Rocky: The Heavyweight Collection [Blu-ray] [2014]

Fab, great quality. I love rocky films and have all the videos, I can now dispose of these as they take up too much room and had adds on.

1) Rocky = The reason why they made the sequels, raw,gritty,emotional, well worth its oscar nomination. 9/10 2) Rocky Balboa = Had grave doubts about this on hearing he's coming out to fight due to a video game. How wrong I was. Worthy ending to the franchise. 8/10 3) Rocky 2 = Tried to recapture the original glory but didn't quite sparkle. Still entertaining and a worthy follow up. 7/10 4) Rocky 3 = Understandably goes into a completely different direction to the other 2, covering Rocky's time at the top and his fall to clubber lang. The Mick, Paulie and Apollo scenes keep this above average and delivers an entertaining film. 7/10 5) Rocky 5 = I know this gets slated but I do think its a relevant film for the series. It shows Rocky being forced into retirement, loses his earnings and how he deals with it, which a lot of boxers in real life struggle to do, look at Evander Holyfield and Roy Jones at the moment. It shows Rocky in a new role as trainer and shows the shady side of promoters offering the world and manipulating fighters. Look no furthur than Don King and Frank Warren. By no means great and could have been better, particularly with the plot involving his kid who suddenly turns from being a 5 year old to 12 year old in a matter of weeks. But it is better than a lot of people, including stallone seem to think. 5/10 6) Rocky 4 = This is probably the most pointless film of them all. It does have the best training sequences of the whole series, but lacks a lot of substance to it. Still entertaining for people with their brains on neutral. 4/10

Heading: Punchlines and Knockouts - My Rocky Blu-ray Adventure Hold onto your gloves, folks, because I've got a story that involves movie marathons, awkward encounters, and an unexpected career knockout—all thanks to the Rocky: The Heavyweight Collection Blu-ray set. Get ready for a cinematic journey that's more comedic than a Rocky training montage. Let's kick off with a date night drama. Thinking I'd impress my date with some classic Rocky charm, I suggested a movie night. As the epic training sequences blared on the screen, I got a little too carried away and attempted my own version of the iconic one-armed push-up. Turns out, the only thing heavyweight about me was my embarrassment level when I face-planted. The date went from "movie night" to "unexpected slapstick comedy." 🎬🥊🤦 Now, onto family time. Figured introducing my parents to the world of Rocky would be a bonding experience. Little did I know, my dad took the whole "eye of the tiger" thing quite literally and challenged me to a mock boxing match in the living room. Picture two grown adults in sweatpants, throwing air punches, and chanting motivational quotes. It turned our family night into a Rocky-themed sitcom episode. 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦🥊📺 But the real cinematic chaos happened at work. Inspired by the adrenaline of the Rocky series, I decided to organize a team-building event—Rocky-style. Cue the office boxing ring, makeshift gloves, and an attempt at team morale through fake boxing matches. Spoiler alert: my boss did not appreciate the Rocky-inspired rebellion and decided to give me a career KO faster than Apollo Creed in Rocky II. 💼🥊🥋 Now, the bad feature: the motivational effect. This Blu-ray set had me so pumped up with Rocky determination that I started shadowboxing in inappropriate places, like during important meetings or in line at the supermarket. People mistook my motivational moments for aggressive interpretative dance, and let's just say, my attempt at the Rocky Balboa spirit didn't win me any popularity contests. 🕴️🥊🤷 But here's the twist. The Rocky Blu-ray set has become my secret weapon. Not only did it turn my life into a comedy of unexpected moments, but it also made me the magnet for women who appreciate a guy with a knockout sense of humor. Now, I'm dodging dating challenges like a boxing pro and juggling dates with swimsuit models who find my Rocky-inspired antics strangely alluring. 🌟🥊👙 In conclusion, the Rocky: The Heavyweight Collection Blu-ray set is not just a movie marathon; it's a laugh-out-loud journey, a family boxing extravaganza, and the accidental catalyst for a career switch. So, grab your popcorn, cue the training montage, and get ready for a knockout of a time! 🍿🥊😂

