Rocky II 4K UHD Screenshots (Patreon)

Video

A passable effort from Warner greets viewers. Of particular note is a hefty, buzzy grain structure the encode struggles to keep up. Brighter parts of the screen show chroma noise more often than not. The off-color blocking can turn snow blue and pink-ish in the early going, diminishing the overall impact.

The scan itself looks fine, if a bit duller than most 4K masters. Warner doesn't note if this comes from a modern/recent scan or not, but based on what shows on screen, it's unlikely. Rocky II doesn't look awful so much as natural without a refreshed touch.

Color stands out at least, peppier than Rocky by a wide margin. Primaries glow, especially in the ring with the endless yellows to draw from. Intense contrast receives help from Dolby Vision, boosting the depth substantially. Black levels hold their end gorgeously.

Audio

DTS-HD serves the audio well enough, dated as the source material may be. Dialog holds a roughened edge that isn't unusual for the era. A little muffling dampens things too. Oh well.

Surrounds activate only when needed, and that's during the crowded arenas (mostly). Those fill every available speaker without trouble, extending the soundstage from the original mono perfectly. Inside the meat factory, machinery whirls in the rears and stereos. Bass holds back for the music, adding a mild bump with the beat.