When one looks at modern action movie franchises, none have blown audiences away more than that of the John Wick franchise. Released in 2014, the original film ended up becoming a sleeper hit which saw its audience grow significantly with each new installment impressing both in terms of delivering outstanding action set-pieces, along with expanding its story regarding an ex- professional assassin avenging the murder of his dog. With the series newest installment, John Wick: Chapter 4 delivers high-octane action that amounts to being a stunning cinematic experience.
Continuing from the events of Chapter 3: Parabellum, Chapter 4 of the John Wick saga finds the legendary hitman taking his fight against the High Table global with locations spanning from New York to Paris and Berlin as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld. For longtime fans of the series, John Wick: Chapter 4 is everything that fans want it to be and maintains the franchises remarkable consistency in regards to each sequel outgunning the previous effort. With the level of commitment put forth by the filmmaking team as well as Reeves himself, the newest sequel delivers pure excitement while potentially providing closure to a remarkable 9 year saga.
When it comes to performances, the cast is on top form with Keanu Reeves killing it once again as Wick. If the series has proved anything, it's that Reeves was never really a bad actor to begin with and gives full devotion in playing his character. Donnie Yen is equally electrifying as Caine, a blind High Table assassin and old friend of John Wick whose forced into hunting him in order to protect his own family from the High Table. Yen steals the show both with his acting and set of impressive martial arts combat skills. Joining the Wick ensemble is Bill Skarsgard as the powerful antagonist Marquis Vincent de Gramont, whose position at the High Table is directly challenged by John Wick. Skarsgard is really good here and sells the notion that the stakes are at an all time high here. Ian McShane is pure class once again as New York Continental Hotel manager Winston, whose allied with Wick. The same can be said for Laurence Fishburne as former underground crime boss, the Bowery King who was left for dead by the High Table and now sponsors John Wick. Rounding out the films killer cast is Hiroyiki Sanada as Wick's old friend and manager of the Osaka Continental Hotel, Shimazu Koji, with Shamier Anderson as the bounty hunter pursuing Wick named Mr. Nobody, the late Lance Reddick as the concierge of the Continental Hotel in New York, Charon, Rina Sawayama as Jojo's daughter Akira, and Scott Adkins as head of the German table, Killa Harkan, who later becomes allied with Wick.
Returning to the director chair is Chad Stahelski who previously helmed the second and third entries. Like those films, Stahelski crafts some truly phenomenal action set-pieces. In terms of violence, chapter 4 delivers action that's extreme and ridiculously over-the-top with everything from typical shootouts resulting in a high body count being shown to masterfully choreographed fight scenes involving killer martial arts skills, the use of bow and arrows, swords, and the inclusion of outrageous car chases. For the series fans, chapter 4 delivers a buffet of different varieties of action that's ever been shown before in the series along with some truly incredible sequences including one involving Wick fighting to get to the top of steps that's both thrilling and draws comparisons to Bruce Lee's Game Of Death in which his character ends up battling a new foe the higher he climbs up the stairs to the next floor. With the cinematography, Wick's newest sequel is gorgeously-filmed and looks incredible on the big screen. At nearly three hours, Wick makes maximum use of its 170 minute length with delivering exciting action and an immersive story that makes the running time move briskly. While his work on the series thus far has been commendable, Stahelski outdoes himself once again and delivers a sweeping action epic that's both visually striking and unforgettable.
As far as story goes, Chapter 4 feels like a natural progression for the main characters journey along with providing what could be a plausible finish to his character arc. A key theme explored is revenge with Wick's character wanting freedom from the criminal underworld he worked under. The script does a fine job of building on the original films plot while further developing the criminal organization that Wick once answered to. Friendship and common enemies are other themes at play here as Wick is shown to have many friends across the globe, along with acquaintances he can partner with in order to defeat a common enemy. What the script does well is show the power of the High Table, as well as the fear it installs with characters such as Donnie Yen's being conflicted with not wanting to go against the organization in order to protect his family, while realizing that his opponent is John Wick. The story works well as being a continuation of the events of Parabellum with Wick further dealing with the effects of being excommunicado, and having a $14 million bounty on his head as the world basically hunts for him. If all the previous John Wick films we're building up to an explosive climax then Chapter 4 is the big emotional payoff that fans have waited nearly four years to see after the events of Parabellum.
Overall, those who adored the first three John Wick films are going to be blown away by the fourth one. Everything from the action to the story and performances are so well-executed and near flawless, that it can almost be forgiven how Wick's character develops cartoonish healing powers after sustaining heavy injuries including falling off a five story building. Besides that minor fault, John Wick: Chapter 4 delivers a worthy follow-up that's explosive, epic, and hugely satisfying.
Final Verdict: A Must See.
Images Courtesy Of Warner Brothers
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