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A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days on my Nintendo Switch, I can be found at concerts or playing basketball.
When it comes to sports films, or specifically boxing films in general, there is very little to be done that has not already been seen. The Creed franchise excels by not reinventing the wheel, but through its relatable characters that are brought to life by talented actors. Creed III continues this tradition and in many ways is a superior sequel to its predecessor. While Creed II wasn’t necessarily a bad film, it took a more formulaic route that depended heavily on nostalgia. Fighting the son of the boxer that killed his father is in an intriguing story beat. However, the execution felt by the numbers and the sequel’s strengths were almost entirely that of its performers.
Making his directorial debut with Creed III while also being the star of the franchise, Michael B. Jordan proves he is truly one of the most gifted individuals in Hollywood.
A Grounded Sympathetic “Villain” Worth Rooting For
Photo credit: Eli Ade © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.
Bringing in Jonathan Majors (Da 5 Bloods, Lovecraft Country, Loki, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) for Creed III is not just a huge win in terms of his acting ability, but in creating a more down-to-Earth story. It’s one that feels like a more complete and natural follow-up to the original Creed film. Majors portrays “Diamond” Damian Anderson, who befriended Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) in a group home when they were children. Anderson serves as a big brother to Creed. His also being a Golden Gloves champion allowed them to bond over boxing as well. This sibling-like connection is sharply written and performed even better. It creates a real sense of tension and emotional conflict that the previous film couldn’t quite match.
Both the physical and internal chemistry between Majors and Jordan is electric. The sense of brotherhood yet sorrowful disdain permeates through every single interaction. You can feel the connection and underlying love between the two men, but with Majors, you can also feel the frustration and anger bubbling beneath the surface. Creed III benefits greatly from the time taken to develop this rivalry organically.
The Loving Support Behind Creed Shines Bright
Photo credit: Eli Ade © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.
Equally vital to the success of the first two films was Tessa Thompson’s portrayal of Bianca. From their very first meeting to their eventual marriage, Thompson and Jordan’s on-screen love was incredibly natural and beautiful. In Creed III, we are introduced to their daughter Amara Creed, played wonderfully by Mila Davis-Kent. Although Bianca is suffering from progressive hearing loss, her daughter Amara is actually deaf. Seeing the Creed family fluidly sign together was heartwarming and really cemented their unity visually.
Another aspect that was a huge surprise was how well the film did without superstar Sylvester Stallone (especially considering some very real behind the scenes troubles). Although he’s not quite on the same level, Wood Harris performed admirably as head trainer Tony “Little Duke” Burton. There was no awkward explanation and almost no mention of the legendary Rocky Balboa. Thus helping Creed III to be fairly judged on its own merits. It’s safe to say that the torch has been successfully passed.
Battle for The Ages
When the fists finally do fly, they do so in extravagant flying colors. Jordan takes a very stylistic approach to the big fight which is quite welcome. After six different Rocky films and the two Creed films that came before, it was refreshing to see a new take on boxing combat. Confirming he took a page out of various anime content, Jordan gave us an exciting blend of extreme close-ups and devastating slow-motion blows. It was a unique fighting experience that worked even better knowing the history and emotion behind each and every punch.
Collectively, Creed III as a film is an absolute triumph. In the same manner that audiences attach themselves to their favorite sitcom characters or on-screen superheroes, Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan have created a family that is going to be worth revisiting again and again.
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A life long cinephile from the Bay Area in Northern California. Aside from having written for various outlets since 2019, I've been podcasting since 2020.
(Currently Co-Hosting the Geekly Goods Roundup)
When I'm not indulged in a ridiculous amount of media consumption or losing track of days on my Nintendo Switch, I can be found at concerts or playing basketball.
This article was edited by John Tangalin.