Creed Movie Review by Art Byrd

Creed Has The Raw Emotion That Original Rocky Had

by Art Byrd Rocky played by Sylvester Stallone is one of the most beloved characters in movies.

I thought the 2006 Rocky Balboa movie was an extreme fitting ending to one of a iconic characters and movie series ever.

Yet, here in 2015, Rocky steps back into the cinematic ring in Creed. The movie is not a sequel, but a spinoff of the Rocky series. We are introduced to a new character called Adonis Creed, the son of Apollo Creed, who was Rocky’s rival turned friend. Creed is played by Michael B. Jordan (Friday Night Lights).

Creed is directed by Ryan Coogler who did an amazing job directing Fruitvale Station, which starred Jordan in the lead.

The Creed cast is great. Tessa Thompson (Dear White People) as Bianca, a singer who is Adonis' love interest. She was wonderful giving him the words, encouragement and tenderness he needed.

Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed was cast perfectly as Apollo’s widow who takes in Adonis as a young boy who was in a detention home after his biological mother died.

The Creed script was written by Coogler and Aaron Covington. The movie takes the audience into Adonis's world as we go into a basement where Adonis is shadowboxing, then he starts to climb the steps to a boxing ring in Mexico. He fights and wins and then 12 hours later, he was at an office job in Los Angeles. I enjoy that twist.

There is something burning inside of Adonis to fight as he quits the job that he just received a promotion for. He would like to concentrate on a boxing career, but no one in Los Angeles would train him because of his father and the way he died.

Adonis tells Mary Anne that he left his job, the promotion and that he wants to fight full time and is leaving for Philadelphia. She is heartbroken.

Adonis goes to Adrian's, the restaurant that Rocky owns. Adonis slowly reveals to Rocky who he really is, Apollo’s son. He would like Rocky to train him, but the former champ is not interested.

After several attempts, Adonis wears Rocky down. They begin training and their relationship starts to grow. It was great that Coogler took the time to let the Adonis and Rocky’s relationship develop into one of respect and love.

Now here comes the boxing villain, current boxing champ “Pretty” Ricky Conlan played

by Tony Bellew taunts Adonis about his riding on his father's name at a press conference before their fight.

As with the Rocky movies, Creed has moments that give the movie its raw emotion.

There is a plot twist involving Rocky’s health that will pull at your heart strings.

For about three fourths of the movie, Adonis used his mother’s name Johnson because he didn’t want people to know who he really was. He felt like he was a mistake. When he accepted his Creed name and heritage, the movie shifted into third gear.

The movie uses the same technique of Adonis running the Philadelphia neighborhoods as Rocky did. It would seems corny, but it wasn't. The scene had energy as Adonis’ tiger was unleashed.

The fight between Adonis and Donlin was well shot and brutal.

The final shot of the movie with Adonis and Rocky will melt your heart.

My prediction is that Stallone will get an Oscar nomination for his performance.

As for Creed 2, I could see that happening. For now get your running shoes, run through your neighborhood and go see Creed.