Everything seems to be going well for Adonis as his family life and career post boxing is thriving but when his childhood friend Damian Anderson returns from being in prison everything would be pushed to the limits when he’s forced to revisit his past.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Creed III (2023, dir. Michael B. Jordan) - review by Rookie-Critic
Over the past couple of weeks, I have watched all nine films in the Rocky/Creed franchise, leading up to seeing this in the theater last night. My overall impression of the Rocky movies is that, on average, they're good. Not great, but they're passable character studies, my favorite of the bunch being the sixth film, Rocky Balboa, from 2006. The Creed films, however, have been absolutely fantastic. Michael B. Jordan is an immense screen presence that was more than up to the task of taking the mantle over from Sylvester Stallone, while Stallone himself still manages to turn in some of the best acting he's ever done at the same time. The first Creed is possibly the best in the entire franchise because of the relationship between Jordan's Adonis Creed and Rocky. The continuation and growth of that relationship, as well as well as the hardships it endures because of the weight of the history of Rocky IV and its effects on the events of Creed II is what makes that film so good. There are a lot of things that make a good Rocky/Creed film work, and one of the most important is how the film writes the relationships between its characters. I think that, ultimately, this factor is what makes Creed III one of the best in the franchise.
This newest entry feels like the first time the story is about something bigger than the heart of its protagonist, whether that be Balboa or Creed. This film, as cliche and tacky as this is going to sound, is about friendship. Even more so than that, it's about brotherhood, and how the ties that bind us to certain people in our lives are there regardless of the twists and turns life takes us on. In a way, it's what all three Creed films have been about, but in Creed III we see this story unfold with a character that we, as the audience, have no preconceived emotional ties to, Damien Anderson, played with the usual mastery of the craft by Jonathan Majors. The chemistry between Jordan and Majors, both as brothers and as rivals, is electrifying. Never in a Rocky movie have I believed the full range of a relationship so fully as I have between these two characters, with everything playing out right up until the final round of the extraordinary fight at the end of the film. I don't think I've ever been more emotionally invested in the final fight of a Rocky/Creed film like I was during Creed III's climactic battle. There is history that's been built, things that have been said, things that have been left unsaid, this isn't a boxing match, it's a therapy session, and not just for Adonis, but for Damien, as well. There is a story being told during that final match, with Jordan making a truly inspired artistic decision that I won't spoil here, but it's an absolutely stunning moment that is just indicative of his talent and major potential as a director (this film is his directorial debut). To me, these movies are at their best when the fight at the end of the film isn't really about the fight, but about the characters' journey to get there. The fight is merely a chance to reflect on the growth the characters have gone through and the journey therein, and the outcome of it is almost a non-issue. It's what makes that original Rocky film so great, it's what made Rocky Balboa so great, it's what made the first Creed great, and, finally, it's what makes Creed III great.
I've been flipping on whether or not this is my favorite of the franchise. The relationship between Rocky and Donnie in the first Creed film, as well as Stallone's performance, in general, might give that the edge, as Rocky isn't even in this one. While I understand Stallone's decision to not continue forward with the Creed films, his presence was missed, and there were a handful of scenes that would have heavily benefited from him being there. However, that is the only reason this isn't taking the top spot, because outside of that, it's masterfully done.
Score: 9/10
Only in theaters.
I have to admit that I did see this in a D-Box seat (Cinemark's premium seating option that rumbles and moves with the film). Obviously, if you suffer from motion sickness or anything like that, this isn't going to be your thing, but it did make the boxing sequences incredibly fun, and I would recommend seeing it this way if you can.
TL;DR – Creed III is electric, every punch matters, every emotion hits, and I was captivated from start to finish.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Post-Credit Scene – There is no post-credit sceneDisclosure – I was invited to a press screening of this film.
Creed III Review –
If there was ever a film to remind you not to judge a book by its cover, it is the first Creed film. Creed I was a film…