Life has become a balancing act for Adonis Creed (Jordan). Between personal obligations and training for his next big fight, he is up against the challenge of his life. Facing an opponent with ties to his family’s past only intensifies his impending battle in the ring. Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) is there by his side through it all and, together, Rocky and Adonis will confront their shared legacy, question what is worth fighting for, and discover that nothing is more important than family.

Creed 2 was the sequel we’ve long been waiting for and director Steven Caple Jr. steps up to the fight. Set three years post Creed, Creed 2 picks up with Adonis as a solid contender for the Heavyweight title with everything to win. But after gaining the belt things get interesting and the old adage ‘that the wolf on the hill is not as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill’ suddenly rings true and that’s exactly where Creed 2 takes us. Wherein Creed we were watching the Heroes Journey playing out, here in Creed 2 we’re watching what comes next and how Adonis has to face new challenges when he suddenly has everything to lose.

Caple Jr. really focuses on the interior of his characters in Creed 2 and through the film’s most heartbreaking moments you see Adonis, a proud, strong fighter at his most vulnerable. For me Creed 2 is an exploration of what happens when you take the character of the hero apart, dissect it, retool it and put it back together. By the time of the eventual final showdown between Adonis and Viktor Drago, son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), you’re looking at a completely different man and it’s an interesting route to take. If I were to liken Creed 2 to any of the previous Rocky films I’d have to place it in context to Rocky 3 as it follows a similarly redemptive tale and Adonis has to return to the basics and get truly tough again to overcome an immense obstacle in front of him. The drama punches hard in Creed 2 and Caple Jr. is definitely the one to thank for it.

Since Creed Michael B. Jordan has established himself as a legitimate A-list star, but his work ethic and commitment to the character of Adonis Creed still remains here and the result is an exceptional performance on Jordan’s behalf. It’s always interesting when an actor takes on a character for a second act and here we get to see a different side of Adonis, as husband and father, and a man who has other more important responsibilities placed upon him rather than just winning the belt. His is an interesting performance here and as Adonis goes through his redemptive journey you see the character at his most emotionally raw, and this is only amplified by his new position as a father and trying to be there for his child in the way that his own father, Apollo Creed, couldn’t be there for him. In addition to the emotional power of his performance, Jordan is also a beast in the ring and lets just say he’s shredded to the core and his mission to get truly tough again will leave you feeling pumped.

Again providing back-up in Creed 2 is the one and only Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, the former heavyweight champ who has become a godfather of sorts to Adonis. Like the first film Rocky is again a man caught in time and stuck in a life he no longer understands. Like Jordan, Stallone is equally raw in his performance and as Adonis is trying to learn what it means to be a father, Rocky is struggling to reconnect with his own son Robert (Milo Ventimiglia). Creed 2 is very much an exploration of fathers and sons and how they impact each others lives and in all the film’s central male characters you see this being played out. This thematic presence elevates the film above a mere popcorn blockbuster tale and it absolutely leaves you engaged.

Along with the return of Adonis and Rocky, Creed 2 also sees the return of the infamous Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) who killed Apollo Creed more than thirty-three years ago inside the ring, and now the former Russian heavy hitter is ready to come back with his equally intimidating son Viktor (Florian Munteanu). Wherein Rocky 4 Ivan Drago was this bigger than life giant, the man we meet now is a shell of his former self, abandoned by his country and the woman he loved, and determined to regain his former glory no matter the cost. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of a performance for Lundgren and he excels up on screen as Ivan, as does Munteanu as his son Viktor and this relentlessness to retake the belt no matter what the cost presents a strained and very fractured relationship between father and son.

