Creed III

Creed III is a 2023 American sports drama film directed, produced by, and starring Michael B. Jordan, with Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad. The film sees Adonis Creed (Jordan) facing off against his former boxing prodigy friend Damian Anderson (Majors). It is the sequel to Creed II and the ninth overall in the Rocky film series, without Sylvester Stallone as Rocky. The film was positively reviewed, grossing over $252 million worldwide. It premiered in Mexico City on February 9, 2023, and was theatrically released in the United States on March 3, 2023, as the first film distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after its acquisition by Amazon, and the first MGM-distributed film not to feature the United Artists Releasing logo since Fighting with My Family (2019).

The story follows Adonis "Donnie" Creed, a former professional boxer who is now retired and runs the Delphi Boxing Academy with his friend Tony "Little Duke" Evers Jr. Donnie's wife Bianca and their daughter Amara, who is hearing-impaired, support him in his new endeavors.

When Donnie's former best friend and fellow boxer, Damian "Diamond" Anderson, comes back into his life after being released from prison, Donnie reluctantly invites him to the gym to spar with his protege, world champion Felix "El Guerrero" Chavez. Dame's aggressive style causes tension among the group and leads to a black eye for Donnie.

Dame later reveals to Bianca that Donnie has been keeping a secret from her about a man named Leon. Drago, another boxer set to fight against Chavez, is attacked and injured, causing Donnie to suggest Dame as a replacement opponent. During the fight, Dame fights dirty but ultimately wins the undisputed heavyweight championship. Donnie later discovers that Dame had manipulated him and his family to get the title shot, leading to a confrontation between the two. Donnie decides to come out of retirement and challenges Dame for the championship, leading to a grueling and evenly-matched "Battle of Los Angeles" at Dodger Stadium. In the end, Donnie emerges victorious and reconciles with Dame.

From a personal perspective, I consider the movie to be a masterpiece filled with raw emotions and an ample amount of intense boxing. One of the most captivating aspects that I couldn't help but notice is Damian Anderson's eyes, which convey his unwavering determination to achieve his dream of becoming the world champion, despite the difficulties he has faced.

Additionally, the music used in the film perfectly complements the boxing sequences and adds to the overall ambiance of the movie. The direction of the film by Michael B. Jordan is exceptional, and his performance as the lead actor is outstanding.

One of the most memorable aspects of the film for me was the climactic fight scene that was depicted with no audience or sound. This moment truly elevated the film and made it stand out. All in all, I believe that Creed III is a must-watch movie that has everything a great sports drama should have. Ultimately, the movie can serve as a source of inspiration, showing what it takes to turn one's dreams into reality, just like it did for me.

An 8 out of 10.