Creed

Following much of the tried and true formula that we have seen from the Rocky film franchise over the course of the past three decades, Creed is a worthy addition to the stable and as a spin-off film is strong enough to stand on its own two feet.

In a pleasant twist on the dramatic ‘hardship that a fighter must overcome’ trope, this time it isn’t the fighter himself that must endure but rather his trainer, Rocky Balboa.

Michael B. Jordan’s performance as Adonis Johnson Creed is powerful and compelling, with a simmering rage and intensity as the young man battles not only opponents in the ring but in his own mind and his struggle with the in the legacy of his father.

Fans of the Rocky series will be pleased to see a number of homages to the original and its many sequels, but this film is strong enough to fight on its own behalf. (JA)

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