REVIEW — “Creed III”

Michael B. Jordan stars as Adonis Creed and Jonathan Majors as Damian Anderson in CREED III A Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.It’s Kang vs. Killmonger in Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut Creed III, a hard hitting and relentless thriller that keeps you on your toes.

Several years have passed since the end of Creed II. Adonis Creed has since hung up his gloves, transitioning to a more corporate career as a boxing manager and promoter while enjoying life with his musician wife Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and their young, hearing-impaired daughter Amara (Mila-Davis Kent).

The film often flashes back to 2002 when Adonis and childhood friend Damian, a boxing prodigy, share a night that changes the course of their lives. After spending 18 years in prison, Dame (Jonathan Majors) understandably has a chip on his shoulder after watching his protégé live his dream of becoming a champion while he sat in a cell. His clock is ticking and he’s desperate to make up lost time and achieve his goal.

However, Dame’s impatience for a shot at the title turns to resentment and he begins to take matters into his own fists. The former brothers’ bad blood reaches a boiling point when Dame’s growing threats force Adonis back into the ring for one last fight at The Battle of Los Angeles.

Once again, Jonathan Majors steals the show. As Dame, Majors is a man with nothing to lose. He is an imposing figure, daunting and hungry. You can see the pain and loss swelling behind his eyes and in the way he delivers his lines. He also fights with a primal ferociousness, like a caged animal. As the starring antagonist of two major franchises (Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania), Majors is currently the man of the moment. In this film, he is such a compelling on-screen force that he nearly has you rooting for him.

With a story by Ryan Coogler, Keenan Coogler, Zach Baylin, Creed III is another powerful chapter of the Rocky spinoff. The film closes out a knockout trilogy that was kick-started by Coogler and the Italian Stallion himself, Sylvester Stallone.

Rocky seemingly passed the torch to Adonis at the end of the last film, and Jordan does the franchise founder proud with an impressive directorial debut that fully steps the titular character out of Rocky’s shadow. The result is a pummeling and thrilling installment with epic shots, rousing orchestral cues, and dramatic beats worthy of the glory of its predecessors.

4.5/5

Rated PG-13 with a running time of 1 hour and 57 minutes, Creed III opens in theaters March 3, 2023.