Review by John Delia, Sr.
A third chapter John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum is lot better than the last one. It’s uncanny that with all the action in the previous John Wick films that the filmmakers can still find ways to destroy a set, cause a lot of new mayhem and still deliver a story line that intrigues and excites. It’s chapter three for the assassin that doesn’t stop ticking and still gives a beating to some of the most heinous adversaries that keep coming out of the woodwork.
In this episode we find John Wick (Keanu Reeves) getting back from Europe where he returned a favor to High Table member Santino D’Antonio by killing his sister for him in Chapter 2. But, the deed was not accepted by the high counsel and they put a bounty on his head for $14 million. He’s has only a limited time to pay it himself and get off the hook. Not succeeding, every assassin and street killers are out for the reward and John has to go it alone. That is until he can find someone who will take his marker for a favor to help him get out of the mess.
Director Chad Stahelski continues to amaze as he once again takes the character on a course through the back streets of New York much like he did in the first chapter. The kill and ferocity level was mild in Chapter 1 in comparison to Chapter 2 where Stahelski’s death count rose considerably. Chapter 3 turns up the heat even more and the bodies drop at a record pace with non-stop action that will have you on the edge of your seat. I can hardly wait for Chapter 4, if there is one, to see if Stahelski can top this barn burner.
Keanu Reeves sticks to the formula as he puts on a mesmerizing show of mixed martial arts, gun play and just plain brutal street fighting. Finding Wick in situations that are near inescapable, Keanu shows his acting and physical power to fight his way through sets and locations way beyond his last two outing as the relentless hit man. He’s unrelenting in his determination to get back in the graces of the High Table to stop all the carnage. But, he’ll have to do it without his “friends†and their “servicesâ€.
But, this time Keanu has some help from Halle Barry as Sofia who has no love for The High Table. In the most remarkable fight scene in the movie that takes place in Morocco, Barry’s in what turns out to be the best brawl in the film. As Sofia, Barry puts on a show that you’ll remember way after you have left the theater. She’s a kick-ass fighter and her aggressiveness blows the top off the kill meter as she takes down a bevy of baddies. I love how she handles her character here and if there was an Oscar for best action actor she’d win hands down.
The fight choreography by Jonathan Eusebio and Jon Valera (Morocco) are what makes the film work. From the opening scenes right up to the hand to hand combat in the finale, this chapter of John Wick tops the other two put together. The sets designed by Letizia Sanucci (Morocco) and David Schlesinger are the “playgrounds†of the characters and get literally destroyed by all the shooting, thrashing, battering, stabbing and beating. It’s hard to imaging all the work that goes into building and dressing the sets and then gets torn apart in a matter of minutes.
John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum has been rated R by the MPAA for pervasive strong violence, and some language. Be very cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have many scenes that are inappropriate for youngsters.
FINAL ANALYSIS: If you like persistent violent action, you’re the target audience. (for that audience 5 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Mark Dacascos, Asia Kate Dillon, Lance Reddick, Said Taghmaoui, Jerome Flynn, Jason Mantzoukas, Tobias Segal, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive strong violence, and some language
Running Time: 2 hrs. 10 min.
Opening Date: May 17, 2019
Distributed by: Summit Entertainment
Released in: Standard