Ryan Coogler’s excellent Creed (2015) delightfully confounded our expectations and put a quick end to all the eye-rolling at the idea of a seventh Rocky movie. This time it’s personal, as Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan), coached by Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), faces off against the very intimidating son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the man who killed his father Apollo in the ring. While Steven Caple Jr.’s sequel is a well-acted getting-hit-in-the-head movie, it lacks emotional impact and is entirely predictable (Sly co-wrote). Worth seeing, but kind of what we feared Creed would be. (130 min)
Don Morton
Don Morton has viewed some 6,000 movies, frequently awake. A bachelor and avid cyclist, he currently divides his time between Tokyo and a high-tech 4WD super-camper somewhere in North America.You may also like
Japan Drugstore Guide: Best Sleeping Aids in Japan
Top products for a better night’s sleep in Japan
How to Do Your Laundry in Japan
A guide on Japanese washing machines, detergents, air drying, and more
Kagura: Theater from Heaven Joins the UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List
Kagura, a variant of Shinto theater, may not be as well known to foreigners as kabuki and noh
Japan Drugstore Guide: Pain Medication
Japan’s best over the counter pain medication recommendations
10 International Preschools and Kindergartens in Tokyo
Where learning begins with curiosity, creativity and care
50 Years of Convenience
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Japan's first 7-Eleven store
Pop-Up Stores in Tokyo: November 2024
Pokémon as traditional Japanese crafts, anime fragrances and Hello Kitty’s birthday pop-up