“Creed III” continues the Rocky streak
Finally! More Creed! The “Rocky” franchise has kept up its 47 year streak of making great, emotional films that inspire and motivate audiences. This film has broken records by having the biggest opening weekend in the sports movie genre and is on track to be the highest grossing sports movie of all, earning $248.1 million with a $75 million budget.
“Creed III,” released on March 3, tells the story of Adonis Creed enjoying retirement from boxing with his family when an old childhood friend comes back into his life to take what he thinks is owed. Without Rocky there to guide him, he must take all matters into his own hands.
We’ve had a rough year for movies so I must say this is the best movie of the year, so far. The passion behind and in front of the camera is unprecedented for this year. This is one of the most impressive directorial debuts I’ve ever seen, executed by Michael B. Jordan who also kept up his iconic role as the lead character, Adonis Creed. He has been vocal on the influence anime has had on him as an artist, and that reveals itself in how the fights are choreographed and filmed, on its fullest display in the final fight.
The story has made people wonder if there are scenes missing as some plot lines don’t have a resolution by the end of the film. I see it as continuing the flow of the “Rocky” films where it’s an overarching story for the characters with each film being the next obstacle for them to get over. I think this is a major piece of what makes the characters in the “Rocky” franchise feel so real.
For Jonathan Majors, lightning can strike twice three months into the year. He has played two iconic villains that are very different and still very menacing. The character of Damian Anderson is a top tier antagonist in the “Rocky” franchise, even though there is heavy competition to be the best among the likes of Apollo Creed and Ivan Drago, but he certainly places among them. I found Majors’ performance to be mesmerizing and any frame with him in it had my full attention trying to solve the riddle of his psyche.
It’s well known that Rocky is not in this film due to a legal battle between Sylvester Stallone and franchise producer Irwin Winkler. Although I’d say the film absolutely works on its own focusing on Adonis, there are a couple scenes where I could feel the lack of Rocky’s presence. Past that minor obstacle when watching the film, I feel like there’s a chunk of material missing from the second to third act, not that it affects the story although there is footage from the trailers that’s not in the film. With that footage in the film, there’d be more time taken to feel the emotions and pressures of the story. I would be very interested in an extended cut of the film, preferably in the form of a director’s cut.
Those slight jabs out of the way, I pretty much loved this film and I can’t wait to revisit it soon and support it. This will age like fine wine as a unique, cathartic edition to one of the greatest film franchises of all time. I’ll confidently say it’s a 4.5/5.
