Don Shanahan
A plethora of movies have lionized the athletic side of the quintessential rags-to-riches American Dream. Few have done it better than the Rocky series, starring the belovedSylvester Stallone. The successful saga of box office winners has enjoyed nearly 50 years of fandom and acclaim, enough to multiply its success into the ongoing Creed franchise. As of this month, Stallone’s portion of the series has now been collected for the first time on 4K-UHD disc in Courtesy of MGM Studios, Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV, Rocky V, and Rocky Balboa comprise their new Rocky: The Ultimate Knockout Collection boxed set. Film Obsessive was lucky enough to received an advanced copy for this “Off the Shelf” disc review.
THE MOVIES
Across six films, the Rocky Balboa character has made Sylvester Stallone a cinematic and cultural icon. 1976’s original Rocky was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won three, including Best Picture in one of the most historically competitive years you’ll ever find. The film introduces the Philadelphia southpaw Rocky Balboa (Stallone) who works as a leg-breaker for local heavy before being plucked from obscurity by the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), for a title shot. Coached by Mickey (Burgess Meredith) and loved by the demure Adrian (Talia Shire) and her irascable brother Pauly (Burt Young), the renewed pugilist goes the distance and sets up the rematch sequel of Rocky II three years later in 1979.
Stallone would call his own number to direct Rocky II, Rocky III, and Rocky IV while still headlining. The third film is notable for its colorful opponents played by The A-Team star Mr. T and professional wrestler Hulk Hogan. Rocky’s run as a champion boxer would go on to find his toughest challenge in Rocky IV against Dolph Lundgren’s famous Ivan Drago with their conflict set against the tumultuous Cold War relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. For this boxed set, both the original Rocky IV and its superior pandemic-project recut Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago are both included.
After in-character retirement following the events of Rocky IV, Rocky V sees Balboa switching from a fighter to a trainer as he mentors Tommy Gunn (real-life boxer Tommy Morrison). The fifth film brought back original director John G. Avilden and added father-son resentment angles that included Stallone’s own son, played by the late Sage Stallone. The final film of this new 4K set is the legacy sequel Rocky Balboa from 2006. Set over a decade after Rocky V, the senior comeback chapter which would eventually spark interest to create the Creed series might be the best movie in the series since the original classic. This edition includes a director’s cut for Rocky Balboa which is 14 minutes longer.
THE DISCS
All six films and their extra cuts have all been newly remasterd to their highest level of audio and visual quality to date for the Rocky: The Ultimate Knockout Collection. The Ultra HD Blu-ray format showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper color palette and contrast range for a top-notch home entertainment viewing experience. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray includes an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with each feature film in 4K with HDR, a digital version of the feature films via code, and a bonus Blu-ray disc containing collected separated special features. For those customers not looking for a full set or a double-dip, Rocky V and Rocky Balboa are available individually in exclusive Steelbook packaging.
As aforementioned, the bulk of the special features for the Rocky franchise are housed on a single Blu-ray disc within the boxed set. These selections include the following:
- “8mm Home Movies of Rocky” with commentary by director John G. Bolden and pre-production supervisor Lloyd Kaufman
- “3 Rounds with Lou Duva”
- “Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown”
- “Make-Up! The Art and Form with Michael Westmore”
- “Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook with Bill Conti”
- “The Ring of Truth”
- “A Tribute to Burgess Meredith”
- “Stallone Meets Rocky”
- “The Making of Rocky vs. Drago: Keep Punching”
- Trailers for all films expect Rocky Balboa
All of them have been grandfathered over from previous DVD and Blu-ray editions of the individual films. Being all mixed together from six films, they make for a retrospective hodgepodge that works for the deep divers into the filmmaking and icon lore connected to the series. Granted, all of this smushing and subtraction counts as disorganization.
Through the entire set, the main attraction is still the original Rocky film. That movie’s individual 4K disc does contain the three renewed commentary tracks from earlier editions. The first is with director John G. Avildsen, producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, and actors Talia Shire and Burt Young. Stallone stomps in with his own solo track, and boxing enthusiasts will enjoy the commentary with fight promotor Lou Duva and boxing commentator Bert Sugar. With the new Director’s Cut inclusion, the Rocky Balboa individual 4K disc is the only other film to have a few extra pieces away from the dedicated Blu-ray. That disc includes the previous commentary track, deleted scenes, “Skills vs. Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa,” “Reality in the Ring: Filming Rocky’ Final Fight,” “Virtual Champion: Creating the Computer Fight,” and a featurette about the makeup.
When it’s all said and done, it’s a treat to have this series collected together and buffed up to the highest current resolution. The merging of the directors cuts of Rocky IV and Rocky Balboa are big boosts alongside the originals. For the loyal fans of the franchise, this is a completionist’s dream.
