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AFTER hitting rock bottom following a colossal disappointment of the 2006 Rocky Balboa film, it appears there is only one direction for the Rocky franchise holders.
From the bottom, one has to go up unless if they are bent on total obliteration. In such a case, they will drill the ground and go further down.
The 2006 Rocky Balboa film was a total disaster with a porous plot. The whole performance failed to do justice to the continuation of the history and legacy of its predecessors.
However, that’s now all in the past. The producers have come to redeem themselves.
Evidently, “Creed” presses the restart button.
The film is a masterpiece whose success is centred on the decision to return to the tried and tested basics of the Rocky franchise.
“Creed” has got everything for everyone; a little drama, love, violence, a sports feel and most importantly it has an emotional punch that is exerted in good measure.
The film follows the journey of Adonis Johnson (Michael B Jordan), who is the son of an extramarital lover of former heavyweight champion, Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers).
Adonis follows the biggest cliché in the book and decides to try his hand in boxing.
After a couple of false starts and a motionless amateur career, Johnson then takes the great trek to Philly to track down “Rocky Balboa” (Stallone) and ask him to become his mentor.
Though reluctant at first, Rocky eventually agrees and a friendship is born. Unfortunately word gets out that Donnie, as he is affectionately known, is Creed’s illegitimate son.
This leads the vultures to their doorstep.
Handlers of world light heavyweight champion “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew), who is due to be forced into retirement by an impending prison term, offers to make Donnie his final challenger, provided that he changes his name to Adonis Creed and they market the fight right.
After some persuasion, the young Creed agrees and with the help of former heavyweight, Rocky Balboa begins training for the big fight — a David versus Goliath encounter.
Before listing the numerous reasons why I loved this movie, let me say you do not need to be proficient in Rocky trivia to appreciate this latest spin-off or remix.
In fact, it would benefit you immensely if it turns out that you have never heard of Stallone, let alone seen a single Rocky movie.
The secret to enjoying a Rocky movie is to lose yourself in the drama and let the action thrill you.
“Creed” is at its core a sports movie.
I enjoyed how the creators managed to rope in ESPN Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon for their cameo roles. The Kornheiser and Wilbon talk shop on “Creed” was a real treat. It gave the film a more realistic and credible feel.
Another secret to a successful Rocky movie is the drama.
There are numerous sub-plots that make the film enjoyable for all ages and sexes; which mostly include Donnie’s fight to move out of his father’s shadow, his persistent daddy issues, Balboa’s fight against cancer and the love story between the younger Creed and Bianca (Tessa Thompson).
All these are complemented by the stellar performance by the main and supporting cast.
Jordan, like Stallone did in the first few Rocky movies, does little acting, but then one can afford to slouch when you have a talented cast that includes the likes of Phylicia Rashad (Mary Anne Creed), Stallone and a young promising Thompson.
The biggest surprise for me was Stallone’s perfect act in the movie, it almost made me want to take back every boorish thing I ever thought or said about the 69-year-old.
And the main fight between Creed and Colan was exquisitely shot.
The camera work was on point, the action sequence well choreographed and it had that “main event” feel about it.
After all the trash I have had to endure this year, I loved the fact that the best came last and I got to end my year on a high.
Hopefully next week I will get to watch and review the latest Tom Hardy flick “Legends”. Watch out for that.
Online Reporter