Some may have thought that the “Rocky” franchise was over, however, it lives on with “Creed.” Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone are a revelation. It is a film that is about pride, honor, and glory. Jordan never breaks character. He has the “Rocky” mind-set focused on being a brilliant boxer. Director Ryan Coogler makes his mark with one of the best films of 2015. That movie is “Creed.”

The plot of the film focuses on Adonis Creed (Jordan). He is a boy who never knew his father, because he passed before he was born. His father was Apollo Creed, one of Rocky Balboa’s (Stallone) opponents back in the “Rocky” movies. Adonis has spent his childhood getting into fights. He does this because he wants to be a fighter just like his father was. He finds Balboa, introduces himself, and convinces Balboa to train him. Together they prep for a match that will hopefully make Adonis a champion just like his father was.

What I liked about the movie was its scenery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I felt like I was watching a new “Rocky.” That new “Rocky” is Jordan. He wakes up early, he runs, lifts, and trains all in the heart of Philadelphia. The movie shows the “Rocky” legacy living on. This is accomplished through the familiar setting, the plot, the story and its characters.

I love this movie. I am a fan of Coogler’s 2013 sensation, “Fruitvale Station” which also starred Jordan. That film was a serious adaptation of what one man went through on a rough and dramatic last day of 2008. What I liked better about “Creed” though was that it is positive, whereas “Fruitvale Station” is pure drama. Jordan fits better in films that have a positive resolution because of the type of actor he is. According to the press, he is kind, generous, and takes his roles seriously. He manages to take the role in “Creed” to the extent that it becomes a work of art sensation.

Overall, “Creed” is a film worthy of an award. If you like boxing, or “Rocky,” you will love this movie as much as I did. It will make you cry, and you will not want the movie to end. The acting is top-notch. I was enthralled from start to finish with this sports action thriller that is also a captivating drama. Go check out “Creed.”

Four stars.

Many may have read not the best reviews of “Burnt.” I found the movie to be quite enthralling. The theme of cooking is taken seriously in this movie. That is something I found unique and classy about this clever, independent flick. Bradley Cooper is top-notch and so is Sienna Miller. The movie is serious, charming, and very honest. I personally think that this movie is one that I will watch again in the future for something to watch just to feel happy or entertained.

The plot of the movie is about a chef named Adam Jones (Cooper). A chef that has had a rough past and career but is looking to get back into the game with his knowledge of food. He keeps a journal with many keys and ideas of what makes food good to perfection. Therefore, he invents his own restaurant business. When he does this, he hires numerous chefs, buys expensive supplies, and lays the rules of how to cook professionally in his kitchen.

Jones is a man of talent, but also has the assistance to make better for his restaurant. His assistant is Helene (Miller), a fun girl that is also a top chef. Both build a relationship for success and have their differences. The movie does a good job at implying the pros and cons of these two actors. Both of them cook differently, have different routines, and are just different individuals.

The director is John Wells. He directs the Showtime series “Shameless.” I feel his writing relates more to “Shameless” as it does with “Burnt.” The fact that things go wrong no matter what, and that is something that happens with both “Shameless” and “Burnt.” However with “Burnt” he has it start off kind of funny, in the middle point, the movie gets serious, and then later everything goes in an unpredictable manner. I will not elaborate much on this concept. That is something for viewers to have to find out for themselves.

Overall, “Burnt” is fairly classy with elegance. I love the concept of food, the seriousness of the film, the acting, and the story. I found myself mesmerized in certain serious moments. Especially with Cooper, he never disappoints. He acts well as he does in “American Hustle” (2013), “American Sniper” (2014), and many other films to name. I think I may watch it again.

Three and a half stars.

Some may think that high school is where bad encounters happen. “The Basketball Diaries” takes these types of encounters to a whole different level. Scott Kalvert directs this gripping true story of the legendary Jim Carroll (played by Leonardo DiCaprio). The film is stunning, powerful, and so intense where it may be hard after a one-time viewing. The story of a young boy that was a great basketball player, a brilliant writer, a heavy drug user. However, drugs are not the only concern on terms of Carroll’s behavior, but also who is involved with him.

We meet Jim Carroll, a boy who lives with his mother (Lorraine Bracco) in an apartment in New York. Carroll writes consistently. He writes poems about his life. He is also on the basketball team of his high school with his teammates (other bad influences) Pedro (James Madio), Mickey (Mark Wahlberg), and Neutron (Patrick McGaw). They plan to be the top championship team in the nation. They think they can multitask with being troublemakers at certain portions of their life and play professional basketball, but as soon as their friend Bobby (Michael Imperioli) gets really sick, their behavior with drugs and alcohol becomes increasingly worse. Worse to the point where their privileges of being in school is on the line along with being able to participate in playing basketball.

The real Jim Carroll did the writing for “The Basketball Diaries.” The film consists of narrations throughout on what he is writing. I found the film’s narrations to be enticing because the writing is where the intensity portion of the movie plays in. As Carroll states in a scene where he is playing a basketball game saying, “I play like a cheetah,” that states the type of cheetah he is throughout the movie. Carroll not a good one, he is a naughty one.

What I found amusing though about the movie is how some characters become increasingly worse in the film. Pedro and Mickey are somewhat worse than Jim. They think it is worth taking someone’s life to get out alive and get drugs. Jim is against that because one side of his mind knows there is still good in him, but the other side is his addiction to drugs. DiCaprio plays the part of having withdrawals so well, that viewers cannot help but watch.

I think this movie is good, not amazing, but good. Just I feel some of the heavy and violent focuses get out of hand. What held my most attention was the storytelling through the writing of Carroll. I found that to be the honest portions of “The Basketball Diaries.” The writing contains explosive, yet heavy information that viewers will not be able to let go.

Three stars.