Movie Review -- John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum

  Screw Avengers: Endgame. This is the movie I've been looking forward to seeing in 2019! John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is the latest instalment in what I consider to be the best new action franchise of this decade. The previous film in the series (reviewed February 2017) utterly blew me away and its ending gave this third film plenty to work with as far as story goes. So did Parabellum match the high calibre of its predecessors or has this series fired its last bullet? Let's take a look.

  Chapter 3 starts off right at the end of Chapter 2, with hitman John Wick on the run from countless assassins due to his actions in the previous film. With badguys coming at him from all sides John desperately tries to clear his name with the High Table. It's a plot that continues the world-building we saw in Chapter 2. We meet a few more important characters and we learn a lot more about how the whole secret-society-of-assassins works. For example, being a hitman apparently requires you to frequently mutilate yourself in front of your bosses. We also get some insight into John's origin as well as his real name.

  We're also presented with a load of action scenarios new to the series, such as a chase scene on horseback, a knife fight in the middle of a knife store/armoury, and (basically) ninjas. It's the good old over-the-top action we've come to love about this franchise, and while it doesn't go as far as slapstick territory the film definitely has a sense of humour at times as evidenced by the abundance of attacks to the crotch. The only thing I wasn't too keen on was how it was unclear whether killings in full view of the public were being noticed or not.

  Keanu Reeves returns as the title character and he's in as good a form as ever. However I did notice that the character of John Wick seems a little less sympathetic this time around. All the trouble that he's now in: he brought that upon himself and now he's dealing with the consequences. It's also unclear what his motivation is. In the previous films he was out for revenge or he was doing things that he was obligated to do, but in Parabellum it isn't all that convincing or clear of what it is that he's got to live for. Familiar characters have returned from the previous films – yes, even the dog with no name. Lawrence Fishburne is once again the Bowery King, hamming it up and loving every minute of it. Even Charon, the concierge, gets to kick some ass this time. There's also Halle Berry who plays one of Wick's old assassin buddies. Her acting is merely OK, but at least she's pretty good in the action scenes.

  And when it comes to John Wick movies that's what people go to see isn't it? Yes, the series trademark action makes its triumphant return with its spectacular choreography and breakneck speed thanks to returning director Chad Stahelski. The fight scenes and shootouts are exhilarating: close up and not too shaky, unlike the viewer who will be trying their best to not blink! The rest of the movie has that familiar, modern visual style the series is known for. Even visual elements such as lens flares – which I usually dislike – are used to heighten suspense. Parabellum's sound design also deserves a lot of credit. The thunderous gunshots, the explosive shattering of glass, and the enhanced punch/kick sounds all serve to make the action scenes that much more visceral and impactful.

  And that about sums up John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. It's an intensely fun experience that ups the ante in terms of action spectacle, and a worthy addition to this great franchise. If you didn't care much for the other John Wick films then this one probably won't win you over. But for everyone else, prepare to have your socks knocked off yet again.

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Top 10 Movies of 2017

  2017 is at an end, and it's been a great year for movies. Not a great year for the Hollywood establishment, mind you, but the movies last year were still great. My only regret is that in the past twelve months I focused too much on movies that were good and didn't take the time to go out and take risks. (I mean, watching bad movies sucks but at least it's fun to write reviews about them!) On the plus side, since I saw so many good movies this year, I can finally do a list like this: these are the top 10 best movies of 2017. Before I begin, keep in mind that this list only includes films that I saw in theatres in 2017. I did go to the theatres just 17 times since January so if there's a great movie you don't see here then don't get upset; I probably just didn't see it. (Or I didn't think much of it. You make the call.) Let's get started!

10. Ghost in the Shell

It's not racist, shut up. Ghost in the Shell is a fantastic sci-fi action spectacle with an amazing visual presentation. Fans of flashy, neon, 1980's-looking science-fiction will be very pleased at what imaginative concepts director Rupert Sanders and cinematographer Jess Hall have brought to life on the big screen. While the story of GITS isn't the most original, the film is held together by a strong performance from Scarlett Johansson. Despite knowing nothing about the original source material I found GITS thoroughly entertaining and I can't wait to see it again.

