Schwarzenegger's cheese-fueled action epic The Running Man charges its way to DVD in a two-disc Special Edition from Artisan Entertainment. The remastered picture comes in both a 1.85:1 widescreen image as well as the full-screen version, while the audio has been upgraded to an incredible 6.1 DTS-ES Surround Sound and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX tracks. With a remarkable new picture and crystal-clear sound options, it's unbelievable to see how much time has been put into this schlock-fest -- as evidenced also in the staggering amount of extras included on this edition. The fun begins with not one, but two, commentary tracks, the first including producer Tim Zinnemann and none other than the original Starsky himself, director Paul Michael Glaser! The second track is the perfect companion to the first, as executive producer Rob Cohen (director of XXX and The Fast and the Furious) details the production's troubles with the countless initial directors who were all fired before Glaser had the pleasure of picking up the pieces after only the second week of shooting. Those two tracks alone (plus maybe a trailer, which is also included) would make for a fine edition for the film, but strangely enough, the DVD just doesn't quit there! Also awaiting courageous viewers are two documentaries, each dealing with the similarities between the film and the culture in which this disc finds itself released. While the idea sounds strange enough -- and also quite humorous -- the pair actually do make a nice companion to Arnold's neon-tinged gem. First off is "Lockdown on Main Street," an engaging 25-minute look at American citizens' privacy after the tragedy of 9/11. With the help of various professors and scholars, it gives the viewer a front-row seat into the vagueness that has infected the country since the controversial Patriot Act was hastily adopted into law and shows how the rights of the people have been slashed mostly without their knowledge. Compounded with that, the "Game Theory" documentary takes a magnifying glass to reality TV programming in the new century, dissecting the trends that have been sold as entertainment and what the future of television might hold. While extreme in their possibilities, both share an interesting look at what has happened since The Running Man burst onto theater screens and just how absurdly on-target the film's depiction of the future seems now. With the end in sight, one more feature comes barreling at viewers, this time a more fun throwaway bonus that comes in the form of "Meet the Stalkers," an interactive area where you can select each villain and view their highlights all the way to their costume specs. Sure, it's worthless and cheap-looking, but so is the movie -- thus, it makes even more sense that it was included! For a film that never really deserved this much credit, this two-disc release ends up being a wealth of fun and actually worthy of merit thanks to the people over at Artisan.
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By far Arnold Schwarzenegger's best film in my opinion, 'The Running Man' has achieved quite a fervent following over the years. This special edition dvd set is very good, featuring a couple of excellent audio commentaries and beautiful anamorphic video. This is one of few high-def transfers I've seen done properly, giving us a very clean and detailed picture without sacrificing the film's original cinematography. The audio is also superb with the DTS track standing out especially. Well worth the buy.
This special edition of Rocky includes an excellent collection of supplements that provides plenty of insight into the production. The highlight is a 28-minute video commentary from Sylvester Stallone, which contains very straightforward, honest information from the star. Combined with shots from the film, he discusses elements ranging from the story's origins to the casting of each part. This feature combines nicely with the impressive feature-length commentary from director John Avildsen, producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff, Burt Young, and others. There also are two brief tributes on this release to legendary actor Burgess Meredith and cinematographer James Crabe. Stallone and a few actors provide thoughts on the first one, and Avildsen speaks on the second feature. He also introduces some home video footage used to improve the technique for the fight sequences. This 12-minute, behind-the-scenes supplement offers a small view at the tremendous preparation needed to create the realistic battles. The remaining bonus materials on this disc include three television spots, one teaser, and theatrical trailers for all five Rocky films. Rocky is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that contains a decent amount of grain, especially in the night scenes. However, this is not too distracting considering the time period of its creation. The 5.1-channel Dolby Digital audio track nicely presents Bill Conti's rousing score and utilizes considerable power. It is not the most complex transfer on the market, but it does soundly convey the necessary emotions. An adequate 2.0-channel Dolby Surround track also is offered.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Replacing the original 1997 bare bones dvd release, which ended up being discontinued due to digitial mastering errors, this new special edition gives fans just what they wanted. A great dvd to a great film, lots of good bonus features. Highly recommended!
Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), a Philadelphia boxer, is but one step removed from total bum-hood. A once promising pugilist, Rocky is now taking nickel-and-dime bouts and running strongarm errands for local loan sharks to survive. Even his supportive trainer Mickey (Burgess Meredith) has given up on Rocky. All this changes thanks to Muhammad Ali-like super-boxer Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). With the bicentennial celebration coming up, Creed must find a "Cinderella" opponent for the big July 4th bout -- some unknown whom Creed can "glorify" for a few minutes before knocking him cold. Rocky Balboa was not the only "Cinderella" involved here: Writer/director Sylvester Stallone, himself a virtual unknown, managed to sell his Rocky script (one of many that he'd written over the years) on the proviso that he be given the starring role. Since the film was to be made on a shoestring and marketed on a low-level basis, the risk factor to United Artists was small. For Stallone, this was a make-or-break opportunity -- just like Rocky's million-to-one shot with Apollo Creed. Costing under a million dollars, Rocky managed to register with audiences everywhere, earning back 60 times its cost. The film won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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Really good movie, blemished by an over-lit high-def transfer. Yeah, the image is crystal clear, but the original 'dark' cinematography has been severely compromised in order to bring out all that definition. Why aren't DP's who were responsible for the film consulted when high-def transfers are made?
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This completely unnecessary and awful film does nothing more than hurt the series, which really went downhill starting with 'Rocky V.' A decent dvd package, but really isn't worth the time or money to even bother with. To fans of the series let me just say this, 'It's worse than Rocky V'. If that doesn't tell you what kind of movie it is, I don't know what will.
This double-sided, widescreen anamorphic (1.85:1 ratio) DVD comes in a five-part boxed set that includes all the Rocky movies from one to five. Special features on the Rocky DVD -- extra footage cut from the final version of the film, a making-of featurette, audio commentary by the director, and a long interview with Sylvester Stallone -- do not appear on this DVD except for theatrical trailers (all of which also appear on Rocky). Subtitles are also missing. The Dolby Digital Sound quality is clear, but the bass is barely adequate. Picture quality is similar to that of a VHS video. The usual chapter index is also included.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
Great sequel not to be missed by fans of the first film. Dvd is bare bones, other than the trailer, but offers the film in both letterbox widescreen (non-anamorphic) and full-screen. Image is very good overall as is the sound. Recommended!
By concentrating on character development with this first of several sequels to his Oscar-winning smash Rocky (1976), writer/director Sylvester Stallone earned critical praise that would desert him with the boxing saga's shallower subsequent chapters. Stallone returns as Rocky Balboa, a Philadelphia prize fighter enjoying his brief fame after nearly defeating world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Offered lucrative product endorsement opportunities, Rocky's limited education and lack of sophistication quickly become an impediment to his future success, causing him embarrassment and his pregnant wife Adrian (Talia Shire) a great deal of financial concern. Meanwhile, Creed is brooding over his near-loss to a fighter he considers an amateur far beneath him and decides to goad a reluctant Rocky into a high-profile rematch. With the family resources dwindling and his pride wounded, Rocky decides that fighting is all he knows and makes the fateful decision to climb back into the ring once more with Creed, despite assurances from all concerned that he will damage himself irreparably. Although their first meeting was simply an exhibition fight, the second Balboa-Creed face-off is an officially sanctioned battle for Creed's championship belt.
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'Rocky II' is a great movie, but this first ever anamorphic widescreen release of the film leaves a lot to be desired. The image appears much cleaner than the original 1997 'Rocky II' dvd, however, coloring and sharpness appear 'washed out' and the cinematography considerably compromised. No bonus extras on this disc either, other than the trailer, so I would recommend fans buy the original 1997 release if they can find it.
