Stallone's career and potential remakes.

In Episode 7 of It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast, host Ryan welcomes Dave Robinson, the head of the 60 Minutes With podcast network, to dive into Sylvester Stallone’s iconic 1982 film First Blood. The episode explores Dave’s personal connection to Stallone, from meeting him at a 2019 event to his lifelong fandom sparked by watching Rocky in 1978. They discuss the 60 Minutes With network’s evolution, the brilliance of First Blood’s acting, particularly Brian Dennehy’s portrayal of Sheriff Will Teasle and Richard Crenna’s last-minute casting as Colonel Sam Trautman, and key scenes like Trautman’s dramatic introduction. The conversation also touches on the film’s themes of pride, bullying, and Rambo’s misunderstood heroism, blending personal anecdotes with insightful analysis of the movie’s cultural impact.

In this episode of "It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series Podcast," host Ryan is joined by guest Adrian from the Arcade Attack podcast to dissect a gripping sequence from "First Blood" (1982), where John Rambo, portrayed by Sylvester Stallone, turns the tables on a small-town police force hunting him in the rugged British Columbia wilderness. The discussion delves into the horror-like intensity of Rambo’s survival tactics, including his use of sharpened sticks, a spring trap, and stealth to incapacitate officers without killing them, culminating in a chilling confrontation with Sheriff Teasle. The hosts praise the raw, CGI-free filmmaking, stellar performances by Stallone and Brian Dennehy, and the Western-inspired narrative, while also addressing listener emails about the film’s dog scenes and production insights, blending fan enthusiasm with critical analysis.

"Driven" (2001), a high-octane action-adventure film written by Sylvester Stallone and directed by Renny Harlin, follows Joe Tanto, a retired race car driver with a tumultuous past, who is called back to mentor young rookie Jimmy Bly in the high-stakes world of the Champ Car World Series. The film, discussed with fervor by the hosts of the Stallone Podcast Network, is critiqued for its convoluted plot, poor dialogue, and overuse of CGI, yet it maintains a bizarre allure akin to a cinematic trainwreck. Featuring a star-studded cast including Stallone, Burt Reynolds, Kip Pardue, and Estella Warren, the movie attempts to blend intense racing sequences with personal drama but falters under weak character development and editing, earning it a reputation as a flawed yet oddly captivating entry in Stallone’s filmography.

In this episode of the Sylvester Stallone Podcast Network, hosts Ryan, Doug, and Craig dive deep into a retrospective review of the 1989 prison drama "Lock Up," starring Sylvester Stallone as Frank Leone, a model inmate transferred to a brutal maximum-security facility under the sadistic Warden Drumgoole, played by Donald Sutherland. The discussion covers the film's plot, including Leone's backstory, his relationships with fellow inmates, intense action sequences, and themes of justice and redemption, while sharing personal memories of first viewings, production trivia like filming in a real New Jersey prison with actual inmates as extras, actor performances (including John Amos as Captain Meissner and Tom Sizemore's debut), behind-the-scenes details such as an unfinished script during shooting, and critiques of the soundtrack, violence, and Razzie nominations. The hosts praise the movie's emotional depth, Stallone's acting, and its underrated status, contrasting it with other Stallone films, and wrap up with ratings, comparisons to the Rocky series, and plugs for their other podcasts

In episode ten of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," hosts Ryan, Katie, and Kyle deliver an engaging mix of Rocky trivia, industry gossip, and a deep dive into the emotionally charged scene where Rocky persuades Adrian to enter his apartment, sparking a nuanced discussion on 1970s gender dynamics and consent. The episode opens with technical hiccups and light-hearted parenting banter, followed by listener emails praising the podcast’s audio-only format and a teacher’s use of “maintaining” from Creed II. The hosts discuss Sylvester Stallone’s public feud with producer Irwin Winkler over Rocky rights, expressing empathy for his frustration while debating legacy versus financial motives. Five trivia questions from Rocco’s Rocky Trivia Book keep listeners engaged, and the analysis of Rocky’s apartment scene explores its gritty realism, Adrian’s shyness, and the controversial “coercive” undertones, balanced by the hosts’ defense of Rocky’s innocent intentions within the 1976 context.

In episode nine of "One More Round: The Rocky Series Podcast," hosts Ryan, Katie, and Kyle deliver a lively discussion centered on the iconic first date scene between Rocky and Adrian at the ice skating rink, blending humor, nostalgia, and cultural insights. The episode opens with technical glitches humorously attributed to the "patriarchy," followed by a listener email from Dave and a spirited debate about a Twitter exchange where Ryan’s Pride Month post, featuring a Rocky-Apollo bromance GIF, sparked controversy over perceived political undertones. The hosts dive into five new trivia questions from Rocco’s Rocky Trivia Book, analyze Rocky’s negotiation skills and Adrian’s shy demeanor, and explore 1970s gender norms and boxing culture, particularly the “southpaw” explanation. With vibrant Discord engagement and reflections on Stallone’s writing, the episode celebrates the emotional depth of the skating scene while addressing fan dynamics and societal themes.