The best new release I've seen recently was Creed. Really, really, really good. I hadn't seen any Rocky films, but that didn't seem to matter.
Also, I read this, and didn't realise I'd made that much of an impression! Reading back through our chats, it's also verrrrrrry clear that four-and-a-bit years can change one's opinion (i.e. I now love the shit out of Persona)!