Creed - Rocky`s Legacy - Blu-ray

Film: For much of his childhood, Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) spent time in institutions. It was there that he learned to struggle through. He never met his father, boxing legend Apollo Creed, who died in a fight before Adonis was even born. But even though he has no intention of following in his father's footsteps, he can't deny that boxing is in his blood And at some point, he just accepts that it seems to be his destiny to step into the ring himself. Without further ado, he quits his job and moves to Philadelphia to be trained by the man who was first an opponent and later his father's best friend: Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). He has long since hung up his boxing gloves and really only wants to spend his retirement in his small restaurant. But after initial hesitation, he agrees to train Adonis. And while the young Creed prepares for his first big fight, Rocky is suddenly confronted with a completely different opponent that he is not prepared to fight.

Actually, Sylvester Stallone had sent the character of boxer Rocky Balboa into well-deserved retirement ten years ago after the last, very successful installment in the series. Stallone was perfectly happy with the way this iconic character had said goodbye to his fans, that he was convinced there didn't need to be another Rocky story. But then along came Ryan Coogler, who had made a splash with the drama Next Stop: Fruitvale Station. He desperately wanted to tell the story of Apollo Creed's son, and hit the tone of especially the first Rocky movie. And he could only do that with Stallone's help. It was probably the passion that Coogler showed for the project, the story that included all the classic Rocky themes and not least the persistence of the young filmmaker, which ultimately then persuaded Stallone to once again slip into this role - the first time without having been directly involved in the script.

The result is called Creed - Rocky`s Legacy and is a perfect mix of nostalgia and new beginnings. The film truly does not tell a new story, but does so with a great deal of warmth, heart and authenticity. It also gives Stallone the opportunity to show all his critics once again that he does indeed have acting talent - which was immediately rewarded with a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Even though Rocky Balboa is really only a supporting character here and the film belongs to Michael B. Jordan, who delivers a more than convincing performance, it is the very coherent, at times pleasantly humorous interplay between Jordan and Stallone that makes this passing of the torch so worth watching. There is a stirring father-son dynamic between the still unruly, hot-headed Adonis and the ageing Rocky that adds a very special emotional layer to the film.

Besides, of course, the boxing matches and training take center stage. Again, Coogler delivers a coherent blend of classic elements and modern filmmaking. There is, of course, the traditional training montage, set to a rousing soundtrack that captures the spirit of Bill Conti's music very well. Coogler's production doesn't pander to current trends, but it still doesn't feel stale. During the fights themselves, he perfectly manages to put the viewer right in the middle of the action, giving these scenes a tremendous intensity.

Creed - Rocky`s Legacy, however, is not only a gripping boxing drama, a beautiful love story and a worthy tribute to the characters Stallone created over 40 years ago. The film is also a declaration of love for Philadelphia and its people. This is evident in a visual language that is pleasantly different from the slick images one is usually used to seeing in Hollywood. Here Coogler remains true to the style that already provided the very special atmosphere in Next Stop: Fruitvale Station. Actors, story, locations, camera work, music and the bow to the beginnings of the series - all this adds up to an impressive and coherent overall picture. If you liked the first Rocky movies and basically appreciate entertainment cinema that puts a lot of emphasis on character development and a well-written story, you shouldn't miss this one. Absolutely worth seeing!!!

Image + Sound: The Blu-ray's image is absolutely clean and presents the action bathed in warm, atmospheric colors. Overall sharpness is at a very good level, with even smaller details generally showing up well. The audio is unfortunately only available in German in a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, but it comes across as pleasantly lively. The voices are thereby well understandable to the soundtrack and the various sound effects - especially during the boxing matches. Good!

Extras: As a bonus there are two featurettes, which on the one hand illuminate the franchise itself and the continuation in this spin-off (approx. 14:49 min.), on the other hand Michael B. Jordan's preparation for the role under the microscope (approx. 5:46 min.). In addition, there are 11 unused scenes (approx. 19:36 min.), which are primarily quieter character moments. It becomes apparent time and time again that these scenes would have slowed down the narrative pace. Still, there are some really strong scenes here. Among them is one in which it becomes clear that Rocky had really finished with boxing and now has to face some painful memories again. Here he also looks at photos of his late wife and son, who was played by Sage Stallone in Part 5. The fact that Sage passed away in 2012 adds a very special intensity to this scene, which Stallone has handled with restraint but effectively. It's a powerful moment that shows Stallone truly deserved the many awards he received for the film.

Conclusion: Creed - Rocky`s Legacy is a perfect blend of nostalgia and new beginnings, a successful passing of the torch that reinvigorates the franchise surrounding boxer Rocky Balboa that started over 40 years ago. Great acting and grippingly staged, this film is one of the very big surprises of the cinema spring 2016. The Blu-ray presents the US cinema hit in good picture and sound quality. The bonus material could have been a bit more extensive, but the cut scenes alone are definitely worth a look. Therefore, the bottom line for this disc is one: Absolutely recommended!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp