JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 – PARABELLUM REVIEW
Starring: Keanu Reeves
Directed By: Chad Stahelski (John Wick 1 & 2)
Rated: R
Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes
Most people who don’t know anything about the John Wick movies, at least know the absurd plot that set these movies into motion.In 2014’s original John Wick, Russian assassins killed Wick’s puppy and in a rampage of revenge, Keanu Reeve’s John Wick character killed…a…lot…of…people.84 according to the director, after the internet failed to correctly guess the body count of the first movie.This tiny little movie made a modest haul at the box office, and became sort of a quick cult favorite.
A sequel was greenlit, and of course, everything was bigger.Bigger action, bigger locations, and a bigger body count.128 in John Wick Chapter 2.If you’re counting along at home that’s 212 dead people in two movies.That’s more than every major horror movie slasher.Michael Myers in 11 movies has killed 169 people.Jason has offed 199 in a dozen feature films.Freddy’s gotten 64 victims in 9 movies.The Saw franchise is one shy of a hundred in their eight movies.John Wick kills faster and more frequently than virtually every other character in movie history.The second movie’s body count was bigger, and so was its box office take.Nearly double the original.So by movie studio math, a third chapter must happen.And here we are today with John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum which is Latin for “Prepare for War”.(For the curious the third movie’s body count is allegedly 167.)
The John Wick franchise is an interesting case study.A movie light on plot and high on action.We went over the plot of the first movie.The second one is just as thin.Assassins have put a large bounty on Wick’s head and he must fight for survival.Simple enough.The John Wick movies aren’t about the story, although it builds its world nicely, and does expand upon its mythology with each new film, so the story IS there.It just isn’t very consequential.They’re excuses for murder.And don’t say that in a snooty, holier than thou way.I love these movies!They shouldn’t work.But they do.And here’s the secret.
The fight scenes in John Wick are filmed in such a way that you can clearly see everything that’s going on.It isn’t 37 consecutive quick cuts in the dark where you have no idea who’s hitting who and what’s around our combatants.The setting is clearly laid out, long singular takes show everything that’s happening clearly.These are light, fun movies, that are expertly made.
Parabellum takes place immediately following the events of the second movie.John Wick has broken a rule in the assassin world and is now “excommunicado”, meaning no one in the criminal underworld can render him aid or they’ll be banished as well.A $14 million bounty has been put out.So, every assassin in the world is out to kill Wick.Only they can’t.It’s just like most movies in this genre, James Bond never dies.Ethan Hunt always gets out of the jam.But it’s about the spectacle.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum might not be the best of the trilogy, although it’s close.It’s BY FAR the most fun.Beautifully brutal fights throughout.Clearly inspired by such classic films as The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly, Point Blank (not Point Break), and The Way of the Dragon.The movie uses these influences to create movie magic.A perfect summer popcorn movie that knows its role and stays in it.It doesn’t try to change itself the third time around.John Wick doesn’t change or grow as a character.It is what it is.It does what it does.And it does it very well.It’s more like cotton candy.It feels great while you’re eating it, it’s colorful, there’s a rush of excitement, but it’s pure fluff.
There’s two fight scenes towards the end of the movie with the main bad guy and his henchman that are, in all seriousness, two of the best fights in movie history.And they’re back-to-back!Incredibly choreographed and expertly executed.
John Wick 3 delivers everything fans of the franchise have come to expect.A ton of slick looking kills, a little deeper venture into the rules and plot of the underground assassin world, and Keanu being the stoic, resourceful guy we’ve known him to be.He’s the perfect blank slate for this movie.Doesn’t beat you over the head with annoying quips and he looks just fit enough to pull off what he’s pulling off.
This film is fun, frantic, and features great supporting turns from Halle Berry, Anjelica Huston, a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, and the host of Iron Chef America on Food Network.That random list of actors is the perfect encapsulation of the random methods of destruction this movie uses.The biggest and most bonkers entry of the franchise to date will make you laugh and leave you in awe at the same time.
On a scale of "See It/Stream It/Skip It" – See It -- yes, you must see the first two before seeing Part 3.
If you liked John Wick 1 & 2,anything w/ Bruce Lee, or Upgrade you might like John Wick 3
4 out of 5 stars for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum