JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 -PARABELLUM (2019)

5/16/19 - John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum - 6/10

By this point, a Wickian film-goer should know what they plan to get from the latest in this series: light plot, heavy action, unique world building, dogs and head shots. While never setting sail for uncharted waters that could rise the tides, Chapter 3 does not disappoint to bring us to a beautiful land of choreographed carnage and be-bulleted badassery. We as an audience are treated to that special Wick formula that works so well: Reeves + Rage = Rad!

The things that I didn’t care for in 2 aren’t backed away from, but I seem to have made my peace with them. Ridiculous as much of this “assassin land” is, I wasn’t taken out of it like I was during the 2nd sequel. I think I enjoyed these particular flourishes more (Huston’s Belarusian ballet, Casablanca canine cadre, or the erudite gloves-in-hand adjudicator) and they aided in adding more to my wonderment of the world, not cause me to roll my eyes due to “being cool”. Cool beyond cools-sake is the button this one pressed.

Bringing Dacascos In was a treat for 90’s action fans. He and his cronies’ fanboy level love and seemingly meta humor sometimes pushes the bounds for me, but overall his addition was fun flat out. Skilled, with just the right amount of cheese (seeing his Hatori Hanzo Iron Chef intro winked at me just enough). I personally enjoyed bringing on Yayan Ruhian, famous from the Indonesian action flicks like The Raid. He, and the rest of the action actors & stunt men are so good here.

During the climactic fight, I certainly got Skyfall vibes. They have found such spectacular and robustly innovative locations to stage these pugilistic set pieces, which endure in the mind’s eye. The uniqueness of the locale, paired with smart lighting, adept staging and cinematography that is skillful and smart; it lets scenes like those sing.

Tempering this assessing steel, I would probably say that this story might have been the weakest of the three. Wick uncharacteristically faltered in his driven purpose, perhaps the one steadfast element of JW. But, I feel part of his whole ethos is making committed, though often poor, choices, so it fits. He is the hard man through and through. But the narrative seemed a little less tight and refined, more interested in opening doors, propping window, and revealing skylines, even if they had to sacrifice some crucial character elements to get there all around. And yet, I feel amiss if I am shaking my fist too much at script, plot, and character shortcomings in the midst of this deadly knife throwing extravaganza….

I did want to make a couple notes. One, apparently the bits with the dogs and horses were filmed as live action stunts. Very cool and impressive in this land of substandard CGI in all. Also, if you at all got off on the motorcycle mayhem, I would suggest the hit and miss action film Villainess. JW3 probably picked up some pointers from that, or at least that is how it felt. Here is a referential clip: https://youtu.be/j3JtkjIKe1w

The end left a little to be desired and didn’t quite make sense, but how can anyone fault their desire to keep this murder machine a’rollin. I certainly don’t feel like jumping off this particular freight train of fights and fun. The John Wick franchise has proudly displayed its craft and detail at each turn, which I have both enjoyed and respected. Arguing about their existence being “the highest of art” isn’t a hill I would die on, but I think they are some of the finest examples of doing what you do as well as it can be done while delivering fascinating possibilities and a damn enjoyable experience.