John Wick Chapter 3 - Parabellum

John Wick Chapter 3 - Parabellum

Starring Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Halle Berry, Mark Dacascos

Directed by Chad Stahelski

The Story:
After John Wick (Keanu Reeves) disobeys the rules of the High Table and kills a man in the Continental Hotel, he's labeled "excommunicado" and is given a one-hour head start from Continental manager Winston (Ian McShane) before every hitman and assassin in the world finds out that Wick is a wanted man, who has a $14 million dollar bounty on his head.

Left without any aid, Wick calls in favors from past associates including the Director (Anjelica Huston) to get him to Morocco to find Sofia (Halle Berry), a close friend who could get him to the head of the High Table.  Along the way he's encountered by several assassins who try to kill him, and the High Table's Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) brings on assassin Zero (Mark Dacascos) to finish Wick off for good.  As Wick traverses the shady world of assassins, he finds out who he can really trust, and who could be double-crossing him.

The Synopsis:
Back in 2014, "John Wick" was released, and many people felt it was just going to be another by-the-books action film that'll last a week in the theaters at tops before going straight-to-DVD.  Instead, the film became a cultural phenomenon, due to a surprisingly thoughtful script, tightly-choreographed action sequences, and Keanu Reeves playing to his acting strengths.  It was an edge-of-your-seat action spectacle, and was unlike anything anyone expected.

When it came time for the sequel, anticipation was much higher, and the film didn't disappoint.  Much like with other sequels, this one was bloodier, more action-packed, and filled with some of the most thought-out choreographed fighting I've seen in any action film.  Keanu Reeves once again played to his strengths, and the sequel was as massive a hit as the original.  Could the third (and possibly final) film top its predecessors, or would it fall flat like so many other third films in trilogies do?  Thankfully, not only did it not fail, but it managed to one-up both its predecessors in surprising ways, and ultimately came out as the best of the bunch.

Taking place immediately after the ending of the second, "Chapter 3" finds our titular assassin hero without help in a world where his head is now on price for 14 million dollars as he goes up against countless assassins who want to claim the big prize.  He's got no one to help him, and has to call on past favors to try to find a way out of this seemingly impossible obstacle.  Wick travels from New York City to Morocco, all the while encountering different groups who want him dead - and you can guess how those encounters turn out.

What makes "John Wick" so different than the trillions of action films that came before has to do with its special ingredients which, combined perfectly, produces the finest meal your eyes could ever feast upon.  Those ingredients here include casting, story, action, and cinematography.

Keanu Reeves seems born to play the role of John Wick, as he fights his way to his freedom, he does so in a unique mixture of stress and verisimilitude that shows him both as fixated and stoic but also flies by the seat of his pants in several situations.  The film doesn't call for Shakespearean sonnets, and Reeves doesn't deliver those - what he does deliver is much more satisfying, including once again amazing action choreography that the franchise is known for.

Halle Berry joins the franchise as John Wick's old ally Sofia, who is a major butt-kicker in her own right.  Her presence steals the show, especially in a top-notch sequence involving Wick, Sofia, and her killer dogs (who steal the show from Halle Berry, who steals it from Keanu Reeves).  The dogs get their true moment to shine, and provide some of the many laugh-out-loud moments the film delivers - and not in a bad way.

Mark Dacascos (best known for hosting "The Iron Chef") plays ninja assassin Zero who's brought in to take Wick down, and you can tell he relishes in his role as much as everyone else does.  He plays with giddy humor, a man who's assigned with killing basically his idol, and when the two meet it's the perfect blend of seriousness and humor, mixed with intentional over-acting on Dacascos's part.  So too Laurence Fishburne (who once again joins Reeves after working together previously on the last installment, as well as the Matrix trilogy) gives an over-the-top performance that's hilarious and also intentional, allowing the audience to really become fully immersed in the experience.

Ian McShane and Lance Reddick return as the owner and concierge of the Continental respectively, and both return as easily as wearing a glove, with Reddick's character given more action time than before.  Anjelica Huston plays John Wick's old protector, and Asia Kate Dillon plays the stoic Adjudicator who wants to bring everything to balance.

The film is directed by Chad Stahelski, who served as Reeves' stunt double in the "Matrix" films as well as directing the previous two installments.  With a different director, things might've been different, but when you have a rapport that Stahelski has with Keanu Reeves (I mean, he did do all of Reeves' stunts in the "Matrix"), there's a trust that's unbreakable.  This allowed for more stylized fighting sequences than you'd see normally, that only amps up the insanity the film delivers.

The story isn't anything Oscar-worthy, but still gives some good nuggets of wisdom.  The subtitle Parabellum comes from Latin "Si vis pacem, para bellum," which means "if you want peace, prepare for war," and that's exactly what this film entails.  Wick wants peace, but he has to deal with war over and over, and it's unrelenting.  The film also focuses on the consequences of one's actions, as is mentioned several times by different characters.  While the film bodes well in storytelling, it also knows this is not the bread and butter that people want, which is why the action is so important.

When it comes to aforementioned action, "Parabellum" more than exceeds the highest of expectations.  From the get-go, we're thrown from one intense sequence to another, each one beautifully and wonderfully choreographed where we can't help but cheer, gasp, and utter shocked profanities at the sheer brilliance we got to witness - all the while relishing in the copious amounts of blood.  Whether Wick is using a book, a horse, a sword, or guns...lots of guns...the stylized choreography you expect from a "John Wick" film is here in spades, and provides a fun thrill ride with very little downtime.

The x-factor "John Wick" provides - that no other action film does - is how much attention the High Table gives to rules.  Typically you don't expect a full-on fight to stop in the middle, but that's what the "John Wick" films do.  Whenever Wick gets involved in a fight, all he has to do is touch the ground of the Continental, and the fighting immediately stops, and both men enter the hotel and sit and talk, which is so hilarious in its preposterous nature it can't help but be addressed.  It's like the ultimate grown-up game of tag, where the hotel is safe.  Also, the film glorifies assassins as a gentleman's sport, more than just your typical brainless fighting just for the sake of fighting.  Stahelski gives great care to make this more than just another action trilogy, and sets himself up for a memorable franchise that'll be talked about for decades to come, just like the "Matrix" trilogy.

The Summary:
Third time's the charm for "John Wick," as the third outing serves as the franchise's best, blending a unique story with Keanu Reeves incomparable performance, and provides countless entertaining action-packed choreographed sequences that'll leave even the least excited action fan demanding more.

The Score: A+