I didn't plan on writing a 2nd blog about "Creed". I planned on watching the movie twice, but not to write about it. As a few readers pointed out, I asked some questions about "Creed" in the last post that deserve to be answered. If you didn't read my Creed Week blog, here is the link.
I went to the movie on opening night with friends. I went to my 2nd viewing with my oldest and closest "Rocky" friend, my father. My father was the first person to introduce me to the "Rocky" franchise all thanks to the CBS Saturday Night Movie. Back then there wasn't marathons of "Rocky" on TV, so it was an event. I saw "Rocky I" and "Rocky II" on these TV specials.
My father took us to "Rocky III" and "Rocky IV" to the Showcase Cinemas in Milan. We went to "Rocky V" at the Showcase Cinemas in Davenport. As a family, we saw "Rocky Balboa" in 2006 at the Showcase Cinemas 53. My dad and I returned to the now Rave Cinemas 53 for "Creed".
Going to a "Rocky" movie with my pop is always a great experience for me and something I cherish. I couldn't have been happier to see we both had tears in our eyes at the end of this movie. It's that good, folks. Like "Rocky I", you will get teared up.
So here is my follow up to my last blog. I asked 7 questions (from previous blog), one for each movie in the franchise, and I will give 7 answers. I also added 5 extra things about the movie to give a total of 12 items, one for each round of the final fight in "Creed".
- HOW OLD IS ADONIS? He has to be at least 29 years old. I assume he was born in the Summer of 1986. If Apollo fought Drago in November of 1985, Adonis probably was a blessing of life in October, the latest. Apollo wouldn't have sacrificed his career for the bedroom. Apollo was a professional. ADONIS IS PROBABLY 29 YEARS OLD. THEY ADDRESS THIS RIGHT AWAY AND THIS TIMELINE WOULD PUT HIM IN THIS AGE RANGE.
- IS ADONIS A "LOVE CHILD"? Seems ridiculous to think Apollo would go stepping out on Mary Anne. I am more inclined to believe Mary Anne didn't know she was with child. She probably would have used that information to motivate Apollo for his fight versus Drago. YES, ADONIS IS A LOVE CHILD. THIS IS HARD TO ACCEPT. LIKE STALLONE SAID IN AN INTERVIEW, "THE PERFECT MAN, WASN'T PERFECT."
- WHY DIDN'T ADONIS KNOW WHO HIS BIRTH FATHER WAS? Whoever made this decision is clearly the villain in this story. THIS IS NOT REALLY ADDRESSED IN THE MOVIE. AT ABOUT THE AGE OF 12 HE FINDS OUT WHO HIS FATHER IS. HIS MOTHER DIED EARLY IN HIS LIFE, TOO.
- WHERE IS DUKE? Duke would have taken in this kid and raised him right. Just like Apollo would have done. Duke always had Apollo's back. The Duke question is key. DUKE ISN'T REALLY ADDRESSED IN THE MOVIE BUT HIS FAMILY IS. IN A SCENE IN A BOXING GYM IN L.A., ADONIS QUESTIONS DUKE'S SON ABOUT "SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY".
- WHAT IS ROCKY'S ILLNESS? More importantly did he get it from drinking raw eggs? Because I totally did that when I was a kid after I saw "Rocky" and might need to go see a doctor. ROCKY HAS NON-HODGKIN LYMPHOMA
- WHY IS CLAIR HUXTABLE IN THIS MOVIE? I feel like she is the villain I wrote about earlier, it just won't be as obvious as Adrian was as the villain in "Rocky IV". PHYLICIA RASHAD PLAYS MARY ANNE CREED. SHE IS COMPLETELY NON-BELIEVABLE IN THIS ROLE.
- HOW MANY ACADEMY AWARDS WILL THIS MOVIE WIN? I am guessing 3. Best Supporting Actor is a lock for Sylvester Stallone. Best Picture is probably is the hunt. Best Original Score or Best Actor will bring home the last piece of hardware. I WAS KIND OF JOKING IN THIS ONE. KIND OF. STALLONE REALLY SHOULD GET AN OSCAR NOD FOR BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR. THAT IS NOT A JOKE. HE IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
EXTRA TAKES FROM "CREED"
- Writer-director Ryan Coogler did an amazing job with this film. Coogler is a "Rocky" fan via his father, who is a HUGE "Rocky" enthusiast. There are multiple scenes and dialogue giving homage to the saga. "Creed" took $35 million to make and brought in $42.1 million from the Thanksgiving box office. It passed "Rocky V"'s box office TOTAL in 5 days! As of this post, "Creed" should pass "Rocky Balboa"'s $70.3 million box office, placing it 5th in the franchise's box office record.
- Coogler has created a new generation of "Rocky" fans. The young protagonist is relatable to the African-American community and to young fans ("It's in the cloud"), only used to marathons on Spike and TNT. So that means...
- There will be a "Creed II". There is no agreement to make a sequel. I am just calling my shot here. In "Creed II", Adonis will fight Danny Wheeler. There will be more of Adonis's childhood covered in this movie, including, Tony "Duke" Wheeler's family. Danny Wheeler is Duke's grandson.
- There will be a "Creed III". Calling my shot, again. Adonis will fight "Pretty" Ricky Conlan, who beat him in "Creed". Conlan will just be getting out of prison and will challenge the so-called paper champion.
- If Coogler sticks to the franchise nostalgia, then I ask him one favor. Bring back Clubber Lang is some form. I need to know his story, too. Would love to see Clubber in some sort of ringside analysis/color commentary role. His verbal skills are unmatched. "My prediction? Pain."
One last thing... I forgot to add one thing to the last Creed post. It was written during Thanksgiving week and I did not add what I was thankful for. Here it is.
Thanks, Pop, for showing me Rocky
