Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

The "Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection" on 4K UHD Blu-Ray presents a mixed bag of video quality across the saga. The 4K transfer of the original "Rocky" film leverages the 2014 remaster, offering enhanced grain details and stronger saturation thanks to HDR and Dolby Vision. The preservation of the film's original grit, with minimal digital intervention, results in an authentic viewing experience faithful to its 70s origins. However, slight smoothing is noticeable in a few scenes, though the overall upgrade surpasses previous Blu-ray editions.

"Rocky II" benefits from its increased budget, creating a cleaner and more vibrant presentation with deeper colors and improved clothing textures. Despite occasional ruddy facial tones, this transfer maintains the natural appearance desired, surpassing its predecessors in clarity and color contrast. Both sequels maintain fidelity to their era, showcasing solid depth and enhanced shadow details.

Moving into the 80s with "Rocky III" and "IV," the 4K visuals exhibit significant improvements with spectacular highlights and robust colors brought to life by HDR 10. Here, the Dolby Vision application revitalizes iconic scenes, accentuating bold primaries against deep blacks for striking cinematic appeal. "Rocky IV" encounters a minor aspect ratio glitch momentarily, but this does not detract significantly from an otherwise remarkable transfer.

"Rocky V" emerges as a standout, benefiting from polished mastering. The transfer captures the film's authentic 90s aesthetic with crisp clarity, while HDR consistently enhances the grungy palette without overshadowing detail.

Conversely, "Rocky Balboa" encounters compression setbacks due to dual encodes on one disc, alongside notable DNR application. Its visual integrity suffers in comparison to prior films, lacking in expected 4K punch and leaving enthusiasts questioning encoding decisions despite its vibrant HDR grading efforts. Overall, this collection graphically captures the franchise’s evolution with variations in video quality that both delight and disappoint.

The audio presentation of the 4K UHD Blu Ray "Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection" impressively rectifies previous issues found in the earlier release. Each film from the original series significantly benefits from corrections, such as rectifying downmix errors, pitch problems, and foreign language track inconsistencies. The collection consistently offers English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0, along with multilingual track options like Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1, ensuring versatility depending on viewer preferences.

Rocky I through IV exhibit notable improvement in audio fidelity, dynamic range, and channel separation. The introduction of DTS-HD MA 5.1 transforms each film’s soundscape—with particular attention to iconic training montages and battle sequences, which gain added depth and clarity. Despite a slight tendency towards front-heavy mixing, especially in earlier installments, enhancements in surround utilization during pivotal scenes breathe new life into the audio experience. Dialogue is generally clear, though slight harshness remains in isolated cases. Overall, each film delivers impressive auditory punch suitable for its narrative era.

"Rocky Balboa" exhibits significant audio progressions thanks to its newer production era; however, differences from prior DTS-HD MA presentations are subtle. The track remains front-focused but comes alive with immersive dynamics during key scenes like the climactic match. Reportedly given an Atmos mix for its one-night theatrical stint, the Director’s Cut especially shines with enhanced LFE and impactful bass, lending a fresh texture to both established and altered soundscapes. This consistent upgrade throughout set rectifies older inaccuracies while offering a balanced choice between original mono sensations and reinvigorated surround experiences.

