How much punch does the same concept have? Answer: A lot

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2018)

After 7 movies based on characters centred around boxing, you would think it can't go on further and whether they can come up anything refreshing to keep the franchise going. But no, they somehow do manage to keep it alive. Not just alive, they manage to make us yearn for more!
This is how good the movie is. It has everything: great fights, drama, acting heart and fan-service. Creed 2 is as refreshing a sequel a franchise can get you. The story is very obvious: every person who has ever watched a Rocky movie, or any boxing or sports movie for that matter, would know how it would play out. And the plot was already given in the trailers. It is the tension, the drama and the stakes that really rake you in. The fight cinematography is superb and the viewer can 'feel' every punch being delivered. The director and crew get a big thumbs up for all this.
Michael B. Jordan does a wonderful job as Adonis Creed. He really lets his emotions out when the scene requires. Stallone is obviously awesome as Rocky. The characters that really make this movie special are Ivan Drago and his son, Viktor. The interaction between the two starts out as simple, but by the end it turns into something so special, it might be the best part of the movie. Viktor is amazing: he's huge, he's fast and he definitely looks dangerous. He is, however, not the robotic character Ivan was in Rocky 4. Even though he doesn't have much lines in the movie, the actor is able to portray all his emotions in the character quite well.
It is lovely to see Rocky and Ivan together on screen after decades. It is something all Rocky fans would have wanted. To add to the fan-service, there are appearances of characters from previous movies that one wouldn't have thought would ever appear in a 'Rocky' movie again.
There are a few complaints I have with Creed 2. It seemed a bit too fast paced. The movie explores different characters and touches on their issues. On each subplot, it does enough for the viewer to get interested, but then it (fast-)forwards and goes to another. I think the movie missed an opportunity to explore these subplots further and to give the viewer more of a chance to immerse him-/her- self in it. That subplot of Rocky 2, where he waits and prays anxiously while Adrian is in coma, is how it should have been done (Ok maybe a little less).
All in all, Creed 2 is one beautiful movie to watch. The ending of this movie is one of the best in the franchise. It is a must-watch for family and especially for fathers and sons to watch together. It is powerful enough to make a grown man cry, especially if he's a Rocky fan.