John Wick is on the run with no assistance from the
Continental and a $14 million bounty on his head. ACTION/CRIME
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John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)Directed by Chad Stahelski
Written by Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, Marc Abrams Starring Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Halle Berry, Lance Reddick, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Anjelica Huston, Saïd Taghmaoui, Jerome Flynn Sequel to 2017's John Wick: Chapter 2 |
Oh. My. God. YES!!! Never have I seen a series that just keeps topping itself in every conceivable way with each successive installment. But the John Wick franchise has done exactly that. The first movie was a surprise hit which introduced us to badass action scenes and an intriguing backstory. The second upped the action set pieces while deepening the lore. And the third does it once again. The lore is deepened even more, and the action is so over the top, you can’t help but have a smile on your face. Keanu Reeves has struck movie gold with this franchise. Bring on the fourth one!
As I’ve said multiple times already, the action. Oh my god, is it amazing. Books, horses, dogs, and motorbikes are all used as deadly weapons as John Wick must kill everyone in his way due to the price on his head. It’s not just the items used that are over the top, but the set pieces as well. Every time I thought there was no way they were going to top themselves, the next set piece came along and quickly showed me how. But don’t worry, it’s not just the action that is upped considerably, but the lore as well. For a movie that had no sequels fully thought out beforehand, it doesn’t seem like it in the finished product. Also, look out for fun appearances from actors who have appeared in Game of Thrones and Gotham. Finally, I have to give a shout out to the man himself, Keanu Reeves. He was clearly born to play this role and he continues to not disappoint. Plain and simple, the John Wick franchise is badass! And the third one doesn’t disappoint. Keanu Reeves is in top form, the action continues to be so much fun to watch, and the lore stays fascinating. If the quality stays like this, they’ll definitely continue to get my money. And just to think, this all started due to a dog and car. As I’ve said before, bring on the fourth movie. |
I absolutely adore this franchise. From the time I saw the first film back in 2014, I knew this was something special that would only get better. And while I still think that the first film and Chapter 2 were better, the third John Wick adventure is still a roaring good time with some incredible action sequences and further exploration into the world of the Continental and the elusive High Table. Keanu Reeves is in top form once again as the eponymous assassin, though this time he's forced to resort to his wits alone, as the doors and services to the Continental have been closed off to him for good.
Chapter 3 - Parabellum finds John Wick on the run in New York City just minutes before his "excommunicado" status is set in stone. With no plan and little time to act, John must find a way to get back into the good graces of the High Table, an entity that's never as explored as much as I was hoping. In fact, the finale of this film teases an even bigger war for a possible fourth film, and if that's the case, bravo. However, if this is indeed the ending, then I must admit a shred of disappointment that this world wasn't developed further. But as far as the action and choreography go, they've found a way to top themselves yet again with some unbelievable sequences involving trained dogs, ninjas on motorcycles, and an epic swordfight with the Iron Chef America guy. I did enjoy John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. I just enjoyed the first two films even more, as they were tighter and more contained. This film wants to expand across the globe into Africa, but it only teases the implications of just how powerful the High Table is, and the idea that there's someone who lords over them. These are the notions I wanted to learn more about, and I really hope a fourth film is greenlit to give these ideas enough time to shine. |