I sheepishly admit that I actually watched today's reviewed film back on Wednesday and it's taken me up until now, the Monday, to actually get up off my lazy ass and finally write the review for John Wick 3. Again blame a variety of different sources but sometimes you just want to watch the damn film and not have to think about writing it up afterwards. Still, we're in for a doozy, so sit back and enjoy as I share my thoughts about:
JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM (2019 dir. Chad Stahelski)
Apparently, his expert killing skills couldn't ward off catching a cold in the rain...
Why I watched it:
Because it's John Wick 3.
Ok, you need more reason than that, but if you're late to the party with John Wick, let me bring you up to speed as quickly as I can.
John Wick was essentially the world's greatest hitman/assassin but got out when he married. Sadly his wife dies of a terminal illness but in order to cope with his grief before she dies, she gifts him a puppy. He bumps into resident Russian gangster shithead Theon Greyjoy in a gas station, refuses to sell his classic car to him so in vengeance they break into his home, destroy his place, steal his car and kill the puppy.
It's a fucking cute puppy. Those shitheads deserve to die.
The body count builds up as the legend of John Wick builds, from there we get introduced into the world of hitmen, they have a code, they have rules, it's all super cool. The second film essentially builds on the background of the world of assassins and gangsters which essentially builds to this third film, have killed on neutral ground, Wick is excommunicated from the world of hitmen and assassins and a $14 million bounty is placed on his head. It's John Wick again a bevvy of colourful assassins! How could I not be along for the ride?
These films are essentially grown-up, stylish 80's action films. The thrill is just watching how different people get killed and how many stylish shots can get slotted in the course of two hours. I highly recommend seeking out the first two films if possible if you love your 'leave your brain at the door' action films. So how did the third one match up with a series that progressively got better?
The review:
Answer: It's the best of the lot. The simple plot essentially lets the action shine. I always feel you can't go wrong with a bunch of characters go after lead protagonist trope and this film serves said trope exceedingly well. Like a batch of Mr Kipling cakes.
Keanu Reeves proves that much like the proverbial Love & Marriage and the subsequent Horse & Carriage 'Ol' Blue Eyes' sings about, Keanu and action movies go together hand in hand. As long as said action film doesn't have a subtitle after the words: 'The Matrix'. Quite impressive for a man who technically is in the autumn of his career (or should that be late summer, dude just never ages).
You can tell he's having fun in these films, a welcome return to the popcorn flicks of old delivered by helmsman Chad Stahelski, a former stuntman alongside David Leitch, who helped shape the world of John Wick and are no delivering fun action film after fun action film.
And my god, some of the action sequences in the film are spectacular. At one point audible sounds of disbelief and whooping from my end as John worked his way through a series of would-be killers. He even uses horses as guns. HORSES AS GUNS at one point. How can you not love this franchise?
Despite the action sequences which are the meat and potatoes of this film, can we talk about the fantastic accompanying vegetables that comprise of the films acting quota featuring some of the finest supporting actors and actresses in the industry...and Halle Berry.
Johnathan Harker attempts to repel Morticia Addams back from the forces of darkness where she once came...
Reading like a who's who of Matt's favourite supporting characters, we've got Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Laurence Fishburne all making their returns. We've got my boy Bronn, Jerome Flynn, playing one of the High Table's top men. We've got Billions' Asia Kate Dillon essentially bringing their cold calculating mind as Taylor playing the adjudicator for the High Table. We've got Academy Award Winner Anjelica Huston. We've got half of the cast of 'The Raid' turning up in various roles and we've got the Mr Iron Chef America, Wo-Fat himself, Marc Dacascos as the top rung of John Wick's 'Game Of Death' excursion.
Marc Dacascos should always be in more things, we should start a #MarcDacascosinmorethings chain...
If I have one gripe the movie almost feels like it peaks too early in an absolutely incredible fight in an antique store with a series of deaths and the like that leave the viewer breathless. This is a scene that should have been saved for later in the film, not within the first half hour. This shouldn't distract from your enjoyment however, it certainly didn't for me.
Adding to the collection?
It already has. Thanks to the generosity of a customer at Forbidden Planet, John Wick 3 has a place amongst my Blu-Rays so that I may relieve it's over the top kills in all its HD glory. That and wince as a ballerina casually peels off the nail from her big toe that had me squealing more so than a 7ft tall bloke getting his neck broken with the edge of a book. John Wick 3, much like Shazam! is perfect, enjoyable film fare and gets a tasty 8 out of 10 from me.
Until next time, I remain,
Matt Major
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