When your lifelong friend becomes your boxing rival

Jordan takes you back to 2000, when the 15-year-old foster kid, Adonis (Thaddeus James Mixson Jr.), gets in a lot of trouble with Damian “Dame” Anderson (Spence Moore II). Their relationship is more like the one between brothers than between friends. Adonis looks up to Dame, the first person who taught him how to box. One night, Dame is arrested and locked up after pulling his gun towards a man who picked a fight with Adonis.

So many years later, the two best friends come across each other outside Adonis’ box practice. Adonis is now a retired boxer living with his wife (Tessa Thompson) and daughter (Mila Davis-Kent) in LA and training upcoming boxing talent. Meanwhile, Dame (Jonathan Majors) has just been released from prison. It seems their friendship is still powerful, but it soon turns out that time and prison change a man. Someone who was once Adonis’ friend has now become a threat to his legacy, livelihood and family.

Different direction and style but the same knock-out performances

If you have seen the previous Creed movies, you will notice how different this film’s direction, style and vibe are. Ryan Coogler (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Black Panther), who helmed the first movie, and Steven Caple Jr. (The Land), who sat in the director’s chair for Creed II, had similar approaches to the characters, the fights and the story development. However, this time, it’s different. Jordan isn’t afraid to show you the tough moments his character has to go through, both during his teenage and adult life, and highlight topics such as gangs, gun violence, betrayal and secrets. Yes, it’s a new-ish take on Creed, which is excellent, especially if you want to keep this franchise going.

This is the third time Jordan (Black Panther, Fruitvale Station) steps into the ring as Adonis, and now that he’s helming his first Creed film, his on-screen performance becomes even better, more powerful and more exhilarating. Thompson (Passing, Selma) and Davis-Kent deliver stunning performances, and they absolutely deserve more screen time. We would have loved to see a bit more of Adonis’ family and which impact the return of Dame has on his wife and daughter.

Despite their strong performances, Creed III certainly is Majors’ (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, The Harder They Fall) movie. The menace, anger, darkness and pain he brings to this movie are out-of-this-world. Don’t expect a boxer who’s only out for blood. No, expect a broken sportsman torn between his violent past, resentment for Adonis, and friendship and strong connection with Adonis. Majors brings an incredible layered and nuanced performance to this movie.

Of course, a Creed movie wouldn’t be anything without astonishing fights. Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau (Thor: The Dark World, Chef) uses many slow motions and close-up, resulting in sweat, bloody and fantastic scenes. That final fight is an absolute masterpiece. We don’t want to say too much about it because the scene is a must-see without knowing anything about it. It makes the experience even more breathtaking and impactful.

The film loses some power due to the lack of Ludwig Göransson’s (Tenet, Black Panther) score. The music is a little bit of a let-down, but the other creative decisions certainly make up for that.

Breathtaking, action-packed and multi-layered directional debut!

While Creed III doesn’t reach the same level as the previous movies, it’s still a knock-out film. Jordan’s directional debut is, without a doubt, a love letter to the legacy of Adonis Creed. The boxing scenes are adrenaline-packed, while the performances are multi-layered and highly effective. This movie is not the end for this franchise, and we hope to see Jordan back in the director’s chair and on-screen soon!

Rating: (3.5 / 5)

Also Read: Review: Creed II

Your contribution to Big Picture Film Club will allow us to continue to produce content. No matter the amount your contributions are greatly appreciated.

The post Review: Creed III appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.

Flying high now…

Why now?

Creed II was released on 21 November and is still in cinemas now (quick, go see it!).

In a nutshell

Three years after the events of the first film, Adonis Creed has become heavyweight champion of the World and a household name. He’s with the girl of his dreams, has achieved his ultimate career ambition and seems to have finally moved outof the shadow of his mentor, Rocky Balboa.

However, Ivan Drago suddenly resurfaces from the bleak depths of the Ukraine (sorry if you’re from there, it’s just the way it’s portrayed in the movie) with his son Viktor to challenge Creed to a long-awaited ‘rematch’ of sorts. Ivan Drago is hell-bent on getting his revenge on Rocky by taking down the son of the man hekilled in the ring all those years ago (the great Apollo Creed), whose deathdrove Rocky to defeat him and, it seems, ruin his life; Viktor Drago – whowould, by the way, give the Incredible Hulk a run for his money – just wants tofinally get daddy’s approval by pummelling the living daylights out of Adonis.

Naturally, this macho match up culminates in a brutal clash between Creed and Drago, with afew pumping training montages thrown in along the way. Plenty of spoilers inthere maybe, but I doubt anything you wouldn’t have guessed yourself.

Who’s it for?

If you like Rocky movies – and the first Creed film, of course – you’ll love this. There’s almost nothing in it in the way of bad language or sex, but if youdon’t like violence, I would steer clear. There’s a fair bit.

Who’s in it?

MichaelB. Jordan reprises his role as Adonis Creed, son of Apollo Creed, while Sylvester Stallone makes what is rumoured to be one final appearance as the Italian Stallion Rocky Balboa. Tessa Thompson plays Bianca, girlfriend and eventual fiancée of Adonis, whose music career takes off in correlation with Creed’s boxing rise to fame. Dolph Lundgren returns as the infamous Ivan Drago, with Florian Munteanu playing Viktor.

The good stuff

This is another solid instalment in this long-running and much-loved series of boxing movies, but like all other Rocky films, it’s so much more than what the cover poster suggests. The direction and acting are top-notch with Jordan putting in another quality performance as Adonis. Stallone is basically Rockyat this point, and slips effortlessly back into the character he’s beennurturing since 1976 – I think it’s also his most assured and emotionalperformance to date (Stallone’s a better actor than people give him creditfor).

The boxing sequences, like the first Creed movie, are fantastic, and even if you pretty much know what’s going to happen, you’ll still be on the edge of your seat from the first ding of the bell. You’ll also feel every single punch – I flinched constantly during the two fights between Creed and Drago (whoops, spoiler!).

The not so good stuff

There’s not a lot about this movie that I didn’t like. I wasn’t entirely convinced at the start that Michael B. Jordan would ever make it as a heavyweight boxer in real life, but actually, I found myself convinced by the end of the film (through powerful acting and a decent storyline) that he could overcome bigger opponents through speed and technique.

There’s a rather tragic storyline running parallel with the main Creed v Drago plot involving Adonis, Bianca and their little baby (whoops, spoiler!) that, while obviously very sad, I wasn’t entirely sure was necessary. I think the strain put on their relationship by Creed’s fame and/or desire to beat Drago couldhave done the trick just as well, but I understand why the writers did it. Veryminor gripes, as you can tell.

The bottom line

Creed II is predictable, but you won’t care. It’s an engaging, well-written and expertly-crafted film boasting solid performances simultaneously from fading stars and those on the rise.Certainly if you’re a fan of previous Rocky movies you won’t be remotelydisappointed (you may even feel a little thrilled), and if you’re in any wayinclined towards boxing or big guys beating each other to a pulp, you’ll likethis show.

For me, the whole shebang was summed up perfectly in one final shot towards the end of the film: Rocky sitting in the shadows outside the ring wearing a Team Creed jacket while Adonis celebrates his victory amidst the media furore (whoops, another spoiler!). It’s a perfect way to call time on one classic movie character while another steps up for his own time in the limelight.

Verdict: (4 / 5)

The post Review: Creed II appeared first on Big Picture Film Club.