In December 1976, an up-to-then-unknown actor named Sylvester Stallone unleashed a little film he both wrote and starred in called Rocky. It was about a small-time club boxer who got a chance at the heavyweight title. But you already know this. Everybody already knows this. Rocky was a huge success and it launched a franchise that is still going strong today. I was too young to have seen the original in theaters. I was too young to have seen Rocky II and III in theaters, but I remember seeing Rocky IV in our local cinema. That’s the one where Rocky fights the Russians. I loved it. I watched the other three on home video and cable television relentlessly. My pals and I loved pretending to be Rocky and staging fake (and sometimes not fake as my cousin purchased some boxing gloves) matches.
Buy Rocky: Ultimate Knockout Collection 4K UHDMy favorite was Rocky III as that’s the one he boxed Mr. T and I was a huge A-Team fan back then. I still remember my brother and I talking about Rocky V and how it was much more serious it was than the other sequels as it dealt with the health tolls a life in boxing can take.
It has been a long time since I watched any of those films, and I’ve not yet seen any of the Creed films, but Rocky still has a fond place in my heart. So, I’m excited to make this collection of all the original Rocky films my Pick of the Week. The set includes the first six Rocky films (but none of the Creed movies) with new 4K transfers. Information on the extras is pretty sketchy but Rocky IV and V both come with director’s cuts and IV has a behind-the-scenes featurette.
Also out this week that looks interesting:
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) (4K UHD): The original take on this story isn’t the best (I’d argue for that title to go to the 1978 Phillip Kaufman version, which was reviewed by David Wangberg) but it is still incredibly effective.
Perfect Days: The Criterion Collection is releasing this Wim Wenders-directed film about a janitor in Japan who, according to the description, drives around listening to music. Read Steve Geise’s review.
Columbo: The Return: Kino Lorber has steadily been putting out the entire Columbo series on Blu-ray. This set includes his triumphant return in 1989, nearly a decade after the original series came to an end.
Monk: The Complete Eighth Season: Kino Lorber has steadily been putting out the entire Monk series on Blu-ray. It owes a great debt to Columbo and is the perfect after-work cozy mystery series. Read Davy’s review.
When Eight Bells Toll: Sir Anthony Hopkins stars in this 1970s British thriller about a secret service agent assigned to figure out how millions of pounds of gold bullion are being stolen on the Irish Sea.
