CREED 2 (2018)

Directed By: Steven Caple Jr. 
Written By: Juel Taylor & Sylvester Stallone 
Story By: Cheo Hodari Coker & Sacha Penn 
Based On Characters Created By: Ryan Coogler 
Cinematography By: Kramer Morganthau 
Editor: Dana E. Glauberman, Saira Haider & Paul Harb 


Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Russell Hornsby, Wood Harris, Dolph Lungdren, Florian Munteanu, Brigitte Nielsen 


Under the tutelage of Rocky Balboa, heavyweight contender Adonis Creed faces off against Viktor Drago, son of Ivan Drago.

As one might expect it’s not as good or fresh as the original, but happily the film doesn’t fall that far in quality that some sequels do.

Now while original writer & director Ryan Coogler doesn’t return he leaves the film in the capable hands of Steven Caple Jr. Whose style seems a bit more flashier but keeps the aspects of the characters and story clear and grounded.

What is disappointing here is that his opponent is the son of the man who killed his father in the ring. Ivan Drago’ş son. Who here all he wishes is to defeat Adonis and take his title. As he is a protege of Rocky who because rocky defeated his father they lost everything. Especially respect. So while more personal it’s interesting that this is almost a mirror of Apollo’s journey from the first film. Only here while introduces and brought up. It is more put on the side and used as motivation but only explored in a minimal way. Understandable as he is not the star of the film, but it would be a little more enriched to go a Bit deeper into that side and showcase he might have a flaw or flaws that won’t allow him to be the man that Apollo is.

As the film plays familiar beats. As again Apollo and rocky spilt ways. As Apollo is so headstrong and prideful that he believes he is fighting for the right reasons. Not to mention just as in the original Rocky films. In this the second part we more explore the characters domesticity as he not into gets married but has a child and has to get his priorities right.

Also the easy fights after he has won the title and now Champion Is not only his real competition but it’s more an emotional and revenge fight. Now as buff as Michael B. Jordan is Florian Munteanu who plays Viktor Drago is just towering over him and just a block of muscle as they seem in different weigh classes and different sizes.

The film brings back characters from the past but also an unscrupulous boxing promoter who only helps fuel the fire. For his own personal gain and a bit of revenge. Feeding off of Adonis’s ego and need to prove himself always.

Other the then that there is more of the same. Which does enrich the characters. Yet never surprises you. As he has to train harder and I a different way to be at the top again.

It would have been nice if the meeting of rocky and Ivan was a bit more dramatic then the build up to it.

The film also leave a thread hanging as to whether this might be the last film where we see Sylvester Stallone as Rocky. Seemingly passion the torch or if again going by schedule of the original he does in the next one.

You can tell that the direction of the film has changed hands. As the film feels a little less earnest it has the same heart but feels presented flashier more conventional. Like the character who is more into his own. Ego and the riches and seems to be compensating for something that is missing. That is how the films feels. It’s still a quality movie but it seems to want to more suggest and abandon emotional depths rather then deal with them too much.

As we understand that adobos is facing the man who literally killed his father. Facing the son who also feels that Rocky’s Defeat of his father killed his father’s fortunes and career. Has depth of it’s own and should be dealt with the same kind of attention to a degree. Even if not the star it shows some motivation. As all the characters are displacing their anger into another character close enough for them to take out their aggression on.

Though it is it’s own series of movies. Rocky 2 while below the quality of the original dealt with the idea of what happens after the happy ending dealing with his life as a semi-celebrity but not having the prospects to be savvy enough to work it and also that sense of longing. So that the film gives him the kind of happy ending the first film lacked to a certain degree.

With this film Adonis has the success and get’s the title almost immediately but the after is trying to chase ghosts and tiger a kind of revenge. Defeating the challenger who he see’s as ruining his life. Showing he is brave enough but doesn’t have quite the drive and skills as of yet he has to torture himself and build himself back up from being broken to rise to the occasion he has to be the hungry one once again. Even the title doesn’t matter here he want s to price either to be the better man or that he can go the difference and won’t be broke

The film has a decent soundtrack that reminds you of the 80’s and 90’s where the soundtrack was integral to the film. Where all the songs used were by popular artists of the day and all written specifically for this film. So that no stray music other than planned score is allowed.

In the end the film feels more like a sequel rather then the continuation it seeks to be. Which is fine if that is what you as an audience member is looking for. As maybe one was looking for too much from the film.

Grade: B-