If you’re seeking to get your heart rate going then you’ve come to the right place with Creed 2….cause the action here is brutal. Both Jordan and Munteanu attack it with everything they’ve got and the intensity really shakes about the ring. The fights are bone crushing and when these two warriors enter the ring someone will leave broken. Like all good Rocky-Creed films there’s also the build-up to the actual fight and with a powerful score from Ludwig Goransson and ASAP Rocky and the atmosphere of the  barren Californian desert, which is beautifully captured by cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, Adonis gets a lesson in what it means to be tough as he unearths his animal side once more. The film’s climatic fight is a full on war and the legacy of Creed/Drago is on the line here in an exhilarating match-up.

If Creed was about ‘who are you’ then Creed 2 is definitely related to ‘why do you fight?’ This existential question gives the film real substance and it’s an essential part of the make-up of any fighter. This is Caple Jr.’s focus throughout the film and each time Adonis steps into the ring he gains further understanding of why he fights, and with some hard lessons learnt and the pain that comes with them his full realization as to his life’s purpose is present in the climatic final battle with Drago.

If you’re seeking a solid TKO then Creed 2 is the film to give it to you. Packed out with raw emotion and some gnarly fight action, this film is a tremendously exciting next step in the Rocky-Creed mythos and cements the legacy of Adonis Creed and Michael B. Jordan as both character and actor who is truly one of the best around.

Image: Roadshow Films

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10. Straight Outta Compton

The rise of gangster rap was brought to the big screen with precision and style by director F. Gary Grey and stood out as one of 2015’s big winners. Showcasing an impressive debut from newcomer Jason Mitchell as the legendary Easy-E, Straight Outta Compton was an obvious stand out.

9. Testament of Youth

The horror, carnage, and loss of the First World War was brought to life in vivid detail in director James Kent’s heart-shattering adaptation of the classic bestseller Testament of Youth. Anchored by the presence and ability of rising star Alicia Vikander, this incredibly moving piece of cinema presented the war as told through the perspective of one young woman who witnessed it first hand, and who would forever be shaped and changed by its aftermath.

8. Creed

Director Ryan Coogler, and rising star Michael B. Jordan, staked their claim for greatness with this hard-hitting new chapter of the Rocky franchise. Jordon cut an impressive figure as talented but angry young prize fighter Adonis Creed-Johnson who, with the help of former champ Rocky Balboa, rises to the occasion. A thrilling film in every sense, Creed was a first class winner.

7. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

The stakes have never been higher for Tom Cruise as superspy Ethan Hunt in this no-holds-barred action film. Reuniting Cruise with longtime collaborator Christopher McQuarrie, his ‘need for speed’ was certainly attained with an adrenaline charging motorcycle chase, as well as featuring the actor brave a 5,000-foot drop from a moving cargo plane.

6. The Dressmaker

Revenge has never looked so good in director Jocelyn Moorhouse’s The Dressmaker. Featuring a story that is original, clever and fantastically sharp, The Dressmaker is anchored by a phenomenal performance from Kate Winslet as vengeful couturier Myrtle ‘Tilly’ Dunnage, and completed by the appearance of Judy Davis as mad old bat ‘Mad’ Molly Dunnage, not to mention Hugo Weaving as the fantastically camp Sergeant Horatio Farrett.

5. Legend

Tom Hardy was pure double trouble in this stylish and violent criminal biopic that brought the notorious Kray twins to life. Shaped by a solid story and brilliant production detail, Legend also saw Hardy effortlessly move between the criminally gifted Reggie, and the violently unstable Ronnie. Emily Browning completes this amazing film as East End ingénue Francis, whose fairytale gangster love affair quickly turns dark.

4. Sicario

Emily Blunt walked a brutal path straight down into the very heart of darkness in Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario. All notions of good and evil were shattered in this hard-hitting crime film which featured one of the most intense confrontations I’ve ever witnessed on screen, and Benicio del Toro was magnificent as the silent and brooding assassin Alejandro.

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

For those wanting an adrenaline rush there was nowhere better to turn than George Miller’s gasoline charged, action-manic spectacular Mad Max: Fury Road. Featuring two brilliant performances from co-leads Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, Mad Max: Fury Road brought to life a dangerous and dark world.

