Kermode Uncut: My Top Five Stallone Films

[@ZeppelinBigFan]

Stallone is perfect in First Blood. Watched it again quite recently after some years and was blown away by the emotional depth of the Rambo character, and Stallone was truly excellent in it.

[@Onmysheet]

I agree. Until they made the Rambo character into a parody cheesey hero in the sequels. But I did quite like 4.

[@Onemanjim]

4 was terrible. It's message seemed to me to be "be as unethical and despicable as you like, as long as you're doing it to other unethical and despicable people". Action meets torture porn. Same as Ingloriououous Bastardes, but at least that one had some sassy dialogue...

[@ZeppelinBigFan]

jedi fu Rambo 4 didn't even attempt any sort of nuance or subtlety. The Americans are great people, while the Burmese military guys are literally the cruelest people to have ever lived.

[@norwoodeye2580]

Watched FIRST BLOOD again a few months back; hadn't seen it since the first time, some 30+ years ago. It was an incredibly tight film, strong on all counts, and very, very entertaining. Pleased to see it get a mention here.

[@not_henry_the_fifth]

Thankyou mark for introducing me to 'copland'. deniro, keitel and stallone are three of my all-time favourite actors and yet I never even knew this film existed! just watched it last night and WOW! fantastic film with fantastic acting, yet very few people seem to have heard of it. truly the definition of 'hidden gem'.

[@theperfectimperfect]

can i just discuss the editor needing to equalize the volume on these videos? mark voice is always so quiet.......and those bells rings are deafening love these videos but it is common for these videos to have that issue

[@thomascoushatta155]

+Josh Mcdowell I am more annoyed about the ending. The trumpet was so beautifully synchronized with the first three top 5 movies and then the posters come just randomly.

[@Sinnessa]

Is First Blood really such a controversial choice? I thought it was fantastic and just assumed most other people did too. Obviously the sequels are big dumb action cash-ins, but the first is a totally different kind of movie to those.

[@Lexyboogie]

Demolition Man being on Kermode's list is the reason why I listen to his opinion more than any other reviewer out there.

[@Onmysheet]

The reason why he's so good in Cop Land is because he delivers the dialogue without mumbling, which he's done a lot in most of his films.

[@glock38]

Copland is an amazing film with a strong performance from Stallone. Shame it doesn't get more recognition.

[@Vebinz]

Stallone's action movie heritage has made many forget that he really is a very good actor underneath it all. Not Lawrence Olivier, but still very memorable.

[@tmrezzek5728]

'The Lords of Flatbush' is a great choice. Stallone rewrote some of his dialogue and penned the hilarious ring-buying scene ("But, Stanley, I love you...BUY ME THAT RING!")

[@popc5245]

Stallone is so underrated

[@20thCenturyPox]

Re-watched Cop Land just last week and although the film has not aged perfectly, Stallone's performance remains the admirable glue that holds it together. And Michael Rappaport's in it, so you know it's good!

[@MrPLebbie]

I agree with most of Mark's choice's. I think from a performance point of view Nighthawks and F.I.S.T were also worthy of a mention.

[@brewt1mer]

i must say that mark Kermode is someone who I didn't like at all and was very rude about online in the past but in the last few years I have changed..i really like and respect him now and really enjoy this channel..

[@MWeistra]

Agree with this list but would also find a place for Nighthawks.

[@RabbiSteve]

I agree. Nighthawks is very underrated flick. And I like Keith Emerson's score. @Punkster

[@erolsabadosh]

I love that Mark likes Demolition Man, I would have thought he'd find it too silly!

[@chrissennfelder7249]

"First blood" and "Rocky" are timeless movies.

[@royw-g3120]

Cop land was great, Stallone played a vulnerable character for maybe the first and only time. Demolition man was riotously fun still love it today Denis Leary basically playing himself was really entertaining.

[@wasteyelo1]

Two words - Lincoln Hawk. Three additional words - Over The Top.

[@twiedenfeld]

+wasteyelo1 Because it bankrupted Cannon Films?

[@FrancisXLord]

+Box Top Cannon Films deserved to be bankrupted after stealing the budget of Superman IV and investing it in Masters Of The Universe. Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus were a couple of hacks who greenlit often substandard material. Over The Top and Breakin' (aka Breakdance) were the highlights.

[@theF1oracle]

Can we all agree that 'Stop or my mom will shoot' would have made it to no.6 ?

