John Wick revamped the action film genre, in an era where comic films are now the go-to blockbuster. John Wick 2 abandoned the story last minute to set up another sequel, but the rest of the film is a non-stop action-filled ride that made the first a surprise hit.
Much can be said for Chapter 3 – Parabellum, picking up minutes after the end of the second film. John Wick 3 is all about John being on the run and working his way toward the impossible task of getting out from the underground world collapsing in on him.
The first 30 minutes could easily be subtitled “Escape From New York” it is one of the best and most authentic segments of the film. Wick fights through a gauntlet of assassins, from The New York Libary to the iconic Grand Central Terminal, eventually finding a way out of New York City.
John Wick is a fascinating character, but so is the world he is involved in. From The Continental and its rules to the the relevance of the High Table and the massive secret world of assassins.
John goes on a journey to the top of the assassin food chain. Rather than using the complex world to push to film forward, the writers used action scenes for Wick’s quest. He fights on horseback. He invaded a knife museum. He eventually has a shoot out with people in magic armor at the Continental. These action scenes are incredible and insanely entertaining until they are over, then the plot needs to take over again.
John calls on a favor from Sofia (Halle Berry), who runs the Casablanca version of The Continental. It’s at this moment we realize the entire John Wick universe is used to expedite to the process of getting from one scene to the next.
Don’t get me wrong, John Wick Chapter 3 is a great flick and is fun all the way through. It’s one of the best action films to be released in a long time and Keanu plays the action star role better than ever.
Action movies have never had insanely complex plots, but towards the end of John Wick Parabellum, gun-slinging and hip tossing get too repetitive.
Overall, John Wick: Chapter 3 is a good action film that had the potential to be great.
