Creed

It’s been eleven years since the last installment of this unforgettable series, which has deeply embedded itself into all our hearts and ranks among the top films dealing with sports themes. It was unusual to see that in the new installment, Rocky is no longer the main character, but instead Adonis Creed, the son of the famous Apollo Creed. Michael B. Jordan was an uncast actor just a few years ago, but in recent years, he’s been proving that he’s slowly but surely carving out a permanent place in Hollywood. This guy has a bright future ahead! Creed is a great product of today’s times, where I no longer expect such perfect sports films, but lo and behold, I’m surprised. Stallone walked away with a Golden Globe for his role, and it must be said that he deserved it every bit. He’s no longer playing Rocky at his full strength but a normal aging man who has to fight a serious illness and the challenges of daily life (and he does it convincingly). Most importantly, though, he delivers one witty remark after another, which this film desperately needed. Adonis’s training had something to it—it was clear how many hours Jordan had to grind in the gym for his role to make everything seem believable. Maybe I would’ve delved a bit more into his opponents’ characters, but in the end, that didn’t bother me much. The final match was quite emotional. Admit it! Who else got goosebumps like I did when the famous Rocky theme song played? Such small details bring joy, but not every film can boast them. Compared to Southpaw, I liked Creed more. I give it 88% (2017-07-19)

I love these films and they rarely disappoint me. The story is a classic fairy tale but unfortunately without emotions, so Southpaw won in this respect. Michael B. Jordan is likable, Sylvester Stallone is friendly and the one-shot fights almost without editing are breathtaking, too bad there were only two of them, but they were decently long and adrenaline-pumping. I wasn't bored. 75%. (2015-12-28)

Terrible! I found the main "hero" totally unrelatable from start to finish. I still remember enjoying Rocky all those years ago. Back in the day, these films featured a charismatic main character and his evil counterpart. Creed lacks both. Plus, Rocky gets also attacked by cancer, which I take as a last-ditch attempt to stir at least some emotion in the viewer. And it worked – it stirred total disgust in me. Unfortunately, Rocky gets talked into treatment by the totally uncharismatic Adonis (WTF?), so maybe I'll get to see the next installment entitled Rocky: The Wheelchair. Yaaay!!! (2016-06-23)

Ryan Coogler is a gifted child. One hardly wants to be angry at his crackling naivety when he sees how much skill (especially) the cameraman has, but the fact is that Creed is more of an unintentional infantile comedy than a boxing drama. He raises the greatest hope for emancipation when he pulls out an incredibly dense one take fight in the middle, but instead of finding his own legacy, he ends up a labor-intensive retro in his father’s place. Sly is the only anchor, otherwise it all breaks down for Coogler into laboriously constructed storytelling and a doll-like main character who has to shout to "make a drama". Maybe next time, yo. (2016-01-06)

Some might argue that the Rocky story is overdone, but Creed is living proof that it’s far from it. Essentially, Creed follows the same formula as the original Rocky, a pattern that's been repeated over the years, and yet it still works like a charm. This film is a thrilling watch, capable of delighting old-school Rocky fans while also appealing to a new generation that may not have seen any of the earlier Rocky films. The modern take suits it well, and I was particularly impressed with Maryse Alberti's brilliant cinematography, especially those longer, uncut sequences. With Creed, Ryan Coogler has solidified his place among the top directors of today. I have no complaints. (2018-05-08)