Rocky: Collector's Edition
MGM Home Entertainment
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A slightly dimwitted amateur boxer from Philadelphia's tough neighborhood gets a surprise shot at fighting for the heavyweight championship, while at the same time he finds love in the arms of a shy, reclusive girl who works in the local pet store.

I can only imagine what the response to Rocky would have been back in its initial release. Today, it's become something of a joke – a respected joke, but a joke nonetheless – as countless imitators have come along and not come close to repeating the look and feel of the original Rocky. The five sequels in this franchise are a testament to it, as well as the numerous other sports films as of late that emphasize that it isn't always about winning, but the process of simply becoming a legitimate contender.

It's a clever idea, but the movie just never really took off for me -- even if it's heart was in the right place and Sandler proved there's more to humour than a good fart joke. You see, there's predictable movies and then there's the ones where you figure out exact jokes and lines several minutes before they happen. Click is one such film. Despite some jokes that really hit and some heart-tugging bits, it's too easy to see the end in the beginning as it sticks to its comedy-drama too tightly. Had it gone in a more sci-fi direction, there would have likely been more room for play and originality.

Rocky is a film with tons and tons of heart. Top to bottom, the casting was perfect then and it still fits today, although Sylvester Stallone's career has had more knockdowns than Rocky's opponents. All that aside, there's still the one and only Rocky, a film that's about as inspiring as they come, even some three decades later.

Video: How's it look?
The film has a vivid and clean anamorphic widescreen presentation. I haven't seen a better version. The picture is crisp and I didn't see any signs of dirt or scratches.

Audio: How's it sound?
The 5.1 Dolby Surround is excellent. It really manages to capture the film's many atmospheres, whether it's the streets of Philadelphia or inside the ring. English mono, and French and Spanish mono versions are also offered.

Extras: What additional goodies are included?

• English and Spanish subtitles.
• The two-disc Collector's Edition has a total of three commentary tracks. The first is with star and writer Sylvester Stallone. He goes into all sorts of depth, covering both the making of and impact of the film, as well as a good analysis of it. The second track comes from legends Lou Duva and Bert Sugar. Duva was a manager, Sugar a writer. This is a lively track with lots of colour, particularly when they offer up their own experiences and anecdotes. The final track is a collaborative commentary track featuring comments from director John G. Avildsen, producers Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff, actors Talia Shire, Carl Weathers and Burt Young, and Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown. This is a commentary track that isn't a conversation, but rather bits and pieces of several separate interviews.
• "In the Ring" is a full-on feature-length three-part documentary that goes in depth in the making of the film and its impact.
• "The Opponents" is a 15-minute look at the many guys Rocky stepped into the ring with over the years.
• "Three Rounds with Lou Duva" offers life tips from the legendary boxing manager.
• "Steadicam: Then and Now with Garrett Brown" is a 17-minute featurette on the technological advances experimented with Brown, inventor of the camera.
• "Make Up! The Art and Form with Michael Westmore" is pretty self-explanatory. Although the art form of the trade really comes to light as Rocky isn't a movie that you really think about as far as make-up goes.
• "Staccato: A Composer's Notebook with Bill Conti" is a short look at how the film's memorable music came to be.
• Legendary boxing journalist Bert Sugar chimes in with an interview on his thoughts on the film.
• The focus of "The Ring of Truth" is on Rocky's art director James Spencer. Spencer breaks down key points in the film and how he achieved particular looks.
• "Behind the Scenes with Director John Avildsen" shows a lot of rare footage used in preparing for the final film.
• Both Burgess Meredith and James Crabe are given separate tribute featurettes.
• Sylvester Stallone offers a half-hour worth of video commentary that is a great compliment to the audio commentary offered with the feature.
• The archives were raided for a 1976 interview of Sylvester Stallone on the TV talk show "Dinah!"
• Mini 27-page excerpt from the book Rocky: the Ultimate Guide.
• Trailers and TV spots.
• Preview of Rocky Balboa.

Closing Thoughts
Rocky still ranks among the classic sports movies of all time. I'd even venture to say that it's a classic no matter what genre you throw it in. This two-disc collection is also the best presentation of the film to date. Even those who have bought any of the many previous DVD versions will be well served in the upgrade.


Review brought to you by our friend Ryan @ Movie-Views.com