In ‘John Wick Chapter 3’ Way More Is Greater
The muscular narrative amazingly compels.
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By Jon Ochiai
Suffering, yet resilient Keanu Reeves returns in “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum” as retired assassin John Wick forced back into “the game” wreaking visually stunning havoc upon those, who seek the $14 million bounty on his body. Good luck. Rather, our condolences.
In the astounding fight scene early on, Keanu’s John takes on several assassins in the most electrifying screen knife fights ever. Keanu trained for months for “Chapter 3”. He’s an accomplished martial artist. Director Chad Stahelski brilliantly orchestrates this mixed and classic martial arts mash up.
John and his deadly adversaries stab and hurl knives at each other, in close. John sweetly executes the classic Aikido wrist lock, “kotegaeshi”, and hip throw, “koshinage”, in flowing succession. The fight has spectacular elements of kali knife fighting, Brazilian Jujitsu, Muay Thai kickboxing, and other martial arts I don’t know. At one point John hurls knives at his assailants like in carnival attraction booth. WTF, in an awesome sort of way.
I thought “John Wick: Chapter 2” was the best action movie of the last 10 years. Director Chad’s “John Wick: Chapter 3” is greater.
In the movie trailers: John takes on motorcycle Ninjas with guns and katanas. In “Chapter 3 — Parabellum” way more is greater. Parabellum literally means “prepare for war”. “John Wick 3” is the breathtaking non-stop action thrill ride. Granted screenwriters Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, and Marc Abrams’s story is lean on words, yet their muscular narrative amazingly compels.
In Casablanca (yes, really), John reunites with the formidable woman from his past Sofia, played by beautiful badass Halle Berry, who owes her “blood marker” to John. She reminds, “Consequences.” He too acknowledges, “Consequences.” Yeah, John’s vengeance is not just about bad guys killing his dog, the gift from his late wife Ellen, the love of his life.
“Chapter 3” resumes where “Chapter 2” left off. John killed Santino, the man who called upon John’s own “blood marker” and betrayed him to gain a seat at the criminal cartel High Table. John’s dear friend Winston, played by…
