The last released film of ‘The Knights of the Zodiac’ is another of those examples that they have agreed to the critics and anime fans, being the umpteenth example of adaptation of the animated medium to real action that fails miserably. Level of wondering why they bother exposing us to this, which does not seem to have the qualities to please any kind of public.
Bringing the codes of anime to the live action blockbuster is a Hollywood obsession in the same way that video games are also becoming, because there is a lot of commercial potential there, but they don’t finish hitting the key. That’s why we’ve been hearing rumors of an ‘Akira’ movie for years that never goes anywhere. Curiously, this year we have been able to enjoy a great movie that not only looks at the anime codes but also integrates them appropriately, and without adapting any. In fact, your intellectual property is another. This is ‘Creed III’.
stylized forehands
The third film of the ‘Rocky’ spin-off is one of the best big releases we’ve been able to see in theaters this year, with Michael B. Jordan doing his big directorial debut in a film that has classic emotion, social concerns and a lot of influence from oriental animation. An incredible combination that can already be seen streaming through Amazon Prime Video.
In this new sequel we see Adonis Creed retiring and preparing for the new phase of his life, combining being a father with an important business adventure that will continue to link him to the world of boxing. That’s when a figure from his past appears, Damian (played by Jonathan Majors in a way that’s now almost autobiographical), who wants the break in the sport that he never got for going to jail nearly two decades ago. Adonis will try to help him, but he soon realizes that his ambition and his methods prove more dangerous than expected.
There are several aspects that this film inherits from ‘rocky III‘ (curious given the absence of Sylvester Stallone), including a Rocky estranged from his roots, blinded by celebrity, considering retirement until it comes up a violent and hungry contender. However, like the original ‘Creed’, this film reformulates those keys to reflect the African-American reality in the streets, marked by violence, and showing other corners different from those that the previous protagonist of this pugilistic universe stepped on.
‘Creed III’: duels in style
The reflections on fame and the industry are subtle and grateful, showing that Jordan does not settle for the story he wants to tell. Of course, there is no lack of an emotional component in this very convincing conflict, even with its high doses of melodrama that also show influence from the animes that the director and actor is fond of. Some animes that also enhance some huge and spectacular fight sequenceswhich manage to have the brilliant exaggeration of animation while still having the pace and punch of live action.
The final duel shows how Jordan’s realization reaches its maximum levels, colliding the drama between the main characters with the visual ambitions that he tries to introduce in the American blockbuster. Emotion, well-directed actors (the protagonist shines again, although Majors is a force of nature) and strong choreography. Is a very refreshing surprise which rounds out the ‘Creed III’ experience and suggests that if we’re going to have waves of anime tailored to the American show sensibilities, it doesn’t hurt to have directors like this one at the helm who understand how both things work.
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