[@One_moor_for_luck]

Cannot believe Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot isn't on here...

[@pavanbhatia389]

She Rambles On .....cant believe your not on top of me.....

[@terrysilvester4720]

Forgot how great Cop Land is!

[@ninfilms]

I always felt that films should of opened doors for Stallone. I watched that film at the cinema and loved it even crowds loved. I always surprised that Stallone had said that the film held him back.

[@bluemalhi9693]

damn right stallones performance in copland is amazing the first time I watched it I knew it was his finest performance

[@TheTonybudd]

What no love for 'Paradise Alley'?

[@KesselRunner606]

First Blood is a thinking man's action movie, and a totally different animal than the Rambo sequels. It's actualy as anti-violent as you can get, where Rambo struggles to avoid killing people. I watch it every now and then, and it still holds up as a solid action/thriller.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

I think Nighthawks is one of his most overlooked films.

[@michaelgayle68]

100%

[@jameschesterton]

Copland, great choice Mark, agree 100% he and the film are fantastic, and, dare I say, DeNiro's last great screen performance, expecially in the clip showed here where he eats his lunch.

[@hypnodelica]

Totally agree on Cop Land - he played that character with a vulnerability that made the whole film work for me and the beauty of it was that it was totally unexpected...

[@janno142]

I would only replace Demolition Man with Nighthawks in that list. With Billy Dee Williams and Rutger Huer

[@jeffrokraus5483]

I think Tango and Cash was fun, as a buddy cop style romp. And Cliffhanger is interesting in the way it spoke to regret and poor choices. It also speaks to arrogance in this same manner. Plus, Cliffhanger takes a fun, scary, turn -- as it becomes a crazy action movie with lots of fun trying to kill the bad guys.

[@lanceromance420]

Stallone was excellent in the 1993 film, CLIFFHANGER.

[@perfectframe1]

+Lance Davis I loved Cliffhanger - one of the best action films of the 90's.

[@ewenl7669]

+Lance Davis Obviously it's quite campy (with Sly climbing cliff faces completely topless and all), but the set pieces and overall choreography really don't feel twenty years old. Very solid and perhaps Stallone's second best pure action outing after Rambo. I'll always love Ralph Waite's character grinning maniacally as they try to prevent that girl's death in the film's opening. How that survived into the final cut is a mystery.

[@Luvie1980]

Creed was one of the best movies of 2015. Stallone's best performance. However, Michael B Jordan should not be overlooked and should have gotten nominated himself, he carried that movie.

[@haliastales]

Great stuff Mark! My personal favourites (doesn't mean best):1. Rocky2. Rocky Balboa3. Tango & Cash4. Creed5. Copland

[@mazza4190]

100% #1 COPLAND. Awesome cast and great performances.

[@glyph2011]

Completely agree with the list. And the rankings. Spot on.

[@siena88]

Love the Leaving Las Vegas poster in the background

[@pooplop8458]

Copland brilliant, watched it a few days ago first time in a long time and Cliffhanger just something about that film i love. he was great in that film.

[@marcedwards5583]

My immediate thought was Cop Land but thought, nah, I don't think anyone remembers that! So glad it's number one. I love that movie, and think Stallone is incredible in it.

[@theonlyusername]

Mark, what about 'Lock Up'?? :) I can't remember but IMDB says Demolition Man came 2 years before Judge Dread. Still great.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Rocky Balboa (the sixth one) was a great great movie. very touching I thought.

[@zombiesquad3339]

First Blood is truly great, any time it's on telly I can't help but watch it all the way through.

[@Captain_Rhodes]

The alternative top 5 5.Assasins 4.Tango and cash 3.Nighthawks 2.over the top 1. lock up

[@jeffrokraus5483]

Great list. Stallone should feel honored, with these choices.

[@Tom1525]

Could the bell ringing be any louder...

[@chanceie12]

Leaving Las Vegas poster , you're great Kermode.

