John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is a masterclass in brutal, unforgiving action juxtaposed against clean, composed cinematography which harkens back to the 70s and 80s Asian action films that preferred longer and more uncompromised shots of fighting sequences than the chopped-up and groggy visualisation of action scenes that many Hollywood films today tend to adhere to.
The first two action sequences in this film alone set a pretty high bar for how intimate fight scenes should be shot in filmmaking. The choreography is pretty gripping most of the time, with more innovation infused into it the longer the action sequences last to keep the audiences engaged for a prolonged period.
As for the narrative, it’s great to see the film continue to expand upon its world building bravado that action-centric films like itself rarely ever consider doing. The larger lore that gives life to John Wick’s world is opened up in a refreshing-but-not-totally-unexpected way through introduction of the Adjudicator character who seeks to chastise John’s allies. Keanu Reeves as the ‘Baba Yaga’ himself, John Wick, continues to be a force of nature that’ll keep your eyes glued to the screen whenever he’s on. Halle Berry’s character Sofia feels oddly placed though, her character serving a more minor role than what was advertised, thus having little effect on John’s journey.
I also love how John’s dog, who strikes a more pleasant and non-violent demeanour compared to his assassin master, represents John’s true self – the self that wants nothing more than to live a normal life, the self that’s now buried deep beneath the cold, violent exterior of a man who’s been pissed off one too many times.
Image Credit: DigitalSpy.com
Titan Passions 