Creed (2015)

The critic says Creed reinvigorates the Rocky series and is the best since the original. They single out Stallone's generous and emotionally raw supporting performance as Rocky.

The critic praises Ryan Coogler's direction for infusing Rocky clichés with genuine feeling and individuality, highlighting the emotional depth in Adonis's story and the strong performances by Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.

The critic finds it surprisingly effective, punchy and powerful. They single out the poignant relationship between Rocky and Adonis, along with strong performances from Stallone and Jordan.

Coogler forges an exciting new path while staying true to Rocky lineage, delivering a warm and rousing Hollywood fantasy grounded in loss and human elements. Jordan and Stallone shine in their roles.

A worthy follow-up to both Rocky and Fruitvale Station that feels like a true successor rather than imitation. Coogler applies the formula with grit and showmanship, confirming his talent as a director.

Coogler delivers an absorbing reboot that sensibly gives Rocky a dignified supporting role while focusing on Adonis's journey to forge his own path. Strong fight choreography and emotional depth make it a sensational franchise rebirth despite some flabbiness in subplots.

This crowd-pleasing seventh Rocky instalment marks a rousing new beginning, with winning chemistry between Jordan and Stallone as the young boxer seeks out his father's old friend as coach. Coogler's pure entertainment judiciously deploys the iconic theme for emotional impact.

Coogler's film critiques boxing while showcasing strong performances and fluid fight sequences, emphasizing reticence in storytelling and placing traditionally omitted subjects into populist spectacle. It highlights themes of hard work and rectifying Hollywood's issues.

Creed is a commanding and rousing new entry that gives Stallone's Rocky a tender late-career triumph as mentor. Coogler's indie sensibility brings fresh energy and nostalgia to the formula without embarrassment.

The critic calls it a rousing but corny and predictable nostalgia piece that offers old-fashioned escapism. They single out Sylvester Stallone's moving performance as Rocky, showing vulnerability and accepting his age.

The film is a mixed bag that starts with a ponderous and hackneyed setup but finishes with original, exciting and emotionally resonant scenes. The critic praises the intense fight sequences and strong performances from Michael B Jordan and Sylvester Stallone while criticising the overwritten dialogue and predictable plotting.

Creed is a scrappy crowd-pleaser that appeals mainly to Rocky fans but struggles to escape the franchise's shadow, relying on nostalgia and familiarity rather than fresh insight. Coogler's intimate character work and Jordan's charisma provide sporadic highlights amid conventional training montages and bouts.

The critic finds the film impossible to hate but flat-footed and unsurprising overall. They single out the boxing scenes as expertly done while criticizing Stallone's performance as merely bog-standard.

The critic finds it a fresh retelling that rescues the Rocky series from bombast and reclaims its emotional core. He highlights Coogler’s skill as a director in bringing understated naturalism and involving storytelling to the screen.

The critic praises the film as a strong successor to the original Rocky that pays rich emotional dividends while establishing its own story. Coogler’s direction skillfully blends character-driven moments with rousing sports sequences, highlighting excellent performances especially from Jordan, Thompson, and Stallone.

Coogler revitalises the Rocky franchise with a thoughtful, stylish generational hand-off, eliciting a richer performance from Stallone as elderly Rocky than in prior entries. The film punches above its weight for fans of the series' crowd-pleasing side through nuanced character work and inventive fight sequences.

Stallone delivers a stellar turn as the aging Rocky in this formulaic but solid and likeable Rocky spinoff. Coogler makes a smooth transition to studio filmmaking with sturdy results focused on the new protagonist's journey.

The critic calls it a terrific boxing movie that is both soothingly old-fashioned and bracingly up-to-date. He singles out the gentle, easygoing tone and Michael B. Jordan’s performance as the standout element.

The critic calls it a smart, kinetic, and exhilaratingly well-crafted mainstream film that lives up to its predecessors while forging its own path. He singles out the knockout performances by Michael B. Jordan and especially Sylvester Stallone for praise.

The critic calls it a magical spinoff that mixes the heart of the original Rocky with lightness, highlighting the central friendship between Adonis and Rocky along with strong performances from Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.

The review calls Creed a terrific, moving powerhouse anchored by fantastic performances from Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone, with energetic direction and a thoughtful screenplay that avoids feeling formulaic.

The critic describes Creed as a total triumph that fuses nostalgia with fresh drama, praising the sincere writing, direction, and standout performances especially from Sylvester Stallone as a mournful Rocky.

A very good movie and perfect Rocky entry that restores the original's warmth, charm, and honesty while focusing on character humanity and growth; it singles out the small, barebones story of Adonis and the nuanced Stallone performance as standout elements.

Pete Hammond praises the film as a fresh reinvention of the Rocky formula centered on Apollo Creed's son, highlighting the strong performances especially Stallone's best work in years and the innovative fight scenes. He notes it successfully passes the torch to a new generation while retaining the emotional heart of the franchise.

The film follows Adonis Johnson's journey from troubled youth to professional boxer seeking to forge his own path under Rocky's guidance, delivering gritty rites of passage and compelling underdog drama before the punches fly.

The critic finds that Creed earns its emotional punches and clichéd elements through strong character work, singling out Michael B. Jordan's magnetic performance and an innovative single-take fight sequence for praise while noting some uneven pacing.

Rousing in spirit and emotionally dynamic with strong performances from Jordan and Stallone, it is a worthy Rocky successor that proves Coogler is the real deal, though it remains safe, familiar, and indebted to the earlier films without a fully distinct identity.

Robert Abele finds the generational twist on Rocky uninspired, criticizing it as a reverent but unrefreshed entry that feels like another by-the-numbers retread despite solid fight choreography. He notes the film never rises above familiar franchise territory despite Coogler's involvement.