JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of its first film in 2014, the John Wick films have become one of the most successful action-based franchises, with each film receiving critical praise and impressing at the box office. A common trait with most sequels is that the quality decreases and they fail to match the quality of its predecessors, however, is that the case for John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum?

uper-assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin's guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world's most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.

The follow-up to John Wick: Chapter 2 is just as successful as its predecessors as it features more of the same, including exciting action sequences, violent fights and a fierce leading performance from Reeves as the titular character. 

Prior to watching Parabellum, I was concerned that, because it features more of the same, it would become boring. Fortunately, I was proven wrong. The fight and action sequences are where Parabellum is at its best. Those who are hoping for more violent fights will not be disappointed with ‘Parabellum’. With so many assassins after him, Wick must think quickly and use the nearest weapons in order to defend himself. In an early scene, Wick finds himself in a room filled with revolvers from the 19th century. Desperately, he swaps parts of the revolvers, listens to the mechanisms as he twirls the cylinders and cocks the different hammers. This is a homage to a similar scene in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly where Eli Wallach’s character, Tuco, is assembling revolver to suit his taste. Those who simply watch the John Wick films for its exhilarating action and intense fight sequences will be impressed with what returning director, Chad Stahelski, has delivered.

Last year, a picture that was released saw Wick riding a horse during one chase sequence. This immediately had people interested and wanting to see Parabellum just for that scene alone and, fortunately, it doesn’t disappoint and is one of the most memorable chase sequences.

One thing I think that the John Wick films have lacked in is a strong female presence. In the first sequel, there was Ruby Rose, who portrayed Ares, a mute assassin, unfortunately, her character was undeveloped. Parabellum features several female characters, including the Adjudicator of the High Table (Asia Kate Dillion), who seeks to punish those who helped Wick, the Director (Anjelica Huston) and Sofia (Halle Berry), an assassin who helps Wick in his desperate time of need. Of the three, Berry leaves a lasting impression and shows off her strong fighting skills. I’m always disappointed when female characters are written as solely a love interest for the male protagonist and I’m happy this wasn’t the case for Parabellum, which shows that Wick is still very much in love with his late wife, who passed away in the beginning of the first film, and has no time in his life for romance.

Apart from its thrilling action sequences, the main reason why the John Wick films are so successful is because of its main character and Reeves' performance. Wick is a compelling figure and has been developed into an interesting individual. The films also feature several memorable supporting characters, including Winston, the manager of the Continental hotel, Charon (Lance Reddik), who is the concierge, and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne). For the first two films, Charon mostly provided comic relief in between the action, however, he is finally given more to do, especially during the final climax where he helps Wick defend the Continental from assassins.

Despite only being released a week ago, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum has already received impressive success, including a positive reception from critics. It's also knocked Avengers: Endgame off the top spot at the box office. This has lead to a fourth instalment being announced and is due to be released in May 2021. 

Overall, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is a successful sequel and features more of the same, including thrilling action, violent fight sequences, and a strong performance from Keanu Reeves as the compelling titular character.

7/10