Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35723 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-05-28
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 115 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The 1976 Best Picture Award-winner Rocky has the look of a contemporary on-the-streets movie like Taxi Driver, but the heart of a fairytale. For the Bicentennial Year, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), a Muhammad Ali-like stars-and-stripes blowhard, cynically offers a title shot to an unknown over-the-hill Philadelphia club fighter, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Unlike the sequels, Rocky is a rare American sports movie to realise there's more drama and emotional resonance in losing than winning. The unique finale suggests that going the distance against the odds is more of a triumph than a conventional victory. Stallone, then an unknown as actor and writer, crafts the script to his own strengths--mumbling, Brando-like sincerity combined with explosive physicality expressed in his use of a side of beef as a punch-bag or wintery jogs around Philly. Surprisingly little of the film is taken up with ring action, as we follow Rocky's awkward courtship of pet-store minion Adrian (Talia Shire) and uneasy relationship with her slobbish brother (Burt Young), while Burgess Meredith provides the old pro licks as the curmudgeonly trainer. Though it led to a slick, steroid-fuelled franchise, it has a pleasing roughness, exemplified by the memorable funk/brass band score and the array of fidgety, credible method acting tics.

On the DVD: 1.85:1 16x9 print, which represents the sometimes-slick, sometimes rough look of the cinematography; feature commentary with supporting cast and crew (Burt Young admits to rubbing vermouth into his neck to make himself repulsive), video interview with Stallone, a retrospective featurette (which includes news footage of the Ali fight that inspired the story), 8mm test fight footage with a flabbier Stallone, tributes to Burgess Meredith and cameraman James Crabe, trailers for Rocky and all the sequels (which makes a solid précis of the whole series). All this and a "special hidden feature" (a comic sketch with Sly meeting Rocky).--Kim Newman

Video Description
DVD Special Features:

Remastered with 5.1 Audio
Audio Commentary with Director, Producer and Crew
Exclusive Interview with Sylvester Stallone
"Behind The Scenes" Featurette with Director John Avildsen
Tribute to Burgess Meredith
Tribute to James Crabe
3 TV Spots
Teaser Trailer
Original Trailer for Rocky
Original Trailer for Rocky II
Original Trailer for Rocky III
Original Trailer for Rocky IV
Original Trailer for Rocky V
Special Hidden Featurette
8 Page Booklet
Subtitles: English, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, Portuguese, Polish, Greek, Hungarian, Hebrew, Turkish, English for the hard of hearing.

From the Back Cover
It's the film that inspired a nation - and won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director! Audiences everywhere cheered this American success story of an "everyman" triumphing over all odds. As boxer Rocky Balboa (in a screenplay penned by the "Italian Stallion" himself!), Sylvester Stallone comes out swinging with heart, humour and unforgettable power.

Rocky is a Philadelphia club fighter who seems to be going nowhere, but as fate would have it, World Heavyweight Champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) chooses him to be his next opponent. For Creed, the match is little more than an exhibition, but for Rocky it's a shot at the bigtime. While preparing for the bout under the watchful eye of his trainer (Burgess Meredith), Rocky romances Adrian (Talia Shire), a shy young woman who exposes the tenderness beneath his tough exterior. Their love blossoms as the fight approaches, giving Rocky even more strength and purpose to "go the distance" against his brutal adversary.

Featuring a dynamic musical score, a thrilling fight sequence and four Oscar-nominated performances, this rousing crowd-pleaser will send spirits soaring. Fighting for love, glory and self-respect, Rocky scores an exultant knockout!

Customer Reviews

Knockout
"His whole life was a million to one shot"

Never has a tagline summed up a movie with such simple elegance. There's something wonderfully universal about the idea of a nobody being plucked from obscurity and given that one golden chance to prove themselves. It's something that everyone who never caught a break in life can relate to. Rocky is a film which tapped into that universal longing to succeed, and did it with such passion and honesty that it's still remembered more than thirty years later.

Looking back now, it's hard to believe that this film almost never came to be. Stallone, an unknown actor in 1976, had to fight as hard as the title character to get this film made. Studio executives wanted an A-list actor in the title role, but Stallone held firm, sensing this could be his big break. Even when the production was finally given the green light, budgetary concerns and tight deadlines threatened to derail it. But when it was released in 1976, it exceeded all expectations, cemented Rocky as a pop culture icon, and even scooped an Oscar for best picture.

Rocky himself is an unknown club fighter from a rough neighbourhood in Philadelphia. He lives in a run-down apartment and has to work as an enforcer for a local loan shark to make ends meet. Along the way, he hooks up with Adrian - a shy pet store worker that he's had a crush on. But his quiet life is changed forever when the heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed comes to town. His intended opponent has injured himself training, and rather than cancel the fight, he decides to give a local fighter a shot at his heavyweight title in what amounts to a glorified publicity stunt. He chooses Rocky for no other reason than he likes his nickname, The Italian Stallion. Initially reluctant, Rocky eventually sees the fight as a chance to prove himself, and accepts Creed's offer.

