Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4178 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-11-14
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 532 minutes

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'.

DVD Description
Own all 5 classic Rocky films in one great value, extras packed, DVD. Starting with the 1976 blockbuster, Rocky Balboa, the "Italian stallion", must struggle against all the odds to defeat heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. After a stunning rematch in the 1979 sequel, Rocky III sees him facing off against the ferocious Clubber Lang (Mr T) and in 1985’s Rocky IV he takes on Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). The series ends with 1990’s Rocky V in which Rocky must take to the ring for one final time against his would be protégée Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison). With mountains of extras for all five films this is the definitive Rocky collection.

Customer Reviews

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 scene where he is climbing the philadelphia museum steps with thousands of people behind him, Rocky 3 is a great film, Rocky 4 is a bit better than rocky 3 and rocky 5 is another hit. If you want your slice of rocky then go buy this because its in a different class to other films. Sit back grab the popcorn and watch rocky, its life-changing.

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. Here are my individual opinions: ROCKY (1976)- A classic. Stallone is totally convincing as a down-on-his-luck boxer who gets a once in a life time shot at challenging the heavyweight champion of the world, brilliantly potrayed by Carl Weathers. Stallone wrote the story to and was rewarded with best screenplay oscar, as the film also won best film of 1976.***** ROCKY 2 (1978)- Largely a re-tread of the first film as the re-match between ROCKY and APOLLO CREED looms. Stallone took over as director as well as writer and star for this film and although it retains alot of the originals magic and is still a good film, something just seems to be lacking. Not sure what, though.**** ROCKY 3 (1982)- 4 years on and ROCKY is now the firmly established heavyweight champion of the world. He has it all, 10 successful title defences, a loving wife and son, money, fame and considering retirement. That is until rough, tough, hard-hitting and hard-talking fighter CLUBBER LANG (played gloriously OTT by MR.T) publicly insults and humiliates him and ROCKY is pursuaded back into the ring....... A hugely entaining way to continue the series. **** ROCKY 4 (1985)- After personal disaster for ROCKY, he is again pursuaded back into the ring to fight the huge and ultra tough russian IVAN DRAGO. This for me is the worst of the franchise. Its basically nothing more than a propaganda film about America's efforts against russia in the cold war. Stallone spends most of the film draped (literaly!) in the American flag while DOLPH LUNDGREN (who plays DRAGO) does the same with the soviet flag and the film is littered with constant quips, songs, etc about how much better America is than russia. Check out APOLLO CREED's fight entrance at the beginning of the film and you'll see what i mean! ** ROCKY 5 (1990)- Still beaten and bruised from his fight with DRAGO in ROCKY 4, ROCKY now faces being potentially bankrupt. After being told he can no longer fight anymore, his predicament deepens. He then meets TOMMY GUNN, a young boxer who idolises ROCKY and is desperate for ROCKY to manage him. ROCKY is eventually pursuaded, but more trouble lurks around the corner......... the original ROCKY director John Avildsen, returned to take the directoral reigns from Stallone and while its not a bad film, its hardly a return what made the original so great. *** All in all, not a bad box at all and while the last 2 movies may not be up to the same standard as the first three, the fight scenes are still good and should please any fan of the franchise.

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 [...], what the hell was the big deal that surrounded "ROCKY". That was until my best friend and i one hungover sunday decided to watch her dads copy of the rocky trilogy,never fully intending to watch more than the 1st one, and even then just on the premise that sly was only 30 in this one and would supposedly be reasonably fit, and we could drool our way thru an hour or so of mindless viewing and meet sober on the other side, but the story of ROCKY BALBOA is one that everyone loves, and the characters are lovingly brought to life,suffice to say that we ended up not only watching all 5 that sunday afternoon, but embarking on a misson to find a boot leg copy of BALBOA to view also.
I now am firmly a avid sly fan, and owner of not only the rocky trilogy, but rambo 1-3, tango and cash, day light, demolition man, the specialist, and a personal favourite OSCAR.
You dont have to be a boxing fan to appreciate the intense spirit of rocky, watch it once and it will stay in your heart forever.