John Wick Chapter Three overview: Keanu takes a chew of superb motion

 

John Wick 3When sharp-suited super-assassin John Wick dives again into the intricately designed cloak-and-dagger universe established within the game-changing 2015 original and 2017 sequel, it is actually dangerous information for nearly anybody he meets. But it surely’s nice information for us.

Set to be launched — or ought to that be unleashed — within the UK on Could 15 and the US Could 17, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is barking mad. And never simply because there’re much more canine thrown into the combo. The sequence began with soulful assassin John Wick grieving his useless pet, and it is a signal of how the sequence has simply gotten greater, badder and madder that Chapter 3: Parabellum throws a squad of assault canine into the combo.

John Wick 3 picks up moments after the top of the second film, with Keanu Reeves‘ hitman on the run from his shadowy masters. The sequence components of fashionable, visceral, relentlessly jaw-dropping motion is firmly established by now, and this threequel wastes little time in stepping into the thick of it — Parabellum strikes at breakneck velocity as Wick escapes his pursuers.

From right here, Wick rushes from one violent confrontation to the following, solely slowing right down to get doses of exposition from allies performed by sequence newcomers Anjelica Huston and Jerome Flynn (Bron from Sport of Thrones). Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane and Lance Reddick additionally reprise their roles. These heavyweight actors convey gravitas and add depth to the ludicrous lore, chewing loads of surroundings as they steer Wick to the following motion sequence.

It is a fairly simple components, however let’s be sincere: You come to a film like this for intense motion, and John Wick Three definitely would not disappoint. An early scene sees Wick making human pincushions out of some goons and that is simply the beginning of numerous darkly satisfying moments.

After which there’s these homicidal hounds. We soar from one formidable set piece to a different, widening the scope of Wick’s World from New York to a stunningly realized Casablanca, the place Halle Berry proves her motion chops in a few of the film’s greatest sequences. Be careful for these canine! Sadly, Berry would not stick round lengthy sufficient.

It is a sequence trademark that the motion is all the time clearly seen. The kinetic digicam work carries us easily alongside for the journey, filled with audacious uninterrupted pictures exhibiting off the athleticism of Reeves and the stuntmen who cost at him to be dispatched in assorted entertaining methods. The climactic battle has some fairly magnificent buildup with a superb shootout, however the closing hand-to-hand struggle outstays its welcome a bit of. You may giggle and cringe on the stunning violence, however could end up feeling a bit numb by the point it is over.

Fortunately, the sequence’ world and backstory is as fascinating as ever — Wick’s order of assassins has a violent code of honor that is enforced with loads of darkish humor, dressed up in evocative wealthy quasi-religious language. 

And this film takes the time to develop its new villains — Mark Dacascos actually shines as Wick’s charismatic nemesis, build up the sense of an instantaneous bodily menace, whereas Asia Kate Dillon‘s ice-cold bureaucrat hints at a bigger enemy behind the scenes.

Reeves is nearly monosyllabic all through, clearly, however says simply sufficient to make you care about his character (and his canine, in fact) as he is introduced with selections that up the stakes at each flip. Parabellum twists and turns dizzyingly as characters’ alliances shift, so issues by no means get too snug because the motion unfolds with breakneck momentum.