What I initially thought was nothing more than a cash grab using the Rocky moniker with the 2015 movie Creed, the Michael B. Jordan-led franchise has effectively carved out a niche in sports cinema. Dare I make the blasphemous claim that the first three Creed movies are better than the first three Rocky movies? I’m not willing to go that far, though I can confidently say that Creed III is much better than the cartoonish Rocky III, the weakest of the first four Rocky films.
If you have not watched any previous Rocky or Creed movies, you will not be at a disadvantage to those who have. All you need to know is that Apollo Creed, the father of protagonist Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan – Black Panther, Just Mercy), once held the world championship and gave a title chance to the underdog Rocky, despite the challenger not having the experience or resume to warrant a championship bout. That is all that you need to know. And you don’t even need to know that, as it is referenced at multiple points. Also, I’m not 100% certain, but I don’t believe Rocky is even mentioned by name.
In this iteration of the trilogy, Adonis (around 33 years old) has retired from competition, winning his final title defense and leaving the boxing world on top. He’s living a moderately modest lifestyle while keeping himself busy with his wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson – Thor: Ragnarok, Annihilation), and daughter, Amara, and co-managing the Delphi Boxing Academy with his former coach, Tony “Little Duke” Evers Jr (Wood Harris – Ant-Man, HBO’s The Wire).
Our antagonist is Damian “Dame” Anderson, played fantastically by Jonathan Majors (Da 5 Bloods, White Boy Rick). Majors seems to get better with every role. In Creed III, he’s the perfect foil for Adonis and, perhaps, the most natural adversary of any in either movie’s franchise. Adonis and Dame are reunited after the latter is released from prison after serving an 18-year sentence. The duo was as close as brothers before Dame took the rap for a crime. A couple of years older than Adonis, Dame was an amateur fighter then, with dreams of pursuing a career similar to the one Adonis carved out for himself.
The two reunite after Dame arrives at Adonis’s Delphi Boxing Academy, where the former champion tells him, on multiple occasions, that he still intends to pursue a boxing career, despite being 35 years old and having no professional fights to his name. When Adonis says his wish isn’t possible, Dame reminds him of when his father gave the same chance to an unproven underdog (hence, the reference to Rocky). To make a long story short, Dame believes that Adonis owes him that chance, and he won’t take no for an answer.
I’ve read in multiple reviews that the fight sequences were among the best ever filmed for a boxing movie. While I understand the point, it’s nearly impossible that this wouldn’t be the case with each subsequent blockbuster release, given technological advancements and production budgets. With that said, I wasn’t overly impressed with the in-ring sequences. Films like Warrior (2011), Southpaw (2015), or Creed II (2018) were just as, if not more, impressive. That’s especially telling, considering each was made at least five years prior, and each with a tighter budget. Of course, none of this detracts from the cinematography, which was terrific.
Creed III might have less in-ring action than any of the six Rocky films or the previous two Creed films. Instead, there is a tighter, subtler, and more personal narrative between the two lead characters, following the ups and downs of their 18-year reunion. In his directorial debut, Jordan has a gift for storytelling, memorable character creation, and effortless tension-building. Dame’s story is the most sympathetic of an antagonist in either franchise. Majors’ performance is the top highlight in a film that does many things correctly. We know we are supposed to root against him, but he’s a likable person who did a noble thing for Adonis.
Creed III is the crowning achievement of the trilogy, slightly better than Creed and far better than the slight hiccup that was Creed II.
Plot 8.5/10
Character Development 9/10
Character Chemistry 9/10
Acting 8.5/10
Screenplay 8.5/10
Directing 9/10
Cinematography 9.5/10
Sound 9/10
Hook and Reel 10/10
Universal Relevance 9/10
90%
B+
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