Creed II

“I was afraid I couldn't live up to his expectations.”

Filmology Rating: 3 out of 4

Creed II is the second film in the reboot of a six film franchise and follows Rocky and Adonis once again as Ivan Drago and his son seek revenge due to Rocky ruining Drago decades earlier.

Before I start: I love this franchise. I love the character of Rocky so much that he's probably one of my favorite movie characters ever. And the first Creed film handled the source material with such care and heart. So when I heard that critics were a little hesitant on this film, I was worried. Personally, I absolutely loved every frame of this film. It may be competing for my favorite film of the year.

Most critics state that this film was just filled with similar plot beats from the previously installments, but I will bring up that when we get away from that formula, we get crap like Rocky 5. Just look at the "Indiana Jones" movies.

I loved this film so much that by the end of the film, the way it concluded, I had tears in my eyes. This film was handled with so much love of the franchise and really digs into the depths of Adonis, Rocky, Drago, and Drago's son. Michael B. Jordan proves he is one of the best working actors today with a terrific performance that has a lot of range. And Sylvestor Stallone is maybe the best I've seen him since the first Rocky. There is a lot of history with Rocky and Drago and this film digs into Rocky on a personal level that made his arc very endearing and fit into the larger theme of "finding what is most important in life." Dolph Lundgren as Drago is wonderful as well.

I was worried that the movie would just make the Drago family "the bad guys" but this film almost makes the Dragos' the protagonists and showed how the loss to Rocky really impacted Drago and his life and I loved it.

The fighting was definitely a highlight. The punches in this film were weighted and felt brutal to the point where I think it broke one of my theater's speakers. But the directing was a highlight too. Some shots made my jaw drop and it was so delightful to see such an ambitious filmmaker in place of Ryan Coogler.

The pacing was off at times, but for almost the entire film, I was hooked into this great story. This may be my favorite of the year.

Rating: See It

-Nolan