Tag: creed

Favorite Films of 2015

There are a lot of movies I have not seen.  So bear that in mind.  If you are wondering why the Room is not on this list?  It is cause I have not seen it.

  1. Mad Max: Fury Road
    Biggest surprise of this year for me.  When first announced, I thought there was no way this could work.  It would be a lesser sequel to a franchise that puttered out over 20 years ago.  And yet, George Miller came back to his franchise and blew the audience away.  The film is insane with it’s visuals.  It’s characters are minimal yet compelling.  it has a positive message.  and it is amazingly re-watchable.
  2.  Selma
    Ava DuVernay has given us a powerful gut punch of history.  The performances are excellent and the film pierces the heart.
  3. Creed
    Like Fury Road, this one totally surprised me.  It was the smartest way to continue the franchise with great performances from Jordan and Stallone.  The story is compelling and inspiring.
  4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
    Introducing lovable new characters, bringing back beloved heroes and putting the prequels to the best use possible…I greatly enjoyed this.
  5. What We Do In Shadows
    Thanks, New Zealand.  This mock documentary follows four Vampire Flat mates and manages to mine laughs from even the most awful parts of vampire lore.  Very funny film.
  6. Maggie
    A small and personal zombie film with one of Schwarzenegger’s strongest performances.
  7. Jupiter Ascending
    A much maligned film, it is like watching a live action Anime.  it gets goofy at times, but like most Wachowski Sibling films visually stunning.
  8. Mr. Holmes
    A typically thoughtful performance from Ian McKellan and a movie that is comfortable moving at a slower pace.  Having a compelling story allows them to take there time without becoming boring.
  9. Ant-Man
    This was such a fun change of pace after the more grim Age of Ultron.  It had a strong and likable cast.
  10. Krampus
    This one was just a light fun holiday scare movie that I enjoyed immensely.
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The Next Generation (Creed, 2015)

creed-movie-posterAwhile back, when I first heard about Creed, I thought I was hearing a desperate idea of continuing a franchise that had run it’s course and closed out nicely with 2006’s Rocky Balboa.

And yet, it turns out that it was the smartest move they could have made.  Creed opts to focus on the son of the late Apollo Creed, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan).  Born of an affair, Adonis is taken in by Creed’s widow Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad).  He desires to be a boxer, but is blocked from every direction.  His only outlet is underground Mexican boxing matches.

Ultimately, he moves to Philadelphia and seeks help from a reluctant Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone).

The film is a reflection of the original Rocky, and driven heavily by the characters.  The chemistry between Adonis and Bianca (Tessa Thompson) is genuine.  Jordan and Stallone forge a bond that is at times heartbreaking and others exhilarating.

This is a strong and terrific film.  It draws you in and keeps your attention.  Creed is an excellent film, worth the watch.

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