[@TheSEMAJ1117]

I agree with those picks. Here's some more of my favourite Stallone movies: Tango & Cash- While its not as good as Lethal Weapon this movie is a blast. Great action, humour and solid performances by Stallone & Russell. Lock Up- Probably one of the most underrated prison movies of all time. Stallone gives a great performance and it's right up there with Shawshank in my opinion. Cobra- This is Stallone's Dirty Harry. The movie has a slasher vibe to it and the character of Cobra himself has an iconic presence. Also the opening scene is just brilliant: 'You're the disease and I'm the cure'. Rambo III- Yes it's actually pretty damn good. To me this is a better film then the guilty pleasure that is First Blood Part 2. The cinematography, acting and overall action was improved. It wasn't a hit mainly due to the Americans reconciling with Russia not to long before release but nonetheless this is a worthy entry to the series. Cliffhanger- This is a decent Die Hard esque film that came out in the early 90s and again its tense, exiting and enjoyable. Assassins- A decent action film with a great charismatic villain played by Antonio Banderas. It also has solid direction by Richard Donner and is the earliest effort from the Wachowski's who wrote the screenplay i believe.

[@Ragnar6000]

First Blood ,Rocky, Cliffhanger, Demolition Man, Over the Top....I also liked him in Victory a very underated film.

[@dhontski]

Why is nobody mentioning Escape to Victory? Because you think it is bad or people dont know it well? I think he plays a pretty convincing role

[@jeffrokraus5483]

You nailed the top ones that I would pick. I might also add Rambo: First Blood part 2. Just because that's what people think of when they think of Rambo, masculinity, muscles, and big guns killing bad guys for moral Justice. Oh!! Oh!! I almost forgot one of the best ones, not because it's actually one of the best ones but because it's one of the funniest ones, that's supposed to be serious: Cobra (1986) ... New world! Hahahaha. Good stuff . :-) And while we are at it, I liked Rocky 2, Rocky 3 and Rocky IV: all for different reasons. There are all very good movies. 2 is a great sequel to the first one. 3 it's so full of intensity, and it has mr. T. And IV has the best training montage workout scene, ever!!

[@robmuir4460]

What no D-Tox? Agree with Cop Land, that's a severely underrated film.

[@klimpster]

I AM THE LAW!!

[@TheTonybudd]

+Thomas Martinsson ~ "LAAWRR" Responded Rico, and everyone laughed . . .

[@1992SmoothBoy]

No Escape to Victory?

[@sydbarrett7579]

Where's Tango and cash on list?

[@fluorosco]

Paradise Alley was really good with Armande Assante. What has happened to Armande Assante. He's a great actor too!

[@michaelobeirne7176]

You put Demolition Man on here when you could have said Nighthawks??? Sweet Jesus man

[@thedullsound]

Oscar is one of my all time favourites!

[@wiseguy100]

How exactly does Demolition Man "undo the damage done by Judge Dredd", when Demolition Man was released 2 years prior to Judge Dredd?

[@johnsmodularjams2123]

I think Death Race 2000 deserves an honorable mention also

[@petergreen2552]

First Blood,Cliffhanger, Copland, Demolition Man and Daylight. That's your top 5 best Stallone movies.

[@bigwave25]

I really like Daylight, Lock Up and Cliffhanger too.

[@vincebevis2277]

How could you overlook Nighthawks with the late great Rutgur Hauer.

[@stargazermoonshowers]

Hey mark I'm a huge fan of your radio show you give the best reviews ever "The only critic that matters", I was wondering if you could do a kermode uncut about your thoughts on the first studio released trailer for the suicide squad an the dc comics cinematic universe an how you think they'll far against marvel's cinematic universe I think it would be interesting to hear you opinions, thanks.

[@HAGrecords]

Shame on you for not even mentioning "Victory".

[@royw-g3120]

#1 is a great movie, not many people I know have seen it, Ray Liotta and De Niro give great performances too, Demolition Man is fantastically entertaining, park your brain at the door stuff. Wesley Snipes was a great villain.

[@alexanderdahoola8188]

Has Mark Kermode seen Rambo Last Blood?

[@ernestolombardo5811]

Rocky III is better than Demolition Man, and Clubber Land (Mr T) is a believably incredible menace. Then there was Night Hawks, the cop thriller with Billy Dee Williams and Rutger Hauer, which deserves a second look.

[@TwoMikesProductions]

Cop Land is in my top ten films of all time. Superb movie.

[@FroMarty]

I think people all too often like to lazily assume that Stallone is slurring and not too bright, they effectively impersonate Rocky when they mean Sly. So does that not prove that it's a good performance? People don't seem to mistake other actors for their characters in the same way. Speaking of which I think Sly is as good in Rocky Balboa as he is in Creed, but it's easier to consider him as a supporting actor than as a star at this point in his career. That's what I think the academy thinks.

