Posted by Widower goes on killing spree after being fired from organisation
Well… This is awkward. I seem to have left without a word.
But I’m back now. How’s life? Still kicking ass? Hope you’ve all been as well as possible over the last 8 or so months.
Life has been a little heavy on my side. Unfortunately, I lost an aunt who was very dear to me and the family. She was taken well before her time after a short battle with cancer. Therefore, it made sense to take a little break from the blog.
Having seen John Wick 4 recently, it encouraged me to return. My aunt was a huge Keanu Reeves fan. And I mean HUGE. So, it seems appropriate to return to the blog in honor of my aunt’s love for Mr Reeves!
It’s been that long since I watched John Wick 3 I completely forgot what had happened. However, a YouTube video later and I was fully onboard again:
- John Wick loses wife
- Wife leaves him dog
- Bad men kill dog to steal car (Wick’s car, not the dog’s)
- Wick comes out of hitman retirement to kill dog-killers
- Killing happens
- Wick owes some guy a favour
- More killing happens
- Wick is hunted for breaking a rule
- Even more killing happens
- Halle Berry makes an appearance
- Lots more killing happens
- Wick is betrayed by father-like-figure
- Setting up even more killing for this movie
Simple stuff. To be fair I don’t watch the John Wick series for the plot. Aside from the dog being killed, everything else takes a backseat to the wonderful fight choreography.
I have to admit though, I was surprised at how quickly Wick forgives and forgets being betrayed by his father-like-figure, Winston. I think there’s a brief conversation and they become best friends.
After the conclusion of the last movie, I thought there’d be more of a team up with Reeves’s Wick and Laurence Fishbourne’s Bowery King. Good ol’ Neo and Morpheus back at it. However, I was a bit disappointed that Fishbourne doesn’t really feature much in this movie. Opportunity missed if you ask me.
Not long after getting comfortable in my seat, the movie began and there was a fight sequence. I wondered at this point if the fighting would get repetitive and tiring. But my gosh. The action got better and better throughout. The addition of Caine – a blind gun-fu specialist – was amazing. It was so fun watching new and inventive ways of fighting. It’s pretty much like watching a video game – you (or the character) overcome an obstacle and suddenly you’re thrust into the next level.
I don’t know about anyone else but there’s something therapeutic about watching good fight choreography.
If only The Matrix Resurrections took a leaf out of the action in the John Wicks franchise. This movie showed Keanu Reeves still has it in him, he just wasn’t utilised in the recent Matrix sequel.
The conclusion of this film wraps everything up nicely. I kind of feel they should stop here but this is Hollywood. I hear there’s talks of a 5th movie and several spin offs. Does everything need to be a universe now? Even the MCU is struggling with its recent efforts of world-building. That’s just my selfish view though – money needs to be made goddammit!
And that’s that for a brief return to reviewing a movie. Not going to lie – I’ve felt very rusty writing this. Apologies for any decline in quality – just when you thought the bar couldn’t get any lower! Hopefully going forward I’ll find a bit more rhythm.
What I will say is life is very short, try not to take anything for granted and let those close to you feel the love. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, if there’s something you want to do, something you want to say, do it today – because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. Clichéd, yes – but still true.
Verdict
Despite being a fan of the John Wick series, I enjoyed this movie far more than I thought I would. Keanu kicks ass once more, sealing his growing status as an action movie star. I very rarely award anything top marks, but in honour of my aunt and her love for Keanu Reeves I’m going all in and giving John Wick: Chapter 4 a full 5/5 stars.