Rating of
4/4
'Creed' IS The New 'Rocky'!
Unknown - wrote on 01/18/16
'Creed' breathes new life into the much adored 'Rocky' franchise. I've been a lifelong fan of the series. Rocky was always an admirable figure to me. I was ready for something new. This movie more than brought it! I wasn't prepared for the knockout that was delivered. There's much attention to the lore of the series. 'Creed' definitely feels like a true sequel, but at the same time has it's own singular story to tell. The initial backbone of an amateur rising up from nothing to stand toe-to-toe with a reigning champion (and having an older mentor) is all there as in the original 'Rocky'. It's the differences in themes and characters that makes this a standout from typical formula. Adonis is nothing like Rocky or Apollo. His past, and his father's shadow, looms over him. He was a born fighter - not only in the ring but in life. His journey is all about carving his own identity and forgiving the absence of his father. Rocky fills that void for him. Their friendship is honest and even a bit touching. Jordan and Stallone are terrific! I was so emotionally invested in these characters that the inevitable final showdown with the champ had me on the ropes. The tense up close fighting was exciting. Close to the end of the fight there's a pivotal exchange between Adonis and Rocky that summed up the character's struggle and affirmed what he was truly fighting for. This moment perfectly encapsulates the film's spirit, making me almost tear up in the process. It made the finale all the more euphoric. I actually cheered out loud in the cinema. If that doesn't tell you how much this movie works, then I don't know what will. The very definition of a 'crowd-pleaser'! What a satisfying watch!
