Michael B Jordan makes his directorial debut with “Creed 3,” in which he stars once again as Adonis Creed. This time around, Creed is successful in his career and family life, but his past comes back to haunt him when his childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damien (played by Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison. The film boasts impressive fight scenes, which draw inspiration from anime, a genre that Jordan is a known fan of.
Despite the absence of Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa, the film still manages to stand on its own, thanks to Jordan’s direction and performance. The emotional core of the film lies in Adonis’ relationship with his young daughter and his tricky history with Damien. Majors delivers a standout performance as the villain who physically and emotionally challenges Adonis.
While some may wonder about the absence of Rocky Balboa, it is clear that Adonis Creed has a storyline that stands on its own. “Creed 3” is not just a massive first film for Jordan in terms of budget and legacy, but a testament to his talent as a director. Fans of the “Rocky” franchise can look forward to seeing Jordan’s fresh take on the boxing world.
As an anime fan himself, Jordan’s love for the genre shows through in the fight scenes, which feature slow-motion analysis of Adonis’ opponent’s body, paying homage to anime’s tendency to break down fights scene by scene. It is refreshing to see a director acknowledge his influences and inspirations.
While there may be issues behind the scenes that have affected the storyline of the film, Jordan’s direction and performance are still compelling enough to make “Creed 3” a must-see film. It is a well-made movie that manages to succeed despite the pressure of being a first-time director on a project of this scale. Fans of the franchise will not be disappointed.
