4K ULTRA HD REVIEW / HDR SCREENSHOTS
Sylvester Stallone credits George Foreman’s comeback in the ring as inspiration for Rocky’s final bout in “Rocky Balboa.” Foreman was nearly 49 when he finally hung up his gloves, but Stallone was 60-plus when he wrote, directed, and returned as the Italian Stallion.
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“ROCKY BALBOA”
4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray; 2006; PG for boxing violence and some profanity & Unrated Director’s Cut; Digital copy via Fandango Home (4K)
Best extra: A new “Director’s Cut” running 14-minutes longer
LAST YEAR, the “Rocky: The Knockout Collection” was released on 4K Ultra HD to coincide with the theatrical release of the third installment of the spinoff series “Creed” starring Michael B. Jordan as Apollo Creed’s son. Oddly, Warner Bros. and MGM didn’t include “Rocky V” (1990) or the last chapter, “Rocky Balboa” (2006).
Those two films weren’t the only casualty to the collection; the four films all had technical issues. The 4K visuals were nearly perfect on “Rocky” (1976), winner of three Academy Awards including Best Picture, and the same with “Rocky II” (1979) and “Rocky III” (1982). But, all four suffered audio issues, from dragging pitch, and the designated Mono track on “Rocky” was actually a downmix of the 5.1 soundtrack. And, at the 10-minute mark on “Rocky IV” (1985), the aspect ratio changed briefly.
Earlier this year, Warner fixed the audio and aspect ratio on the four 4K discs and provided owners (Knockout Collection & individual Steelbook editions) a replacement disc, via email contact at whv@wbd.com.
One of the positives from the 2023 “Knockout Collection,” writer/director Sylvester Stallone re-edited the fourth film into “Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago – Ultimate Director’s Cut,” with a much-improved storyline, running two minutes longer, while removing unnecessary scenes the studio demanded at the time. Plus, he cropped the image vertically from 1.85:1 to 2.35:1 aspect.
(1-4) Rocky wakes up early, and his two turtles featured in the original film are still alive. A new Director’s Cut scene: He fixes a glass of raw eggs and then attends to his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), who now lives with him since Adrian’s death from cancer.
NOW, with the 4K release of “Rocky V” (1990) and “Rocky Balboa” (2006) – individual Steelbook editions or the new six-film “Ultimate Knockout Edition” – Stallone offers “Rocky: Balboa: Director’s Cut” running 14 minutes longer. It is seamlessly added into the Theatrical Cut and honestly more compelling than the original edit.
The new footage expands Rocky’s turbulent relationship with his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young), as both men mourn the loss of Rocky’s beloved wife Adrian. It also magnifies Rocky’s platonic bond to single mother Marie, played by Irish actress Geraldine Hughes. She was the troubled teen in the original “Rocky,” who he walked home. He takes an interest in her teenage son Steps (James Francis Kelly III) and offers both a job at his neighborhood Italian restaurant – named Adrian’s – where he tells old boxing stories to his guests.
In the carryover commentary included on the 4K disc, Stallone credits George Foreman’s comeback as inspiration for Rocky’s final bout. During the “Balboa” production at 60-plus, Stallone is still hard-hitting and compassionate in this endearing tale, making it the best “Rocky” film since the original. Critics gave it respectable high marks hitting nearly 80 percent on Rotten Tomatoes; it was the same with audiences. At the box office, it was quite successful making over $155 million worldwide with a $24 million production budget.
(1) Rocky and Paulie regularly visit Adrian’s gravesite. (2) Rocky Jr. (Milo Ventimiglia) has lived under the shadow of his father for years. (3) Rocky tells old boxing stories to his guests. (4) Paulie still works at the Philly meat locker and paints during breaks. (5&6) A new Director’s Cut scene: Rocky visits the Lucky Seven Tavern and talks with the owner who calls him, “Champ.” The owner asks the bartender Marie (Geraldine Hughes) to get Rocky a short glass of beer. (7&8) Rocky drives Marie home and meets her teenage son Steps (James Francis Kelly III).
EXTRAS
Four documentaries are also included, in which the sights and sounds of the City of Brotherly Love, where everyone loves the champ, is showcased. “People were yelling Rocky, Rocky at every corner. He is Rocky,” producer Kevin King says. “He’s as synonymous to Philly as the steps, the art museum, and the Liberty Bell.”
Dozens run the steps every day, jumping up and down like Rocky. Many of these folks get a moment of fame during the closing credits, as the camera captures their run.
This time Rocky’s competitor is a real boxer, light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver, (Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon). “It is real contact, you’ll see sweat flying and a lot of blood,” Tarver says. Both went home many a night with ice packs.
(1&2) Rocky petitions to the boxing commission to enter the boxing ring again. (3) An expanded Director’s Cut scene: Paulie loses his job and confesses to Rocky he misses his sister. (4) Rocky continues a platonic bond with Marie. (5&6) Mason ‘The Line’ Dixon is played by real boxer, light heavyweight champ Antonio Tarver. Dixon’s promoter and manager approach Rocky about a possible 10-round exhibition fight after an ESPN computer-generated fight between Rocky and Dixon was the biggest news in sports. (7-10) Rocky reconciles with his son and the Rocky theme music is cued and he starts training for the upcoming Vegas fight.
VIDEO
Here’s the disappointment, “Rocky Balboa’s” original 2K master from 2006 is still the source for the 4K Ultra HD. It had been captured on Super 35 film, with the majority of the fight sequence from 1080p digital cameras to mimic HBO’s broadcast of a professional fight. The video-like footage is an odd match with the frame rate and lacks the color palette and contrast depth of the 35mm film stock.
We assume the 2K master in 2006 was handled by co-producers Sony Pictures, and the new HDR grading was controlled by a different post-production house. A degree of the natural film grain seen on the Blu-ray, but is now missing on the 4K in a number of scenes, reducing the clarity. Meanwhile, other moments the grain is intact giving the 4K more clarity.
Still, the HDR10 and Dolby Vision grading is helpful for a more cinematic experience with the color toning creating a less teal hue, while contrast levels from expanded shadows to more detailed highlights are evident against the washed-out highlights on the 1080p disc.
Both edits are encoded onto a 100 GB disc. The video bitrate varies from the upper 60 Megabits per second and down to the mid-20 Mbps, with peak HDR10 brightness at 1000 nits, averaging 298 nits.
AUDIO
The six-channel DTS-HD soundtrack is carried over from the previous Blu-ray, providing a convincing front soundstage for the dialogue, and Bill Conti’s trademark “Rocky” theme and varying music cues. During the fight, there are plenty of environmental crowd noises pushed to surround speakers, putting us right in the middle of the Vegas arena.
Time for one final stand-up and cheer for Rocky Balboa.
— Bill Kelley III, High-Def Watch producer
