Movie Review: Creed II
Creed II is arguably better than its prequel. As the story lines deepen, you’re able to fall more in love with the characters. The music scored in this film was amazing, which is not a surprise since Mike Will Made It is the Executive Music Producer. The music is the heartbeat of the film, elaborating the character’s inner thoughts and escorts the plot as it rises. Adonis comes face to face with his past, fighting Viktor Drago. This drives the intensity behind the entire film because Drago’s father is the one that killed the legendary Apollo Creed. Adonis is overwhelmed with pride and ego, which forces him to lose sight of his true purpose. Yet, with direction and love he is reconnected with the generational force that fuels his reason for living.
Adonis’ story line is full of realistic awkwardness that is relatable amongst us all. As if in real time, the audience joins Adonis as he deals with love, heartache, destruction, and restoration. Adonis and Bianca fall more in love, and champion each other in their careers. In a scene the doctors look at Adonis and Bianca helpless and at a loss of words. No amount of bad news, health complications, or change can break their bond. My heart yearned to comfort a representation of love that I once needed in my life. The writing in this film is spectacular and allowed me to invest in fictional characters. While investing I healed wounds I didn’t realize were still open.
Although, I can’t personally relate to Viktor Drago, his character is one that people can find refuge in. If you identify with abandonment, lack of purpose, or being ill-experienced with true love then you will love Drago. He metaphorically represents what adulthood looks like when a child is reared in toxicity. As I was rooting for Creed I found myself cheering for Drago too. Very rarely do you experience an underdog versus another underdog. I wanted Drago to find fulfillment and to stick up for himself in his personal fight with life. If you’re confused with how to play the hand you’ve been dealt, Drago shows you a route you don’t want to take.
The women of this movie are by far my favorite! First of all, Phylicia Rashad’s character, Mary Anne Creed, exhibits grace, patience, and confidence that anyone can learn from. When people expect her to be angry or frustrated, she responds with both vulnerable and tough love. Tessa Thompson’s character, Bianca, continues walking by faith by excelling in her career and being the foundation of her family. Bianca combines the two for one of the most powerful scenes in the movie…She leads her man in the fight of his life. The fighter’s entrance into a brawl is typically intense and all about them. However, Creed follows his lady as she sings live music to get him mentally and spiritually prepared for the fate of his future.
The film exudes something that at times is more powerful than love, which is courage. “Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage (quote by Maya Angelou), Creed II reminds us that it takes courage to love, courage to fight, and courage to live purposefully.