Almost a decade ago, we became acquainted with a heavy motion title, a lightweight dialogue title John Wick. On paper Wick the series reads like several paint by issue, straight into an motion video franchise. What made him stand out was Keanu Reeves the power to interact in stunts, working with weapons, fighting scenes and directing Chad Stahelski a knack for keeping motion sequences fresh.
Over the years, the Wick series has grown and evolved in on-screen combat. The story was quite easy. The foremost character is a former assassin, drawn right into a war with a mafia family by the memory of his wife and her kidnapped dog, which is the one memento of her. It was a wierd but memorable catalyst that was enough to steer us right into a deeper story that involved the assassins guild and their chain of sanctuary hotels all over the world.
The side stories of the Continental Hotel and its staff are a beautiful respite from the non-stop motion Wick franchise. They create a wealthy, immersive story that defies the grim brutality of constant headshots and muzzle flashes, Keanu Reeves gives us in every fight scene. It was a winning formula that led us to 4 movies and the inevitable TV series spin-off.
However, this recipe can only take the audience to this point before the novelty wears off. Director and stunt scholar, Chad Stahelski worked hard for a living John Wick fresh, but there are only so some ways to kill people in each iteration during 120 minutes of uninterrupted motion sequences.
TIME FOR SPOILERS
John Wick: Chapter 4 is a fully incredible 90 minute movie. Unfortunately for viewers, the full running time is 169 minutes. Picks up immediately where John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum forgive. Our title character is hunted by the “table”, i.e. the guild of assassins and people who control them. He runs away after being betrayed by Winston, the manager of Continental (all the time brilliantly played by Ian McShane).
The movie tries to be exciting, with sexy latest locations and various fight sequences, but for viewers, that is where your complete first half falls. The lighting and cinematography are really showcased within the Osaka and Berlin segments, however the scenes as an entire are completely unnecessary to the story. They all appear in gray kevlar suits and fall into the identical entrance and deadly exit over and all over again. It’s monotonous and tiring. Sometimes it seems (and doubtless is) that the identical stuntmen fight and die in several outfits/disguises. It’s a lonely breath of fresh air Donnie Yen who’s introduced as Caine, a blind swordsman. He walks on water in every scene and is a flawless fighter who brings emotion and charm to his sequences. It repeatedly saves the video each time it becomes outdated.
As we make our way through Osaka after which through Berlin, we watch Keanu deliver 6 words of full dialogue as if he was recovering from a stroke, then jump into artillery fire. Reeves he’s never been an ideal actor, and these movies suit his strong, silent personality well, but it surely’s a bit an excessive amount of. With each part, he says less and fewer and tries to get two or three words out. It’s almost painful when he speaks, especially when everyone else is doing their lines normally.
I’m unsure if he had a head injury from a failed stunt or if it was by alternative, but Keanu the speaking rhythm became slower and weirder because the series progressed. Let me also reiterate that he continues to be an enormous star with a noticeable screen presence, however the man is now 58 years old. How many hand-to-hand fights can we watch in long (single-shot) episodes with credibility? In the primary third of the film, there’s an entire section dedicated to nunchaku. There are many weapons available, but to make a difference, John Wick must only fight nunchaku or hand-to-hand.
Again, I find it admirable to try to maintain it interesting, however the younger, more powerful stuntmen were clearly slowing down in these segments, waiting for his or her fight moments John Wick. It took away the credibility from the table, and most of the melee scenes felt too similar and messy. Keanu he’s a bit slower than he was ten years ago, and the apparent pauses between punches and struggles along with his stunt team were too obvious within the choreography.
Then we arrive in Paris.
The movie should start and end here. one sec John Wick arrives in Paris for an upcoming boss battle, the film hits overdrive and never looks back. This a part of the movie is definitely definitely worth the price of admission and can make your jaw drop to the ground. The Paris segments bring the innovation and fun of the combat segments we have come to know and love from the series.
The Triumphal arch automobile chase, hand-to-hand combat and 222 stairs leading as much as Sacre Coeur enough to hold any hat on all 4 videos. These scenes are hugely successful (can I say legendary?), iconic, and something other motion movies should aspire to. The stunt work is crazy, the scenes are long, complex, exaggerated, diverse and classic John Wick chaos to the bone. Cars, guns, swords, falls, flames, it’s all we wanted and hoped for.
John Wick: Chapter 4 it also gives us just a few other characters price mentioning. Bill Skarsgård since the Marquis is a good enough bad guy who must work on his French accent. We get some funny moments with Laurence Fishburne (but not enough) and little taste Hiroyuki Sanada and his fencing. Donnie Yen AND Keanu together on screen they’re incredible in every way. Their scenes together are fun and convey loads of lightness to the extreme fight segments they feature. We get loads of moments between them to cement their chemistry and really bring the ending home in a satisfying way.
go see John Wick: Chapter 4one sec in theaters because you would like an enormous screen for each sound and motion. Just do not get mad at yourself for those who go to sleep in the primary half or are late.
