Rewatchables Reference

• The Meek Mill training montage with bikes and ATVs – Chris and Van agree it's the mascot scene of the movie.
• The one-take Leo 'The Lion' fight (two rounds, one continuous shot). Sean: 'The closest you can get to what it feels like to be in the ring.'
• The pre-fight sequence: getting the trunks, Tupac 'Hail Mary' walkout, and the entire final fight.
• Shadow boxing his father while watching film of Apollo.

• The subtle homages to the 'Rocky' series sprinkled throughout.
• Bianca as a real, well-written character vs. poorly written sports movie girlfriends.
• Tony Bellew as Pretty Ricky Conlan – a real fighter who gave a great performance.
• Wood Harris as Duke's son – stroke of genius casting (Avon Barksdale training Wallace's co-star from The Wire).
• Rocky's resistance to training Creed for the first third, especially the van/groceries scene.
• The Kid Cudi 'Pursuit of Happiness' needle drop.

• The age/timeline math: Apollo dies 1985, Donnie born 1986, making him 29 – doesn't quite add up.
• 'Rocky' never called Apollo's widow again after the funeral.
• The movie is '12 minutes too long' but nobody knows what to cut.
• Donnie printing out a resignation letter and handing it to his boss – just send an email.
• PTI leading the A block with a boxing match (would never happen now).
• The 'jawn' usage – groundbreaking in 2015 but has become overexposed since.

• Chris: The one-take Leo/Lion tracking shot and the intro shot of 'Creed' taping up his hands.
• Bill: ATVs in slow motion during the training montage; the walkout to the final fight.

'Rocky' turning on Donnie for three minutes – 'We're not a real family, that was just an ugly head's kid.' Feels out of character, though Sean and Van defend it as 'Rocky' being embittered and alone.

Ritchie Coster as Leo's dad – from 'Blackhat', True Detective S2, actually from England but nails the Philly accent.

• MBJ in the basement: 'I'm going to fight Ricky Conlan!' – 'He doused it up a little bit.'
• Max Kellerman doing 'maximum Kellerman' in the commentary booth.

• Van (show-stopper): 'Rocky' and Apollo had a sexual relationship after the third fight. 'Why wouldn't you call for 30 years? Why don't you want to talk to this man's wife?'
• Sean: 'Creed' should have won the fight at the end. 'Rocky' should have won at the end of 'Rocky'. 'Just fucking let this guy win.'
• Bill: This is the best reboot of a movie franchise ever.

• MBJ: Maybe/Yes – coming out of 'Creed', 'he could make any movie.'
• Tony Bellew: Probably this movie or winning the real WBC title right after.
• Jawn (the word): Yes, in cinema history.
• Real boxers in movies: This is the apex (Tony Bellew, Gabriel Rosado, Andre Ward).

• What was Adonis doing at his finance job from age 23-29? Would you let him manage your wealth?
• Donnie doesn't have enough fights/ring time to realistically be competitive at this level.
• Sly recovers from cancer and flies to Europe three minutes later, tubes still in his arms.
• Bianca is in the locker room pre-fight despite barely dating Donnie.
• Conlan's post-fight 'wear that name with pride' after they'd exchanged harsh words – unrealistic sportsmanship.

• Victor's Cafe in South 'Philadelphia' = Adrian's restaurant. Mighty Mick's Gym is on Front Street. The cheesesteak spot is Max's.
• MBJ gained 24 pounds of muscle and learned to box for the role.
• Tony Bellew won the WBC Cruiserweight title about 8 months after the film, KO in the third round.
• Stallone wanted MBJ to wear the Apollo Creed flag trunks.
• Paulie's gravestone: born November 1940, died February 2012.

Bill and Sean: Coogler. Van and the audience: Stallone.

Don't let someone make you feel like you were a mistake.

Sean: 'Field of Dreams'. Van: Diggstown. Bill: 'Rocky' 1 straight to 'Creed' (skip 'Rocky' 5 and 6).