'John Wick: Chapter 4' Review: Inject This Movie Into My Veins
After delivering three of the best action movies of the last decade, you might think that the John Wick franchise is in danger of dying. After all, how long can such a large flow last? However , John Wick: Chapter 4 proves that these films have the same limitless power and seemingly invincible heroes. With more action, new additions to the cast, and a consistent performance from Keanu Reeves, John Wick: Season 4 can stand the test of time as the best John Wick movie.
We return to the impeccably dressed assassin John Wick (Reeves) as he continues his quest to take down the crime lords known as the High Table. As always, the odds are against him. He was banished, so he no longer has his privileges and access to the underworld, and a $14 million bounty is placed on his head. To make matters worse, High Table reveals that Gramont Marcus (Bill Skarsgård) is a ruthless emissary who will stop at nothing to rid John Wick of his darkest ideas. The relentless hunt for the marquis sends John from the nightclubs of Berlin to the Osaka Continental through the famous streets of Paris with one goal - to make his way to freedom.
John Wick: Season 4 reaches its peak with a new cast of characters.
© Courtesy of Mashable John Wick after a tense conversation with CainReeves is still excellent as the basis for a John Wick film , and returning actors Laurence Fishburne (as King Bowery) and Ian McShane (as Winston) continue to chew their scenes for every ounce of drama they're worth. But Season 4 is the franchise's debut with newcomers like Skarsgård and Donnie Yen.
As the main antagonist of the film, Skarsgård gives a great performance that makes him hateable. The marquis is dressed in the most elegant clothes, like a "degenerate dictator" - sometimes shiny, sometimes velvet, all motley. Whether he's hanging out in the Louvre or doing bloody things on his own balcony, he's sickening to look at, and Vic couldn't be more different.
Cain (Yen), the blind assassin sent by the Marquis to kill Wick, is the opposite. Kane has a lot in common with Wick's old friend John Wick. Both tried to escape from the underworld to spend time with their loved ones. For John, his deceased wife was Helen. For Ken, his daughter's life will be decided if Ken doesn't do as he is told. So when given the choice between saving his daughter or saving an old friend, of course he tries to kill Wick. The legendary Jane gives a great performance here, while Kane displays a reserved sense of responsibility and a clear respect for his profession. She and John have lived parallel lives, so when the two swords (or guns) cross, the result is nothing short of explosive.
The rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Another legend, Hiroyuki Sanada, brings deep seriousness to his role as Osaka Continental's boss, Shimazu. He, Wick, and even Ken have some sort of brotherly bond, though only Shimazu chose to side with Wick. Honestly, I could have watched these three talk - and fight - for hours.
As Shimazu's daughter and doorman Akira, pop star Rina Sawayama exudes an endless freshness. However, he and Sanada find that the separation of evil provides a compelling look at the father-daughter bond in a gritty crime thriller. Elsewhere, Shamier Anderson proves an interesting addition as Tracker, the one who decides to put a bounty on John's head. She has a very important John Wick : a wonderful dog with whom she has a great relationship. Finally, there's Scott Adkins, whose greasy clothes don't detract from his fun performance as the owner of the Killa Club.
John Wick: Chapter 4 contains the best action sequences of the franchise.
© Mashable Keanu Reeves in one of his many amazing fight scenes .With all these new allies and adversaries, John Wick: Season 4 intends to do what John Wick does best. Create thrilling action that will make your jaw drop to the floor with every head and kick. .
It wouldn't be a John Wick movie without gun fu, but John Wick: Season 4 includes archery, full-on MMA fights, and modern sword fights. The latter is especially effective when Jen and Sanada are on the screen. And of course Reeves shines, whether he's reloading a gun hard or hitting someone over the head with a submarine.
Want more of the latest entertainment ? Sign up for the Mashable Top Stories newsletter today.
The entire film is a showcase for director Chad Stahelski, one of the best action directors out there today - especially the final hours. The extended battle sequence uses the image of God to guide us through a Paris apartment, giving us a map of the battle below. The car chase and shootout around the Arc de Triomphe is an adrenaline rush like no other. Then there's an action sequence involving their scene in my theater that had me tearing up and tearing up in equal measure.
In Stahelski's hands, even non-fight scenes have the same power as violent action scenes. In this fiendishly fun card game with Killa, every thunderous turn of the card feels like a blow. The conversation between John Wick and the marquee is tense. John Wick: Season 4 may be three hours long, but when every scene has so much potential and is so beautifully executed, the runtime flies by.
John Wick: Season 4 is incredibly boring.
© Powered by Mashable How long can John Wick last?John Wick: Chapter 4 will stay with you—and not just because of Reeve's surprise kills and one-liners. It's a film that continues to document the death of John Wick and what it takes to get rid of it, but the story is especially poignant when it comes to the match in Cain.
The day before the important battle, Kane tells John that he is "cursed". They both say they want their freedom, but now that they've come out of retirement to destroy countless lives, is there freedom for them? Or will they always return to this horrible world?
I know, I know... it's a John Wick movie; It is not necessary to come here for philosophy lessons. Still, Death and Remorse looms large over this episode more than any other, thanks to the brilliant way the film manages to approach its finale. Fear, excitement and struggle await you until the last shot. It's a testament to the power of John Wick: Chapter 4 that the action sequences are not only over-the-top, but also underpinned by relatable emotions.
John Wick: Season 4 hits theaters March 24.
