CREED (Theatrical Release USA 2015)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.4|5.0 Starsìììì

Creed does justice to the Rocky series. The script is a spinoff of the rest of the Apollo Creed (the boxer who died in Rocky 4) story. Sylvester Stallone is back and once again completely takes us by storm in his role as the seasoned trainer, Rocky Balboa, who coaches and trains Apollo Creed’s son. This is one of the best spinoff films you’ll ever see. Director Ryan Cooglar really struts his stuff in this top-of-the-line boxing film. The final fighting scene, fast-paced and realistic, totally enters the ‘WOW! What a fight!’ category. Exceptionally well-done, the film completely absorbs that old Rocky feel that no boxing film achieved since the first release of the Rocky films. Great work for all involved.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

The illegitimate son, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), of Apollo Creed, the fighter who fought in the Rocky 1 through 3 films and was killed in the Rocky 4 film, decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and looks up Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) to train him.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Ryan Coogler for directing effort. Thank you to Executive Producer Nicolas Stern for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Bianca (Tessa Thompson), Mary Anne Creed (Phylicia Rashad), Danny ‘Stuntman’ Wheeler (Andre Ward), ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew), Pete Sporino (Ritchie Coster), Stitch (Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran), Tommy Holiday (Graham McTavish), Amir (Malik Bazille), Padman (Ricardo ‘Padman’ McGill), and Leo ‘The Lion’ Sporino (Gabe Rosado).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It lives up to the original Rocky series with an outstanding performance by Sylvester Stallone as a seasoned Rocky Balboa. The film is a complete winner and worth watching more than once. Thank you to everyone involved in the production of this film for giving us one more gourmet taste of Rocky Balboa. WOW! What a film!

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Theatrical Release USA 2022)

 Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.3|5.0 Starsìììì 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever—the best of the Marvel films—is the second movie of the Black Panther movie series. This film plays more like a non-Marvel superhero movie, meaning there is a certain aura that most superhero films cannot seem to break through, but this movie does it. Superhero movies have a minor goofiness, cheesiness, comic book presentation that causes a loss of quality. This movie critic usually overlooks this quality and critiques around that, but Black Panther: Wakanda Forever does not have this aura or element at all. This film also does a terrific commemoration for the late Chadwick Boseman built right into the script that shows feeling and real sadness for his passing. The movie, itself, has more realistic fight scenes  than past Marvel films. WOW! What an improvement! It stands head and shoulders above other Marvel films. Thank you to everyone who had the courage to break the mold and enter a new era for the superhero movie presentation. 

Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images 

Storyline 

Conflict, with Wakanda from a country stationed under water, results in war over a natural resource. 

Additional Thanks 

Thank you to Director Ryan Coogler for directing effort. Thank you to Producers Kevin Feige and Nate Moore for making the film possible. Cast includes: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, Tenoch Huerte Mejia, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss. 

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe? 

Yes. This film is more than worth watching due to its great visuals, acting, and presentation. 

Video Critique Available Here:

 

Ben Meyers