Creed

Creed

Starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad

Directed by Ryan Coolger

The Story:
In 1998, young Adonis Johnson was an orphan, moving from foster home to foster home, and getting into a lot of fist fights.  One day he's approached by Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), who tells the young child that he is the late Apollo Creed's son, and she was his former wife.  She wants to take him home and give him a good life.

In 2015, Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) is still a fighter, but he's more grounded than when he was a child.  He quits his desk job in hopes of being a boxer, but not take the Creed name.  He moves to Philadelphia, where he finds Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), Apollo's friend and fellow boxer, to train him.

At first Rocky is resistant, but he finally relents to help train Adonis and keep his secret, so he can make a name for himself.  Along the way, Adonis meets and falls in love with aspiring singer Bianca (Tessa Thompson), and Rocky trains him to be a great boxer like his late father.

As Adonis rises among the ranks, he's invited to fight against Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew), the world light heavyweight champion.  As he prepares for the fight of his life, Rocky receives earth-shattering news, which causes both men to rise to the occasion and fight for what's important.

The Synopsis:
40 years after the original "Rocky" graced the screens and made a household name of Sylvester Stallone, "Fruitvale Station" director Ryan Coolger brings the Italian Stallion back to the big screen, but this time he's taking a backseat to the film's lead star, breakout performer Michael B. Jordan.

Jordan takes on the role of his career as the illegitimate son of boxing legend Apollo Creed and a woman he had a one night stand with.  He didn't know who he was, but he knew he had the heart of a fighter.  When he learns who he really is, he sets out to make a name for himself in the boxing world without the last name of Creed.  He says it's because he doesn't want to tarnish his father's legacy, but there's a deeper meaning to why he's hiding who he really is.

So he goes to Philly where he reveals himself to Apollo's friend, Rocky Balboa.  Sylvester Stallone returns in full force as everyone's favorite underdog boxer, and he's never been better.  Like a fine wine, he gets better with age, and he clearly relishes in being able to portray again the man that made him a legend and an Oscar nominee.  Seeing a legend like Rocky on the big screen is something to behold, and he delivers another knockout performance (we're not gonna mention those previous two "Rocky" outings because...well...just because).

As far as the story goes, it doesn't really tread any new ground, but it doesn't dumb it down either.  This has a lot to do with the chemistry and talent of Jordan and Stallone, who command the screen and keeps you glued intently to every second.  You can tell where the story goes: a wannabe boxer, an experienced older trainer, lots of training, setbacks, comebacks, overcoming adversity, and understanding who you really are.  "Creed" delivers this line of storytelling in a way that has you rooting for Adonis like you rooted for Rocky back in the day.

"Creed" is supposed to be a springboard for other sequels, and if they all end up like this one, it will re-ignite a 40 year film series for a new generation, and give us all someone to root for.

The Summary:
With the acting talents of the two leads, "Creed" re-ignites a fantastic film series for a new generation, and gives us a new hero to root for.

The Score: A