JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4 (2023)
The John Wick films jumped on my radar with John Wick Chapter 2 (which had an incredible ending!) and I loved it! From there I went back and watched the first film to get caught up, purchased both films, and have been there for each film afterwards. I've been doing my part to spread the word about how great these movies are and sharing them with whomever is willing to watch.
Sadly, I missed seeing the first John Wick in theaters, and almost missed the second film too, but I luckily caught it at the tail end of its original theatrical run at a second run theater. And I haven't missed one since! John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum was incredible in my opinion, one of the best domestic action films in years. The epic finale with Keanu Reeves versus Cecep Arif Rahman, Yayan Ruhian (both incredible martial artists from The Raid films), and Mark Dacascos was cinematic brilliance.
A sequel would have big shoes to fill as I'd say each subsequent film in the series either maintained the previous level of excellence or exceeded the film before it. And I must say that JOHN WICK CHAPTER 4 lives up to the high standard set by its predecessors... if only just.
THE SYNOPSIS
After being betrayed by Winston, John has spent the last several months preparing for war. A Marquis of the High Table has emerged, determined to put John Wick in the ground and anyone who stands in his way. Friends and enemies of John's alike find themselves in the crosshairs of the Marquis and countless bodies fall as John Wick fights for his life against the greatest enemy he's ever faced.
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
Hype prior to this movie's release was building the film up as one of the greatest action movies of all time. Listening to such accolades can only let you down for rarely are such hyperbolic statements true. While watching the movie I tried to temper my expectations to something realistic. After the first action sequence in Osaka I was thinking that the hype was overblown. This initial sequence is quite good, with Hiroyuki Sanada being particularly good (he's good in everything he does) and Donnie Yen stealing the show. But after watching many Japanese films, the Osaka set-piece felt more "Hollywood Japan" than real Japan. That was a little disappointing, but what else is there to expect from Hollywood.
But with a runtime of 2 hours and 49 minutes, there was plenty more film left and more opportunity to live up to the hype. And the film only gets better from here. The sequence in Berlin is one of my favorites in the film. Actor Scott Adkins, a guy who I have become a fan of and deserves a major break, appears as the nasty, smarmy, disgusting Killa... and is a pure joy to watch! Scott Adkins takes every second of screen time given to him and uses it to the fullest. For me, he's the standout performer of the entire movie. It's fun, it's thrilling, hilarious, and badass all at once. I was sad to see this sequence come to an end.
Hammering through from one action set-piece to the next, when we finally get to the grand finale it is a four-tiered cake of action indulgence and decadence beyond imagination. Layer one begins with a street chase that starts on foot, then into cars, culminating in a "round-about from Hell" sequence. The second tier is arguably the greatest set-piece in the film and possibly a strong argument for best action sequence from Hollywood in the last decade. It's a mere shoot-out in a dilapidated hotel. But what makes this sequence so special is the cinematography. The way this section is shot is fresh and interesting and different from anything any of the John Wick films have done so far. It's a proof of concept that what could've been just another standard gunfight, if thought through and executed proficiently, can be wild and reinvigorating. Whoever came up with this idea needs to be awarded the highest honor.
The third tier of this incredible finale occurs on the Rue Foyatier, a 222 step stone staircase outside in the dead of night (bizarrely reminiscent of The Exorcist). John Wick battles his way up the stairs in a brutal hard-hitting scene that leaves you aching for the guy. It's proves nearly impossible if not for some unexpected help. Again, this shows that, given the right inspiration, even something as mundane as a set of stairs can be incredibly thrilling in the right hands (I guess Daredevil on Netflix had an epic staircase action sequence prior to this, so I'll give credit to Drew Goddard for that one). And finally, the fourth tier of this bullet layered and blood frosted cake is a classy old school one on one duel. The emotion weighing down this duel, the stakes, and the power behind it are a perfect grand hurrah for a film that, I didn't feel lived up to the hype at first, but by the end completely delivered.
I have no gripes with this film. If I had to state a few disappointments though it would only be in the exclusion or lack of foresight to include characters from the previous films: John Leguizamo, David Patrick Kelly, Common, Angelica Huston, Halle Berry, Cecep Arif Rahman, and Yayan Ruhian. These actors, and by extension their characters, all are still alive (maybe). Had they been included and written adeptly into the script, could've elevated this film and the series as a whole, both paying off beats from previous films and adding far more weight to the events. As is though, John Wick Chapter 4 is excellent despite this. But it could've been even more.
THE VERDICT
My favorite film of the year so far (by a mile), John Wick Chapter 4 deserves all of the praise it's receiving. As a domestic action film, by that I mean Hollywood action film, it is the best in a long time, with plenty of great action set-pieces, inventive ways of showcasing the action cinematically, with show-stealing performances by Scott Adkins, Donnie Yen, and Hiroyuki Sanada. And of course, the man himself, Keanu Reeves. I highly recommend every John Wick film as they are all great with only marginally different levels of quality (I can't decide which one is the best!).
Overall Ranking: 8 out of 10
The Hong Kong Jackie Chan films of yore like Police Story and Drunken Master, along with the Indonesian action films of the last decade (The Raid, The Night Comes For Us) and Japanese and South Korean greats (13 Assassins, Blade of the Immortal, and The Villainess) are still high-watermarks of action cinema, but few domestic films equal the John Wick series (I'd say only Rambo (2008) and Rambo: Last Blood have anything on the John Wicks). I look forward to anything directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch do next. John Wick Chapter 5 has massive shoes to fill.
For my thoughts on more action films, check out the posts below!
JOHN WICK CHAPTER 3: PARABELLUM (2019)
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