Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Creed II Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Randy Miller III February 24, 2019

Note: Please read my separate 4K UHD review of this title for 20 additional 1080p screenshots.

Continuing the Rocky spin-off saga that began with Ryan Coogler's Creed (2015), this 2018 sequel by young director Steven Caple Jr. aims to recapture the series' long tradition of big fights and small moments that wouldn't feel out of place in an independent drama. It's a unique formula that has long become the franchise's bread and butter...even if, by default, everything that makes Rocky and Creed films work also renders them predictable. The story usually goes like this: good guy suffers a huge loss, trains like a madman, and returns to the ring while still viewed as an underdog. Cue Bill Conti's rousing theme, and our valiant hero may as well have opened a can of spinach.

The final true Rocky film, 2006's excellent Rocky Balboa, was the first in the series' history to really turn a lens back on Sylvester Stallone's iconic character. Somber and reflective, it effectively used nostalgia to sell back large portions of the franchise's backstory to fans but didn't feel overly sentimental or gratuitous. While the original Creed was penned by its director Ryan Coogler and carved out its own identity without veering too far off the series' spiritual path, this sequel finds Stallone -- with first-time writer Juel Taylor -- returning to storytelling duties. This means that Creed II almost has no choice but to feel like a remix of earlier Rocky material, so it's no surprise that's exactly what we get here. Our story picks up more or less in real-time, three years after Adonis "Donnie" Creed (Michael B. Jordan) fought towards a valiant split-decision loss to light heavyweight champion "Pretty" Ricky Conlan. Recent fights have been more successful, including a decisive World Heavyweight Championship win over Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler (Andre Ward).

Unfortunately, what should've been a triumphant victory feels tainted because Wheeler is seen as a few years past his prime...and with the recent appearance of Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu), son of former Russian champion boxer Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren, returning from Rocky IV), Adonis is pressured into accepting what might be his greatest in-ring challenge yet. Not that it would take much convincing: Ivan was directly responsible for his father Apollo Creed's death, so Adonis is all too eager for long-overdue family payback. His girlfriend Bianca (Tessa Thompson) and mother Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad) aren't nearly as enthusiastic, fearing a repeat tragedy at the hands of another Drago.

Creed II isn't all about the build-up to one big fight and, without drifting too far into spoiler territory, let's just say that they face off more than once. Nor does it rely solely on these huge slug-fests to advance the narrative: it's once again just as much about realistic human drama as it is fighting...but these personal revelations often feel more like soap-opera theatrics than in previous installments, Creed included. Although a handful of genuinely heartfelt moments take place here (the father-son dynamics on both sides, as well as personal reasons why Adonis takes a while to accept the eventual rematch), Creed II as a whole feels not only overstuffed but suffers from several obvious pacing problems. There's just not enough time for some of its bigger moments to build momentum: the film barrels full-force through a few key stretches and, in the process, robs smaller subplots of a much more lasting impact. But while it undoubtedly stumbles a few times along the way, Creed II checks almost all of the boxes that have kept audiences coming back for decades. I may not have fallen completely for it, but this is still a pretty good time at the movies.

Warner Bros. presents Creed II in a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and as a separate 4K UHD edition. The former serves up a solid A/V presentation with near reference-quality audio and a handful of short but enjoyable bonus features. Although my slight reservations about the film itself keep it from receiving a higher recommendation, this is a fairly well-rounded package that established fans will enjoy and newcomers should definitely look into.

Creed II Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Much like the first movie in this series, Creed II was shot on an ARRI Alexa Mini and ARRI Alexa XT with an output resolution of 2.88K (2880 x 1620) and, on this Blu-ray disc, was scaled down to 1080p.

Also like the original, Creed II favors slice-of-life drama over non-stop visual excitement and Warner Bros.' transfer, framed at the film's approximate original aspect ratio of 2.40:1, handles both sides well enough. Wide outdoor shots and brightly-lit arenas obviously fare the best, with strong levels of texture and detail that showcase the solid cinematography by Kramer Morgenthau. There's also a lot of low indoor lighting on display here: plush hotel rooms, Rocky's modest home and cozy restaurant, Bianca's concert at The Fillmore, a nighttime visit to Max's Steaks, the Delphi Gym, Mary Anne's palatial estate, and other locales. These all vary in mood and, by design, range from tastefully warm and inviting to, well, boring and ordinary. Other scenes venture into even less dazzling territory, including a nighttime chat outside Rocky's home -- under a forever-broken street light, appropriately enough -- that's essentially a series of painfully flat close-ups. (Luckily, the dialogue here is good enough to keep things interesting.) Still, that's not a jab at this Blu-ray in the slightest: Creed II looks almost exactly as it ought to from start to finish, which itself stands toe-to-toe with the first installment despite some of their fundamental differences.

