John Wick 3
“Si vis pacem, para bellum” – “If you want peace, prepare for war”
(Latin saying… also Winston’s comment in the film “John Wick 3”)
Ugh, brother John Wick really doesn’t have it easy. He killed Santino D’Antonio (Camorra), who after his sister’s death became a member of the “High Table” Council, and he did it on the territory of the “Continental” hotel, which is considered neutral ground. John is marked for death by the “High Table,” which means his fate is sealed. Not only is the hunt for him still open by all underworld mercenaries, but the Council doubled the reward for whoever whacks John, whose head is now priced at 14 million dollars.
To make the situation even worse, by killing on hotel territory, John is declared excommunicado, which denies him all services of all “Continental” hotels. However, manager Winston, as a sign of (former) friendship, gives him 60 minutes head start before he’s declared excommunicado and the “hunt” is opened on him. In translation, John has an hour before assassins start attacking him from all sides (though the question is whether everyone will be that patient). And no, he can’t count on help from the Bowery King, who decides to respect the High Table’s decisions.
John is in a desperate situation, and so pulls the last aces from his sleeve. He secures the dog safely for the remaining gold coins, then goes to the New York public library, where he takes a medallion (marker) and rosary from a dusty book.
But 60 minutes have expired, and the chase begins.
It’s not enough for John that Russians and Italians were chasing him, now Chinese and Japanese join the hunt for him too.
John must now simultaneously fight his former colleagues by the principle of bullet in the head (or something worse) and flee from large crowds of mercenaries.
He somehow manages to reach the head of the criminal organization Ruska Roma (who’s also an opera director), and uses the rosary as a “ticket,” which allows him to fulfill one request. On that occasion we also learn that John Wick’s real name is Jardani Jovonovich (Russian: Джордани Йованович, Belarusian: Ярдані Яванавіч) and that he was born in Padhorje, Belarus (Soviet Union) on September 2, 1964, and that he was a member of Ruska Roma, and that he now asks them for help in exchange for never being their member again. All he asks in return is that they enable him to reach Casablanca (Morocco).
However, the situation changes on many fields. Winston and the Bowery King are visited by a High Table representative – the Adjudicator, who makes assessments (of situations) for the Council. She determines that both the hotel manager and the king of beggars are (each in their own way) guilty of oversights and/or helping John Wick in the murder of a “High Table” member (if you remember, Santino was killed in Winston’s hotel, and the Bowery King provided John with a pistol and seven bullets), and that they’ll be removed from their functions and have several days to “sort out” their business. However, will these two be willing to quietly step down from the thrones of their kingdoms…
And the opera director won’t go unpunished for helping John either…
Meanwhile, the Adjudicator engages Zero, a Japanese ninja-style assassin to “assist” her with the hotel manager, Bowery King and opera director, but also with John Wick when the time comes.
Meanwhile, on hot African soil, John finds former friend/assassin Sofia, now manager of the Moroccan “Continental” hotel… and shows her the medallion (marker) and calls on her to fulfill her part of the deal and now return the favor to him. And all he wants is to reach the Elder, the only person above the “High Table.”
And what John wants from the Elder and how the meeting with him will define his fate, you’ll find out if you watch “John Wick 3” (John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum). 🙂
As in the previous parts, the madness continues. John now doesn’t choose means to defend himself from the onslaught of opponents. He’ll have to use all knowledge of martial arts to defend himself from various kung fu maniacs, will swing axes at opponents, throw knives at them, shoot from all kinds of firearms. He’ll fight assassins on foot, motorcycle… and even on horseback!
But John won’t be alone the whole time. Since Sofia will snap at one point because of her former boss’s behavior, she’ll again become John’s (temporary) ally in fighting with crowds of enemies. But Sofia, besides being equally dangerous with firearms as John, also has one very powerful ace – her dogs. Sofia is always accompanied by two Belgian shepherds, who react only to Sofia’s commands… and if she commands them something, they turn into two dogs from hell who pounce on Sofia’s opponents, whether to confuse or disable them (so Sofia can “confirm” them in the head with a bullet)… or send them to the other world themselves by pouncing on their throats… or groins. Sofia’s action choreographies with her two dogs are brilliantly executed.
