“Si vis pacem, para bellum.” —Winston
Today’s quick review: John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. After breaking the rules of the Continental, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is cut off from the organization’s services and left to fend for himself. With every assassin in New York gunning for the bounty on his head, John must call on allies from his past to stay alive. But his task is complicated by an Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) sent by the High Table to punish anyone who has helped him.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum is an action movie in the purest sense of the term. Picking up minutes after the end of Chapter 2, Parabellum deals with the fallout of John’s choices in the previous film. Injured, isolated, and hunted by every assassin in the city, John now faces the full might of the High Table, a powerful criminal syndicate. Stylish presentation, outstanding stunts, and a unique world make Parabellum an excellent pick.
Like the prior John Wick movies, Parabellum has some of the sharpest action in the genre. Fights are tightly choreographed dances of death as John uses guns, fists, and a variety of improvised weaponry to kill dozens of skilled foes. The stunts in Parabellum continue to innovate. Even the most basic exchanges make inventive use of the weapons at the characters’ disposal, while a parade of interesting environments keeps the action feeling fresh.
Parabellum is no less notable for its sense of style. It takes place in a slick and mysterious world of assassins, power, and honor, where John Wick’s storied past comes with as many complications as it does opportunities. Opulent locations, ironclad traditions, and an entire underground economy built on favors make watching the film an engrossing experience. The new additions to the world fit right in without overplaying the series’ hand.
Yet another point in Parabellum’s favor is its cast. Returning characters include Winston (Ian McShane), Charon (Lance Reddick), and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne). The newcomers fit right in: an Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon) sent to enforce the High Table’s will; Zero (Mark Dacascos), an assassin hired to kill John; and Sofie (Halle Berry), an old ally of John’s whose unique fighting style makes her one of the film’s standouts.
The one notable drawback of Parabellum is its credibility. The movie stretches the series’ suspension of disbelief even farther than Chapter 2. While the movie does a good job of keeping the viewer’s attention on the action and not any potential plot holes, the way the series takes pains to ignore the mundane world becomes more obvious as the stakes get higher. Action fans won’t mind much, but sticklers for plot logic will have a hard time.
Another minor flaw is the lack of a clear direction for the plot. Parabellum begins with an excellent source of tension but never sets up a clear plan for how to resolve it. John reacts more than he acts, and the times he does manage to get ahead of the curve, he’s hamstrung by split loyalties and indecision. The result is a bottom-up plot that has some great individual sequences but isn’t as cohesive or focused as that of the prior two films.
Watch John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum if you are a fan of the sleek, violent side of the action genre. Parabellum continues the series’ tradition of top-tier stunt work and solid world building, making it an almost ideal popcorn watch for those interested in what it has to offer. Slight issues with its plot and logic may hurt it in the eyes of story aficionados, but those in it for the action and style will get everything they’re hoping for.
For more fanciful, comedy-tinged action of a similar caliber, try the Kingsman series. For gritty, violent action with similarly skillful stunt work, try The Raid. For a more offbeat violent action movie with some of the same appeal, try Kill Bill. For a cruder, more eclectic action movie that toys with a similar premise, try Smokin’ Aces.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for stellar action, a unique setting, and a talented cast.