John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is one of the finest Hollywood action films of this decade, second only to Mad Max: Fury Road. Bold words, perhaps, but the sheer intensity, brutality, and frantic pace of the film all combine together to make an entertaining and stylish film.

The plot is simple enough. John Wick, the eponymous assassin played by Keanu Reeves, is on the run after the events of John Wick 2. Fighting off hordes of assassins after a hit is put out on him, he strives to have the kill order lifted from him. Meanwhile, due to helping him escape, the Bowery King and Winston are stripped of their positions and forced to retire.

Unfortunately, it’s also not very good. Events seemingly happen for no good reason, and characters are just introduced with no warning and with the barest of backstory to help John Wick escape. Case in point: Wick travels to Casablanca to find Halle Berry so he can find a man that is above the High Table, the criminal group that put out the hit on him. The problem is that there’s no set up- there’s no groundwork laid for ever explaining this person’s existence. It feels contrived and made up just to move the plot along.

Which is fair enough, but the first movie had enough gravitas and seriousness to it that it felt more human. The loss of his wife and puppy that send John Wick into a murderous rampage lent an air of emotion that separated him from countless gun happy protagonists that sprouted one liners. All of that is thrown out in John Wick 3: Parabellum in favor of action.

But oh boy, what action it is. Knife fights, animal fights (one involving horses and another dogs,) a fight on motorcycles lifted straight up from The Villainess, a duel involving the freaking stars from the Raid series, another starring Iron Chef America host Mark Dacascos… the film has action in spades. It’s all flash and style but hey- style is a substance all of its own.

As for the quips and one liners, it’s always nice to hear Reeves say “Guns. lot’s of guns.” It’s a nice throwback to a now 10 year classic.

In short, don’t expect anything other than great action. Just turn off your brain, and enjoy the headshots. And stabbing. And knifing.

Objective: 7.5/10

Personal: 7/10

CAN’T STOP WON’T STOP JPHIP

WRITTEN BY silogore