By Emily
Maier
Rated:
R
Run
time: 130 mins
When
the world’s top assassin breaks the rules of the criminal underworld, the
leaders known as the High Table put a bounty on his head for $14 million. As a
result, John Wick is now being hunted by every assassin that crosses his path –
and in this movie, assassins are just around every corner.
“John
Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum” is the third installment of the John Wick
franchise, starring Keanu Reeves as the titular assassin. The movie follows the
fallout of John’s decision to murder a member of the High Table within the
walls of the Continental Hotel – a place where “business” is not allowed to be
conducted. The deadly gunman is once again forced to cut through a field of
innumerable enemies if he ever wants to return to his peaceful life of
retirement.
To
anyone that likes action flicks, I really can’t recommend this movie enough–
and the series in general. “John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum” is stylish and
fun, without succumbing to tropes typically found in the action genre. John
might be feared for his invincibility, but he still gets injured throughout the
film, so each fight actually has consequences. Characters frequently run out of
bullets and are forced to get creative when using the things around them as
weapons. For example, a few interesting “weapons” John utilizes are a library
book, a belt, and horses. What’s more, I’m always amazed by the clever
worldbuilding in each “John Wick” film. The criminal underworld is intricate
and full of lore, and each sequel makes sure to give the audience just enough
details to keep them wondering.
Whether
returning characters or new additions, the cast of “John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum”
is as colorful as ever. A few familiar faces include hotel manager Winston
(played by Ian McShane), concierge Charon (played by Lance Reddick), and the
Bowery King (played by Laurence Fishburne). New characters include Halle Berry
as a German-Shepherd-wielding assassin named Sofia, Asia Kate as a
representative of the High Table known as The Adjudicator, and Mark Dacascos as
a hitman sent to kill John Wick.
Though “John
Wick” excels in many ways, the astounding fight choreography has always been
what makes the series stand out in a sea of other action films. Each fight
scene has the fluidity and grace of a dance, which is emphasized with the
presence of ballet throughout this third installment. The action is also very
easy to follow because the movie uses long shots instead of the choppy editing
found in most action flicks. Skilled choreographers, actors, and cameramen
combine to make scene after scene wonderful to watch. The movie’s trademark
neon aesthetic only adds to the stunning visuals.
Each
movie in the trilogy is rated R for violent content, but I found “Parabellum”
to be the bloodiest installment yet. However, the gore in no way takes away
from the levity of the movie, as this third sequel may also be the funniest.
The comedic timing had my entire theater in stitches more than once.
I’ve
been a fan of the series since the first movie came out in 2014, so it’s great
to see the movies are still going strong five years later. Though most
franchises tend to outlive their expiration dates, leaving audiences with
contrived, purposeless plots, “John Wick” has never felt tired or worn out.
Much like the protagonist, “John Wick” only seems to be getting better with
age.
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