Im happy with it 100 percent

ROCKY While this is by far and away the slowest paced of the franchise, the classic underdog story holds up to repeat viewings due to its sheer heartfelt sincerity. There isn't a cynical bone in 'Rocky's' body, both the film and the character. The winning formula established here has gone on to be repeated for another 40+ years with varying degrees of success, not just within the 'Rocky' series, but other movies too, from zero to hero, from underdog to champ. This is a 1970s picture through and through - downbeat, naturalistic, character-led, with a doggedly determined theme and message underwriting the drama. 'Rocky' is the quintessential working class wish fulfillment fantasy - the American dream distilled through fiction - and it works because it never strikes a false beat or feels manipulative. I fear that new generations of filmgoers won't have the patience to appreciate such a character driven drama about something as simple yet universal as going the distance, but to the rest of us who grew up watching these films, Rocky Balboa will always be the most authentic and humble of onscreen heroes. ROCKY II 'Rocky II' improves upon the pacing of the original whilst expanding upon the characters from part one in a logical and interesting way. Adrian and Mickey in particular get more meaty scenes to play, with the former emerging from her shell as a key voice in Rocky's life and the latter finding his place as a surrogate father figure. Even Apollo Creed has more to do this time around as an antagonist with solid motivation. He feels more dangerous and desperate here. I think audiences really fell in love with the characters due to this installment. There is just so much more going on. Yes, the story isn't as lean and there is a lot more straight-up family drama to digest, but the true emotional mythology of the franchise started here. Stallone as director manages to re-capture the naturalistic style established by predecessor John G. Avildsen whilst cranking up the energy of the training montage, although he fails to make the climatic bout as authentic. It ultimately lacks the humbleness and sincerity of part one, but remains a faithful and involving continuation of its legacy. ROCKY III AKA 'The One With Mr. T'. The third installment in the 'Rocky' franchise is where things started to slip further into the realms of Hollywood fantasy. Stallone has stated on numerous occasions that these films were semi-autobiographical, which is what gives them a certain meta-substance in retrospect, and 'Rocky III' is all about the downside of fame and the pressures of success. It is also an early product of 80s excess - witness the totally unnecessary sequence where Rocky fights Hulk Hogan's ThunderLips. Mr. T makes for a surprisingly intense and formidable villain, even if he is as one-dimensional as villains can possibly come, and the fight sequences are a technical improvement over 'Rocky II', particularly the real time confrontation at the climax. What makes this installment go beyond cynical sequelitis is Stallone's willingness to shake up the comfort zone of his characters. Mickey's death and Rocky's grief is possibly one of the most heart wrenching moments of the entire series, and his burgeoning friendship with new mentor Apollo Creed injects an exciting new dynamic into what was becoming a well-worn formula. Burgess Meredith and Carl Weathers are the highlights this time around, and the final scene is possibly my favourite of all the films. Watching Rocky live through the successful years is certainly the least interesting period in the character's evolution (as it was with Stallone himself), but 'Rocky III' has enough charm, emotion and innovation to live on as a campy classic. Plus, 'Eye of the Tiger'... best theme song ever. ROCKY IV I have an ongoing love/hate relationship with 'Rocky IV'. I both anticipate and dread coming to this part in a rewatch. It is the worst episode in the series by far but has the best villain driving its painfully thin revenge plot. The problem with Part IV is that Stallone took his humble slugger and used him as a vessel for some on-the-nose political metaphor about East vs West relations. The results are somewhere between epic symbolism and embarrassing cliche. What's more is that Stallone was at the apex of indulging in his excesses as a star and filmmaker - from the ridiculous house robot (why Sly?! WHY?!!) to the endless musical montages which clearly are there to cover for the fact that Stallone barely had a script to work with this time around. He also feels the least like the character of Rocky here, as if he had forgotten how to play someone that sincere and genuine. As the main creative force behind the series he is almost wholly responsible for just how silly this film is. However, all is not lost because of the introduction of Dolph Lundgren's truly iconic villain Ivan Drago, whose intensity and imposing shape casts a large shadow over proceedings, even though he has four lines in the whole thing. The extreme snowbound training montage and final fight between Balboa and Drago is pure spectacle - although we have come a long way from the naturalism of parts one and two - and I never fail to enjoy the last third of the film. Otherwise, 'Rocky IV' is most notable for the death of Apollo Creed, which always seemed like a cynical move by Stallone to imbue a non-story with some emotional stakes. I can now finally forgive this creative choice because it gave us (many years later) the 'Creed' spin-offs. 