One of 2015's Best Films

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 2015)

Not only does this new Rocky film NOT follow the same rough story line as all its predecessors, it doesn't even address the same theme. However, it is a great pleasure to watch, my favorite of all the Rocky films. Rocky himself shows more vulnerability than ever before as the aging, reluctant trainer. Creed's girl friend brings more to the table than just a star-struck sidekick - she has her own career. She's beautiful, intriguing, and adds another (good) layer of complexity to the story. Creed's mother, played by Phylicia Rashad, has a relatively small part, but seeing Phylicia is like seeing an old friend after many years. The main focus of the story is Creed coming to grips with himself and his family. It's more like a film about people that uses boxing as the backdrop, which is why I really like it. With all due respect to Stallone's writing, the fact that this episode was written by someone new I think helps it to have more depth than just 'boxing underdog beats favorite'. Possibly the best film I've seen this year.