CREED 2 (O-RVZ MOVIE REVIEW)

Creed 2 is an drama, sports movie based on the spinoff character Adonis Creed who is the son of the legendary boxer Apollo Creed from the Rocky franchise. In total, Creed 2 serves as the eight installment film from the Rocky Franchise and the second film to the Creed storyline which previously directed by the talented director Ryan Coogler (who also directed Black Panther). This sequel is now being directed by a new director Steven Caple Jr. with Ryan Coogler remaining as the executive producer. The movie stars Michael B. Jordan returning as Adonis Creed with Sylvester Stallone playing his iconic character Rocky. It also stars some returning characters from the first Creed film such as Tessa Thompson and Wood Harris and some returning characters from the Rocky franchise such as Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago. The plot of this second film continues the storyline from the first Creed film and this time, Adonis Creed is now being named as the World Champion with a new rival looming in who is the son of Ivan Drago, Viktor. There's bad blood between these two characters already considering that Ivan killed Adonis' father Apollo during an exhibition match and Viktor challenges Adonis for a fight on the championship belt. The rivalry between these two characters are so intense and the boxing sequences really felt personal to them. Viktor doesn't have so many lines in this film but his facial expressions are more than enough to show how intimidating he is and at the same time how emotionally conflicted he is to his father. There's a story to take here between Viktor and Ivan and you really sympathize to these characters. The movie also focuses on the Adonis character development showing some more conflict within his family, to Rocky and to his own. As the movie progresses, it also shows how Adonis is becoming more mature when it comes to choices not only in professional boxing but to his family as well. I liked the bond between Adonis and Rocky. I liked that Rocky provides life advises not only in boxing but to life as well. The performances were really great especially Sylvester Stallone. That beautiful scene towards the ending with him almost had me in tears. Michael B. Jordan does what he does. It’s hard not to see him snap ever since he last played Kilmonger (Black Panther). There was some pacing issue that I have found in the middle of it. So minimal that it doesn’t really affect the entire movie.

OVERALL

CREED 2 is a very good film and is a worthy sequel to Creed. It has a story, it has multi-layered characters, it has amazing performances from the overall casts, and it has this punch right at the end that almost had me in tears. The boxing sequences were really intense and strong and every punches that they receive, it almost feels that you’re in the same ring with them. I have only started watching Creed and never watched any of the Rocky franchise but if only have I watched the Rocky series, this would have been a more emotional impact on me. Anyway, it’s not too late yet to catch up to those films.