The only problem worth mentioning, and one that's most obvious during Adonis' first locker room scene and hospital visit just after the 60-minute mark, is some very mild banding on background walls. This issue returns on a few very brief occasions throughout the film but, more often than not, is hardly intrusive and might only be spotted by those specifically looking for it.

Creed II Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The audio, on the other hand, is basically perfect...assuming you remember to choose the correct track beforehand, of course. To be fair, the default DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix is no slouch: as expected, it deftly balances the film's quieter moments and punishing in-ring action -- both familiar halves of any installment in the Rocky universe -- to create a lifelike sound stage that envelops the viewer with its realistic, immersive. and dynamic atmosphere. Dialogue is crystal-clear and the score by returning composer Ludwig Göransson also enjoys a strong presence, as well as cuts from the rap-infused soundtrack and even Bianca's "live" performance early on. It's a fine mix and, for those "limited to 5.1", a more than acceptable presentation that gets the job done.

But even within those boundaries, the separate Dolby Atmos track (which again, must be selected manually and also folds down to Dolby TrueHD 7.1 automatically) is the real star of the show. It enjoys a noticeably more hefty presence in almost every department, from channel separation and dynamic range to low frequency, and can all be quite substantial at times. Creed II, like its predecessor -- which also made use of a 7.1 mix -- offers a true sonic showcase during its most intense moments and easily carries that "wow" factor that puts certain sequences squarely into demo disc territory. All three main fights are obvious standouts, from their entrance music all the way to the closing bell. And while the film's less intense moments obviously don't benefit much from these additional two (or more) channels, a more noticeable and fitting contrast between both sides is achieved in the process.

Optional dubs and subtitles are included in several languages, with forced yellow English subtitles that translate the Russian dialogue. All are perfectly legible and placed within the 2.40:1 frame. (Interestingly enough, a major flub during the first Creed-Drago fight -- in which one commentator refers to Viktor as "Ivan" -- is corrected in the subtitles but the original audio remains.)

Creed II Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

All extras listed below are included on the Blu-ray disc. The DVD omits the first four supplements.

• Deleted Scenes (9:46, 1080p) - This short collection of deleted and extended scenes includes "Rocky's Eulogy for Spider Rico", "Max's Cheesesteak Restaurant (Extended)", "Rocky Trains Kids", and "Locker Room". These scenes -- which mostly deal with the theme of closure or "passing the torch" -- stand pretty well on their own and, while they're certainly worth a look, I can see why most of them were trimmed from the main feature.

• "Fathers and Sons" (7:16, 1080p) - Key cast and crew members including director Stephen Caple Jr, actors Dolph Lundrgen, Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Florian Munteanu, Andre Ward, producer Irwin Winkler, Sugar Ray Leonard, and others discuss the father/son theme that runs through Creed II and the franchise as a whole, as well as the pros and cons of a son following his father's footsteps into the boxing ring.

• "Casting Viktor Drago" (5:43, 1080p) - Florian Munteanu's character is explored in more detail by the actor, from the his initial casting and audition to meeting his childhood hero Sylvester Stallone and training for the film. We also hear from other cast and crew members including Dolph Lundgren, Tessa Thompson, producer William Chartoff, Stallone, stunt coordinator Danny Hernandez, and more.

• "The Woman of Creed II" (5:51, 1080p) - Phylicia Rashad and Tessa Thompson talk about their characters, maintaining emotional balance, building on the first Creed, and the important role of real-life boxers' wives and mothers through support, teamwork, and patience.

• "Rocky's Legacy" (15:01, 1080p) - Hosted by Dolph Lundgren with comments from several cast and crew members listed above, this short piece serves up a quick and lightweight overview of the Rocky and Creed films with plenty of film clips, favorite moments, production stories, and comments about the films' legacy and impact as a whole. Die-hard fans won't learn anything new here, but it's still good for a once-over.

Creed II Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Steven Caple Jr.'s Creed II is an obvious crowd-pleaser: it's got plenty of drama, well-choreographed and executed fight sequences, and enough nostalgia to satisfy long-time fans without feeling too gratuitous. The performances are solid all around, Stallone's continued presence is always welcome, and the father-son themes lead to a couple of genuinely heartfelt moments. Yet as a whole, it's not particularly well-paced during key stretches, rarely building enough momentum to amplify the biggest moments and not showing very much growth for some of its main and supporting characters. I certainly don't consider this film an unworthy installment of the franchise as a whole, but it's a clear half-step down from the first Creed. Warner Bros.' Blu-ray combo pack provides a decent amount of support for the main feature, including a near reference-quality audio presentation and a handful of short but enjoyable bonus features. Obviously recommended to die-hard fans, but not quite the knockout it could've been.