Advertise on podcast: Sylvester Stallone and His Friends' Films Podcast

Ryan (Going the Distance: The Rocky Series Podcast), Craig (SlyCast), and Doug (Rocky Minute) dissect this low-budget ($3.6M) revenge thriller, praising brutal kills, Max Zhang's standout martial arts, Dave Bautista's indestructible rampage, and Sly's Rambo-esque fury, while slamming convoluted plots, sloppy editing, illogical traps (exploding mines?), generic villains, and baffling choices like the spinning prison nod from Part 2. Better than Hades (25% on Rotten Tomatoes vs. 7%), but still a forgettable VOD slog with graphic violence, shaky fights, and zero spark. Highlights: Jin Zhang's choreography and Sly's throat-slit finale. Perfect for die-hards craving gritty '80s vibes, but skip if you want the original's cleverness.

Hosts Ryan (Going the Distance: The Rocky Series Podcast), Craig (SlyCast), and Doug (Rocky Minute) brave this fan-voted disaster, unpacking Ray Breslin's return to a high-tech hellhole prison run by a fired protégé, complete with convoluted plots, baffling "algorithm" rants, robotic doctors, spinning rooms, and martial arts shifts aimed at the Chinese market. They roast the bait-and-switch billing (Stallone and Dave Bautista barely share scenes), shaky editing, illogical twists (a massive underground facility beneath an Atlanta church?), generic villains, and Stallone's limited screentime amid bad CGI and zero chemistry. Highlights include Huang Xiaoming's solid fights, Titus Welliver's wasted "Zookeeper," and absurd moments like the fallout boy cameo. With a dismal 7% on Rotten Tomatoes and a box office loss ($18M gross on $20M budget), this China-financed mess proves even icons can't escape bad scripts.

Hosts Ryan (Going the Distance: The Rocky Series Podcast), Craig (SlyCast), and Doug (Rocky Minute) reunite for this fan-voted crossover, breaking down Ray Breslin's genius escapes, the clever twists (including Rottmayer's secret identity), Arnold's standout performance with killer one-liners and machine-gun mayhem, and Sly's MacGyver-level smarts. They geek out over the clever opening sequence, the ship reveal's ingenuity, fun nods to classic action tropes, and supporting turns from Jim Caviezel, 50 Cent, and Sam Neill, while nitpicking flaws like over-the-top tech, plot holes, and underwhelming villain payoffs. Despite mixed reviews (49% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a modest domestic box office, this $137M global earner delivers solid '80s-style thrills with modern twists, proving these icons still pack a punch. 

 Join hosts Ryan (Going the Distance: The Rocky Series Podcast), Doug (Rocky Minute), and Craig (Slycast) as they suffer through a fan-voted deep dive into Stallone's early role as Stanley, the tough-but-vulnerable gang member navigating pregnancy scares, stolen cars, awkward dates, and zero character arcs. The crew rips apart the film's terrible soundtrack, out-of-focus shots, forced acting, endless dead air, and baffling plot holes, like why these 28-year-olds pass as high schoolers, the pointless subplots, and that infamous Richard Gere firing story involving mustard and hot dogs. Highlights include early Rocky vibes (pigeon coop monologues, animal talks), Godfather wedding rip-offs, and savage rants on why this forgettable flick is "absolute garbage" despite its cult status. If you're a die-hard Sly fan curious about his origins, or just love hearing podcasters in pain, this brutally honest crossover roast delivers laughs, frustration, and Rocky connections you won't forget. 

Host Ryan reunites with returning guest John Rivoli, Sylvester Stallone’s official Rocky and Rambo artist, for a hilarious and insight-packed deep dive into the infamous helicopter betrayal and POW rescue attempt in Rambo: First Blood Part II. From real leeches to a terrifying ex-con Russian henchman who once stalked Sly in Beverly Hills, plus behind-the-scenes bombshells about deleted scenes, novelization secrets, and whether Rambo’s still a virgin—this episode is pure 80s adrenaline with exclusive Stallone stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

Ryan welcomes UK listener-turned-guest John, a psychology enthusiast with real insight into trauma and the human mind, as they dive deep into the heart-pounding prison camp infiltration of Rambo: First Blood Part II. From Rambo’s silent bow kills and explosive-arrow stealth to that heartbreakingly tender “You’re not expendable” moment with Co, they unpack the raw vulnerability beneath the muscle, the adrenaline-fueled defense mechanisms of PTSD, and why Rambo’s quiet fragility hits harder than any body count. It’s the ultimate blend of ’80s action mayhem and real psychological firepower

Dive back into the jungle with host Ryan and legendary Stallone documentarian Derek Wayne Johnson as they break down the steamy, sweaty early moments of Rambo: First Blood Part II – from Rambo’s botched drop zone and explosive-arrow memories to Co’s unforgettable introduction, pirate river boats, and that intimate “expendable”  chat that still hits hard. Derek shares wild behind-the-scenes stories, from holding an actual screen-used Rambo II arrow at Frank Stallone’s house to his secret Rocky IV location tour with James Rolfe (AVGN), plus updates on upcoming projects and candid thoughts on Sly’s recent frustrations. It’s a love letter to ’80s action excess and the man who made green berets cool again.

Ryan and Sean (host of the Dolph Lundgren career-deep-dive podcast *I Must Break This*) continue Season 2 with the explosive sequel that turned John Rambo from troubled vet into the ultimate one-man army. The guys go scene-by-scene through Rambo’s mission briefing, the legendary “suiting-up” montage, the botched parachute drop, and the moment the movie fully unleashes the larger-than-life Rambo we all grew up worshipping. Whether you’re here for the muscle porn, the bureaucracy-busting rage, or just nostalgia for when action heroes were our real-life superheroes, this episode is 80s action comfort food with detailed commentary.

In the season two premiere of the "It's a Long Road: The Rambo Series" podcast, host Ryan welcomes guest Jack from the "Drunk Bond" podcast to dissect Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), kicking off with lighthearted banter about podcasting compliments, the hosts' shared love for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky and Rambo franchises, and Jack's irreverent yet respectful breakdowns of action classics. They dive into the film's explosive opening, Rambo's prison labor release by Colonel Trautman for a covert Vietnam recon mission to photograph POWs, and early character introductions, while riffing on confusing franchise titles, Stallone's peak physique, box office inflation ($750–800 million in today's dollars), screenplay credits (Stallone, James Cameron, Kevin Jarre), and director George P. Cosmatos's hands-off approach amid Sly's 1980s superstardom—celebrating the sequel's over-the-top action shift from the original's dramatic depth as a fun, nostalgic 1980s beast.

Ryan teams up with guest co-hosts Tim and Tony from the Round 14 Podcast—dedicated enthusiasts of Sylvester Stallone's iconic Rocky saga—for a high-octane breakdown of the film's climactic church standoff, Rambo's raw emotional monologue, and the cathartic resolution between the tormented veteran and a sympathetic yet beleaguered Sheriff Teasle. Blending sharp analysis of Brian Dennehy's standout performance as Teasle, Richard Crenna's paternal gravitas as Colonel Trautman, and Stallone's understated vulnerability that elevates the anti-hero from feral survivor to tragic everyman, the trio delves into the film's anti-war themes, practical stunts like the harrowing helicopter crash, and Jerry Goldsmith's pulsating score that underscores Rambo's descent into PTSD-fueled rage. Peppered with Round 14's signature banter on Stallone's chiseled '80s physique, crossovers between Rambo's grit and Rocky's resilience, and lighthearted asides on Vietnam-era politics, the episode wraps the inaugural film with heartfelt reflections on its enduring legacy as a grounded action blueprint, teasing future dives into the bombastic sequels.

Ryan welcomes Bob and Zip from the "No Redeeming Qualities" podcast to dissect a key action sequence from First Blood (1982), where John Rambo escapes a mine shaft, hijacks a National Guard truck, and unleashes chaos on a small town through daring stunts, explosions, and pursuits, all while the hosts intersperse humorous tangents on Stallone's physique, the book's darker violence, Italian heritage, and podcast crossovers.

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.