WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD FOR CREED III
First and foremost, let me say this even though the leads command every scene, and Creed III leaves audiences with a sense that what they’ve watched is a fitting tribute to Apollo Creed and Rocky Balboa. I say this because there are strong parallels between Rocky, Apollo, Adonis, and Dame storylines. We see Adonis Creed fall into the role Rocky Balboa played for both Creed’s father and son as a mentor. We see Adonis bear the burden of watching his fighter get beaten to an inch of his life, much like Rocky’s situation with Apollo.
We all know what happened there. However, the stakes for Adonis are higher because it’s his childhood best friend, Dame, who dishes out the ferocious beating. Then we see the former champ step back into the ring to, in a sense, not only avenge his fighter but also knock some sense into his friend.
We see Adonis struggle after being out of the ring for three years, and if you don’t know anything about boxing, the one thing you should know is even 6 months is too long to be outside the ring as a boxer. Another striking similarity shared between Adonis and Rocky’s stories is the fact that they take help training from what the audience is made to believe are opponents at the beginning of the movie. Apollo Creed first fought Rocky and then helped him train. The opponent Felix is meant to combat is the one who helps Adonis get back into fighting shape.
I also believe this film portrays just how talented the entire cast is. It can be argued that all three main leads, i.e., Micheal, Johnathan & Tessa, have played more iconic roles, and not to mention their unforgettable portrayals of Marvel characters. I too, agree, however, I have to ponder the few points that make me believe this particular movie shows all of their acting prowesses at peak performance.
We see Tessa Tompson’s character’s struggles with her disability and her resilience to pursue her passion despite it. We see her perfectly embody the moral compass and brutal honesty that Adonis needs when he’s struggling. From the two main leads, we see the glaring moments the two men have before their fights which speak volumes, and their ability to express emotions through their punches. For example, Adonis at the start of the fight with Dame, is a little hesitant with his blows. Whereas the latter maintains his ferocity though out the first round. From that to the emotional scene shared between the now bittersweet friends at the end, it shows how mature their acting prowess is.
Another reason, in my humble opinion, is how both characters embody their vulnerabilities as men and how they choose to embrace those vulnerabilities and reconcile in the end. I think I’ll stop here lest we get any more philosophical. I will end the article with this. Creed III proves that Michael B. Jordan can do wonders in the director’s chair, it proves that Tessa Tompson is as versatile an actor as all GOAT and that Johnathan Major’s influence on Hollywood will be entertaining.
