Change Your Image
ravindran-raghunathan
Reviews
I Am Durán (2019)
What Netflix Ought to have done...
I saw this documentary yesterday. My Inspiration by Duran's life went up notches. On the other hand, I saw Hands of Stone by Netflix a few months back and I was disgusted by how Netflix had focused more on the Sex Lives and the out of context moments of the Great Legends Sugar Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran rather than What They Offered The World - The Best Version of Themselves in the Ring. It seems of late that more popular Online streaming platforms like Netflix are turning legends into "flawed characters who feast on violence and sex" on their in-house productions. It seems to be done in order to hold the short-time attention of their viewers to make quick money rather use the Attention Power to offer something good to the world that will give more value to these platforms. If you want a peek into the Real Example to the World set by these legends, do yourselves a favour and skip "Hands of Stone" and watch " I am Duran".
Creed II (2018)
Amazing Story Arc But Misses Some Bits...But still is an Amazing Watch
You have to Hand it to Stallone.There are only very few people out there who can create even one sequel which actually builds up a story and keeps viewers engrossed. Stallone does a perfect job of fiddling around with the world of Boxing and creating surprise story arcs just from rules of the sport. The characters are all amazing. Its really commendable how Stallone gradually enters the movie in the opening scene and slowly and gradually moves out of the Story with amazing grace. You get a Jedi like vibe about Rocky. Someone had written that it's Yoda meets Rocky film and the guy is bang on right. You will feel that Rocky's life is complete and now he deserves to live out the rest of his days in peace and without getting punched bloody or watching others getting punched so. All the other characters are simply brilliant every one of them. All characters are given just enough screen time but they convey an entire story within the short span.
The review is not complete without talking about Viktor Drago. A genius product of character who conveys everything with just eye contact and body language. This guy has very very limited dialogues but will have a powerful effect on the viewers. Viktor will surprise you and also make you sad and pity him at many points in the movie. STALLONE'S selection of Foreign Muntaneau as his conditioning is awesome and superior to Adonis at every level for real.
Old Ivan Drago has his moments but it is very clear that his will to live for himself is over and he is a broken man who has lost everything in life since the 1985 defeat at Rocky's hands so the story has not much focus on him except that he is tough on his son, you will empathise with the character . It is very clearly shown that both Rocky and Ivan have mo more fight left in them, they are at the end of their days and it's time they embrace it gracefully and both do it with grace in their own ways .There is an amazing moment for Ivan Drago at the climax but hey no spoilers.
The only unclear part was the reason why Creed is fighting for. Though Rocky stresses on it, it is not set in concrete like the Rocky films of past we all knew why Rocky was fighting giants like Apollo, clubber and Drago and even that tommy gunn guy. Creed I explained it perfectly Adonis was an Underdog like Rocky 1. But Creed II tries to show a concrete motivating reason but falls a bit short. That'sy i give it 8 stars if not it deserves a 9 star.
EVEN THEN if the viewer wants some tough motivation there is many such moments and plenty in the final fight. All fights, training and songs are superb. You will cringe at every punch and it will feel real too. Rocky's in- fight motivation and tip talk is amazing, Don't miss this on the big screen the fights are worth it.
This is an Amazing Movie. But pity that in India it has been overshadowed by Enthiran 2.0. This like other Rocky Movies and Creed I (except Rocky 5 maybe) is definitely worth more than one watch.
In age when Novels are being adapted to big screen and the story arcs being cut and ripped for sake of screen time , Rocky's Life is a Reel Novel and absolutely original.
Me on the other hand is waiting for Rambo 5.