PLOT: John Wick is in serious jeopardy. After killing a member of the international assassin’s guild in Chapter 2, he has broken a major rule. Unfortunately, he’s lost all protection and now has a price on his head. Will Mr. Wick find a way to shoot, punch and kill his way out of this one? The best way to find out is to watch.
REVIEW: The moment JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM begins, you know you’re in for a treat. If you’ve seen the last two films, you’re probably aware that Mr. Wick is in serious jeopardy after the outcome of CHAPTER 2. With a $14 million price on his head – and growing – he is about to face his toughest challenge. Thankfully, John is ready, and once again, Keanu Reeves is as well. This third chapter is one of the most thrilling flicks you’ll find in theatres so far this year, and somehow, they’ve found new ways to bring men to their knees. The violence is near operatic, capping off one of the best damn trilogies ever made.
After killing off a member of the international assassin’s guild last time around, John Wick has been marked. The movie begins as the man desperately makes plans for survival. Once the price goes up on his head, every single paid killer is ready to bring him down. Thankfully, he still has a few friends. And once his time is up, he must figure out a way that he can right the wrongs that have been made. The friends include yet another dog lover named Sofia (Halle Barry) and a tough ballet instructor – with a few secrets – known as “The Director” (Anjelica Huston). Things get especially problematic for both John and Winston (Ian McShane) when a strict “Adjudicator” (Asia Kate Dillon) shows up to make sure things are handled by the book – not good news for either fellas.
It’s impossible to remember the last trilogy that worked nearly as well as John Wick – aside from perhaps Lord of the Rings, which is timeless. The third film continues to build the mythology in the most satisfying of ways. It’s a ferociously fast and immensely breathtaking adrenaline ride of a flick! With only minutes away from John Wick finding himself the target of every single assassin in this crazy world, he must do everything he can to survive – with a whole lot of payback. Filmmaker Chad Stahelski once again brings the action to a fever pitch level of excitement, but he also builds on the fight choreography. It’s brutal, yet entertainingly over-the-top, with a few new moves that will have everyone in the audience squirming.
Keanu Reeves owns this role. This has quickly become his most impressive work of a decades long career. The level of commitment and skill he brings to the physical aspect of John is beyond impressive. While he may not be going to the extreme of hanging off a ridiculously tall building like a certain Tom Cruise, he brings a fierceness to the fight. And frankly, just because he isn’t going all-out insane MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE style, the actor is taking more than enough risks and it pays off big time for the viewer. Reeves’ Wick continues to be one of the best action heroes ever realized on the big screen, and it’s a pleasure seeing him take it to yet another level for CHAPTER 3.
Two of the best additions to this story are Halle Berry and Anjelica Huston. Both bring a sense of fire to this second sequel. Huston gives the film a level of class that she tends to bring to nearly every project she is involved in. As for Berry, while her part isn’t huge, I have no doubt people will be demanding a spinoff with her tough-as-nails, dog-loving “Sofia.” Once she steps into the fight she proves to be a fantastic choice to challenge John Wick’s intensely violent world. The actress is not only charming, talented and utterly beautiful, she handles the fight choreography brilliantly – with a bit of help I’d wager. Of course I wouldn’t expect any less considering what Stahelski and his incredible team at 87eleven Action Design bring to the table.
The fact that they found a way to build upon the already impressive choreography is unbelievably incredible. JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 brings viewers amazing sequences, including one incredible scene with motorcycles chasing Wick on a horse. It’s glorious! While it rarely slows down, the fights and the action are more than satisfying here. From the beginning I had a massive grin on my face. Much like its predecessors, this thing has incredible momentum. And that final half hour is wildly intense in the most entertaining of ways, as well as gorgeously shot. It helps that as a filmmaker, Stahelski – with cinematographer Dan Laustsen – creates such a striking visual experience.
John Wick 3 is an ass-kicking, ramped-up thrill ride with amazing characters that continues to prove that director Stahelski and Reeves make a perfect cinematic partnership. My only caveat is the same with all three films, they tend to run just a few minutes long, but I’m always so invested in the world that I don’t mind it at all. In fact, this 3rd chapter is certainly in the running for one of the best films of the year (thus far). If you’ve already invested in the JOHN WICK franchise, you won’t want to miss this. If you’ve never seen one… well, you might want to try and catch up and witness PARABELLUM on the big screen. This is the kind of flick you’ll want to see with a huge crowd on the largest cinema screen that you can find.