Creed II
Michael B Jordan has once again proven that he's going to be someone we talk about for years to come. He's a start and does amazing work in this worthy follow up to a fantastic first film. I was initially worried since Ryan Coogler wasn't going to have much to do with this movie since he was busy with Black Panther but Steven Caple Jr. really made the movie his own. When I had first heard that the Dragos were coming back I was really worried that the movie would abandon the realism and tone from the first Creed and adopt a cheesy tone similar to the 80s flick Rocky 4. Boy was I wrong, Ivan Drago and his son Viktor is some of the best stuff in the movie. Stallone does great work too but you can definitely tell after this movie it has become the Creed franchise. There's a scene towards the end that couldn't be more telling of that. The camera pans out as Rocky watches Adonis Creed in the ring. Rocky is wearing the robe with Creed's name on it.
The movie does a great job of dealing with the characters trying to find their place as their lives move forward. It's about fathers and sons. Rocky, Adonis, Viktor, and Ivan all have to deal with redemption and revenge. The fights are brutal and exciting and the last fight does not disappoint. I found the score to be very well done as well.
If I had to point out some negatives I would say that I wanted a bit more between Rocky and Ivan but I think the movie makes a choice to have that relationship play out between Viktor and Adonis. The Drago's get a great final scene but I would have liked a bit more resolution between our core 4 characters.
Other than that I loved this movie and I truly hope we get another one of these flicks. I'm so interested to see where they take the next one based on where each character ends up in this movie. I could easily see it being the last one though.
9/10.
