John Katsilometes checks out the red carpet as Sylvester Stallone gets his star at the Palms before introducing a screening of ‘Rocky’ at CineVegas

Thursday, June 15, 2006 | 7:20 a.m.

Sylvester Stallone was flanked by power Wednesday night at the CineVegas film festival - the theater industry (and personal fitness) power of Brendan Theatres Chief Executive Johnny Brendan and the acting power of Dennis Hopper.

The occasion was to award Stallone a Celebrity Star at Brendan Theatres at the Palms, an event that coincided with the 30th anniversary of the release of "Rocky."

"I am humbled by this," Stallone said, squinting under an assault of flashes on the red carpet. "This is beyond sensory overload."

Minutes later, introducing a special screening of "Rocky," Stallone said: "We started this movie in 1975 with $900,000 and 28 days to get it done. I never imagined it would last this long.

"The story of 'Rocky' is that everyone, no matter what walk of life you are from, wants a shot at the golden ring - to fail or succeed, but to have a chance to prove themselves based on their own abilities."

Stallone said the upcoming "Rocky Balboa," to be released in 2007, would be the series' final chapter.

"To see that film and compare it to 30 years ago is a real shock," Stallone said, laughing. "The hairlines go back, the waistlines get wider."

And as he departed, Stallone called out: "Yo! ... Keep punchin'!" - proving that, 30 years later, Rocky lives.

NoteMart

Apocalyptic memories: After receiving his CineVegas Half Life Award on Monday, Laurence Fishburne recalled working with Francis Ford Coppola on "Apocalypse Now."

"What Francis did was push us out of the trees and make us fly," Fishburne said during an interview session with film critic and CineVegas board member Elvis Mitchell. "He would hand out index cards, and all that would be on the card was an activity - driving a car or driving a boat or whatever - and what came out of our mouths was what was coming out of our heads. We were living in imaginary circumstances, but what was being said was very real."

Fishburne, 44, was just 17 when "Apocalypse Now" was released ...

CineVegas moments: In what is typically a nonsmoking movie theater, Fishburne pulling out a cigarette and Mitchell ready with a light ... At Tuesday's postscreening party at Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, festival Programming Director Trevor Groth wearing plaid pants and a red sweater, greatly resembling Tim Matheson in the hitting-the-horse-with-a-golf-ball scene in "Animal House" ...

Here, there and everywhere: Expected in town today is Paul McCartney, who is to meet with Giles Martin and catch an updated version of "Love" at the Mirage.

Martin worked with his father, Beatles producer George Martin, on the show's soundscape. The production is still in its preview period, and Cirque officials are expecting McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and Olivia Harrison to attend the opening on June 30 ...

Seeking dates: Left uncertain in the wake of Jerry Lewis' mild heart attack Sunday and subsequent canceling of his July shows at the Orleans was just when he would return to the stage. Lewis fell ill during a flight from New York to San Diego after being roasted by the Friars Club on Friday afternoon and attending a wrap party for "Law & Order: SVU" on Saturday night. He was scheduled to appear July 13-15 at the Orleans Showroom.

But Lewis' heart trouble, coupled with a slight case of pneumonia, forced the cancellation of those shows, which were likely to be standing room only. There are no openings in the Orleans schedule that would allow rescheduling of Lewis' performances until early 2007, hotel spokeswoman Candi Cazau said Wednesday. Lewis, hospitalized in San Diego, is still scheduled to host this year's "Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon" Sept. 3-4 from the South Coast ...

Dance fever: The reality competition series "So You Think You Can Dance" debuts this week on Fox (eliminations begin at 8 tonight). The winner will receive $100,000 and a year's contract to dance behind (and around, and sometimes under) Celine Dion in "A New Day..." at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace ...

Endless Love: Longtime Beach Boy Mike Love was among a party of four that closed (as in, were the last to be served at) Sushi Roku on Tuesday night at the Forum Shops at Caesars ...

Brian's song: Crooner Brian Evans has closed another chapter on Las Vegas. The one-time Desert Inn headliner is out and the Steven Lee Group is in at Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort ...

Hot off the press: For the second consecutive year Old Spice has listed Las Vegas No. 2 on its list of "Sweatiest Cities in America." Phoenix, a veritable juggernaut in this contest, is again No. 1 (the city finished first last year and also in 2003), and Tucson is No. 3. A news release from Old Spice claims the average Phoenix resident loses "26 ounces per hour during a typical summer day. In less than three hours, the residents of Phoenix collectively produce enough sweat to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool," but fortunately they never think to do that ...

Wave hello: Saturday a reader spotted a Ford pickup truck pulling a boat at Sam's Club on Serene Avenue. The truck's plate: ON LAND. The boat's: BY SEA.