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Michael B Jordan, Jonathan Majors bring boxing genre alive with Creed III. It hits hard

The film, written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, doesn't need the machismo and gravitas of the Italian Stallion Rocky.

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Taking the mantle from Sylvester Stallone and debuting as a director to take a successful sports drama franchise ahead is no mean feat. And just as Rocky had told Adonis Creed in Creed II — “it’s your time” — Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III packs a hefty punch.

The film, written by Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, no longer needs the machismo and gravitas of the Italian Stallion but it still pays tribute to Rocky while standing on its own. Drama, action, underdog story, and stellar music — Creed III has all the staple ingredients to make it a sports film worth visiting again.

Heading back in time to the tumultuous past of Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), the film introduces his childhood friend and boxing mentor Damian ‘Dame’ Anderson (Jonathan Majors). Cut to the present, Dame resurfaces after being imprisoned for years. In all these years, Creed has made a name for himself in the ring and is now living an affluent life as a gym owner and boxing promoter. But a merry reunion is not on Dame’s mind. He is eager to prove that he deserves a shot in the ring and the world championship. Even in the moments where Creed and Dame reminisce their early days, more than the inherent brotherhood, it is the brewing tension that shines through.

The hard-hitting punches in the ring and the drama surrounding it make Creed III a compelling watch.


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Jordan, who has been playing the titular role since the beginning of the franchise, unlocks newer depths of his emotional bandwidth. And it translates beautifully on screen. Even as a director, he is solid. The boxing sequences, featuring slo-mo and anime-inspired shots set the film apart from a regular boxing film.

But it’s Majors who has delivered a power-packed performance. And not so much when he is delivering heavy punches—while he is great at that—but in the emotional scenes where his versatility conjures magic. Dame’s pain and suffering is well executed in not so many words. It is in his quieter and subtler moments. On a lighter note, as a Marvel fan, one cannot help but wonder if this is a crossover of two major antagonists of the Marvel Cinematic Universe — Killmonger and Kang — which could make for an interesting film. There’s no harm in wondering.

Tessa Thompson who plays Bianca, Creed’s wife, is not just standing by the ring and cheering for her husband. It is heartwarming to see that her character is fleshed out with the film noting her struggles with life after stardom. The relationship between Bianca, Creed and their hearing-impaired daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent) makes for some of the sweet moments of the film. In a crucial teaching moment, Creed tells his daughter that boxing was not about violence, which ironically drives the antagonist of Creed III.

While Majors has delivered yet another superlative performance, handing the gloves over to Jordan pays off well for the Creed franchise. Let’s hope there is more to come.

(Edited by Ratan Priya)

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Taking the mantle from Sylvester Stallone and debuting as a director to take a successful sports drama franchise ahead is no mean feat. And just as Rocky had told Adonis Creed in Creed II — "it's your time" — Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III...Michael B Jordan, Jonathan Majors bring boxing genre alive with Creed III. It hits hard