John Wick: Chapter 3
"John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum" is packed with thrilling moments, but one stands out as a true gem early on. Our brooding hero, John Wick (played by Keanu Reeves), is on a mission in the New York Public Library. Amidst the chaos of the 11 million people trying to kill him, he ingeniously dispatches an assailant using a book as a weapon. What makes it truly special is what happens next – Wick calmly puts the book back on the shelf. It's not just funny; it perfectly fits his character in a genre that often lacks personality.
In the earlier films, we were introduced to John Wick, a former assassin seeking vengeance for his late wife's dog. In the sequel, he's entangled in the assassin underworld and disrupts the High Table's order, leading to a $14 million bounty on his head. Now, in the third installment, he's on a quest to find the High Table's leader in Morocco to make amends. Despite the organization's strict no-help policy for Wick, he gets support from his former mentor and Sofia, played by Anjelica Huston and Halle Berry, respectively.
As Wick battles his way through, The Adjudicator, played by Asia Kate Dillon, arrives in New York to restore order and punish those who aided Wick. Winston (Ian McShane) and The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne) are in the crosshairs. To carry out their plan, they enlist Zero (Mark Dacascos), a sushi chef with a squad of lethal ninjas eager to take on the legendary John Wick. The movie unfolds with intense action and a plot that keeps you hooked.
When the first "John Wick" movie hit theaters, people expecting just another mindless action flick got a pleasant surprise. It turned out to be not just action-packed but borderline brilliant, with a clever and funny screenplay, Keanu Reeves delivering a sublime performance, and stylish action sequences reminiscent of genre masters like Walter Hill, John Woo, and Luc Besson. The sequel surpassed expectations, upping the action and expanding the movie's world in exciting ways. If the original was like "Mad Max," an instant classic, then "John Wick: Chapter 2" was akin to "The Road Warrior," taking things to new heights.
Now, with "John Wick 3," it may not reach the heights of "Fury Road," but it's definitely the "Beyond Thunderdome" of the series. It's a brutally entertaining pop cinema experience that leaves you wishing other movies in the multiplex had put in a similar effort. The action scenes are expertly staged, with director Chad Stahelski and his team delivering stunning visuals and chaotic stuntwork involving everything from guns and knives to a book and even a horse. However, where the film falters a bit is in its attempts to expand the world. The character of The Adjudicator seems interesting but doesn't quite live up to previous franchise characters.
Despite these stumbles, "Parabellum" has plenty of highlights. Keanu Reeves continues to impress with his minimal yet impactful dialogue delivery. There are unexpected moments of humor that catch you off guard, like a laugh-out-loud scene where Wick meets his mentor. The fight scenes, always thrilling, also manage to bring out some big laughs, especially when Wick has to get creative without using a gun. And let's not forget the dogs - Halle Berry's canine companions steal the show, holding their own in a major fight scene. If you're choosing a movie sequel with dogs this weekend, "Parabellum" is the one to watch.