Sylvester Stallone returns to the character which made him famous in this wildly successful sequel. Rocky III starts with the Italian Stallion so famous that his likeness is everywhere, including pinball machines. Fame and complacency soon cause Balboa to lose his title to young thug Clubber Lang (Mr. T), who inadvertently causes the death of Rocky's beloved trainer, Mickey (Burgess Meredith), before their first championship bout. After sinking into a depression, Balboa must regain the love and support of his family, as well as the elusive "eye of the tiger," the hungry need to beat the opponent which former foe Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) teaches him during this film's de rigueur training sequence. In the end, Balboa faces off against Lang for a second time. "Eye of the Tiger," the theme song Stallone commissioned from the band Survivor, became a huge hit single.
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'Rocky III' is the best movie of the series in my opinion, partly because I was always partial to Burt Young's 'Paulie' character, who is at his best in this film. Like many recent releases, this dvd sports a newly remastered high-definition image transfer and supposed 'upgraded' audio that seem overdone to me. Try to get the 2001 dvd version if you can.
This double-sided, widescreen anamorphic (1.85:1 ratio) DVD comes in a five-part boxed set that includes all the Rocky movies from one to five. Special features on the Rocky DVD -- extra footage cut from the final version of the film, a making-of featurette, audio commentary by the director, and a long interview with Sylvester Stallone -- do not appear on this DVD except for theatrical trailers (all of which also appear on Rocky). Subtitles are also missing. The Dolby Digital sound quality is clear, but the bass is barely adequate. Picture quality is similar to that of a VHS video. The usual chapter index is also included.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
'Rocky III' is the best film of the series in my opinion, partly because my favorite character of the 'Rocky' films was always Burt Young's 'Paulie,' and he is at his best in this third installment of the series. Good dvd transfer, but no extras other than the trailer.
The third sequel to Sylvester Stallone's boxing blockbuster combines the ringside sports melodrama of the previous installments with the Cold War patriotism of the star/director's other motion-picture series of the '80s, the "Rambo" saga. Stallone is back as Rocky Balboa, the heavyweight champion of the world and now good friend of his one-time nemesis, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers). Creed is brutally slaughtered in the boxing ring during a lop-sided exhibition match against the superhuman Russian boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), an event that Rocky takes personally. Vowing revenge against Drago in the name of Creed and the United States, Rocky is invited to the Soviet Union for a matchup and hires Creed's former manager (Tony Burton) to get him in shape. While Drago trains using the latest technology, Rocky's ascetic preparations are a low-key affair of carrying logs up hills through knee-deep Russian snow.
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'Rocky IV' is just an exceptionally inspiring movie. While the story line is not the best of the series, the training montages are, as is the heart-pounding fight at the end of the film. A nice change of pace in terms of musical score also contributes to the overall feel of the film. Stallone at his best. Like many recent releases, this dvd sports a newly remastered high-definition image transfer and supposed 'upgraded' audio that seem overdone to me me. Try to get the 2001 dvd version if you can.
Originally available on its own, Rocky IV is now only available as part of the new Rocky Collection of all five films on DVD. Unfortunately, the original DVD release was a movie-only, non-anamorphic disc, and MGM made no attempts to change the quality for the boxed set. As a stand-alone DVD, Rocky IV is less than extraordinary. The package boasts a new Dolby 5.1 soundtrack, but the audio is not as good as most other Dolby Surround discs. While the film is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio, it looks older than some films released ten years before it. The brighter the scene, the better the image, but in the darker moments the graininess of the source print is apparent. This may not be as noticeable on standard televisions, but it really shows up on large projection screens. A trailer is the only supplement included. As Rocky IV is one of the more popular films in the series, it is unfortunate that MGM did not give it a new, special edition treatment like the first film. Even so, the least they could have done was give it a better transfer.
This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
'Rocky IV' is just an exceptionally inspiring movie. While the story line is not the best of the series, the training montages are, as is the on-the-edge-of-your-seat fight at the end of the film. A nice change of pace in terms of musical score also contributes to the overall feel of the film. Stallone at his best.