2. The Ground We Won

The camaraderie and brotherhood of the game of rugby stood at the heart of this extraordinary documentary film, which chronicled a group of good ol’ kiwi battlers who lived for the weekend and the game they loved. Captured with beautiful black and white cinematography, The Ground We Won was a moving portrait of a rural community, and the game that held them together in a piece of unmissable cinema.

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens

J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens was an absolutely amazing cinematic feat, and is without a doubt my favourite film of the year. Capturing the nostalgia of the original trilogy, as well as introducing two amazing new co-leads, Force Awakens was action-adventure storytelling at it best. Utterly brilliant.

Feature image source: Walt Disney Pictures.

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This statement made by rising contender Adonis ‘Hollywood’ Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) is the driving force behind director Ryan Coogler’s Creed, and will move audiences to cheer loudly as this young fighter makes his play to define his own legacy. Here’s the synopsis:

Adonis Johnson Creed (Jordan), the illegitimate son of former World Champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps. It’s this motivation that brings him to Philadelphia where he meets his father’s former opponent and best Friend Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to request his help to become champion.

While fans of the Rocky film series are sure to line up for this epic spin off, Creed is very much a unique and strong contender in its own right. Here’s five reasons to watch:

5. All in the ring

Creed is firmly about the culture of fighting, and the physical, mental, and spiritual strength that it requires to be a fighter. All of this leads to some incredible ring footage courtesy of Coogler and his cinematographer Maryse Alberti. With the use of well-defined steadicam footage audiences will feel every punch that is pulled, and every smack that comes Adonis’ way. Coogler also continues a long time tradition of filling the Rocky films with real fighters including Tony Bellew, Andre Ward and Gabriel Rosado.

4. Philly: the city of brotherly love

Playing a larger role in the film’s events is the city of Philadelphia, which comes to serve as Adonis’ training ground, and inspires his connection with Rocky Balboa. Coogler demonstrates his understanding of the significance that Philadelphia plays within the Rocky franchise, and utilises well-known landmarks and events made famous by the previous films, while finding new ways to shine a light on their importance to Adonis’ growth as a fighter.

3. Sylvester Stallone: The Italian Stallion

The legendary Sylvester Stallone has returned as former two-time world champion Rocky Balboa and while it’s been a number of years since his final bout against Mason Dixon, he’s still mourning the loss of his wife Adrian, and now his best friend Paulie. While the arrival of Adonis sparks a renewed interest in his life, Rocky still has his own personal battles to fight, and once again this underdog rises to the challenge with a new ally in his corner. Stallone effortlessly channels the local neighborhood hero we’ve come to know and love, and slips into his role as a Adonis’ mentor pretty fast. It’s a change of pace for audiences seeing Rocky as a trainer rather than at the punching bag, but Stallone has the gravitas, knowledge, and respect to convincingly pull off Rocky in this new phase.

2. A new interpretation 

Director Ryan Coogler has openly commented that he is a lifelong fan of the Rocky series. With Creed, he brings us a familiar tale in a whole new light that extends the franchise with terrific new possibilities. Drawing from his own real life experience as an athlete to shape Adonis journey, and his working relationship with Michael B. Jordan which was formed on the phenomenal Fruitvale Station, Coogler really pulls the audience into the film through Adonis’ solid character arc from back alley punk to contender. At all times the audience feels the respect that Coogler gives to Stallone, while still making the film is own with solid directing and total control over the story.

1. Michael B. Jordan: fighting for his name

At the centre of Creed is the phenomenal talent that is Michael B. Jorden, a young thespian who is slowly but surely proving that he has the chops to become one of the greatest acting forces of his generation. With absolute commitment Jordan jumps head first into the role of Adonis, and channels the resentment and anger he feels as Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son. His only way to overcome that is to fight, and Jordan does this with grit and determination. Adonis’ journey and quest for purpose is easily identifiable, and audiences will cheer him on as he fights to make his own legacy a reality.

Image source: Roadshow Films.

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