Legacy

Rating: 10/10 (30 November 2015)

I heard Creed was good. I had no idea it was THIS good. Coming off of the brilliant Fruitvale Station, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan are back collaborating for the Rocky spin off, Creed. Knowing how well made of a film Fruitvale Station is, I figured Coogler was the right guy to helm the film but for some reason I was still skeptical about the project in general. The story itself is fascinating but I didn't know if it would be handled with the care needed to produce a quality installment in this legendary franchise.
Not only is this a great boxing film, it's one of the best all around films of the year. Everything you love from the original films is here in at least some capacity and the nostalgia is at an all time high. I haven't seen all of the Rocky films but I love the characters and aesthetic of the series enough for Creed to emotionally resonate with me multiple times throughout the film. A lot of people are going to complain that it's too similar to the first Rocky, and while that may be a valid criticism, I think you can make the case that great films always take from the best. Creed has the best aspects from the original films and takes an original spin on it.
Most notably being that our lead character, Adonis Johnson (son of Apollo Creed) isn't like Rocky Balboa at all. He has the passion and fire but his background is completely different. He's from Hollywood and due to his father being a heavyweight champion, he's well off as well. I really like this twist on the boxing film. As much as I really liked Southpaw from earlier this year, Creed really hits on all levels. The acting is getting a lot of credit and rightfully so. I don't know that Sylvester Stallone has ever been better. Michael B. Jordan, who may have been snubbed for an Oscar a few years back, is just as good. I think because of how good Stallone is in a supporting role, you don't realize how perfect Jordan is in this role.
The directing from Ryan Coogler and cinematography from Maryse Alberti is marvelous. The camera work and shot selection alone is worth seeing on the big screen, and then probably seen again. All the fight scenes are good, but the first big fight Creed has is quite simply one of the most well choreographed scenes of 2015. It is all done in one continuous few minute take. I really couldn't believe how well that was handled.
But by far the biggest thing I took away from this film was that it doesn't try to be something it's not. It knows it's a spin off from Rocky and it plays on that in a perfect way. Yet it also doesn't rely on the nostalgia factor alone, though it does have some great callbacks to the old films. It doesn't take unnecessary risks or try to do too much with its plot. It is just one of the best executed films of the year. The entertainment value is just as much if not more than the superhero films this year, and it also has a well written story, directed to perfection, along with a fantastic sound design/mixing/editing, with incredible performances all around. What's not to love about this movie?
+Stallone at his career best
+Impressive direction
+Contained story
+Awesome fight scenes
+Sound design
+Nostalgia 10/10