Michael B Jordan made his directorial debut in the third installment of Creed and it was not just another boxing movie. Creed III hits on facing your fears, regrets and second chances. The retired, Adonis Creed (Michael B Jordan) has partnered with Duke (Wood Harris) and opened a boxing ring with the intentions of training a title winning fighter. He is living the American Dream with wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson), and their adorable daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent) or so we think.
After 18 long years of incarceration, Damien (Jonathan Majors) is determined to prove that he still has what it takes in the ring by trying to convince Adonis to help him win a championship belt. Damian “Dame” Anderson, the former Golden Gloves Champ, is not just any ordinary boxer; he is an uncomfortable reminder of all of the guilt and shame that have weighed on Adonis since childhood.
”Everyone loves a comeback story” but whose will we celebrate.
With direct, unfussy skill and handsomely filmed visuals, Jordan navigates the competing emotions found in “Creed III” without straying too far from convention. He guides viewers through intense boxing matches at the gym with Felix Chavez (Jose Benavidez) under his mother Laura's watchful eye (Selenis Leyva), as well as more low-key scenes like Bianca producing hit records or her husband having tea parties dressed up in a dinosaur costume for their daughter – it all adds to the unfolding drama.
Audiences will relate to raw, authentic and powerful emotions as real life is unfolding. Bianca painfully resigns herself to relinquishing her aspirations of being an entertainer and Adonis deals with the perceived betrayal of his mom, Mary-Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad).
“RUN IT”
Dame is the character you want to hate. With his unsettling smile, you want him to win because of his past but how can you ignore his actions? This character was designed for Majors as his hulk like body proved that masculinity doesn't necessarily mean strength. His powerful blend of vulnerability and strength is a reminder that all men are capable of being emotionally open, even in tough times. It's an eye-opening perspective the world needs to witness as they grapple with recognizing emotions among males.
Amara, the enigmatic deaf pre-tween daughter, captivated audiences as she opened her father's eyes to experiencing life anew. Her request that he show her how to fight was met with surprise – after all, no one knew that Miss Davis had been learning and honing this skill in secret!
As a director, Jordan gave us of an awe-inspiring shift of style, the iconic backdrop of a fight slips away to an eerie darkness and complete silence. During their intense bout, symbols from Adonis' oppressive past take center stage: his squalid home with Dame is replaced by one corner while prison bars encase the ring in place of ropes – turning metaphor into reality. It becomes clear that there was more story left to be told.
Creed III marks an impressive addition to the legendary Rocky franchise, delivering a captivating performance from Michael B. Jordan as both actor and director. His layered and nuanced portrayal keeps viewers captivated throughout and his commitment to physical execution as well as character consciousness pays off brilliantly! The breathtaking fight sequences where each cut reveals intense skin ripples & bloody spit is even more powerful when viewed through the creative slow motion lens he chose for them, further proving that this will not be Jordan's last time adding his name to the director credit.
Get your tickets for Creed III and experience the flurry of emotion with intense sports action, violence, as well as some strong language. This high-impact feature length movie hits theaters this Friday: March 3rd – make sure you don't miss it!
