Rocky: Heavyweight Collection (1976-2006) / Rocky (1976) (Remastered)

[TylerDurden389]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

They call him Rocky in IV but I'm pretty sure I'm looking at Rambo. He sure doesn't remind me of Balboa's character in the other films.

Ha. Funny you say that. For the longest time I've been saying that remove the flashbacks and change the character's names, and this isn't a Rocky movie at all.

[Guydowood]

Rocky IV is also known as the 90 min music video.....

[BaerGriggs]

I know I'll catch some grief for this but I like pretty much all of the Rocky movies, including Rocky IV. They're movies I just loved watching as a kid, and I doubt I'll ever grow up enough to think otherwise.

[Villiam Hayes]

Originally Posted by BaerGriggs

I know I'll catch some grief for this but I like pretty much all of the Rocky movies, including Rocky IV. They're movies I just loved watching as a kid, and I doubt I'll ever grow up enough to think otherwise.

You like them and that's all that matters,I love 1-4 and don't care about anything after that but those first four are great entertainment.

It's funny that one of my first posts on here was mentioning how I was disappointed with the original transfer and was quite quickly told by a few members that it was supposed to look like that and it would never look any better....hmm,I notice it on here still with some people cutting the "new/active" members views.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden389

There's a bunch of behind the scenes stuff for all the Rocky movies on youtube that aren't on any dvd/blu-ray release. I doubt they'll be in this new set either.

have any links to that stuff?

[TylerDurden389]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

have any links to that stuff?

You got it!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAoYtU5XjWQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECkGNQd61aE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCFjcdyFoXM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIy5Am1G8js

And my personal favorite, the first teaser for Rocky 4. I LOVE this. Vince Dicola's background synthesizers are so haunting. The slow pan up from Drago's feet. It reminds me of the teaser for Terminator 2 when we see Arnold being created in the factory. Of course, we all know who did it first

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL4gjQFsw9E

There's also the infamous workprint of Rocky 5, which has deleted scenes, alternate takes, and different music cues. I personally think this version is better than theatrical (In some places anyway). A shame they've never cleaned it up and released it as a special feature. There's a few fan-editors out there that would love to re-instate some of these scenes.

[Samus Aran]

Originally Posted by Filmmaker

Exactly. V is CITIZEN KANE compared to IV. They call him Rocky in IV but I'm pretty sure I'm looking at Rambo. He sure doesn't remind me of Balboa's character in the other films.

I don't think 5 is great, but a lot of people really crap all over that movie while loving 4 to death.

You can tell how Rocky changed throughout the first four movies in relation to Stallone's own life. Rocky had to become more buff, smarter and richer, and in Rocky IV you get a 90 minute music video where he ends the Cold War by taking enough direct punches in 15 rounds to kill 100 boxers.

[Blu-21]

People diss on Rocky V but I've always loved it. In fact Rocky V and Rocky Balboa which have been the last two Rocky sequels, are much closer in tone and style with their similar plot connections to the first one.

[IndyMLVC]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden389

You got it!!

Thanks a lot for taking the to do that. Much appreciated!

[TylerDurden389]

No problem. I've already spoken about my love for Rocky 4, but I will say this about part 5: I have a fan edit someone made a few years ago, called "The 80's edition". It completely changes the tone of the film. The editor re-arranged scenes, trimmed the fat, fixed time-line continuity errors, and re-did the entire soundtrack. It makes the movie a lot more fun to watch.

[Blu-21]

Just speaking Rocky in general, whose seen the Director's Cut workprint version of Rocky V? I haven't but I see someone has uploaded it to YouTube. I myself love the theatrical cut but would love for this Director's Cut to be remastered onto Blu-Ray (along with the theatrical cut), because the workprint is in pretty poor condition.

[TylerDurden389]

I have. It's definitely an improvement, but there's some scenes that I'm glad were left on the cutting room floor.

Pros

More dramatic scenes between Rocky & Adrian. There's a love scene (after Rocky comes home from the gym when he sees Mickey and his younger self) that doesn't add to the plot, but it's just nice to see that Rocky and Adrian still have that "spark".

George Washington Duke isn't nearly as annoying. Not as over-dramatic, and no stupid close-ups of him shouting at Tommy during the street fight. I think "Touch me and I'll sue" isn't there either but it's been a while since I've watched this so it could be wishful thinking.

Tommy Gunn is given more character development. Particularly during the 2nd half of the movie. You almost feel sympathy for the guy. Almost.

Street fight plays out differently. Less "back and forth" with who's winning. No stupid slo-mo close-ups. The "I loved you man...you blew it" speech isn't there either.

Cons

A very bad scene in the bar where Rocky is drunk. Sly was on autopilot here, and it's all around just an uncomfortable scene to see. It's actually the precursor to the scene where Rocky steps out of the bar and visits Mickey's gym.

A scene before the street fight where Rocky almost reconsiders what he's doing. Rocky looks at all the people gathering around and yelling, and says "Is this what you want?". Again, it comes off as hokey.

Mickey watching over Rocky when he's losing the fight. Instead of appearing as he does in the theatrical, he's just standing on the train tracks, leaning over. Now, I'll admit that the close-ups and quick cuts in the theatrical were very cheesy (as well as the blood covering Rocky's face), but this just looks incredibly cheap. Mickey also finishes his speech with "Beat the shit outta him". Ugh.

The only thing I don't have an opinion on is the intro (no Rocky-banner crawl, just the letters shoot at the screen), and the different music (Though it is nice to watch the film WITHOUT the terrible hip-hop music). Since this is a workprint, the songs used would've been different anyway. They re-use the "training montage" song from Rocky 4 for Tommy going up in the ranks and Rocky jr. training, and when Rocky goes to the old gym they actually played MICHAEL BOLTON'S song "When I'm Back On My Feet Again".

And no, Rocky doesn't die. It may have been in the original script, but it was never filmed. I've read the ending of the original script, and TBH I still think it's better Rocky lived. The dialogue wasn't anything spectacular, and based on the actor's performances, it would've been bad and end up being re-shot anyway.

[RyanPom]

Rocky V was probably one of the MOST depressing movies I've ever seen, and Rocky is reduced to a street punk thug at the end.

[Blu-21]

Originally Posted by TylerDurden389

I have. It's definitely an improvement, but there's some scenes that I'm glad were left on the cutting room floor.

Pros

More dramatic scenes between Rocky & Adrian. There's a love scene (after Rocky comes home from the gym when he sees Mickey and his younger self) that doesn't add to the plot, but it's just nice to see that Rocky and Adrian still have that "spark".

George Washington Duke isn't nearly as annoying. Not as over-dramatic, and no stupid close-ups of him shouting at Tommy during the street fight. I think "Touch me and I'll sue" isn't there either but it's been a while since I've watched this so it could be wishful thinking.

Tommy Gunn is given more character development. Particularly during the 2nd half of the movie. You almost feel sympathy for the guy. Almost.

Street fight plays out differently. Less "back and forth" with who's winning. No stupid slo-mo close-ups. The "I loved you man...you blew it" speech isn't there either.

Cons

A very bad scene in the bar where Rocky is drunk. Sly was on autopilot here, and it's all around just an uncomfortable scene to see. It's actually the precursor to the scene where Rocky steps out of the bar and visits Mickey's gym.

A scene before the street fight where Rocky almost reconsiders what he's doing. Rocky looks at all the people gathering around and yelling, and says "Is this what you want?". Again, it comes off as hokey.

Mickey watching over Rocky when he's losing the fight. Instead of appearing as he does in the theatrical, he's just standing on the train tracks, leaning over. Now, I'll admit that the close-ups and quick cuts in the theatrical were very cheesy (as well as the blood covering Rocky's face), but this just looks incredibly cheap. Mickey also finishes his speech with "Beat the shit outta him". Ugh.

The only thing I don't have an opinion on is the intro (no Rocky-banner crawl, just the letters shoot at the screen), and the different music (Though it is nice to watch the film WITHOUT the terrible hip-hop music). Since this is a workprint, the songs used would've been different anyway. They re-use the "training montage" song from Rocky 4 for Tommy going up in the ranks and Rocky jr. training, and when Rocky goes to the old gym they actually played MICHAEL BOLTON'S song "When I'm Back On My Feet Again".

And no, Rocky doesn't die. It may have been in the original script, but it was never filmed. I've read the ending of the original script, and TBH I still think it's better Rocky lived. The dialogue wasn't anything spectacular, and based on the actor's performances, it would've been bad and end up being re-shot anyway.

Thanks for that detailed analysis. I do wonder if Sly's opinion would change about the film if it was the Director's Cut that became the official version, because its a fact that he hates the theatrical cut.

[sancho]

Rocky Double Dip for sure. I like all of the Rocky movies.

[AgentOrange]

Originally Posted by Torgon

I'm guessing it will just be Rocky for now, kind of like The Terminator and it's sequels. maybe they will get to the others later, but I don't see it happening anytime soon (but I could be wrong ).

Big difference though. T2 is almost certainly going to be remastered at some point. T3 and T:Salvation are probably never going to get that kind of treatment.

With Rocky, it could just be the 1st one. They probably wouldn't just do #2 like is almost certain to happen with Terminator, they would do #2-5 (and of course the new movie would probably be recycled).

Hopefully they go all the way eventually. But I agree it won't happen anytime soon.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by Akijama

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly has been confirmed.

Not sure if there will be any other 4K upgrades. I can see Escape From New York happening, but his destiny is probably tied up with rumoured remake.



You're safe from importing. The only real question here is when is going to be released in US. Most likely in February as well.

Please, Sir...do not tease me like that!

[mcfddj74]

Originally Posted by Guydowood

Rocky IV is also known as the 90 min music video.....

HUGE Stallone fan here, but I dare you to play this song on an open highway and not want to floor it.....I own 2 copies of the soundtrack just in case the situation arrives...

Plus this song/sequence is awesome.....!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwPb7g_BlXQ

[mcfddj74]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

People diss on Rocky V but I've always loved it. In fact Rocky V and Rocky Balboa which have been the last two Rocky sequels, are much closer in tone and style with their similar plot connections to the first one.

You should see the workprint version....

In 2002, director John G. Avildsen released a work-print version of the film online, under the title "Rocky V: Director's Cut". In this version, the opening credits are completely different, with different music. Additionally, the music throughout the film is decidedly different then that used in the final version of the film; in particular, there is a lot more Bill Conti music rather than the songs used in the theatrical cut (although Michael Bolton's "When I'm Back On My Feet Again" plays in this cut when Rocky visits Mighty Mick's).

Several scenes are edited differently in the Director's Cut, and often with different dialogue. There are also a number of deleted scenes in the film, including a scene of Rocky getting VERY drunk at the bar prior to visiting Mighty Mick's Boxing, and a scene where Rocky meets Marie from Rocky (1976) (played by the same actress) to find that she is a prostitute and has just become homeless. Additionally, the Director's Cut has a completely different edit of the street fight, with new music, and also includes the amazing Mickey hallucination scene.

Much better version by a long shot.....

[mcfddj74]

Originally Posted by IndyMLVC

Thanks a lot for taking the to do that. Much appreciated!

Wanna see all the original locations where Rocky was filmed as they look today ?

Here's a grand tour......

Part one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRf53AXOymg

Part two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJgSirGtO6A