As for action scenes (besides the slaughter in Casablanca), the showdowns within the hotel definitely should be mentioned, as well as on the secret floor that’s all glass (but I won’t reveal who all he’ll face, because it’s a heavy spoiler for the second half of the film).
John will at one point exchange dark and rainy American territory for exotic (desert) and hot Morocco, with all its charms, music and architecture, which is a really nice refreshment for the film.
The film reveals the location of another “Continental” hotel to us, as well as a bit more history behind the underworld and its hired assassins, as well as the significance of Adjudicators, the power of the “High Table,” as well as the mysterious Elder.
And there are also hidden motives of many participants, so expect various upheavals and backstabbing…
As for acting, Keanu Reeves maintained enthusiasm from previous films, and I think there’s nothing else to add. He’s truly at the level of every task, the man does almost all action scenes (keep in mind he was almost 55 years old during work on this film, and it’s truly incredible how youthfully this legend looks and behaves) and seems not to get tired of filming (action) films at all. Truly respect and whatever many think, a great actor.
Halle Berry as Sofia… I mean what to say about this talented and beautiful actress who ages like the finest wine that exists! Do you believe this Oscar winner is only two years younger than Keanu Reeves?! At almost 53 years old (during filming) she too performs all kinds of action craziness in the film, and moreover in coordination with dogs that faithfully follow her. And on top of all that she looks incredibly sexy. A real refreshment and contrast to Reeves’s John.
Quirky American actor and martial arts master Mark Dacascos (“Brotherhood of the Wolves,” “Warrior,” “Hawaii 5-0”) is interesting in the role of Zero, an eccentric Japanese assassin who, on one hand, would gladly kill John Wick, and on the other hand is his biggest fan (as are his two students, known as Shinobi) and his showdown with John is very dynamic, accompanied by unusual comments.
We shouldn’t forget Ian McShane as hotel manager Winston and Lance Reddick as hotel concierge Charon, who now got solid screen time, especially in the film’s finale. The scene where the always calm Charon becomes slightly annoyed by his assessment of enemies is hilarious.
Laurence Fishburne is completely in his element as the Bowery King, with always exaggerated (almost theatrical) reactions and comments.
Honorable mention deserved (though their roles are short) by Oscar winner Anjelica Huston as the opera director, Tiger Chen as a mercenary (who, by the way, was the main hero in the film “Man of Tai Chi” where Keanu Reeves had his directorial debut) and none other than giant Boban Marjanović as professional assassin Ernest! 🤣
The film maintained the quality of previous “John Wick” parts from visual and musical aspects. Dark, raw, neo-noir stylized… just how you’d imagine the world of professional assassins.
“John Wick 3” simply has all those elements that made the previous parts excellent. This franchise proved so successful that a green light was given for the spin-off film “Ballerina” (expected next year) and mini-series “Continental” (scheduled for this year). Keanu himself stated he’s willing to film movies about John Wick as long as there’s interest, and it seems the audience won’t mind watching over-the-top action with Baba Yaga in upcoming ones too.
As far as I’m concerned, absolute recommendation and a great overture for an even better fourth part of the franchise!
And of course, a few interesting facts for the end of the review:
- Keanu started training four months before filming
- Halle Berry broke three ribs during filming
- The scene where John Wick assembles a revolver from different parts is a homage to this film
- John’s comment “Guns. Lots of guns” was also once said by Neo in the film “Matrix” (also played by Keanu)
And you, dear reader, are you familiar with the Latin saying that’s the leitmotif of the film? 🙂
Trailer | Imdb | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic
Format: Film | Premiere: 2019 | Runtime: 130 minutes
