Rocky Balboa (DVD)

I really think it is amazing how Sylvester Stallone knew exactly the movie he needed to make if he was going to make a sixth Rocky film. Rocky Balboa goes back to the roots of the franchise, focuses on story and doesn’t hide anything. If you are worried that Stallone is too old for the role, don’t worry, the subject of getting older is really the key to the whole movie as Rocky needs to prove things not only to himself, but his doubting son.

Rocky has become a restaurant owner and named it after his deceased wife Adrian. His relationship with his son is faltering and he isn’t quite sure why, but the one thing that really gets him thinking is a mock boxing match set up by ESPN pitting Rocky against current champion Mason Dixon. After Rocky wins the computer simulation it gets him thinking and the competitive juices flow again.

As far as the DVD goes it is filled with great featurettes, a group of deleted scenes and a commentary with writer/director/star Sylvester Stallone. I did not watch all the online webisodes that were available prior to the theatrical release so I am not sure if the featurettes here mirror those, but I will say they were a good watch. Of the bunch though the commentary is easily the best as Stallone leads you through his thought process and why he began the film with Adrian passed away all the way up to how and why he filmed the final boxing match the way he did. The one notable thing he says during the commentary is that there will be a director’s cut of the film available in the future. So, for those of you interested in buying this disc may want to take that into mind if director’s cuts are your thing.

Oh, the other thing many of you will be interested in seeing is the alternate ending. I am not going to spoil anything here, but let's just say it is indeed alternate.

Overall I would say this is an easy decision, buy this DVD if you are a fan of any of the Rocky films, especially the first two when it was more about story and less about the boxing. While I love Rocky IV and think it is the most entertaining Rocky, the first Rocky is still the best of the bunch and Rocky Balboa isn’t far behind.