Creed III (2023)
Creed III. This is a film that I was eagerly awaiting having been a fan of the first two instalments in the series. This film, however, distinctly separates itself from its predecessors. The two major changes with the film were first, the absence of Rocky (Sylvester Stallone), a pivotal character in the first two movies and by far the most iconic character in the franchise, paving the way for Creed's story. The absence of his character implying Adonis Creed's full development as someone no longer needing any mentorship, mirrored in the narrative where he is depicted as a veteran of the boxing game, returning to the ring after three years in retirement. Despite Adonis' full development, the complete absence of Sylvester Stallone's character does almost seem to disrespect and undermine Rocky's impact on him. Previously Rocky is viewed almost as a family member and father figure to Adonis, whereas as in this film he is suddenly completely absent. The second major chang...