By the time a franchise reaches its fourth movie, with spin-offs and sequels already in production, it’s the belief of many that everything after that point won’t be high-quality. Franchises like “The Matrix” series or the “Cars” movies started to lose their luster at the third installment, setting a standard for poor expectations. By that logic, we could assume that the fourth movie in the well-known “John Wick” franchise wouldn’t quite live up to the lofty expectations set for it. Far and away, it has broken this bad pattern and far exceeded expectations.
Ever since the original film, known simply as “John Wick”, the franchise has set the standard for what action in Hollywood should be. Director Chad Stahelski and main star Keanu Reeves have a wealth of knowledge on just how to make a movie look incredible, and they've delivered expertly choreographed, shot and edited masterpieces. “John Wick 4” is a treat for the eyes and ears as every gunshot reverberates and every frame of the camera is packed full of dynamic color and hidden details.
The action is on point as expected, serving up big explosions and well-choreographed fight scenes just as grisly and heart-racing as the previous three films. From thrilling car chases through the streets of cities like New York, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin to brawls with the neo-noir High Table, the suspense never lets up, delivering scene after scene of pure adrenalin.
Some action films choose to prioritize visuals and choreography, leaving the storytelling behind, but “John Wick 4” continues the legacy of the first three films by crafting an interesting, often surprising, and thrilling story. The character of John Wick has continued to evolve over the four movies. In the first film, he was driven by his desire to get revenge for the death of his dead wife’s final gift, a puppy. He’s then swept up into the international league of assassins led by the mysterious and dangerous High Table. Over the coming movies, Wick just wants to live a peaceful life away from the high-stakes world of contract killing, but he is continually drawn back by the massive bounty placed upon his head by the High Table in “John Wick 3 - Parabellum”.
Characters in “John Wick” are fleshed out with meaningful backstories, and without spoiling too much, the villain of “John Wick 4”, a blind assassin named Caine, is one of the most threatening and dynamic characters the series has to offer. The conflict is real, the character relationships are believable, and even when the movie occasionally asks its viewers to suspend disbelief, it does so in a way that sustains the movie’s flow and makes as much sense as it can.
All in all, “John Wick 4” is an incredible, action-packed thrill ride that should be watched by as many people as possible. With a spin-off film and an origin series for the famous Continental Hotel, there’s a lot to be excited for in the next chapters of the “John Wick” universe.
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