9. Split

(Yes, I'm aware that Split was first released at Fantastic Fest in 2016. But it didn't get released in theatres until this January so its inclusion here is fair. You got that?) I'm not exactly a big fan of M. Night Shyamalan and I knew that I was taking a gamble by going to see one of his films at the cinema. But I was impressed because Split was actually pretty good; the man should stick to thrillers. This unpredictable, claustrophobic flick is well directed and equally as well acted thanks to a standout performance by James McAvoy playing a dude with multiple personalities who kidnaps teenaged girls and locks them in his basement. All in all Split is an effective thriller that doesn't rely on convoluted plots or in-your-face special effects, just back-to-basics storytelling with a neat villain to keep your attention. If it sounds interesting to you at all, go check it out.

8. It

At number eight we've got another scary movie: It. It seems that Hollywood wants us to believe that all horror movies are fair game for a remake, but unfortunately the remakes are usually worse than the originals. It, however, is one of the few exceptions. This retelling of the story of Pennywise the murderous clown goes lighter on the story (and thankfully the run time) and heavier on the scares. The children characters are all well written and since the adult stuff is being saved for the sequel that means that we get more time to know them in this film. The 1980's setting was believable, not overly-done, and the scares were calculated just right. Horror fans rejoice.

7. Wonder Woman

Supergirl (1984). Tank Girl (1995). Barb Wire (1996). Catwoman (2004). Elektra (2005). Superhero/comic book movies centred around female characters don't have a very good track record, do they? So who better to buck the trend than the Amazing Amazon, herself one of the earliest superheroines. With its spectacular action scenes, neat setting, capable direction, compelling (some might say inspirational) main character, and superb performances from Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, Wonder Woman has also done wonders to make the DC Extended Universe enjoyable. This is largely thanks to its somewhat more lighthearted tone, something that this year's Justice League has also picked up on. It is true that Wonder Woman borrows a lot from 2011's Captain America. As to which one of those two films is better, it's up in the air... along with the invisible jet.

6. John Wick: Chapter 2

Since this movie came out on blu-ray I've rewatched it several times and it never gets old. The mind-blowingly well-choreographed and energetic action scenes are the most excitement I've seen in a film since the Darth Maul lightsaber duel in The Phantom Menace. Apart from that John Wick: Chapter 2 boasts intriguing world-building, spot-on acting from Keanu Reeves, kickass musical scoring, and distinctive visual styling. Since seeing this film in February I have watched the first film and while I found it to be very enjoyable I believe that the second instalment is the superior action experience. I simply cannot stress how refreshingly fun this film felt during my first viewing. To me it looks as if John Wick is set up to be one of the 2010s' best new action series.

5. The Disaster Artist

Haha, what a story, Greg. The Disaster Artist is a movie I've been waiting years to see and its arrival in December didn't disappoint. The story behind the making of The Room (2003) had a lot of potential, both comedic and poignant. This is something the writers and director (James Franco himself) knew well since the final product achieves weird hilarity and touching bromance/inspiration. Franco gives one of the most truly memorable performances of his career as Tommy Wiseau, a weirdo driven to succeed that you'll end up both loving and despising during this film's 103 minutes run time. I was slightly disappointed that there was some stuff from the book left out, but I do understand that it was sacrificed for the sake of a smooth pace. All in all, The Disaster Artist is a charming and fun feel-good flick. I would recommend seeing The Room first, but those who've not seen will still find this one enjoyable.

4. Logan

I've really liked Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. He's one of those few actors who's played the same character in so many movies that you can't imagine anyone else playing the role. It seems fitting that Jackman's (purportedly) final outing as Logan is his best. Imagine 2013's The Wolverine but with even more gritty badassery, more down-to-earth action set pieces, and a bigger emotional stake and you've got Logan, one of the very few movies I've gone to the theatre to see twice. It's violent, but also very emotional. It is easily the best X-Men movie in my opinion, and perhaps one of the best superhero films ever. If you like gritty R-rated action films or if you're looking for a superhero film that does things differently, then you need to check this one out.

3. Baby Driver

Even though I gave Baby Driver a 5-star review (which I still stand by) I wasn't quite sure where to put it on this list. Yes, it's an excellent film that's a lot of fun to watch thanks to its brisk pace, energetic camerawork, cool soundtrack, pulse-pounding action scenes, and lively characters. But the reason my review of it was so short was because there wasn't much to say about it in depth. Instead Baby Driver is an exercise in pure genre, taking all the best elements of crime-action films and packaging them into a sleek and stylish overall product. If you haven't had the chance to go see this one yet, do yourself a favour and check it out, because out of all the films on this list Baby Driver is easily the most enjoyable.

