Creed

Creed is perhaps the proof needed to cement Rocky as an illogical franchise in some ways, but also one of, if not the, greatest. The idea of making a seventh film, to continue the story through the son of Apollo Creed could have been, and probably would have been a disaster in the making in most hands. Writer/director Ryan Coogler though manages to not only breath life, perhaps his greatest life, into the character of Rocky played at his very best by Sylvester Stallone here, but also infuse the franchise with a brand new energy through Michael B. Jordan's Adonis "Creed" Johnson. As is so often is the case it is all in the execution. Although it is true that Creed hits some familiar beats it manages to do them in a new way. This isn't merely in terms of fight chorography, cinematography and the direction in general, although that certainly is part of it, but also through the unique, and wholly new examination of Adonis's story of trying to both live up to, and live past his famous name. This combined with also interacting with the aging Rocky delivers a particularly powerful return the idea of Rocky that breaks new ground, but also uses what is already there to craft a rather special return to the underdog. It is the best Rocky film since the original, and I'd almost go further, however unlike the original Rocky that brought us Apollo, the opponent, and some of the other supporting characters are not nearly as rich as they were Rocky. It still stands as quite the achievement as is, and suggests that perhaps with enough talent there are few truly bad ideas for films.
4.5/5