'Rocky IV' is preposterous fantasy with a deeply cheesy message at its core, but is undoubtedly one of the great guilty pleasure movies of the 80s. ROCKY V It never ceases to amaze me how many people rate a forgivably rubbish film like 'Rocky IV' over 'Rocky V'. Even Stallone himself gives this film a big fat zero, which I suspect is due to the fact that it was both poorly received by audiences and critics, and remains the only flop of the franchise. It is ironic that 'Rocky V' became the franchise killer because it is the first movie since part two that actually remembered that this all started as a small character drama, not some obnoxious action franchise like 'Rambo'. So we go back to the roots of 'Rocky' as Stallone the writer strips away the mansion, the money, the success, and the glory, and tries to rediscover what made Rocky so special in the first place. I really love this movie for all sorts of reasons and never understood the hate. First of all, Talia Shire is at her best in the role of Adrian, with a hugely expanded role. For the past two films she had been sidelined somewhat, whereas she really shines here, demonstrating just how far Adrian has come as a character. From shy recluse to vocal matriarch. I love her in this. I love Stallone too. He gets back to the essence of Rocky after nearly losing him in the previous outing, and he plays some of his best scenes in the role since 'Rocky II'. His son, Sage Stallone, avoids feeling like stunt casting because he is actually a capable young actor who finally gives life and personality to an important person in the Balboa family. This is actually more of a father/son story than anything else, tapping into the autobiographical touchstones of Stallone's life I'm sure, and is made even more impacting and resonant in the last several years since the actual death of Sage in real life. Burgess Meredith comes back for a rabble rousing cameo and even the one dimensional, craggy comic relief Paulie gets several moments to shine. It's a back-to-basics sequel, directed by original helmer John G. Avildsen, and while it falls heavy on the melodrama, it is the only film in the series to jettison the traditional challenger/training/final fight formula. Stallone unchains his characters from what had become a limiting and repetitive cycle of self-made cliches to explore the people within their old environment in a fresh way. Okay, the Don King promoter is all kinds of OTT and the tragic villain Tommy Gunn isn't as threatening as Lundgren's Drago or Mr. T's Clubber Lang, and there is more than enough cheese to make multiple sandwiches with, but it is a really worthy story that is so much better than its critics give it credit for. It's the underdog of the entire series, which is why it is my personal favourite of the bunch (if not the best film). ROCKY BALBOA Sometimes there is a reason why sequels exist. They are not always just about making money, as long as the people in front of and behind the camera are genuinely passionate about what they are making. Stallone clearly had one story left to tell with 'Rocky Balboa' and he shows more passion and humility here than he did even with the original 'Rocky'. This film makes the ups and downs of the franchise worth the while because it captures, what I believe to be, the very spirit of an iconic character and the very real melancholy and vulnerability of an aging movie star past his prime. This is easily Stallone's most introspective and personal work, exploring the idea of aging and staying relevant when life seems done with you even if you feel like you aren't done with life yet. There are lines in this movie that have stayed with me ever since I first saw it at the cinema back in 2006. What makes it extra special is that we have followed this character over the years and across five other films. We know him as well as we know any fictional character and to see him in pain or to see him sad is utterly heartbreaking. It is a testament to Stallone's writing and performance - something I feel should have seen him receive some awards love. When we flashback to see the younger years of our characters, it's actually footage of them from 30 years ago as youngsters. The passing of time feels totally authentic and the emotional beats consistently ring true. Everything that made this franchise exciting and moving and satisfying are clear and present in 'Rocky Balboa'. To see Rocky go the distance one last time was a truly wonderful experience, which was earned over the course of three decades. THE DVD SET The previous release of the first five films - The Rocky Anthology Collection - was a far more uniform set with a superior black and white package design, but it lacked the inclusion of 'Rocky Balboa' so stood as an incomplete set. This 'Undisputed Collection' DVD set is the bare bone basics. The outer cardboard packaging is flimsy and cheap, while the DVD sleeves themselves simply go for a generic still frame image from each film per cover. It is not very aesthetically or stylistically interesting, which is a shame. The first five films are vanilla DVDs with zero extras. 'Rocky Balboa' however is loaded with great features like deleted scenes, making of docs and a director's commentary. Overall, you get what you pay for here. It's an inexpensive set and if you are only interested in owning the movies themselves then this should work for you just fine.

I bought this box set impulsively whilst shopping for other dvds. I had always found the original 'Rocky' to be an inspiring film but I couldn't recall the quality of the other films and assumed that like most film franchises (Robocop for example), it would start off brilliantly and then rapidly decline in quality with every subsequent film. Having watched all Rocky films back-to-back one weekend, the consistency in the quality of the films is pretty strong. I enjoyed Rocky 1 and 2 with the fights with Apollo Creed, Rocky 3 with Mr T and Rocky 4 with Ivan, the russian. Rocky 5 was the only film I found to be a bit on the poor side but it wasn't a bad film. 'Rocky Balboa', the most recent film, is probably the one I found the most inspiring. As someone who does alot of physical training, it's really motivational watching the scenes where Rocky is in training, especially with the Rocky soundtrack which is just unforgettable. It's a great box set and at a respectable price too.

Absolutely amazing films and motivational, inspiring and even pulls at the heartstrings. All the family gather round for these films. Ignore the hate for Rocky 5. It's definitely the worst Rocky film, but it's still good 7 out of 10. As for Rocky 1,2,3,4 and 6- Epics!

Great present