I hadn’t seen this movie since it was first released on home video in the early 1990’s. I remember that I watched it for the first time on laser disc (remember those?) and being a big fan of the Tom Clancy books in high school (still think Red Storm Rising is his all time best), I remember enjoying this. But it’s been so long since I saw Patriot Games that watching it again was like seeing it new. I’d nearly forgot every part and I’m please to report this film holds up well all these years later. It’s a nice little thriller.

Harrison Ford has been doing his grumpy old man routine for so long that I nearly forgot about the classic, earnest, committed, engaged Ford that we knew in the 80’s and 90’s. He’s so good here, owning every scene, completely believable as Jack Ryan and easily settles into the role that Alec Baldwin had started (and did a great job in his own right) with The Hunt for Red October. It’s funny to see a young Sean Bean here doing what he does best, dying on screen. If you haven’t seen Patriot Games in a while, it’s worth revisiting.

Mr. Holmes is a well-shot film with pleasing cinematography, quality performances throughout, and confident direction and yet, I’m not sure it really justifies it’s own existence. For the entire running time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was watching the highest budgeted Hallmark special in history.

See the problem is that this story is so inconsequential. Sure, Ian McKellen is excellent as the aging Sherlock Holmes, now slowly losing his memories as his mind goes. His relationship to the young boy is the highlight of the film, believable and touching. It’s staggeringly slow-paced (which is fine for me but I think would make most people turn it off in the first 20 minutes) and the story just doesn’t rise to the level of being a “must see.” There’s nothing bad about this film. It’s just mostly forgettable. Still, if the premise sounds interesting or you are a McKellen fan, it’s competent and well made.

Before seeing Creed, I decided to go back and watch the entire Rocky film series and I’m glad I did. Saw so many callbacks in Creed to the previous movies and having all the Rocky films in context as I watched Creed really enhanced the experience. It’s not necessary by any means but if you get a chance, this is a great way to see it. Here’s my recent takes on each of the Rocky Films:

Rocky (1976)

Rocky II (1979)

Rocky III (1982)

Rocky IV (1985)

Rocky V (1990)

Rocky Balboa (2006)

In regards to Creed though:

Wow, who would have predicted that the 6th sequel to a movie almost 40 years old could possibly be one of the best in the entire series? But sure enough, Creed is great, really great. This is how you reboot / retool a series for the next generation. I was already becoming a fan of writer / director Ryan Coogler after seeing Fruitvale Station a few years ago (awesome film). But I had no idea about the skill level Coogler possesses. The fight scenes in Creed are beautifully choreographed with an especially jaw-dropping single-take fight scene early in the film.

Even better, the acting is incredible. Michael B. Jordan makes a definitive statement as Creed’s illegitimate son and Sylvester Stallone puts in one of his greatest performances as Rocky (best work Stallone has done in years). Seriously, Stallone owns every single scene he is in. Career-High type of acting. The script has many powerful, emotional highs and does a brilliant job of painting (the now dead since Rocky IV) Apollo Creed in an interesting and fresh light. The script actually makes you love Apollo even more with the twists to his story. If there was any criticism it would be that I didn’t love the musical score. It wasn’t bad but it came nowhere near the classic Rocky music of Bill Conti. Nothing super memorable. But that’s a small misstep in an otherwise wonderful film that should be on many people’s best of the year lists. You absolutely need to see this.

Such a great send off for this beloved character. I love that Stallone decided to kill off Adrian because although her loss is felt, that is exactly what Rocky’s character needed to make this film so compelling. Being on his own again, trying to have a relationship with his son, running his restaurant, it’s all just so perfect.

Stallone really knocks this one out of the park. Great acting. Burt Young is looking pretty old but still knows how to play Polly so iconically. I also like that the fighter “Mason The Line Dixon” isn’t necessarily a bad guy. It makes the final fight more interesting. It’s amazing that the 6th film in the series is so good but this is one of the best all time Rocky sequels.

Although Rocky V is the least entertaining in the series, I’ll say this, it tried. There’s some okay character moment ideas here but it all amounts to a kind of depressing and lifeless film. Stallone’s acting is still good but Shire as Adrian, is unfortunately relegated to nagging and yell-acting. Burt Young is brilliant again though.

The story with Rocky’s estrangement from his son just doesn’t work. It’s not that the kid is a bad actor (he’s also Stallone’s son in real life) but it lacks a spark. It all feels so obvious and their final reconciliation seems totally rushed and unearned. Tommy Gun isn’t a good actor (barely passable here) and brings down every scene he’s in. But the truth is that Stallone’s script let everyone down. I liked the idea of Rocky losing everything but it felt more like a plot contrivance than a reality and things never really pick up after that. At least they tried.

It’s pure nostalgia but I unabashedly love Rocky IV. The film is so ridiculous that it sort of flips around into brilliance. Much of the film is just montages set to some of the most catchy rock music that could be found in the mid 1980’s.

Stallone wrote and directed again and now almost all traces of the quirky characters and drama is gone, replaced with the training and the fight. This is the fastest-paced Rocky film, completely entertaining at every moment and I love the ending’s earnestness as Rocky single-handedly resolves the Cold War. Also having Lundgren play the silent and deadly adversary was a stroke of genius. His threat level is ultra high in this. Crazy, over the top, wacky, and the most entertaining Rocky yet.

Rocky III is such a drastic shift in tone from the previous films, it’s almost like a new series. III has more in common with Rocky IV than Rocky II. Stallone is beyond ripped here (long gone is the thick, heavy weight champion – Rocky is now a lean mean body builder type). Things also change in the story department where the fight, the training, the title is the total focus.

Despite this shift, this film is classic. It’s endlessly quotable. Mr. T is truly a threat here. The twist with bringing Apollo back to train Rocky is genius. The fight is brutal and Rocky’s eventual triumph feels earned. It’s absolutely entertaining start to finish.

In terms of the dramatic elements in the Rocky series, Rocky II is probably tied with Rocky Balboa for being the second best drama in the series. Stallone’s performance is pitch perfect. The love story is developed further in a believable and logical way. And there are some great character moments again. I especially love the scene where Rocky tries to do the TV commercial.

What really sets this one apart for me is the ending fight. Huge credit has to go to Stallone who both wrote and directed this for staging the fight in an innovative and emotional way. But the best part is the ending. Such a brilliant way to show Rocky winning. This is one of the best sequels.

Along with Charlie Chaplin, Stallone is the only other actor in history to receive both a Writing Oscar and Best Actor Oscar at the same time. Stallone would of course write every film in the Rocky series (and direct all of the sequels except Rocky V) but this is the one that showed what a true talent he had for both writing and acting. Rocky is still a masterpiece and holds up well almost 40 years later.

Talia Shire is wonderful here and the love story between her and Rocky is the heart of the picture, the reason it rings so compelling all of these years later. Burt Young owns every scene he’s in. He’s so believable, so lovingly hate-able. Carl Weathers is electrifying as Apollo Creed. Special mention has to go to the excellent soundtrack by Bill Conti. So iconic. This is still the best Rocky film of all time.

Ben Mendelsohn may be one of the best working actors today. Every moment he is on screen in this is totally captivating. His role as an addicted gambler is mesmerizing in it’s reality. I’m also a fan of Ryan Reynolds. Reynolds is nowhere in the same league as Ben Mendelsohn. Reynolds does basically the same character in every film but hey, I like his one character and he’s very good here.

There’s a couple of great successive twists in the back half that I didn’t see coming. The ending didn’t quite work for me but I have to give it some credit because at least it was a twist on the common gambler movie endings I’ve seen before. Overall, this is a solid character drama with excellent performances.