CREED
Creed
Director
Ryan Coogler
Cast
Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone
Episode 7 -The Fighter Awakens.
In this modern day spinoff from the classic Rocky franchise, Michael B. Jordan plays the illegitimate son of the legendary boxer Apollo Creed, and he has decided to follow in his father’s footsteps. While trying to distance himself from his father’s famous name, he simultaneously seeks out the help of the closest connection there is to him, rival turned friend Rocky Balboa.
Here is where the classic underdog fight story begins on it’s path.
There are so many elements to this movie that gives it a slight step above other boxing flicks. The acting here is really top notch. Michael B. Jordan shows off his dynamic range while portraying the struggles of trying to make a name for himself. Sylvester Stallone slips back into the mellow, lonely Rocky we saw from the last Balboa movie with ease. He knocks it out of the park here and reminds everyone what a fantastic character he created years ago (there may even an Oscar nomination for him).
There’s only a few boxing matches here, but they are stylized so differently that each one is exciting. One of the first fight scenes gives an incredible up close and personal feel of the boxing ring by going through and showing the entire first round in one long take. Punches, jabs, body blows and you are right in the middle of it until the bell rings. It’s a flat out amazing sequence!
Ryan Coogler has created a thrilling, dramatic, and emotional addition to the Rocky franchise (and this is only his second full length movie) that fully honors the original story. It also introduces a new generation and bringing characters we know and love to their next chapter. Hopefully this won’t be the only “7th film of a franchise” to successfully accomplish this feat this year (I’m looking at you J.J.)
If you are a fan of the Rocky series, this is a fantastic addition, go see it.
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
-Markellus
Director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station) takes over the reigns of one of America’s favorite, and best known, underdog franchises. A direct sequel to the phenomenal (all things considered) Rocky series, Coogler’s take on the characters brings them forward by leaps and bounds while paying the ultimate respect to Stallone’s break out role and film.
Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) goes by Donnie Johnson to hide the legacy of his late father, Apollo. He wants to be his own man and make his own way. Filled with rage ever since he was a child, Adonis has a natural aptitude and the drive to be a great fighter. Despite a solid career in finance and being raised wanting for nothing after Apollo’s widow adopted him as a child Adonis seeks out fringe fights in Mexico so his mother doesn’t catch wind of his plans. Finally deciding that fighting can’t be a part time job any longer Adonis quits his job and moves from sunny California to a perpetually overcast Philadelphia to seek out one man, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone in his best performance since Cop Land). Using his insider knowledge of Apollo and Rocky’s friendship Adonis worms his way into the old boxer’s heart and refuses to take no for an answer when he asks Rocky to train him.
Michael B Jordan is a young actor who has been working steadily since the age of twelve. He has tremendous talent and screen presence. His physical transformation in Creed is astounding and the role also gives him a chance to flex his acting muscles. His range is perfectly showcased in the films highs and lows; with the balance of comedy and drama. Jordan is recognizable to many movie and TV fans but the actor vanishes into Adonis. Jordan’s performance is so tight that not only is Adonis a fully fleshed out individual but by the time the movie is a quarter of the way through you feel like you’ve known him for a while.
Sylvester Stallone is known as an action star. People seem to forget how smart this writer/director/producer/actor really is. He created Rocky Balboa. In the 70s Stallone couldn’t find a role so he created one, one that would survive decades and be buried so far into American culture not a year goes by without some other form of pop culture referencing the movie or copying it in some fashion. Stallone isn’t the titular character in Creed, obviously, but he commands such presence he nearly steals the show from the fantastic Jordan. Stallone acts with the subtlety and precision of the seasoned actor he is. He channels Rocky stronger than he has since the original movie and has a very moving performance dealing with some very real world issues, no robot butlers here.
The supporting cast is equally as strong. A special acknowledgement should be given to Bianca who plays a very three dimensional love interest to Creed. Bianca doesn’t command a ton of screen time but she is an important character to the story. The script is strong enough to not use the woman as a story element but made her a completely formed individual with struggles and dreams of their own. The “villain” of the piece is also developed. Not quite as well as Bianca but he isn’t just a tough who stands and scowls at the camera. Conlan has his own small story going on, which could be developed into its own movie. Some of his story is to give reason to the events of Creed but the thought put in is appreciated by the audience just the same.
Scriptwriters Ryan Coogler and Aaron Covington could not have done better. They took Rocky and escalated his story in the most logical fashion while not overshadowing the titular Creed. They even explained how Apollo could have a son that his good friend, Rocky, never knew about. The explanation is plausible and doesn’t feel stuffed in for convenience. The film doesn’t fully address some of the lesser movies in the Rocky franchise, with good reason. It doesn’t retcon anything either. The struggles and journey Creed follows are reminiscent of the original 1977’s Rocky but make the elements belong entirely to Creed, this is not a cheap remake. While Stallone’s role is now more Mickey than Rocky the character of Rocky Balboa moves forward in a logical and realistic progression. Rocky’s story is so gripping, again, a full movie could have been made around that with no boxing at all. Of course that movie would not have been as gripping.
One thing Creed far surpasses Rocky in is the fight scenes. The training montages are more modern and with the advances in movie making techniques and technology the boxing scenes themselves are more realistic than ever. You’ll be on the edge of your seat, practically dodging the punches being thrown at the actors, during these magnificently choreographed moments. Including HBO sports coverage of the Rocky and Apollo era of boxing make the story feel more grounded in reality than ever before.
As impressive as the movie is, it’s more impressive that it didn’t lean on Stallone’s fame, or even Rocky’s. From the very first trailer the movie was an intriguing fighter’s story based solely on the (massive) shoulders of Michael B. Jordan. Jordan is a fantastic actor who has a huge career ahead of his name doesn’t carry the recognition Stallone’s does. Credit to writer/director Ryan Coogler and the many studios involved in the project for letting Creed be a successor to the Rocky franchise without relying on it.
Creed is a fantastic fight movie that gives a couple actor’s career defining performances. It can be broken down to the “black Rocky” but it’s so much more than that. It rises to every occasion and exceeds all expectations. Creed is not just a movie that needs to be experienced but shows that a beloved franchise has new life, new direction, and is in very capable hands.
