Review of Creed (2015) by Dana F — 04 Jul 2017

Now this is how to reboot a franchise. There have been a plethora of boxing movies that have been released over the years, but this one rises above, mostly due to its huge amount of heart. Though it's technically a boxing flick, it's really about two lost souls and the power of friendship/family.

And it's surprising moving. Michael B. Jordan and Sly Stallone have fantastic chemistry and both deliver excellent and absolutely convincing performances. Plot-wise, it does adhere to the standard boxing flick formula, but manages to (mostly) avoid the clichés that go along with it.

Even the obligatory training montages (yes, there are multiple) are filmed with humor and a wink to the audience. Director Ryan Coogler captures the perfect tone for the film - though it's a gloomy atmosphere, it really feels like a real world, and it's easy to believe that Rocky and Apollo Creed are real-life boxing legends.

Coogler films the fight scenes with incredible dynamism, and does not shy away from intimately depicting the brutality of boxing. The end fight in particular is really hard to watch. But it's the first major fight scene that steals the show, the entire bout is filmed in a single tracking shot, and it is mesmerizing.

I'd watch the whole movie again just to see that scene. Though the story is formulaic, this movie still feels fresh and is actually not entirely predictable... I genuinely did not know how it was going to end, which is probably the first time that has happened in a boxing film since the original Rocky in 1977.

This film is a more than worthy addition to the Rocky catalog, and I'm sure there will be more to come.