Creed

I will always hold this film in a special place in my heart. That may sound cheesy, but every time I watch it I feel every punch, dodge every swing, and dance to every beat. Creed is a perfect example to make a sequel to a legendary franchise because it is dripping with passion from head to toe. The subtle long shots, insane attention to detail, natural dialogue, and characters that grow in front of your eyes make it an extraordinary experience.

Sylvester Stallone is once again the Italian Stallion. He’s got his hat and coat and throws a toy ball around the room to keep his hands occupied. Rocky was his film, he wrote it and starred in it, and it made him who he is today. Now it’s Michael B. Jordan’s turn, and Ryan Coogler’s turn as writer-director. Both of them have been in films before this, Fruitvale Station to be specific, but a film like this is what gets peoples attention. How else do you think Ryan Coogler was chosen for Marvel’s Black Panther? Fruitvale Station was his starting point, but Creed was his audition: The shots of Philedalphia, the editing with the music to match the punches, the one-shot arena fights, and the outstanding writing that made old characters bring new light into theaters. And let’s not forget Michael B. Jordan. First thing to mention, he got ripped for this role, and he was powerful both with the punches and the emotion behind every line. His entire character came out of the screen, and his evolution from refusing to share his father’s name to dawning his colors gives me chills every time.

The only problem I have with this movie is that, although its characters are new and palpable, it is the same Rocky story all over again. That is not a bad thing, A Knight’s Tale is the medieval version of Rocky with jousting, and I love that movie, but when the characters are so well written, I want the story to be just as fresh. Do not get me wrong, this film is amazing and is a perfect example of a good director knowing what he has and giving the audience what they wanted. I get chills every time I watch this film, and I cannot wait to see what Ryan Coogler does next with Black Panther.

I know Rocky is a better film, but personally I like Creed more. Rocky was a slow and sympathetic story about a man trying to prove to the world that he is more than nothing. Creed adds more to this story; Adonis is the son of Apollo Creed, and for his entire life he has hidden who he is. I do not necessarily empathize with him, because I do not have to hide my identity, but the idea of trying to prove you are not just the son of your father can connect with anybody. That struggle to step out of your parent’s shadow is far more relatable than rising from dirt, to me at least. This conflict also evolves into the son becoming what his father was. The only reason I love film is because my parents showed me how special it is, and I make them read all of my short stories and reviews so I can see not only that I still have room to grow, but their faces when I write something they enjoy. I empathize with Adonis because we see how important our parents are, and we spend our lives trying to show them that we can be just as great.

Story Rating: 8/10

Character Rating: 10/10