A One Mann’s Movies review of “Creed III” (2023).
For reasons that escape me, but which were probably work related, I never got to see “Creed II” from 2018. But I was very much a fan of the original “Creed” from 2016, giving it 4*’s. Armed with having read the very good synopsis for “Creed 2” (on IMDB here if you are in a similar boat) I went into “Creed III” and enjoyed it very much.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Adonis “Donnie” Creed has retired from the ring on a high. But a shadow from his past in the form of ex-con Damian Anderson (Jonathan Majors) appears and forces Donnie to confront events of the past.
Certification:
UK: 12; US: PG-13. (From the BBFC: “Moderate violence, infrequent strong language”). This feels quite a generous ’12’ to me, due to the frequent (rather than “infrequent”) use of the n-word in the rap lyrics throughout. I really don’t understand how this sort of casual usage is acceptable in any movie.
Talent:
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jonathan Majors, Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Mila Davis-Kent.
Directed by: Michael B. Jordan.
Written by: Keenan Coogler, Zach Baylin & Ryan Coogler.
Twitter Handle: #CREED3; #CreedMovie.
The village church was short of bellringers for the King’s Coronation, so Dame was welcomed in with open arms!. (Source: Metro Goldwyn Mayer).
“Creed III” Review:
Positives:
- Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut is really entertaining. Well-paced and with the visceral boxing action that we’ve come to expect from a ‘Rocky film’: this is where the film really soars with action scenes that are genuinely edge of the seat exciting. There’s a bold move in the finale bout, where the colour washes out, the crowd disappear and the two contenders duke it out ‘mano-a-mano’ as prison bars cage them in. It might not have worked, but it does. It brings the sort of animal cruelty that is two men smashing hell out of each other into sharper focus.
- The acting here is top notch as well, with Jordan, Thompson, Harris and Rashad all reprising their roles from the earlier films. But joining them, as a clear rising star of 2023, is Jonathan Majors who makes a stunning impression as the bitter and enraged animal that is ‘Diamond’ Dame Anderson. It’s almost Supporting Actor nominations material. Also worthy of praise is young Mila Davis-Kent who plays the deaf daughter Amara. Davis-Kent really is deaf in real life, but she adds a whole heap of personality to this role. Top job. (By the way, Sylvester Stallone chose not to reprise his role of Rocky Balboa, not liking the darkness that was being injected into the plot: he told the “Hollywood Reporter” “I wish them well, but I’m much more of a sentimentalist. I like my heroes getting beat up, but I just don’t want them going into that dark space. I just feel people have enough darkness.” )
- Technically, the film is great. The cinematography by Kramer Morgenthau (who also did “Creed 2”) is fabulous, with wonderful lighting and close-ups. And the fight scenes are brought to life by some very tight editing by Jessica Baclesse and Tyler Nelson.
Negatives:
- There were some ‘talky-talky’ scenes where the momentum went out of the film for me. And a character’s death I felt neither added nor detracted from the plot. These are minor quibbles, but perhaps editing the run time (of just short of 2 hours) by 10 minutes or so might have made an even tighter film.
- I referenced the repeated use of the “n-word” in the “Ratings” section above. #unnecessary imho.
Summary Thoughts on “Creed III”
This is a solid chapter in the whole ‘Rocky’ saga, which – given these films have been going for nearly 50 years – is pretty impressive. I’d certainly recommend it as a good night out at the movies, so hats off to Michael B. Jordan.
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Trailer for “Creed III”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHmCH7iB_IM .
