Directed by:
Michael B. JordanCinematography:
Kramer MorgenthauComposer:
Joseph ShirleyCast:
Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Phylicia Rashad, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, Selenis Leyva, Spence Moore II, Tony Bellew (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian, resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian — a fighter who has nothing to lose. (United Artists)
(more)Videos (12)
Reviews (6)
I enjoy that even in the ninth movie from a single universe, there are still new topics to explore, combining motifs from forgotten episodes (Rocky III, Rocky V) and intertwining them with side storylines from Donnie's separate stories. I just wish that in the social drama, which was so believably built up in the first half, would constitute an even stronger and more daring effort to move away from the inevitable turn towards the ring. Fortunately, even there, Michael B. Jordan is incredibly confident in the director's position and despite rolling out all the expected genre clichés, he gives Adonis' character a touch of maturity. The intimacy is much appreciated, when amidst rhythmic beats, he is not afraid to slow down completely and let Jonathan Majors' charisma, as well as his own, have an impact.
()
Homie here, homie there, and in the words of the guys from Moviezone, I guess I'd sum it up by saying "nice, but kind of shit". I would give five it stars for the inventively cut final fight, when the audience suddenly disappears around the ring, the background changes colour and you can feel only the fervor of the two fighters. But the rest follows a very beaten path, with some sort of family or relationship cliché that missed me by a wide margin, and I counted zero moments of surprise. I don’t even think that this has added anything to the franchise as a whole. When I think of Sly sweetly getting Adrian in the first Rocky, that was something else. So in a nutshell: watch and forget.
()
Breathtakingly shot fights are not enough to make a good film. And in the case of Creed 3, this is doubly true. The initial enthusiasm for an interesting take on the boxing underdog Rocky was quite right, but if the second adventure was running half throttle despite all its potential in the form of Dolph Lundgren and Sly, the third one is just the fumes from which nothing much can be made. The last Creed thus remains a purposeless editing exhibition of contact fights and hip-hop bangers, while the dramatic line with the boys from the hood is lethargic and pulled out of thin air, and therefore has no chance of success.
()
In terms of filmmaking, the director's vision, the final look, the visuals and the dynamics interspersed with the retrospective retelling of the past, I actually have no complaints and I would easily go for a four-star rating. But only someone who has never boxed can admire the realistic boxing and training (though this is not just a problem with Creed III but all martial arts films), this is simply not what a real fight looks like at all and I guess it's my personal block that whenever someone films this stuff I have to laugh at the naivety of the punches and the entertaining choreography. Likewise, heavyweight champions sprinting up a mountain and sweating in the glow of the setting sun on a beach is also a solid pure cinematic flavor that probably wouldn't pass muster in real life. Otherwise, though, it's a brisk, breezy action flick that deftly combines narrative drama into a boxing package, and Michael B. Jordan pulls it off behind the camera too.
()
The third Creed turned out to be a very solid and confident directorial debut. We know Michael B. Jordan can deliver in front of the camera in this role, but he can deliver behind the camera too. Especially in the first part, which is more about dialogue and the coming together of two old friends who meet years later, with some ugly events from the past coming back into both of their lives. Jonathan Majors is a worthy partner to Jordan, both in the dialogue exchanges and trying to rekindle an old friendship, and in the ring where he comes across as an unstoppable beast. Overall, however, Creed III is unexpectedly better on the non-boxing front, but towards the end it feels a little rushed and at times slightly pathetic and perhaps even a little laughable at some points. Definitely better than last time, though, and also better than I would have expected when it was announced that the inexperienced Jordan would take over directing. Despite the occasional stumbles, he's managed to grow to the point where he can get by without Rocky; even without Stallone.
()
Ads