2. Dunkirk

For number two on this list we have the highest grossing WWII film ever made. Dunkirk tells the story of the allied evacuation from three different perspectives: soldiers on the beach, fighter pilots in the air, and sailors coming across the channel. It's a marvellous setup that provides plenty of moments of tense action as well as director Christopher Nolan's signature time-bending plots. His impeccable eye for spectacular cinematography is evident here, giving the audience a good look of working WWII-vintage props in action; CGI was used very sparingly. And of course Hans Zimmer contributes a soundtrack, this one adding a pulsating anxiety to the mix. This adherence to visceral realism makes the action sequences very gripping, recreating an authentic battlefield experience. And don't take my word for it; I took my grandfather with me on my second viewing. Having been a young boy in England during the war and serving in the RCAF, he confirmed that this film's aerial warfare was true to life (except for that gliding shoot-down near the end). On the whole, Dunkirk is one of Nolan's best films to date and will likely be remembered as one of the best war films of this century.

1. Blade Runner 2049

As good as Dunkirk was, my choice for 2017's best film was an easy one. In an age of slap-dash sequel cash-ins Blade Runner 2049 was made by people who truly cared for and respected the masterpiece that was the original Blade Runner from 1982. The story told in this cerebral sequel – which will turn your expectations upside down – builds upon and adds to the world set up in the original rather than just recycling the same plot and world elements. The visual effects are of the highest quality and they bring to life some of the most mind-boggling concepts and breathtaking environments. Sure, it doesn't look much like the classic 1980's film we remember, but this sequel takes place 30 years later so it makes sense in the context of the world 2049 takes place in. It's a great way of staying consistent within the series while at the same time showing us something new. This also comes from the dazzling visuals of director Denis Villeneuve and cinematographer Roger Deacons; few directors could have done a better job with such a project. Overall, Blade Runner 2049 is a remarkable achievement in sci-fi film and it's a real shame that it didn't do so well at the box office. It isn't most necessary sequel ever, but it is definitely a worthwhile one.

Movie Review - John Wick: Chapter 2

   Can we just take a moment to admire this movie's poster? I love it. I mean, there's countless film posters out there that show nothing but the main character's face and – just like one-word movie titles – tell you nothing of what the movie is about. But the poster for John Wick: Chapter 2 does it right. In addition to providing insight into the film's blend of humour and over-the-top action, the poster tells us everything we need to know about this movie: it has people in suits, it has lots of shooting, and everyone wants John Wick dead. And never have I been more thrilled to see a film deliver what it promises!

   John Wick: Chapter 2 follows John Wick, a former hitman who's brought back for one last job but soon finds himself getting more than he bargained for. I have to admit I have not seen the first John Wick (2014), though it is on my to-watch list. To be honest, I wish I had seen it earlier since this movie makes references to things and follows a culture/set of rules already established in the previous film. In fact, it took me a while to figure out what the title character was supposed to be (A spy? A supersoldier? A hitman?). While these thoughts were at the back of my mind the whole time, this didn't impede my ability to enjoy the film.

   Instead I was busy picking up my jaw from the mind-blowing hyper-active action scenes. Balls to the wall doesn't even begin to describe it! The action in John Wick 2 is so good. It's very fast paced, compressing its intensity almost to the breaking point, yet it still remains watchable. It goes for a slightly preposterous, over-the-top feel, which works well with the world this film plays in. The action scenes are brilliantly choreographed, which I think makes the hand-to-hand combat more fun to watch than the shootout parts. One minor complaint I have is that John Wick seems kind of invincible during the shootout parts, which robs those scenes of tension (mind you, he still has difficulty in taking out bad guys). They're still fun, though.

   John Wick 2 is a movie that oozes with style. Fancy-looking shots, bright lights, an electric soundtrack, and a trippy final action scene go a long way to really give this movie some soul. There's also a dog. Neat, huh?

   Speaking of characters, Keanu Reeves does a fantastic job of playing the title character, a man of few words who can still get the job done despite his reluctance to do so. The determination and intensity he brings to the role defies his 52 years. The side characters are also pretty interesting, especially the hobo/genius crime lord played by Lawrence Fishburne, the obsessed bodyguard played by Common, and the mute assassin/bodyguard chick played by Ruby Rose.

   And that's it, I guess. I wish I could have come up with more to say about John Wick: Chapter 2, but there really isn't much to say other than “go watch it”. This is one of the best, most energetic, and skillfully directed action movies I've seen in a long time. It helps if you've seen the first movie, but it isn't required for having a good time with this one. For fans of shoot-em-up movies it doesn't get much better than this.

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