Creed (Blu-ray) (2015)

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General		Extras
Category	Drama	Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Know the Past, Own the Future Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Becoming Adonis Deleted Scenes
Rating
Year Of Production	2015
Running Time	133:10
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Ryan Coogler
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Michael B. Jordan Sylvester Stallone Tessa Thompson Phylicia Rashad Tony Bellew Graham McTavish Andre Ward Ritchie Coster
Case	Standard Blu-ray
RPI	$29.95	Music	Ludwig Göransson

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English DTS HD Master Audio 7.1 English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 5.1 French Dolby Digital 5.1 German Dolby Digital 5.1 Italian Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.40:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	1080p
Original Aspect Ratio	2.40:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English French German for the Hearing Impaired Italian for the Hearing Impaired Spanish Dutch Danish Finnish Icelandic Norwegian Swedish	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     Creed is precisely the type of involving, crowd-pleasing independent motion picture that Rocky was back in 1976. Five sequels followed the Oscar-winning Rocky, with the most recent follow-up, 2006’s Rocky Balboa, retiring Sylvester Stallone’s iconic titular role in a respectful manner. It’s understandable, then, that a degree of trepidation surrounded 2015’s Creed, which threatened to spoil the perfect franchise conclusion concocted by Stallone nearly a decade ago. But under the care of co-writer/director Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station), who was given Sly’s blessing and support, Creed is far better than anybody could have reasonably expected, showing once again that Coogler truly is a cinematic talent to be reckoned with. For all intents and purposes, this can be considered a fan film, with Coogler crafting a reverent, affectionate valentine to the iconic franchise. Against all odds, though, Creed is an exhilarating extension of the series, a modern film delivered with true passion that harkens back to a previous era in all the right ways.

     The illegitimate son of iconic former boxing champion Apollo Creed, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) spends his childhood in foster care and juvenile hall, before finally being adopted by Apollo’s widow, Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad). Although Mary Anne tries to raise Adonis on the straight and narrow, he’s still his father’s son, choosing to leave his secure white-collar job to pursue a career in the ring. Departing Los Angeles, Adonis travels to Philadelphia, where he tracks down Rocky Balboa (Stallone), who’s still running a restaurant named for his beloved late wife Adrian. Despite Rocky’s initial disinterest, Adonis convinces the aging boxer to train him, with the two ultimately forming a tender friendship based on mutual trust and respect. In addition, Adonis finds love in Bianca (Tessa Thompson), a musician with progressive hearing loss who enraptures the wannabe fighter. Adonis seeks to make a name for himself without using the name “Creed,” but word soon gets out about his heritage, and before long he’s challenged by hothead English boxing champion “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew).

     It’s clear that Coogler and co-writer Aaron Covington did their homework before embarking on Creed, and the result is an organic continuation with a fundamental understanding of Balboa as a character. Rocky’s every line of dialogue feels real, with ideal Rocky-isms and tender humour as Coogler takes the champ to the next logical place in his life without coming off as contrived. And although Adonis is the focus of the story, Coogler finds time to peer into Rocky’s personal life, with a poignant visit to the cemetery that will no doubt bring tears to the eyes of many. The idea of Rocky as a coach may have been explored in Rocky V, but that dismal follow-up was brought down by a naff, surface-level script - by comparison, Creed feels thoroughly authentic. There are echoes of the original Rocky in terms of narrative structure, and some may even call it a remake, but the execution is close to perfect, emerging as a distinct new entry in the franchise. And although the romance between Adonis and Bianca does seem almost obligatory, it’s a vital part of the plot, with the coupling proving to be wholly endearing.

     Creed is teeming with references to the Rocky movies, but such aspects are meaningful and nuanced without ever coming off as cheap fan service. The story returns to Mickey’s old gym where it all began, for instance, and in one scene Adonis shadowboxes against Apollo who’s projected on a wall via a YouTube video of his initial match with Balboa. Commendably, Creed does not play out like some victory lap which rides on the legacy of the Rocky franchise. Rather, it is a very heavy drama at times, reminiscent of the original Rocky more than the cheesy fun of Rocky IV. There are some dramatic developments which may not sit right with long-time fans at first, but the material is tastefully handled and makes sense in the context of the narrative. But as powerful and affecting as the picture may be, it’s not an insufferably dour drama, as Coogler incorporates the same brand of humour glimpsed in the Rocky movies without going over-the-top.

     Recapturing the gritty cinematic aesthetic of its predecessors, the look of Creed is spot-on, with Coogler always maintaining firm control of his movie. The intensity of the ring is also perfectly captured, with one amazing boxing match lensed in an unbroken extended take, immediately setting it apart from similar endeavours. And the grand finale, portrayed in prototypical Rocky style, is raw and visceral, easily drawing you in and encouraging you to cheer for Adonis in the same way that we have cheered for Balboa in previous instalments. The fight choreography is especially stunning; punches look authentic and blood is shed, but Coogler also recognises that our investment in the fights derives from proper characterisation, with Adonis an effortlessly likeable lead. Also beneficial is Ludwig Göransson’s incredible score, which is reminiscent of Bill Conti’s memorable musical contributions to the Rocky saga whilst still establishing its own distinctive identity. The movie even makes tasteful use of the iconic Rocky theme, which makes for one of the most goosebump-inducing moments in cinema of 2015.

