The Rocky series keeps fighting, even when many thought it was down for the count.

 

“Creed,” directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone shows the Rocky franchise still has the same hard-hitting punch 39 years after the first film.

 

Adonis Johnson, son of the late boxing legend Apollo Creed and his mistress, has been fighting his entire life. From growing up in juvenile homes to the pressure of living up to his dead father’s name, life has been a battle for the up-and-coming boxer.

 

After growing up in California with Apollo’s widow, Johnson moves to Philadelphia to train with his father’s friend, Rocky Balboa. Both men are reluctant to work together, but soon realize how much they need each other both professionally and emotionally.

 

The Rocky series has a decent overall record. The first and second are classic fighting movies that changed the genre forever.

 

“Rocky III” and “Rocky Balboa,” while not perfect, are good, emotionally gripping films. But then there is “Rocky IV” and “Rocky V,” which are two films that should have killed the franchise.

 

“Creed” not only calls back to all the aspects that made “Rocky” Oscar worthy, but accomplished them even better than the original film.

 

The fight scenes are more visually compelling than any boxing movie before.

 

Coogler and Maryse Alberti, the cinematographer, made an amazing team by using a random assortment of no-cut shots, point of view angles and various camera tricks to make every fight unique and captivating. 

 

Jordan gives an Oscar-worthy performance as Johnson. He helps build one of the most relatable characters in recent film.

 

Johnson is an individual plagued by the loss of his father, his last name and feelings of abandonment.

 

The character could have been played with the melodrama ability of a soap opera star. Instead, Jordan plays it with a great mix of subtlety and ferocity while giving a performance of a lifetime.   

Stars: 5 out of 5

Jacob Pierce can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JacobPierce1_DE.