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Stallone On DVD

post #1 of 11
2/25/07 at 1:34pm
Thread Starter 
As part of my continuing cinematic education I've recently watched the entirety of the Rocky and Rambo franchises for the first time. It was a grand old time, despite the fact that I'll never understand why people lambast Rocky V when it's obviously far superior to the horrendous Rocky IV. I mean, at least Rocky V didn't have a wacky robot butler in it. But that's a different conversation for a different time.

What I'm torn over is when and how to buy these films on DVD, so I thought I'd get some advice from the Chewers on this one. I want the best picture and surround sound possible, but I'd also like some kick ass special features. Here are my options:

-- The Rocky Anthology. The first 5 films in a boxed set, but crap in the way of special features. I'd want to pick up the recent 2-disc version of the original film to go with it, but does anyone know if there are plans to re-release the sequels? I thought that a new boxed set with all 6 films might be announced to go along with Rocky Balboa's DVD release, but so far I haven't heard anything.

-- I could buy all the Rocky films separately, and avoid having to own 2 editions of the first one. How do the separately sold DVDs of the sequels compare to the versions included in the boxed set?

-- Rambo Trilogy Special Edition. It comes in a nice tin, has DTS surround sound, and seems to have a load of special features. I don't know about the quality of the picture though.

-- Rambo Trilogy Ultimate Edition. Ah, the double dip. It looks like most of the special features have been removed from the Special Edition and replaced with crap. Though there is a First Blood Stallone commentary, so that's a plus. Picture and sound were awesome when I watched them, but I'm not sure which Rambo set comes out on top.

My last option, I suppose, is to wait. There could be another Rocky set looming on the horizon where the sequels actually get some love. And there could be another Rambo set shoved out when John Rambo heads to DVD. But really, that's a long time to wait before purchasing all the Stallone greatness. Any suggestions?
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post #2 of 11
2/25/07 at 2:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Supremo
It was a grand old time, despite the fact that I'll never understand why people lambast Rocky V when it's obviously far superior to the horrendous Rocky IV. I mean, at least Rocky V didn't have a wacky robot butler in it. But that's a different conversation for a different time.
Please sir, children might be reading this thread.

Because of BALBOA and the eventual JOHN RAMBO, there's just no need to buy a boxset for any of these franchises. This is what I speculate will happen for ROCKY on DVD. BALBOA comes out on 3/20. The studio will milk its solo release. Then at some point, maybe not this year, a complete boxset of all 6 films will be released. I imagine this is when the sequels will finally get some decent bonus features because right now none sequel versions are all barebones.

As for RAMBO, again a boxset purchase probably wouldn't be a sound because of JOHN RAMBO. But if you want to purchase one of them go with the "Ultimate Collection." First off it's cheaper, at least on Amazon ($25). Plus, the FIRST BLOOD ultimate edition has the alternate ending (not earth-shattering, but nice for historical reasons) and as you stated the Stallone commentary. It really is a great commentary. As he has shown a lot lately he has the ability to be extremely honest and that fact shines through on the commentary.

It does look like the "Special Edition" releases of parts 2 and 3 have more extras than the "Ultimate Editions" so those might be better purchases as solo releases. But without that Stallone commentary the special edition boxset is useless when compared to the ultimate edition.

I should disclose right here that I have never seen OVER THE TOP so my opinions on Stallone DVDs could be called into question, and rightly so to a degree. But I have seen that movie where Stallone, Michael Caine, and Pele take on the Nazis at soccer.
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post #3 of 11
2/25/07 at 2:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Supremo
I'll never understand why people lambast Rocky V when it's obviously far superior to the horrendous Rocky IV. I mean, at least Rocky V didn't have a wacky robot butler in it. But that's a different conversation for a different time.
Wrong.
Perhaps it's a generational thing, but if you were there when Rocky IV happened, it'll never leave your heart. Most people I know cite IV as being their favorite - even if it isn't the best from a filmic point of view. It's easily the most entertaining in my book. With the best music.
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post #4 of 11
2/25/07 at 3:01pm
Thread Starter 
Rocky IV must be a generational thing. Watching all of the films for the first time in a row makes it seem especially awful. It's 90 minutes of montages set to god awful 80s music, with no development for the characters and a story that could fit on the back of a postage stamp. I admit it does have a glorious cheese factor, but as a Rocky movie it's an abomination.

So it seems like the best idea would be to wait and see if there are new sets for all of these movies. That would be the smart thing to do I suppose, but who knows. I've also been waiting for Warners to re-release the Kubrick films they promised, and I haven't heard anything about that in months.
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post #5 of 11
2/25/07 at 3:52pm
I've read that the Kubrick special edtions will be out this year, but no precise date has been set up as of yet.

Again, at least in terms of the RAMBO ultimate set, you could go ahead and get it at a good price (I looked at Overstock.com and they have it for $22). JOHN RAMBO isn't going to be in theaters until I'm guessing early '08 so a boxset with all 4 films is probably two years away at the very least. But with the ROCKY films, there's just no reason to get a boxset with BALBOA heading to DVD soon enough.
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post #6 of 11
2/25/07 at 5:42pm
It's not a generational thing, at least not entirely. I was of movie-going age when Rocky IV came out, and I still think it's kind of a cartoon. It's the biggest reversal of the tone of the first film in the entire series. To me, Rocky was never meant to be about good and evil, and I found myself insulted that the series had resorted to that. Does some of the stuff still work anyway? Sure. But I like my Rocky with a little more verisimilitude, thank you.

And as far as box sets go, I still only have the first Rocky. I'm waiting for the inevitable six-movie box set.
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post #7 of 11
2/25/07 at 5:57pm
Currently (like Casino Royale), Sony has Rocky B, while Fox has all the other films. So the eventual box set will have to wait for a while.
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post #8 of 11
2/25/07 at 6:01pm
Well that blows. I never noticed.
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post #9 of 11
2/25/07 at 8:41pm
...
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post #10 of 11
2/27/07 at 3:27am
I have the Rambo special edition set from 2002, and I'm content with that, until I get First Blood: The Ultimate Edition since it's got a Sly commentary, although, with John Rambo, I might just wait and see if another box set comes out.

On Rocky, I might just have to pick up that no frills box set, unless someone has a brainstorm over at Fox, and decides to to do a special edition set later this year after Rocky Balboa comes out.
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post #11 of 11
3/3/07 at 12:23am
Not specifically a "Rambo on DVD" question, but since I'm betting there are a few Rambo fans checking out this thread:
SPOILERS


I just finished watching Rambo II for the umpteenth time, and noticed something I never did before. When he comes out of the hanger at the very end, after handing Murdock his ass, why is his chopper totally blowed up? He landed it, full of Chris Elliott lookalikes, with just a little smoke damage. But when he comes out the copter is a burning heap. Didn't anyone bother to shut it down and hose it down after landing?

Also, why the FUCK was there never a John Rambo vs. John Matrix movie??????
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