[@PottersBluffReviews]

1.Rambo Part 1 2.Cop Land 3.Rocky 4.D-Tox 5.Cliffhangerand Oscar! by John Landis

[@indobleh]

Please never stop using Roger Ebert as a point of reference for judging quality workmanship

[@ryecatcher1366]

First Blood was a truthful portrayal of the damage of war. The sequels a veiled glorification of it

[@roblex63]

Predator and total recall were his best.......

[@davidrankin8369]

OVER THE TOP!!!

[@samthemac17]

Mark probably doesn't know how to use the three seashells.

[@munckymagic]

Finally, we get a glimpse of Elizabeth Shue, hubba hubba

[@poontang3zizo]

My top 5 Sly movies: 1. Rocky 2. First Blood 3. Demolition Man 4. Cliffhanger 5. Daylight I never saw Cop Land :(

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

+poontang3zizo Then you need to check out Copland my friend! Great avi.

[@marvellousm]

Creed isn't "a Sylvester Stallone movie." It's a movie that Stallone is in.

[@johnsmodularjams2123]

+Badge Man and it is based on characters that he created. He did write the original Rocky script after all

[@marvellousm]

Stallone is in the movie and, yes, he was Rocky. Very perceptive. However this is a movie where Stallone plays a supporting character to the character WHOSE NAME IS IN THE TITLE. Also, Ryan Coogler directed this film and co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Covington. Not to mention that Coogler had to convince Stallone to even do the film, so if Sly ended up not being in the movie would it still have been "a Stallone movie"?

[@LiveINyourGood54]

The list was good but I wouldn't have added Demolition Man at all. I didn't think it was that great of a movie and to say it wiped out a bad movie he did before and that's why it's great is silly to me. I thought Night Hawks was very good with him in it. (very underrated) The ending was a little unbelievable but all and all, a good flick for sure! CopLand was great!

[@charlesrichardson4032]

Nighthawks should be in this list

[@billsinewdon6790]

suprised he didnt include the hugely underrated F.I.S.T

[@chrisevans5259]

My top 5 sly films: 1.First Blood 2. Rocky 3. Copland 4. Nighthawkes 5. Over the Top

[@movieman82us]

BTW, I agree with his top 2 but I would swap them. Rocky is #1 for me and Copland is #2.

[@colindorrans9495]

He's great in Cop land, but First Blood is my favourite, and in my top ten movies.

[@filmskeprice-sashavlogs5343]

My top five would be: 1. First Blood - 2. Cliffhanger - 3. Rocky - 4. Copland - 5. Cobra

[@gun1987gunn]

Wait a minute, who doesn't like Demolition Man? It's a classic.

[@Liquid_dreams-]

I really thought "over the top" would have made the cut

[@jamesduro350]

Tango & cash Over the top Nighthawks Cobra Just a few sly faves of mine that i think deserve a mention.

[@TheDimeDrawer]

Cobra?

[@steveshep9234]

tango and cash , great fun but its a kurt russell film for sure

[@JohnSmith-kf8mv]

Love Kermode, but those bells sounds hurt my ears.

[@NakatomiD]

1) Rocky 2) First Blood 3) FIST 4) Nighthawks 5) Rhinestone (yes, 60% of the time it makes me laugh every time) Honorable mention: Lock Up, Rocky III

[@aliens_exist_23]

Cop Land is my favourite Stallone film!

[@movieman82us]

How can Demolition erase the memory of Judge Dredd when Demolition Man came out first? Judge Dredd came out in 1995, Demolition Man came out in 1993.

[@BarrySlisk]

1. First blood 2. Rocky 5 3. Rocky 3 4. Rocky 1 5. Demolition man

[@mred2071]

I'm glad he likes First Blood but I would have to put Cliffhanger & Tango and Cash in my top 5

[@madflavour831]

First Blood is a fantastic film.

[@g.e.o.r.g.e...]

GET UP YOU SON OF A BITCH, 'cause Mickey loves you

[@TheTonybudd]

+Drei88 ~ love it! . . .

[@tomrowley7260]

He's not seen Cliffhanger then...

[@conalllong6851]

I love Leaving Las Vegas.

[@smygskytt1712]

So what are the worst Stalone movies then?