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ARTICLE STARTS HERE BY VINCE MCKEE
As a lifelong fan of the Rocky lineage, I was extremely excited to view Creed III. Fresh off the heels of one of the best boxing movies ever produced, Creed II, it was impossible not to be intrigued at another trip down Rocky Lane with this incredible spinoff of the original series. While Creed III was a solid movie, well worth the money spent on it, there were a few areas it missed out on which caused it not to be listed in the Top 5 of Rocky movies ( a full list can be found on page two). Still, even with that said, it was certainly good enough to live up to the historic history, with plenty of high spots as well.
I’d like to take a deeper look at the Hit’s and Misses from this latest edition. I chose 10 aspects of the movie, and in the end, it wound up being 5 each.
Thank you and enjoy!
Hit – Casting
The casting for this was once again perfect! The younger version of Donnie looked just like him and could have easily passed for a teenage version of Michael B Jordan. Both him, and the younger version of Damian “Diamond Dane” Anderson were spot on. Who doesn’t dream of you and your best friend winning some sort of title together? It could be a Super Bowl, Little League World Series, State Championship or Golden Gloves just to name a few. They were easy to get behind, sympathize with and become emotionally invested in.
The little girl who played Amara stole the show! She is adorable, and as a girl dad, so many of the scenes with her and Donnie, reminded me of my younger daughter Madelyn. Numerous times watching this movie, you just wanted to reach out and give her a high five or a hug. Mila Davis-Kent did an excellent job in this role, and it was much needed. In a movie flooded with violence, blood, swearing and other levels of adultism, her pure innocence gave us much needed reflection, perspective and a reason to take a breath and smile during the drama.
As for the other women in Donnies life, Tessa Thompson who plays his wife, was once again stunning. She may be one of the most naturally gifted women in Hollywood. As for Phylicia Rashad as Mary Anne Creed, I don’t know, I still look at her and see Clair Huxtable from the Cosby Show.
Hit – The Walkouts
From Rocky wearing a robe from the meat packing plant, to Apollo coming in on a float dressed like George Washington, the movies have always had incredible walkouts, right from the start. Perhaps none better then the Ivan Drago one from Rocky IV which would have sent even the toughest men alive into hiding.
This movie was no different as I absolutely loved the walkout of then champ, Felix Chavez, as he came to the ring to defend his belt against Diamond Dane. I don’t want to ruin too much of it for those who haven’t see it yet, but a guy dressed up like a skeleton wearing a suit, with orange and green smoke coming out of smoke sticks, create a really cool image. Chavez, has a giant Wildcat looking mask on that he takes off and just looks like an absolute badass in the moment.
Speaking of Chavez, I feel as though this was the only casting they messed up as he looks nothing like a heavyweight fighter would. He reminded me a of a cruiserweight or welterweight at most. This makes sense actually as in real life, the actor is fighter Jose Benavidez Jr, who boxes at the welterweight, light welterweight level. He just looked like he was meant for a UFC cage, not a Heavyweight Title Fight. Still though, it was one of the best entrances in the Rocky Lineage.
Miss – The Villain
Almost instantly, you must root for Damian “Diamond Dane” Anderson out of the Crenshaw district. He is an incredible friend to Donnie, even giving him money, sharing his winnings to buy him dinner and just look out for him. He came out of a group home to win the Golden Gloves and had big dreams. Suddenly he is sticking up for his best friend, in a fight that Donnie started and then headed to prison in the blink of an eye.
After prison, Donnie offers him money and he doesn’t take it, he just wants to box again and pursue his dream. He then gets a title shot and cleans the clock of the champ. It is a feel good, rags to riches story of redemption and this is the man you want us to boo? He also trained his ass off for both fights and did all the things in training you want to see. I don’t know, it is almost impossible to hate this guy like you did Clubber Lang, Tommy Gun or Ivan Drago.
I do believe that the writers realized this about halfway through the movie and then rushed to make him a villain, but by that point, it was too late as the viewer was already emotionally attached and invested into his story.
Miss – The usage of Drago
They made Drago look like a total chump in this movie. Just shameful. First, it’s three years after Creed retires, and Drago still isn’t champion and hasn’t even been signed by Creed athletics. Instead, they line him up against Chavez, only to have him get into a stupid fight at a party, getting his hand broken and taken out of the title picture completely.
