by Connor Holden ’16
Creed
Directed by Ryan Coogler, 2015
Creed is not a typical Rocky movie, because it is without any doubts a solid film. Though Rocky II, III, IV, and V are varying degrees of ridiculous and entertaining, only Rocky, Rocky Balboa, and now Creed can be taken very seriously. The story of Apollo Creed’s illegitimate son rising to greatness in the world of boxing with the help of his dad’s old pal Rocky manages to be both nostalgic and carves its own path. This isn’t even really a sequel though references to the continuity of the Rocky series is made Creed easily could have been the beginning of a franchise in its own right. Against my own expectations Creed stands up on its own even without the legacy of Rocky. Though the appeal in continuing the series does add a certain charm and more weight to certain scenes Creed is its own movie. Much like its protagonist Creed is able to escape the shadow of its beginning and rise to assert itself as a great film in its own right.
Rating: Could Watch Again
Spectre
Directed by Sam Mendes, 2015
Casino Royale is a fantastic movie, Quantum of Solace was a scatterbrained disaster, Skyfall’s a movie that seems uninterested in its own story, and Spectre connects all of their plots with varying levels of quality. After some trite action, a little intrigue, one or two Bond girls, and a vague sense that the only direction anyone in the new Bond movies is given is “act cool”. It turns out that the organization known as Spectre has had a hand in all of Daniel Craig’s adventures as James Bond. Why have they seemed to be nonexistent in this current Bond incarnation until now? Just think up your own unique conspiracy theory out of thin air; the writers certainly don’t want to flesh out this little detail the movie hinges around. After watching Spectre I’m afraid Casino Royale might be the only truly great movie to come out of Craig’s tenure as Bond. Something about the over the top card game being the centerpiece of Casino Royale calls back to the more farcical Bonds of yore. Spectre feels like an imitation of a movie throughout, but if you like Bond there is no harm in checking this less than stellar entry out.
Rating: Just See it Once