It's difficult to pin down all the elements that make this film work, but as a start I'd have to say that the pace is absolutely perfect. The film unfolds in a measured, unhurried way, giving us time to get to know Rocky and his companions before kicking into high gear for the iconic training montage and the climactic fight. It's not a long film, but it manages to pack a lot into its runtime. Like its title character, it's lean and mean, with not a single scene or piece of dialogue feeling flabby or superfluous.

The characters are just great. Rocky himself is a surprisingly complex individual - when the film kicks off he appears brutish and simple, yet little touches of humanity shine through, and the way he gazes longingly at a picture of his idol Rocky Marciano gives great insight into his longing to succeed and his regret for a life not well lived. Adrian meanwhile is a shy and mousy woman that most other men wouldn't look twice at, but Rocky sees her inner strength and beauty. In his own words, they fill gaps in each other. Adrian brings out Rocky's humanity and sensitivity, while Rocky encourages Adrian's self-confidence and independence. There's great chemistry between Stallone and Shire in their respective roles, made even more impressive because neither of them are classically attractive. These are real people living real lives, not Hollywood archetypes.

The supporting characters round things out nicely. Burt Young is perfect as Adrian's abusive and jealous brother Paulie, while Carl Weathers injects a welcome touch of humanity into the arrogant and flamboyant Apollo Creed. Burgess Meredith is always awesome, but he gives the performance of a lifetime as Mickey. A gruff, aggressive former fighter, Mickey sees the potential in Rocky and the opportunity he has been given, and offers to be his trainer. Rocky angrily berates him for never offering to help out before (in a performance that almost won Stallone an Oscar) before finally accepting.

The day of the fight rolls around, and its time for Rocky to put himself to the test. Creed expects a walk over, but Rocky surprises him by fighting with skill and determination. Still, he's up against the heavyweight champion of the world, and after fourteen brutal rounds has taken a fearsome beating. I won't spoil the ending, but suffice to say, it hammers home the point that just going the distance and refusing to stay down is often more important than winning or losing.

Rocky is a film that influenced a whole generation of movie-goers, teaching them that they could achieve great things with hard work and determination, and continues to do so today. No matter where you are in life, you always feel better after watching Rocky. For that reason, I heartily award it five stars.

Rocky, The Greatest Fighter Who Never Lived!
I first saw Rocky on TV when i was 13, and from then on i was hooked. Weeks later i went out and bought this wonderful DVD collection which sees all five of the films restored and banged onto five discs with a whole load of extras to add to the fun.
Rocky - is a Philedelphia boxer who is given a shot at the big time.

Rocky 2 - After he decides to retire, Rocky is taunted by Apollo who wants a rematch to prove that the first fight was a fluke.

Rocky 3 - Now the heavyweight champion of the world, Rocky faces the ruthless, Clubber Lang in his hardest fight so far.

Rocky 4 - When his best friend Apollo Creed is killed in the ring by a new Russian boxer, Rocky takes revenge.

Rocky 5 - Having lost all his money, Rocky goes back to living in Philedelphia where he trains Tommy Gunn, a new and upcoming fighter.

This collection is an absolute must for and film fans. Buy it, and i garuntee that it will bring the same enjoyment to you as it did for me.

The Best Sports Films You Will Ever See!!
The movies that started Sylvester Stallones carrear and made him alot of money in sequals were all about him as a rookie boxer from Philadelphia.
Rocky: Rocky is a rookie italia-american boxer who is givin a 1 in a million shot at the world heavyweight championship against appollo creed. Rocky accepts and takes the champ all the way...........
Rocky II: After the first fight,appollo demands a rematch and again Rocky accepts and trains harder then ever to create an even bigger upset.......

Rocky III: After 10 succesful title defences,Rocky fights Hulk Hogan in a charity match(u'll enjoy this part alot) and this is where Mickey(his manager) suffers a minor heart attack.Rocky then decides to retire but is stopped by clubber lang who takes Balboa's title and then accepts a rematch and Rocky is trained by appollo creed after his managers death,to take bak what is his.........
Rocky IV: Appollo is killed in the ring by the giant Drago, a russian boxer who is like a robot. Rocky then must travel to Drago's native russia and train in the wilderness to another good soundtrack to face another all the way 15 round fight to almost death..............
Rocky V: Rocky discovers he has brain damamge andretires for good at the same time as going bankurupt, and so he trains a young boxer called tommy gunn who eventually leaves him for money,and this time we dont see Rocky fighting in the ring,but on the street..........
ENJOY

Also check out the 2 best songs from the series:
Eye of the Tiger (Rocky III)
The Measure Of A Man (Rocky V)