like father like son

Rating: 9/10 (6 February 2019)

'It ain't about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit, and still get up. That's how winning is done.'

Rocky Balboa, 1976

Ever since the first Rocky movie the series have been one of the most popular and most influential series of all time, and since 2015 in a new colour of Creed. In December we got to see the second adaptation of this action flick.
In Rocky (1976) we met Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) as opponent to protagonist Rocky (Sylvester Stallone). Now it's his son, Adonnis 'D' Creed (Michael B. Jordan) who's in the spotlight. In Creed (2015), directed by Ryan Coogler we saw a old and sick Rocky meeting main character Baby-Creed. With ex-champ Balboa as coach you see Adonnis fighting to the top, and Rocky fighting his disease.
This prequel however is even more personal. Rocky VI (1985) 'If he dies, he dies'. In the fourth adaptation of the Rocky movies Apollo Creed faces the Russian Ivan Drago. He doesn't survive the fight. Rocky defeats Drago later in the movie on own territory, and Russia turns against Drago. Now, 34 years later, Viktor, Ivan Drago's spn, challenges Adonnis for the title of Heavyweight World-Champion. But the title is not the only thing they're fighting for. Can Adonnis avenge his father? Or will Viktor earn back the respect of his country?
2018 was the year of Michael B. Jordan. In February he shined as antagonist in Marvel's Black Panther (also directed by Coogler) where he received an Saturn Award nomination for. He also got nominated for an Emmy for the by him produced TV-film Fahrenheit 451. And yet in Creed II he gives his best performance of the year. The chemistry between him and 3 time nominee Sylvester Stallone (who also wrote the screenplay) is even better than it is in the first movie. Jordan shows he can play the role of the victim as well as winner.
Despite it being the first big movie Steve Caple Jr. directs, he handles it like a professional. Loyal to the directing of both Stallone and Coogler, but with an own touch. Modern rap music processed un scenes like the training montage, or the, often literally, fall down, get up and run through. Building up tension with long takes, change between shots inside and outside the ring. A trademark of Coogler you can see back in this picture. Whether it has the same ambiance as the first Creed, is arguable, but Caple doesn't disappoint.
Creed II stays loyal to the storyline of the original Rocky movies, acknowledges the quality of previous directors, and has it's own touch. With excellent performances and a good storyline this films is absolutely recommended, especially when you're a fan of the other Rocky films.
9/10