     Many will come to Creed to see Stallone as Rocky Balboa once again, yet Jordan manages to hold his own against the heavyweight, atoning for Fantastic Four in style. Adonis is tough, yet the movie also reveals a more vulnerable side, with Jordan carving out a believable, fallible character. But while his performance is d*** good, most people will no doubt walk away from Creed with a renewed love for Mr. Stallone. This is precisely the movie that Stallone needed to bring him back down to earth, as the actor’s ego has undoubtedly gotten the best of him lately. Sly slips back into his iconic role as if no time has passed, submitting his most beautifully-nuanced work since, well, 2006’s Rocky Balboa. Rocky has changed since his first appearance in 1976, becoming older and wiser, but he still has a big heart. The script gives Stallone the chance to show off his acting chops that many may have forgotten he even possesses, and he nails it. It’s a very real performance, and one particular moment at a hospital features perhaps the best instance of acting in Stallone’s career. It is heartfelt work from the veteran and his Golden Globe win was well-deserved. Meanwhile, Thompson is a smart pick for the warm-hearted Bianca, and Rashad makes a positive impression as Mary Anne. However, as Conlan, Tony Bellew is an out-and-out cartoon, creating a typical villain role for us to actively root against, and that almost betrays the realistic tone that Coogler strives for.

     As with the majority of the Rocky movies, there are real-life allegories to be drawn from Creed; just as Adonis passionately strives to carve out his own legacy and escape his father’s shadow, the movie itself is trying to create its own legacy and escape the shadow of the Rocky franchise. The only real drawback is that it’s not Rocky, and by boldly including Balboa, setting the story in Philly, and adhering to a Rocky-esque narrative, it does invite comparisons. And yet, Coogler infuses the movie with its own voice, and the result quite simply works. It pulls on the heartstrings without shame, leading to a final scene that’s impossible to watch with dry eyes, especially if you’re a long-time fan of the Rocky franchise. It’s a tried-and-true formula movie in some respects, but the skill of the execution elevates Creed; it’s one of the best movies of 2015.

Video

     Roadshow presents Creed on Blu-ray in 1080p high definition framed at 2.40:1, via the MPEG-4 AVC video codec. It looks fine, but it definitely falls short of demo material, and it’s not as refined as it was at the cinema during its theatrical run.

     Whereas all six Rocky films were shot on celluloid, Creed was a digital production, with cinematographer Maryse Alberti oping to use the Arri Alexa. However, the image is a bit flat on the whole, not to mention too smooth (particularly in wide shots) - it’s not as richly-detailed or as razor-sharp as something like Mad Max: Fury Road. The colour palette is often quite dark, which is faithful to the intentions of the filmmakers, but it means that the image does lack pop. The bitrate on this disc is surprisingly scant, averaging around the 25 Mbps mark, which does leave a fair bit of unoccupied space on this BD-50. The video could’ve undeniably been superior with a higher bitrate.

     On the upside, the presentation does maintain healthy clarity no matter the lighting conditions, displaying no unsightly black crush even in dark gyms or scenes set very early in the morning. Blacks always look deep and inky, and colours look pleasingly natural. Close-ups usually fare quite well, displaying a nice amount of detail, allowing us to discern beads of sweat and hair, and see every wrinkle on Stallone’s grizzled face. I never detected any aliasing or banding, nor are there any other anomalies to spoil the presentation.

     If Creed was shot on 35mm film stock like Rocky Balboa (which still looks stunning on Blu-ray), or if Roadshow had permitted a higher bitrate, the image might have been stronger. Nevertheless, this is a fine video presentation on the whole. It’s far better than a DVD, though one must wonder if an Ultra HD Blu-ray release will offer much worthwhile improvement.

     Numerous subtitle options are available.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

     On the audio front, there is very little to complain about - Roadshow imbues this boxing drama with a generous DTS-HD MA 7.1 audio track that sounds every bit as powerful and impressive as it did in the cinema. Various other lossy options are available in other languages, but the lossless English track is the primary attraction, and it’s a home run.

     This is a dynamic track, with noticeable separation and panning to suit the various conditions and camera movements. During the boxing sequences, crowd noise fills the surround channels, making you feel as if you’re in the arena with the fighters. Punches pack sufficient oomph, and the affecting score comes through with superb precision without drowning out any of the dialogue. Indeed, all chatter is given excellent prioritisation, and all of Stallone’s lines are discernible despite his trademark gruff mumbling.

     This track is simply excellent.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
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Overall

     A scant selection of supplements, crying out for a full documentary or a commentary track.

Know the Past, Own the Future (HD; 14:49)

     Here we have a frenetically-paced, disjointed behind-the-scenes look at Creed, which spends a fair chunk of time tracing Rocky’s story throughout the franchise. A whole swath of people are interviewed here, with the likes of Coogler, Stallone and Jordan talking about both the movie and the Rocky series as a whole. Unfortunately, this feels like a surface-level promotional piece, and I would have preferred a more substantial documentary.

Becoming Adonis (HD; 5:46)

     This rather short extra is concerned with the workout regimen and boxing training that Jordan undertook in order to transform into a believable boxer.

Deleted Scenes (HD; 19:36)

     Eleven deleted scenes are included here, with no individual scene selection available; it plays in one big chunk (though there are chapter markers). There is a lot of excised material here, and some of it does enhance the narrative and the drama in a substantive way, which makes one wonder if an extended director’s cut is on the cards. However, some of the scenes were better left out of the final cut. Still, these deleted scenes are worth watching for Rocky fans.

    All editions worldwide are identical in terms of supplements. Buy local.

     Creed was never a sure thing in the eyes of this reviewer, yet it exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations. It's excellent and highly affecting, a treat for Rocky fans that's still good enough to stand on its own merits as its own independent entity. It must be seen, even if sports dramas aren't your thing.

     Despite the lack of special features and the merely acceptable video presentation, this is a great disc on the whole which comes highly recommended.

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