The "Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection" 4K UHD Blu-ray offers a robust set of extras, though it falls short of comprehensive inclusion compared to previous releases. Notably, this release contains brand new 4K versions of the films, with select features like archival commentaries and featurettes enhancing the user experience. However, several historical supplements have not transitioned from earlier Blu-ray collections, leaving some collectors yearning for more. Across Disc 1 and 6, audio commentaries from figures like Sylvester Stallone and various cast members provide depth. Meanwhile, the bonus Blu-ray disc revisits extras from the earlier Knockout Collection, focusing largely on content specific to the first four films. The collection adeptly captures the grit and glory intrinsic to the "Rocky" saga, yet incomplete presentations prevent it from being the definitive assembly for ardent fans.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Engaging tracks featuring Sylvester Stallone, John G. Avildsen, and other key contributors.
• Deleted Scenes: Includes alternate endings and specific character moments.
• Skill vs. Will: The Making of Rocky Balboa: Behind-the-scenes insights into the movie's production.
• Reality in the Ring: Details on filming Rocky's climactic fight scenes.
• Virtual Champion: Creation of the computerized fighter sequence.
• Fight Makeup: Highlights makeup artistry within the film.
• 8MM Home Movies of Rocky: Archival footage capturing the film's foundational aesthetics.
• 3 Rounds with Lou Duva: Boxing insights from legendary trainer Lou Duva.
• Steadicam: Then and Now: A look at Steadicam technology utilized in "Rocky."
• Make-Up! The Art and Form: Focus on makeup techniques with Michael Westmore.
• Staccato: A Composer’s Notebook: Exploration of Bill Conti's iconic score.
• The Ring of Truth: Insights into achieving realism within Rocky's world.
• A Tribute to Burgess Meredith: Homage to actor Burgess Meredith.
• Stallone Meets Rocky: A playful segment contrasting Stallone's real-life persona with his fictional counterpart.
• The Making of Rocky vs. Drago: Keep Punching: Documentary on the director’s cut process.
• Trailers: Promotional materials for the original films and their director's cuts.

The "Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection" on 4K UHD Blu-Ray offers a compelling enhancement to Stallone's legendary boxing saga with its comprehensive presentation of all six films, including revised editions. The first film is celebrated for its near-perfect character drama, showcasing Rocky Balboa’s ascent from an underdog to a beloved hero. It's widely seen as the most profound and engaging entry in the series, capturing Stallone at his breakthrough moment both as a writer and actor. The sequels traverse a variety of themes, each embodying the zeitgeist of its era. "Rocky II" effectively revisits and expands the character's journey, though it struggles to fully recapture the original's authentic charm.

"Rocky III" and "Rocky IV" propel the series into pure spectacle, with vibrant excess and patriotic fervor, particularly against the Cold War backdrop in "Rocky IV". These iterations, while less nuanced, offer high entertainment value, punctuated by iconic music tracks and unforgettable antagonists like Ivan Drago. The new "Rocky vs Drago: The Ultimate Director's Cut" refines the fourth film backed by Stallone's retrospective vision, introducing dramatic maturity without fully surpassing the theatrical cut.

Rounding out the collection, "Rocky V" attempts a return to foundational themes but falters amid uninspired execution and a lackluster narrative. Despite this misstep, the film inadvertently sets up "Rocky Balboa", which revives the franchise with earnest emotion and an introspective focus. This 2006 sequel stands as a testament to Stallone's resilience, with its extended director's cut further enriching the storyline. The technical presentation boasts Region Free BD-66 and BD-100 discs, ensuring a top-quality viewing experience. However, users should be cautious with digital code redemption as noted glitches may affect access on specific platforms.

The "Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection" in 4K UHD Blu-ray presents itself as the definitive installment for aficionados of the iconic franchise, addressing past grievances from the earlier release. This collection now encapsulates all six films, including the much-anticipated "Rocky V" and both original and director's cuts of "Rocky Balboa", offering thoroughly improved picture and sound quality. While the video quality stands out, providing pristine remasters that enable the films to look their best since home video inception, the audio corrections, particularly for the first three movies, have notably enhanced the auditory experience. Despite debates around some remaining minor audio details, these updates restore justice to a series deserving of high-quality presentation.

The appeal of this compilation extends beyond its resolution to include a reasonable array of supplementary materials, albeit there are notable omissions from beloved previous extras. Regrettably, these omissions and an absence of individual discs for the director's cuts may leave devotees yearning for a more robust package. While casual viewers might find the current price steep, dedicated fans will likely appreciate its completeness and technical refinements.

In conclusion, the "Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection" emerges as an essential acquisition for die-hard followers of the franchise aiming for technical fidelity and completion. Yet, it carries a sense of opportunity lost with regards to fully encapsulating the depth of extra content available in past releases. Nonetheless, with corrected audios and unparalleled video transfers, this collection firmly stands as the best visual and auditory homage to Rocky's enduring legacy. Recommended for enthusiastic collectors seeking a solidified cinematic experience.