John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum review – Mr T’s take

An action-packed third instalment to one of the most iconic action franchises of this decade. This John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum review is brought to you by AboutFlick’s Mr T.

Director: Chad Stahelski

I’ll be the first to admit. Before John Wick came out in 2014, I had very little hopes from it. And now in 2019, I think it’s safe to say that the John Wick series is one of the most iconic action franchises of our time. Getting back to the review, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum starts off right after the events of its 2017 predecessor as John faces the consequences for breaking the rules of the High Table. With a $14 million bounty on his head, Wick battles his way through the streets of New York as he becomes the target of some of merciless assassins the world has to offer.

At 54, Keanu Reeves proves age is just a number. He takes on the demanding action sequences as if it’s child’s play. It’s just impossible to imagine anyone else as John Wick. I know I might upset some of you, but this might be the role that Reeves will be known for, even more than Neo in The Matrix. Acting heavyweights like Ian McShane, Lance Reddick and Laurence Fishburne reprise their roles and add depth to the story. Halle Berry plays Sofia, a character who is not to be messed with and her energy packed scenes are some of the best in the movie. Other newcomers include Anjelica Huston and Jerome Flynn as an underworld Russian mother figure and an Italian authority respectively.

But enough talk about characters, I guess you want to know about the action. There is action in the movie, plenty of it. There is no point in keeping track of the body count. If you’ve seen the films before it, you know what I am talking about. And for those of you who haven’t, John would seem to you to be a cross between The Punisher, Daredevil and Captain America. He knows his way around weapons, gets beaten down often, but refuses to give up.

As I’ve mentioned before, the John Wick series is one of the best action franchises of this decade and one which does not sacrifice storytelling at the altar of mass appeal. And though it feels familiar and doesn’t quite match up to the first two parts, the third instalment in the series ups the ante in terms of technical prowess helmed by stunt double turned action director Chad Stahelski. The resulting piece is sometimes ridiculous, often stylish, but never unentertaining.

Rating: My rating for John Wick: Chapter 3 is a solid 4/5.

Who is this film for: This movie is for action lovers who don’t want to sacrifice on a coherent plot. Also check out John Wick parts 1 and 2 (2014 & 2017), the Matrix Trilogy (1999-2003), The Punisher (2017), Atomic Blonde (2017), Sin City (2005) and Mad Max: Fury Road (2015).