Then, on top of that, they have him spar with Donnie as he trains for his comeback fight, only to get kicked around again by Creed. Not to mention, when it comes time for the big fight between Creed and Damian “Diamond Dane” Anderson, Drago is nowhere to be found. They just made him look bad, countless times in this flick, and that is a shame as it is a major drop off from Creed II. At the very least, let him be in Donnie Creeds corner, not the knucklehead that they did choose, and we will get to that selection in a bit.
Hit – Fight Venues
While I can take or leave the Crypto Center, Staples Center, “Where the Lakers, Kings and Clippers play” as a fight venue, I absolutely LOVED Dodger Stadium being used for the final fight of the movie. It was an amazing atmosphere as they literally stuck a boxing ring in the middle of a baseball field and billed it, “The Battle For LA”. It reminded me a “Creed I” when he fought Pretty Ricky Conlan at Goodison Park. There is just something special about outdoor stadiums when it comes to a big fight feel!
Miss – The final fight
With that being said, as much as I loved the fight venue, the much anticipated fight between Anderson and Donnie fell flat. They spent the first two rounds, and then the last round in the ring actually fighting as the announcers called the action. That part was good, but the middle part was an odd dreamlike sequence where they used special effects and removed all the fans and everyone in the stadium. They took turns yelling and motioning, they even had them as little kids again, and then steel bars around the ring. It was like something out of a video game.
It was just awkward and so far away from anything Rocky ever did. The only worse fight scene in the lineage would be the ending of Rocky V with the backlot brawl between Rocky and Tommy Gunn. It was a sad way to go out.
Miss – The trainer
Tiny Duke Evers absolutely sucks. Everyone this guy trains, loses! He isn’t the fatherly figure his own father was, let alone Micky! He is just a jerk that does more complaining and arguing, then actually helping. I didn’t like him in Creed, I liked him less in Creed II and now in Creed III, he is once again a hot head who cannot seem to train anyone to victory. Donnie finally pulls his ass out of the fire in the end, but Tiny Duke Evers is a far cry from his predecessors. I wouldn’t let this guy train my dog, let alone a prize fighter.
Hit – The Death scene
Mary Anne Creed joins such luminaries such as Mickey and Apollo Creed for on air emotional death scenes as the only other two characters to pass away during the movie. I saw the film twice in the span of 3 days, and I even knew her death was coming the second time around, and I still got a bit choked up watching it.
She calls, “Donnie” by the name of her deceased husband, ‘Apollo” as she passes away in front of him. She thanks what she believes to be Apollo for bringing her Donnie. Dang it Clair Huxtable, you just got me again!
Miss – Not a single press conference?
Press conferences are a staple of these movies. Who can forget Rocky II when Rocky promised to buy Paulie a snow cone machine? Or Rocky IV, when Drago stood up and knocked over the giant cardboard cutout of Apollo. Heck, even in Rocky V the press conference was pivotal as the first one announced Rocky’s retirement, and the second one led to Tommy Gunns heel turn. The press conference in Rocky Balboa was also fantastic as it truly gave you the impression that Rocky may pull off the stunning upset.
I may be old school, or just a bit corny at times, but I love a good press conference to set the tone for the training scenes that typically come right after, and this movie had none. Opting rather for a rushed call out on First Take with Steven A Smith.
Hit – The Ending
While the fight scene left a lot to be desired for, the actual ending was spot on and exactly how it should be. Donnie and Dame needed to make peace, and they did. It wasn’t the sappy hug in the ring either, but actual words that had to be said in private. They forgave each other, and with it, took the mental peace they needed to move on.
Furthermore, the final moments of Donnie back in the ring playing with his daughter, brought everything full circle from the start of the movie that saw her wake him up for a Tea Party while having to wear a Yoshi costume to amuse her. Rocky was very much a family man while clearly Apollo wasn’t, so this attribute to be a good father is another life lesson he took away from his experiences.
Final Count
5 Hits
5 Misses
Turn to page two for my official ranking of Rocky movies, first to worst.
