New movie reviews in brief: Creed, Victor Frankenstein and The Good Dinosaur

Creed

The Rocky franchise might have been finished if not for the persistence of director Ryan Coogler. The Fruitvale Station director was raised on the Rocky films and approached creatorSylvesterStallone with an original idea.

• Creed's Michael B. Jordan, RyanCooglervisit Toronto's Queen Alexandra Middle School
• WATCH |Creed's RyanCoogler, Michael B. Jordan andTessaThompson on family and inspirations

Working with rising star Michael B. Jordon,Creed puts the boxing saga back onto its feet with its story of Adonis, son of Apollo Creed. Witha chip on his shoulder and furious work ethic, the son of the legend wants to stand on his own, but battles a temper born from years of neglect.After convincing theretired Rocky Balboa to coach him, Adonis is determined to go pro:cue the training montage!

The truth is thatinside and out ofthe ring, Jordan and Stallone make an effective pair.Also not to be missed is Dear White People's Tessa Thompson as Adonis' girlfriend, pushing him almostas hard as Rocky does.

The female character not shrinking in the face of combat is just one of Coogler's refreshing ideas.Though the addition of Rocky's own health crisis seems unnecessary and contrived, what he'sdone is bring a new sense of relevance to the series, while also paying tribute the past. By the time we arrive at the climactic fight scene, it's obvious that Coogler'slearned a lot from Rocky and might even be able to teach hima few newthings.

4out of 5 stars

Victor Frankenstein

Victor Frankenstein gets 3 out of 5 stars

9 years ago

Duration 2:05

This bromantic take on Mary Shelley's classic rests on the eye-popping, spit-spraying performances of Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy, says CBC's Eli Glasner.

In the footsteps of 2009 bromanceSherlock Holmescomes Victor Frankenstein, starring Daniel Radcliffe and James McAvoy. The irrepressible Radcliffe gives it his all as Igor, themisshapen circus clown with a talent for anatomy who is rescued by McAvoy's mad doctor. For personal reasons of his own, the young, brilliant and slightly unhinged Frankensteinwants to create life. We getthunder and lightning as the partners embark on this dangerous,yet familiar,journey.

Bursting with arcing electricity and slow-motion shots galore, Victor Frankenstein is conventional filmmaking, but behind the steampunk labsand monstrous creations are a few performance that bring this beast to life (as it were). Radcliffe's innate goodness makes his Igor easy to root for, while McAvoy's spit-spraying take on Mary Shelley'smad scientist holds nothing back. Speaking of Sherlock, Andrew Scott (better known as Moriarty from the BBC's modern take on the iconic sleuth) is shoehorned into an unfortunate role:a religious Scotland Yard inspector a waste of a subtle actor in a role that becomes an abomination.

3out of 5 stars

The Good Dinosaur

The Good Dinosaur gets 3.5 out of 5 stars

9 years ago

Duration 3:26

Though feeling somewhat like a patchwork of elements, Pixar's The Good Dinosaur has a remarkably effective relationship at its heart, plus a terrific accompanying short, says CBC's Eli Glasner

A strange amalgam between the traditional boy-and-his-dog movie and The Incredible Journey, TheGood Dinosaur is not the film you're expecting. The latest from Pixar is setin a world where the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs missed. Jump forward a million years and the dinos are farmers, using their massive bodies to plow fields and water crops.

• WATCH |The Good Dinosaur's Raymond Ochoa on great performers and joining the Pixar family

Into this simple agrarian Apatosaurustalecomes Arlo, the runt of the litter. When hegets separated from his family, Arlobegins an epic journey with a barking caveboynamed Spot at his side.

The Good Dinosaurhas been in the works at Pixar for years and, at one point, the entire voice cast and director changed. It's worth pointing out because the story doesn't have the intuitive feel of the studio's best work, feeling more like a patchwork of elements. Poor Arlo doesn't fit in. There'sa bizarre, but entirely amusing Western component (complete with a cattle round up led by T-Rexes). Even the animation itself is a mix of awe-inspiring landscapes and googly-eyed creatures with Play-Doh bodies.

That said, the relationship between Arlo and his pet boy is remarkably effective. The whole endeavour is also elevated by one ofPixar'straditional accompanying shorts, thewildly inventive Sanjay'sSuper Team, in whichan Indo-American boy dreams up superheroversionsof Hindugods.

3.5out of 5 stars