Creed

CREED

Director : Ryan Coogler

Year : 2016

Genre : Drama

Rating : ****

After 2006's 'Rocky Balboa', it seemed that the acclaimed boxing series had finally reached it's 13th round - staggering to it's corner bloodied and battered, ready to take a long-overdue retirement looking back on 30 years of dizzying highs and horrifying lows. However, Ryan Coogler's terrific spin-off 'Creed' shows that there is still life in the now four decade old franchise yet.

Reuniting the director with his 'Fruitvale Station' star Michael B. Jordan, 'Creed' tells the story of Donny Johnson - a determined yet volatile young man who, after being saved from the horrors of juvenile hall by a mysterious woman, is revealed to be the son of Apollo Creed; the legendary fighter who was killed in the boxing ring some 25 years earlier. Determined to make a name for himself in the sport that caused the death of his Dad, Donny (or Adonis as he is really known) tracks down the only man who could train such an unpredictable yet adamant boxer, his father's old friend and sparring partner Rocky Balboa.

In terms of story and narrative, 'Creed' follows a very well worn path - a path whose now rickety foundations were originally laid with the first 'Rocky' film back in 1976. However, director and co-script wtiter Coogler manages to evade the typical underdog film conventions and manages to create a movie that feels remarkably fresh while still maintaining the essential core elements needed to make a truly great 'Rocky' picture. Jordan proves to be a suitably fierce presence as the unpredictable volcano of rage, power and unquenchable resolve that is Adonis Creed while a predominantly back-seated Sylvester Stallone delivers a  surprisingly tender and emotionally charged performance as the now elderly Rocky - a performance that may just win the actor his first Academy Award come February 28th. Wonderfully directed, brilliantly exciting, genuinely touching at times and featuring some the best boxing scenes seen on the silver screen this decade, 'Creed' is a knockout film that not only looks back on it's cinematic heritage with great affection but also makes way for the next generation of movie-making heavyweights.