A very worthy sequel to Creed, and surprisingly deep for a Rocky IV follow-up

Rating: 8/10 (24 November 2018)

The one fight I was excited for this year more than Khabib vs. McGregor. Creed makes a triumphant return with nearly the same fireball energy of the first. I won't lie and say this film astounds you with a new and innovative spin on the main formula: the biggest twist in the film is that Dolph Lundgren CAN ACT?! Who knew? A lot of the over the top showmanship and bravado of Rocky IV makes a familiar return along with the Dragos, but the film makes a much more powerful impression with vastly superior acting and directing. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Michael B. Jordan is an absolute star and I could see him in just about anything. The subtraction of all that Cold War propaganda bullshit doesn't hurt either.
One of my biggest weaknesses a film can exploit is by having an epic training montage. This film has multiple and I was practically bursting out of my seat to drive straight to my gym as they pumped up my blood pressure to some moderately dangerous levels. Really all I wanted from Creed II was to revel in the excitement of drama and intensity cranked up to the max while feeling every hard hitting punch it threw. Thanks to the emotion oozing out of almost every scene, that's precisely what I got.