The range of emotions created in Rocky Balboa is unmatched by any of the preceding movies in this series. Every open plot hole or question is clarified or answered, and it's done so with a sharp eye for details. This is an acceptable and yes, needed finish for a Hollywood legend. 
Video is grainy is spots, and this intentional. Colors are bright and contrast is high which, again, is intentional. Detail is spectacular, and this sharp transfer is stunning for DVD.
Audio kicks in, and the classic theme has never sounded better in 5.1. The fight sequence is incredibly immersive, with the crowd seemingly in the room with the viewer. Punches land with brutal bass. The rest of the film is fairly muted given the dialogue driven nature, though there are some nice random ambience if you listen for it.
Seven deleted scenes begin the extras, including an alternate ending that runs a little over three minutes. It’s in the spirit of the series, yet simply doesn’t feel like the right way to go out. A minute and a half of bloopers are unexpected for a drama, though well worth watching. Skill vs. Will is a 17-minute 'making of' that provides a decent look at how the film came to be, and why it needed to be made.
Reality in the Ring is a 15 minute look at how the final Balboa fight was filmed. Virtual Champion takes a short behind the scenes look at the computer simulation was crafted. A commentary by Stallone adds another great bookend to this series. 
Rocky Balboa includes flashbacks to each film in the series, with the exception of Rocky V. Stallone himself admitted in interviews the 1990 effort was a “weak link.” While not quite as bad as some would make it out to be, it was hardly the way to leave this otherwise superb franchise out to dry.
Article comments
1 - jerry
Great review! I sincerely teared up when I saw this in the theater. This to me is a million times better that the disaster called Rocky V.
Loved how you went in depth with everything the DVD holds..
again, awesome review!
2 - Rebecca Wright
Great review! I don't know if I needed another Rocky movie, but the reintroduction of old characters made the movie surprisingly watchable. The series is 0fficially done though. If Sly does another one, he will have officially jumped the shark.