The Rocky Anthology (Ultimate Edition 6 Disc Box Set) (5.1/DTS) [DVD]

Amazon.co.uk Review
Americans love the underdog. Anytime someone is beating the odds, fighting his or her way to the top, like The Little Engine That Could, it resonates well with U.S. audiences; it's in their nature. Sylvester Stallone knew that in 1976, when Rocky was a monstrous hit and established itself in the American cultural lexicon. His low-budget tale of a young boxer who came from the slums of Philadelphia and worked his way to the championship recalls Capra characters such as Mr. Smith or John Doe as he worked his way to fame and self-respect. Like Capra's films from 30 years before, Rocky pushed emotional buttons with audiences, but in a somewhat less maudlin, obvious way; it's possible to enjoy Rocky without feeling embarrassed about it, even in these cynical times. It ranks respectably among the best boxing pictures, such as The Set-Up or Somebody Up There Likes Me. The story paralleled Stallone's own, from a relative unknown to a star with one breakthrough picture. Rocky II (1979) carries on the story line, playing on the rivalry between Rocky Balboa and nemesis Apollo Creed, while Balboa's wife fights for her life. Mainly, though, the sequel seems like a link between the first film and Rocky III, in which an aging Rocky takes on big, bad Clubber Lang (the near-forgotten Mr. T). While playing on the same emotional capital as the first movie, Rocky III is the high-water mark of the sequels; by the next movie, Stallone had turned into a near-self-parody of the original character. Rocky IV finds the underdog taking on an oversized, blond Russian boxer (Dolph Lundgren) in a cold war scenario (Rocky literally wraps himself in the American flag). The series mercifully played out by 1990, as embarrassingly punch-drunk as the Rocky character himself by that point. Given the way the American pop-culture continuum seems to work, it's probably due time for the later sequels to be plucked from the compost heap of '80s flotsam and revived as high camp; the Reagan-era hyperpatriotism of Rocky IV is as dated as in junk like Red Dawn or the dreadful Invasion U.S.A. Still, the first three films pack a satisfying emotional wallop without giving the viewer the urge to crawl under the couch. The last two... well, use your judgment. They will soon be good for an '80s nostalgia party. --Jerry Renshaw, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Five features. In 'Rocky', Italian-American underdog Rocky Balboa gets a one-in-a-million chance at boxing glory when the handlers for heavyweight champion Apollo Creed decide to set up a sure-win title bout with a born loser. It's all part of a bicentennial public relations stunt, but, unfortunately for them, Rocky trains for the fight like a man whose life depends on the outcome - which, in a way, it does. Also includes the sequels 'Rocky 2', 'Rocky 3', 'Rocky 4' and 'Rocky 5'.

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19 Reviews 5 star:  (14) 4 star:  (4) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.7 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   15 of 17 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Great films, but should you buy this?, 29 Jan 2007 By  Matty (London) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    I love the Rocky movies, and this is obviously a very comprehensive box set with a stack of special features (mostly related to the first film). However, there is a strong chance that there will be a new set of discs out in 2007 containing the sixth movie Rocky Balboa. If you can't wait until then, then this is as good as it gets for the Rocky movies on DVD, but if you can wait, it's probably in your best interests. As Clubber Lang might say "I pity the fool who buys this box set and then buys the next one in a few months time", or something like that. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   8 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Adriaaaaaaaaan!, 4 Dec 2005 By  John Page "jony_darko" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    The film that launched Sylvester Stallone into Superstardom. Taking the title character, Stallone gives his greatest ever performance in a role he was born to play, Rocky Balboa a mumbling Philadelphian no hoper who is given a shot at the World Heavy weight Crown. Directed by John Avidsen and with possibly the most motivational score ever by Bill Conti, this has to be one of my top 5 movies ever. My honest feelings are that Rocky should never have been continued. Although I think some of the sequals are fine films, its not what the character was meant to be. Rocky was a no hoper who took his shot and did what he wanted more than anything to do, go the distance with Creed. He wasnt meant to win and become a Superstar (see Rocky 2, 3 and 4). Rocky is a fantastic film filled with emotion and hope. A moving tale of the little man making it big. Watch out for Carl Weathers as Muhammed Ali, sorry I mean Apollo Creed! The sequals followed the same formula, Rocky trains hard then beats someone really hard see Rocky 2 The Heavy weight champion of the world Apollo Creed, Rocky 3 Mr T, Rocky 4 Dolph Lungren. These are good movies and very entertaining, but the spirit of Rocky was lost somewhere along the way as Hollywood executives squeezed every penny from the series. End on a high and pretend Rocky 4 was the last one made, because Rocky 5 is terrible. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   14 of 17 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Reasons NOT to buy this Anthology, 22 Dec 2006 By  Amazonian Native (Amazon Rainforest) - See all my reviews I'm a fan of the Rocky films and I'm not reviewing the films as such, but the actual DVD. No sooner had the Rocky Anthology been released for the 25th Anniversary of the release of the first film - the boxed set using the Rocky III promotion picture against a white background, but then this comes out, trying to sell the whole thing all over again to Rocky fans by simply adding a few new special features, which to me and I'm sure many fans; don't have any appeal at all as they are so trivial and uninteresting. This anthology was foolishly released just before the 6th Rocky film is about to come out, so anyone who wants all the Rocky Films together in one package is wasting their time as there is bound to be another in 2007 that will include the new film 'Rocky Balboa', apart from that; High Defintion DVD and Blu-ray are now with us, and surely the next boxset would be also available in that format, with many HD releases now including a regular DVD version on the disk, just in case you don't yet have a HD player. So one has to ask; just what was the point of this release? If you want the movies now you are better off buying the cheaper 25th Anniversary edition, or wait until 2007 for the ineviteable updated Anthology. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 19 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars YO ADRIAN THIS IS JUST AMAZING. Rocky is such a legend and sylvester stallone plays Rocky so superbly. The first film is the best because thats just life changing, but rocky 2 has the best... Read more Published 20 months ago by Mr. M. Jarvis 5.0 out of 5 stars Stallone's finest hour Despite being 26 (nearly 27!), i only actually watched all the ROCKY films for the first time around the beginning of 2006. I was never that bothered when i was younger. Read more Published on 31 May 2007 by Mr. Matthew R. Meyrick 5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Movie ever made As a[...]female, up until about a month ago i didnt understand what all the fuss was about, so what sylvester stallone was going back in the ring as "rocky" as a [... Read more Published on 25 April 2007 by Manda-Jane Warner 5.0 out of 5 stars The Legend What can I say? Rocky is the legend, if you haven't got this you have to buy this - if you have any interest in boxing or exercise at all. Read more Published on 20 April 2007 by Londoner 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movies With Great Emotional Drive & Colourful Rememberable Characters Without a doubt the Rocky movies are a gifted set of films where as soon as you watch the first you find yourself having to sit and watch the sequels as the movies emotional drive... Read more Published on 15 Mar 2007 by Mr. Al Price 5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star da series is amazing. the first 4 rocky films were spectacular, however the fifth was a let down. Read more Published on 22 Jan 2007 by Mr. A. S. Jalil 4.0 out of 5 stars Eye of the tiger man! As i write this Rocky 6 aka Rocky balboa is only a few weeks away from being relesed,now this boxset is great value but for completists id say wait for the ultimate boxset... Read more Published on 13 Dec 2006 by Mr. Russell C. Witheyman 5.0 out of 5 stars Eye of the Tiger! I caught on to the whole Rocky spectacular when I started seeing my boyfriend who loves Rocky. I bought him this set for his birthday and he insisted that I watch them all with... Read more Published on 21 Nov 2006 by C. Leenhouwers 5.0 out of 5 stars Rocky FTW Rocky 1 definitely the best. Allready said. The second was good too but felt more like Rocky part 2 rather than a film on it's own terms. Read more Published on 25 Oct 2006 by D. Bland 4.0 out of 5 stars Best Sport Movie's ever I've just sat down and over the last week, I've watched the complete Rocky series (well, complete until number 6 comes along). Read more Published on 12 Oct 2006 by Mike Jonze Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 19 customer reviews...

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