Now Available from Warner Home Entertainment.
This isn’t the ultimate Rocky Collection. I’m sure Warner is planning a big deluxe set with all the bells and whistles somewhere down the line because, while it is a very good set, it doesn’t have every Rocky chapter. Despite being a spin off, the “Creed” movies are “Rocky” movies to their very soul and should be included in the library. I don’t know if they’re waiting for “Creed III” or some anniversary, but “Creed” deserves its spot in this massive library alongside “Rocky III” and “Rocky.” They’re both wonderful films the same as Stallone’s creations are. Stallone has also expressed big interest in re-cutting “Rocky V” for re-release over the last few years, so if that ever gets off the ground, there’s room for another set down the road.
Nevertheless, for fans that wanted another go at the “Rocky” series, Warner releases an interesting and more thorough (thorougher?) collection.
This new collection includes the original Oscar winning classic “Rocky,” the much lauded “Rocky II,” the infinitely superior “Rocky III” finds Rocky facing a younger deadlier boxer known as Clubber Lang. This is the debut of Mr. T, who’d go on to become an eighties pop culture icon. “Rocky IV” is arguably the most popular of the series with the debut of Dolph Lundgren as villain Drago. Stallone takes a shot at completing an eagerly awaited task of re-cutting “Rocky IV.” This infinitely superior new version cuts out a lot of the camp from the original in favor of a much sterner and serious direction with Rocky facing the end of his career. He also completely snips out the infamous robot scene.
There’s also the much maligned “Rocky V” which is a pretty grating and boring finale, despite the fact Stallone’s son Gage co-stars. There’s also the shockingly great “Rocky Balboa,” which centers on a now widowed Balboa trying for one last bout of glory while re-connecting with his estranged son. His son is now played very well by Milo Ventimiglia who replaces the late Gage in the role. The set also includes the alternate edition of “Rocky Balboa,”which is also in the spirit of the “Rocky IV” director’s cut. This new edition includes longer scenes, more emphases on legacy characters, and a darker ending. All things considered, it’s a tight set, but still an incomplete one.
Assorted bonus features are scattered throughout with only Rocky and Rocky Balboa feature any extras on their respective movie discs. The Rocky 4K Disc includes Audio Commentary featuring Sylvester Stallone, an Audio Commentary featuring John G. Avildsen, Irvin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, Talia Shire, Carl Weathers, Burt Young, and Garrett Brown, and finally an Audio Commentary featuring Lou Duva and Bert Suga.
The Rocky Balboa 4K Disc includes an Audio Commentary featuring Sylvester Stallone, two Deleted Scenes, Skills vs Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa, Virtual Champion Creating the Computer Fight, and Fight Makeup. The Bons Disc includes The Making of Rocky vs Drago: Keep Punching, 8mm Home Movies of Rocky, 3 Rounds with Lou Duva, Steadicam: Then and Now, Make-Yo! The Art and Form with Michael Westmore, Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook, The Ring of Truth, Tribute to Burges Meredith, Stallone Meets Rocky, and finally vintage Trailers.