Creed – the movie

This is more than a review, read on.

I have seen every Rocky movie ever created and loved the continuation of the series with the addition of Michael B. Jordan, who I think is adorable. Yes, he’s a good actor and clearly smart, for he has managed his business well and created quite the career for himself. I have been watching him in series and movies for a long time now. And now, without Sylvester Stallone, Michael was able to succeed totally on his own.

We just went and saw CREED III, and yes it was predictable in so many ways, although I will let you in on a little secret. When I walked up to the counter to purchase the tickets and no one else was around, I asked the young ladies at the counter who won in the end because I was desperate to manage my expectations. (More about that at another time)

Of course, I was expecting what I got, you don’t go to these movies for a plot twist, you go to these kinds of movies for the rush that comes when the protagonist of the movie reaches deep into his inner resources to beat the devil only for him to find out that it is his own devil he needs to slay. But this movie was so much more. Michael B. Jordan showed some amazing personal character as he brought to the screen so many human emotions that if you are a life journeyer you know very well. It would have been interesting to pause the movie at different scenes and list the emotions being displayed.

Michael directed the movie, but the two men who wrote the screenplay, Keenan Coogler and Zach Baylin, must be applauded for bringing such depth and emotional intelligence to a movie where you might have only expected a knock down, who beats who plot.

While this movie is brilliant, my commentary is purposely focused on how society has advanced its understanding about emotions and their impact upon our life. As a teacher of emotional intelligence, while watching the movie, I was able to see beyond the scene and basically through to the emotions being expressed on the screen.

What did I see? I saw triumph over human conditions, the pain of failure, deep shame, guilt that comes with bad decisions. I saw love, love of family, of self, and love as a healing salve. I saw understanding as two characters talked and felt heard. I witnessed manipulation and betrayal, being betrayed, owning that you were the one to betray, and handling it face to face with the one who was betrayed. Fear of loss, fear of losing who you are, of losing someone you love, fear of your own emotions. I also saw humility, hope, and the profound satisfaction of accomplishment.

So much in one move, right?! I write about this movie and these emotions as a celebration of how far we have come. There are thousands of movies created that do not come close to expressing the raw beauty of human emotions. Go see it – if you can handle the violence of it, because after all it is a movie about boxing, but go to see and experience the array of emotions brought to the screen.