John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Super-assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin’s guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head – he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.
Cast
Keanu Reeves – John Wick
Halle Berry – Sofia
Ian McShane – Winston
Anjelica Huston – The Director
Mark Dacascos – Zero
Laurence Fishburne – Bowery King
Asia Kate Dillon – The Adjudicator
Lance Reddick – Charon
Sick Wick
In some countries (or cultures) the word ‘sick’ is used to express how good something is. The phrase “that is sick” can generally be heard coming from less sophisticated people who are in appreciation of something. Thus, “that is sick” means, “that is very good” or, “I have taken a lot of pleasure in this”. Of course some people use the word in a literal sense to describe something disgusting. In my case with John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum I mean it in the literal sense.
This movie is sick.
I haven’t witnessed scenes as graphic as the ones contained in this movie for years. The fight scenes are lengthy but epic, with Reeves as John Wick performing some nasty butchery on various characters who cross his path. The actor bulldozes his way through 129 minutes being as savage as possible, and this is what makes John Wick: Chapter 3 -Parabellum such an entertaining watch. Think Uma Thurman in the Kill Bill double; Reeves is basically her – with a penis. And every operation is carried out in gruesome detail. At one point he penetrates someone’s eye with a dagger and (although quite a sturdy stomach) I found myself reeling with repulsion at the sound effect and gore. In fact every confrontational scene beginning with men simply engaging in conversation turned into one hell of a blood-spattered body dwelling by the end. Wick clearly has some scores to settle, and how he goes about it definitely makes one of this decade’s most thrilling pieces of cinema.
I honestly assumed I would be bored shitless throughout this movie but with the amount of uneasy slashings on a level that would put the Hostel series to shame also, I was gripped until the end. Those viewers who enjoy slick scenes of combat drenched in gore will definitely not be disappointed.
Berry enters the frame halfway through as sassy Sofia. She is perfectly cast here and up against Reeves is just as strong a character. Although she doesn’t stick around for long it’s an ideal duo. There is nothing the woman does by halves during her screen time; vicious combat and an attitude to match.
As I left the cinema I felt as though I had gone along just to watch a man be extremely violent and cause as much bloody carnage as possible. This movie is filmed well, but its downside is the story gets very light analysis and the producers focus more on Wick as he goes on the rampage. Ultimately you’re left at the beginning of each scene wondering when another body part will go rolling across the floor as Reeves swaggers into view at the character’s next destination.
If you enjoyed the previous movie I can almost guarantee you will be non-stop entertained by this instalment. Set amongst a backdrop of exquisite buildings and decor the blood-soaked action adds to the proof that John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum was very well made.
A much-needed piece of cinema, proven by the people I was sat in the audience with who were very vocal and letting out squeals of excitement.
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