MovieChat Forums > Rocky II (1979) Discussion > Why does Sly look different in this?

Why does Sly look different in this?

posted 13 years ago by j-taylor-goddard
18 replies | jump to latest

I just can't quite pinpoint it... Is it his weight?

There was an 'early' Stallone look which he had in his mid 70s films through to Paradise Alley, and then the new Hollywood look he sported from Rocky III/First Blood onwards (though he was quite gaunt in the 2 just mentioned).

But here, he seems to have an odd 'inbetween' look not seen in many other films (Nighthawks maybe, but beard disguised him a lot).

When I was a kid, this was the first Rocky film I saw, and when I moved on to the others couldn't believe how different he looked.

[–] deenying 13 years ago

He seems to have less muscle definition in this film compared to any of the Rocky films. Not fat, but a bit flabby.

[–] hcadonis 13 years ago

Yes there is a distinct look he potrayed in the first and then the second, personally he looked rather large and flabby in the first with a much fuller face but as the Rocky films progress he looks more gaunt and a longer face....

[–] scott_uk88 13 years ago

In Rocky II his hair was a little longer and he was more tanned. I didn't really like him like that. I thought there was a bit of the unctuous Medallion Man creeping in. I much preferred his look in the original - sort of pale and unpolished.

[–] j-taylor-goddard 13 years ago

I know what you mean - I think everyone changed a little between that ambulance ride!

Mickey looked much more healthy, Adrian had longer hair, Paulie lost a fair few pounds, while Gazzo gained a few.

Apollo and Duke looked the same, but thinking about it, the film overall didn't match the look of the first at all.

I think Rocky II and it's characters were 'glammed up', and didn't have the bleak, gritty look of the first.

[–] Tresix 13 years ago

Well, to be fair, Rocky got some money in his life and "moved up" a bit. Around the time of the first movie, Stallone was a little on the hefty side. Director Avildsen had some home movies that showed how flabby he actually was and insisted he shape up. Now, also bear in mind, the second film came out three years after the first one. As much as they may try to get the look of the first movie, time may alter things. Also, take into consideration, Rocky was lying in a hospital bed for some time as well not exactly eating lavishly as before (well, probably a little better than before), he would probably slim down quite a bit. From there, Rocky would build on what he had physique-wise.

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Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

[–] ReaganSmash 13 years ago

Flabby are you kidding me? Sly looked better in the first too films, he actually looked like a fighter. In the ones after rocky 2 he looked emaciated.

[–] Tresix 13 years ago

Read my post again: before he was in the shape he was in in the first movie, Stallone was somewhat…chunky. Avildsen had some home movie footage that he shot showing the "before" Stallone and said, point blank, "Sylvester needed to go on a diet." He wasn't emaciated, just what bodybuilders called "cut". Although you can tell that he lost some weight between the second and third movies.

Yippee: "For king!"
Yappee: "For country!"
Yahooie: "And, most of all, for 10¢ an hour!"

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] fxdiamond 11 years ago

he actually weighed 20 pounds more in this than the first film (not sure if it was intentionally done on sly's part for the script)... along with the longer hair (puffier as well with the fringe happening), side burns, and maybe a little tan but nothing too noticeable that all would cause a little change.

[–] SunCanyonRoad 10 years ago

Aparently "not roided out" is "flabby" in your book. I about did a spit-take when I read your Stallone was a bit flabby comment. The dude was flippin LEAN and built in ALL the Rocky films, but from 3-6 he was roided out ripped. FLABBY!?!?!?! LOL

"I don't want your watch, man. I want your friendship!" - Lightfoot

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I wouldn’t say he’s flabby, just not as ripped.

[–] FattyBoombilatti 10 years ago

I remember reading a lonnnng time ago Stallone had a face lift in between Rocky II & III. It certainly looks that way.

[–] stones78 10 years ago

He looks plastic in Rocky 3, and it's very obvious when he gets Paulie out of jail early on. A part of me wishes Stallone would've retired after the great Nighthawks in 1981.

[–] jefgg 10 years ago

Sly's face and body looked different in "Rocky III".

[–] jsl_99 10 years ago

While he did not yet have the ripped look I do think Sly had bulked up quite a bit in comparison to the first Rocky. He did some weight training with Franco Columbo in preparation for Rocky II. That's also how he ended up with a pectoral injury.

As for Rocky III he became a lot more muscular but had lost quite a bit of weight too. I've read that Stallone only weighed in the 160-165lbs range for Rocky III. So in reality he would've been more of a middleweight than heavyweight if he were a real life boxer. I do think he also had some cosmetic surgery too. So that combined with the weight loss would explain why he looks quite a bit different in Rocky III compared to the first two films.

Ironically Sly looked more like an older version of the Rocky from the first two films in Rocky Balboa. But I think that partially was a result of him bulking up again. I think he was in the 220lb range for that film.

[–] Grammaw_Oddree 9 years ago

Because he trained like a damn bum.

or a ninth grade pug who ought to be pumpin' gas in jersey some place

[–] mr_x350 8 years ago

i think its his nose. it looks like they might of made it look broken because he broke it in the first movie.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Stallone broke his arm severely before they started to shoot the sequel...He shot almost the entire movie with a broken arm.

He could not trained his body, he waited until his arm healed for the last shot of the film which was the training montage and fight scene, but by then he hadn’t had really got into shape.