Eric Doctorow, General Manager of MGM Worldwide, revealed in an interview for Home Media Magazine that the studio is currently preparing “the entire Rocky collection” for Blu-ray in time for the holidays. So far only the first and the last Rocky films ('Rocky' and 'Rocky Balboa') have been released on Blu-ray.
Doctorow also mentioned that the studio will release other “cool releases,” such as a 40th anniversary edition of 'Hair,' and a 30th anniversary edition of 'Mad Max,' and “a couple of 'Stargate' surprises.” Hopefully all those releases will street on Blu-ray as well as DVD.
The MGM exec also said he was “very confident” that Blu-ray would triumph, and he stated, “Blu-ray is a wonderful format and plays right into our culture's obsession with quality and all things high def.”
Excellent! I'm eagerly awaying the Rocky collection! I'm glad I haven't bought Rocky or Rocky Balboa on Blu-ray yet! I'm definitely looking forward to the holidays!
I waited on Rocky because it was bare bones. If they are total idiots, the one in this collection will be bare bones too. But I think they've learned their lesson and will be taking the high road this time. This is a collection I will probably eventually pick up but I do hope a deluxe edition of just the first film is made available separately someday.
I will also take a Mad Max SE in a New York minute!
Hopefully MGM is going to due the Rocky series some justice with Stallone commentary's on each film as well as the rest of the main cast that's still with us. Plus Stallone once mentioned he wanted to release a Director's Cut of Rocky VI. Funny how the Rambo series got some great respect from Lionsgate, Rocky is an American Classic, so this series is due it's rightful place on Blu. Hopefully it will be worth the wait.
I hope they redo the first one. It doesn't look very good and it is ridiculous that it hit shelves the same day as a 2-disc DVD special edition, yet has no features!
Rocky for me definatley. I hope though that Rocky 1 transfer gets an uphaul coz it was quite weak. lETS HOPE THEY GIVE THE FILMS THE QUALITY TREATMENT..WELL EXCEPT ROCKY 5 THAT IS !
Stargate releases are just rumoured to be odd episodes ona disc so nothing to get too excited about.
And please...give us some bonus materials for Rocky 2-5? I know Rocky 5 was the unwanted redheaded bastard stepchild of the series, but it would be nice to get some comments from the cast and crew. Rocky 5 also has a TON of deleted scenes, it would be nice for an extended cut. Also Rocky 6 had multiple endings that have never been released yet.
I was just watching Rocky 2 on DVD, the transfer is pretty grainy, it definitely needs a hi-definition remaster. Rocky 3-5 were filmed on much better quality film so they should also transfer nicely.
Hopefully Best of the Best and Bloodsport are also announced for Blu Ray soon.
Here's hoping that: 1) the supps found on the CE DVD released at the same time as the movie-only BD will now appear on BD; and 2) the movies will be available separately a reasonable amount of time after the box set streets.
I'm actually more excited by the "Hair" and "Mad Max" announcements. Many of MGMs best catalog titles like "Hair," have never been given anamorphic treatment on DVD. I hope both films get the repect they deserve.
If they really want to do the Rocky saga right for blu-ray, they will give Rocky 2-4 an overhaul in terms of picture (and sound). They look terrible, extremely grainy dirty prints (and I don't mean in a good "film like" way). Just watch them next to the original on DVD. There's no comparison and yet they're newer films. They have also NEVER had any bonus features. Nada. Even though the ENTIRE series has been successful and made kazillions of dollars, the sequels have never been given anywhere close the treatment as the first Rocky (and now Rocky Balboa). If they ignore the sequels again (especially now in high definition!), I won't bite.
"Hair" is NOT 40 years old. The musical is 40 years old, the movie version (which is both terrible and wonderful in equal amounts) is 30 years old having come out in 1979
Hopefully they'll fix the scenes in Rocky III that look like you're watching it through a screen door. I believe every DVD release had that problem.
And hopefully they'll put the English subtitles back into Rocky IV. Some of the best scenes are what they say in the corners between rounds as the fight progresses, and they removed it from the DVD. It's great that they went back to the original film elements to remaster the picture, but forgetting to put the subtitles on was unforgivable (and, no, they were not available in any of the subtitle options; they were simply not present).
I'm glad to hear about this release, as I really enjoy five of the six movies. Rocky was a good serious movie, Rocky II was an OK serious movie with a bit of schlock, III was great cartoony fun, IV was more great cartoony fun with some deliciously cheesy montages, and Rocky Balboa was a great bookend to the series, returning it back to its more serious roots. The only bad one is Rocky V. It has its moment, and I'll watch it now and then, but overall I don't know what they were thinking having Rocky get punch drunk, broke, banned from boxing, and ending the movie with a street fight instead of a boxing match.
This is great news! Finally the entire Rocky saga on Blu. These are on of Sly Stallones all time best movies and my personal favorite. They will be mine.
Part 1: Classic
Part 2: Not a bad sequel
Part 3: Entertaining
Part 4: Over the top and cheesy in most parts but very entertaining
Part 5: Not as good as the others but i didnt mind it at all
Part 6: It was ok, few scenes didnt go anywhere but had a good ending
I hope they remaster all the films, but I have a bad feeling that they may just slap the current transfers onto BD and lead us all to the well again...
Eric Doctorow, General Manager of MGM Worldwide, revealed in an interview for Home Media Magazine that the studio is currently preparing “the entire Rocky collection” for Blu-ray in time for the holidays. So far only the first and the last Rocky films ('Rocky' and 'Rocky Balboa') have been released on Blu-ray.
