Review of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) by Davrosdaleks1 — 17 May 2019

I liked John Wick 3 better than 2 but not as much as the first.

The action is not only better than one and two, it is some of the best in any film, period. There are some really unique kills and situations. I highly admire the fight choreographers as this must have required a ton of work.

The fighting isn't the only ingenious part here. John Wick's alternate reality crime world looks and feels distinctive. I found that the story and the organization's rules were refreshingly simpler here than the machinations in the last film.

Cast and characters are solid all around. Though Halle Berry is heavily advertised in the trailers, she's only in a part of this. However, she is a lot of fun in the scenes she is in. Though this is Keanu's movie, credit should also be given to Ian McShane and Lance Reddick, who remain the only other characters to appear in all three films, who bring a chill respectability to their roles as the manager of a hotel for assassins and his concierge. Over the films John has had a fine roster of physical opponents, but Mark Dacascos' Zero is the best villain yet in regards to both physicality and personality.

Now, you're probably wondering why I'm not giving this a higher rating. The right side of my brain would have liked to and absolutely loved this because of just the action. But, the left side of my brain can't help but be frustrated by the story. It basically ends the same way the last one ended as a set-up for the next film. There isn't real closure and it just doesn't feel like everything John goes through actually amounts to much.

It is also a little hard to root for John, who is on the run from the High Table, the ruling body of his criminal world, as he calls in favors and puts associate's lives and/or livelihoods in danger. The previous movie he brought this all on his head because he knowingly broke the rules as well as tried to shirk a favor he owed. Makes John hypocritical. However, I suppose he is supposed to be an anti-hero.

Also, I felt that some of the fight scenes could have been shortened. (John's fight with Zero's two best men, goes on especially too long.) For every cool move, you get another simpler move that is repeated too many times. So much grappling, so much grappling...

If you love the action of John Wick no matter what, you should definitely see this. It's just that if you're like me and were dissatisfied with the last film's plot, then treat this with a grain of salt.