Creed

Yo, Adrian’s gone. So is Pauly. Mickey’s been long gone. And Apollo? Well, Apollo left us in Rocky IV, but his son is still around, ready to enter the ring in Creed, the seventh movie in the Rocky saga. Rocky’s back, with Sylvester Stallone reprising his punch-drunk lovable heavyweight. Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has set aside his father’s name and goes by Adonis Johnson, hoping to make a brand new name for himself and not cash in on Apollo’s former fame. Adonis seeks out Rocky as a mentor to see if they can catch lightning in a bottle one more time.

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About 30 instances of language are cut from Creed, as well as some implications of intimacy. Some bloody boxing violence is also trimmed. Those who abhor fighting will want tosteer clear, but Creed’s message of setting your sights on a goal and persevering when things get tough is pretty tantalizing.

Is Creed a knockout, or down for the count?...

This crowd-pleaser boasts strong supporting performances and a return to form for Stallone. Like the title character, the movie wants to make it on its own merits, which may explain why we don’t hear that rousing Bill Conti score until late in the film. Though I’m strongly in Creed’s corner, it kept reminding me how much I liked the first movie. If forced to compare, I’d give the decision to Rocky, but Creed has a pretty good one-two punch of its own.

Marty Nabhan, ClearPlay Glass Jaw

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality; 133 mins; Directed by Ryan Coogler