Rocky: The Undisputed Collection [Blu-ray]

SYNOPSES

Rocky
Rocky (Stallone) is a Philadelphia club fighter who seems to be going nowhere. But when a stroke of fate puts him in a ring with the world heavyweight champion, Rocky knows that it's his one shot at the big time -- a once in a lifetime opportunity to "go the distance" and come out a winner!

Rocky II
After club fighter Rocky Balboa (Stallone) goes the distance with the world heavyweight champion, boxing fans clamor for a rematch. But Rocky, having sustained massive injuries in the bout, announces his retirement. Though he tries to make a new life for himself, Rocky realizes that he can't escape his true calling. The ring beckons once more, and the "Italian Stallion" must prepare for the fight of his life.

Rocky III
As Rocky Balboa (Stallone) fights his way into the hearts of millions, life couldn't be better. He scores ten consecutive wins, lands lucrative endorsement contracts and becomes famous throughout the world. But when Clubber Lang (Mr. T) K.O.s Rocky in a humiliating defeat, it becomes apparent that the "Italian Stallion" has lost his edge. Considering hanging up his gloves, Rocky receives encouragement from an unlikely ally: his old nemesis, Apollo Creed (Weathers). With Creed's help, Rocky strives to regain the "eye of the tiger" before confronting Lang in a grueling rematch for the world heavyweight championship.

Rocky IV
Rocky (Stallone) proudly holds the world heavyweight boxing championship, but a new challenger has stepped forward: Drago (Dolph Lundgren), a six-foot, six-inch, 240-pound fighter who has the backing of the Soviet Union. This time, Rocky's training regimen takes him to icy Siberia, where he prepares for a globally-televised match in the heart of Moscow. But nothing can truly prepare him for what he's about to face -- a powerfully charged fight to the finish in which he must defend not only himself, but also the honor of his country!

Rocky V
Upon returning home from his latest triumph, Rocky (Stallone) learns that all of his money has been lost by an unscrupulous financial advisor. To make matters worse, his fight-related injuries force his retirement from the ring. So Rocky, his wife Adrian (Shire) and his son Rocky Jr. (Sage Stallone) move to their old low-rent neighborhood in South Philadelphia. There, the fighter must resolve the deep-rooted resentment held by his son, a bitterness that grows when Rocky trains Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison), a young boxer who soon rises to national prominence. When Tommy turns against his mentor and publicly taunts him, Rocky knows he must fight once more.

Rocky Balboa
30 years after the clang of the first bell, Rocky Balboa dons his gloves for the last time...and delivers "a knockout" ( US Weekly)! Armed with a highly credible, heart-wrenching story, Sylvester Stallone leaps "back in the ring with a champ" ( Rolling Stone): this "triumphant final chapter for one of the most iconic characters in the history of motion pictures" (Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times)! Since retiring, Rocky Balboa reminisces about his glory days for the locals at his Philly diner, Adrian's. But his quiet world is suddenly rocked when the current reigning champ (Antonio Tarver) - after losing to a virtual, in-his-prime Rocky in a computer-simulated match -- challenges the "out-to-pasture" stallion to the real thing! Not one to back down, Rocky commits to the unthinkable: He agrees to the fight of his life...and pushes himself to the breaking point to go the distance one last time.

Bonus Features:

• Rocky (Disc 1) - (HD) 5 trailers - Flyboys, Rocky, Windtalkers, Usual suspects, Bulletproof monk
• Disc 7 Bonus features:
• Feeling strong now! Interactive game
• Three rounds with legendary trainer Lou Duva - 4 minutes
• Interview with a legend - Bert Sugar: Author/commentator/historian - 7 minutes
• "The opponents" - 16 minute featurette
• In the ring: Three part making of documentary
• Steadicam: Then and now with Garrett Brown - 17 minutes
• Make up! The art and form with Michael Westmore - 15 minutes
• Staccato: A composer';s notebook with Bill Conti - 11 minutes
• The ring of truth - 9 minutes
• Behind the scenes with John Avildsen - 12 minutes
• Tribute to Burgess Meredith - 8 minutes
• Tribute to James Crabe - 3 minutes
• Video commentary with Sylvester Stallone
• Sylvester Stallone on Dinah! 1976
• Rocky anthology trailers, TV Spots
• Rocky Balboa bonus features:
• Commentary by Sylvester Stallone
• (HD) 7 deleted/alternate scenes and an alternate ending
• (HD) Blooper reel
• (HD) 17 minute making of featurette
• (HD) 15 minute featurette on the fight sequence
• (HD) Creating the virtual/animated fight, including the uncut sequence (5 minutes)
• (HD) Trailers for Casino Royale, Talladega Nights, Stranger than Fiction, Gridiron Gang, Pursuit of Happyness

The complete Rocky collection comes out just in time for Christmas and is sure to be on everyone's Blu-ray list this year. It is a perfect upgrade on this Blu-ray format. While the picture quality isn't as good as I would have liked to see on the earlier films the audio quality is the best available since their theatrical releases. However, the picture is considerably better than what has been previously offered on DVD. The latest installment, Rocky Balboa, has an impeccable picture quality and audio track that will impress the most discernable videophiles. There are also plenty of bonus materials included on a 7 th disk to keep the die hard fans enthralled for hours with bonus material and commentary. Rocky: The undisputed collection, is put together nicely from packaging to presentation and is sure to satisfy the underdog in everyone.