Creed III: Packs A Punch!

For fans of "Rocky" and its spin-off, "Creed," this is the ninth movie in the series and a worthy addition to the franchise.  Michael B. Jordan both stars and directs this film, and he does an excellent job on both accounts.  The movie works both as a boxing movie, with exciting boxing scenes, and an interesting storyline, with character depth and excellent performances from Jordan and Johnathan Majors. The film begins with Adonis (a.k.a. "Donnie," Apollo Creed's son) as a teenager hanging around an older-brother-type figure, Damien Anderson (Majors).  Damien is a great underground boxer who will soon turn professional.  An incident occurs and Donnie runs away, while Damien gets arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison!  Fifteen years later, Adonis (Jordan) is fighting his final fight as heavyweight champion of the world, a title that was Damien's dream.  When Damien gets released from jail, three years after Adonis' retirement, he finds Adonis married to Bianca – a famous singer/songwriter star in her own right – living in luxury in the Hollywood Hills, along with their deaf daughter, Amara (Mila Davis-Kent).  Adonis is now a promoter and co-partner in a championship-caliber training facility: "Delphi Boxing Academy."  Damien has nothing, and Adonis offers to help him re-start his life.  Adonis feels guilty that he ran away, leaving Damien to suffer the consequences of their mutual crime.  Eventually, Damien's rage at what had occurred eighteen years ago results in a head-on collision between them, which can only be settled in the ring! The film has interesting themes, such as running from vs. facing the past, living with guilt and rage, adapting to retirement, and the possibility of forgiveness, among others.  The film is intense, both as a drama as well as the boxing scenes.  There is creative cinematography in some of the boxing footage, borrowing from Anime films.  The movie also pays homage to the legacy, with extensive training rituals, and a run by Adonis to the top of the hill. Bottom Line: "Creed III" scores a "Knock-Out!"