John Wick: Kapitel 3 (2019)

John Wick: Kapitel 3: Directed by Chad Stahelski. With Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne. John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassins’ guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.

“Following on from two deliriously entertaining, visually gorgeous and blissfully simplistic thrillers, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum keeps up the franchiseu0026#39;s unique appeal in stunning fashion. Complete with electrifying action, beautiful cinematography, a pulsating score and a great sense of humour, the film is pretty much as purely joyful as action thrillers get, and proves two hours of brilliant entertainment.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBefore I get into all of that, though, one of the greatest things about this franchise is just how simplistic it is. You may have seen John Wick and John Wick: Chapter 2, you may not have done. Going into this third film, however, itu0026#39;s all pretty irrelevant, and while the first two films are certainly worth your time, absolutely anybody can go and watch this movie without any prior knowledge, and simply sit back and watch the fireworks.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe plot is effectively laid out for you in the first ninety seconds of the movie. John Wick is excommunicated, and thereu0026#39;s a $14m bounty on his head. Thatu0026#39;s it. Following that brief bit of exposition are two hours of beautifully simple yet endlessly entertaining action, and while the film does keep you engrossed with its sense of mystery and intrigue surrounding this world of allegiances and deception, itu0026#39;s the thrill of the chase that really matters.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn that, thereu0026#39;s almost never a moment where storytelling takes precedence over action thrills, with the movie bursting into life by way of an exhilarating opening act. However, much like the first two films, not every moment is fighting and shootouts, with the mystery, the tension and the intrigue all playing a part as John Wick encounters numerous people from his past in all manner of different scenarios.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThere are moments in its middle portion that do drag a little more than others, and where the story perhaps gets a little self-indulgent, however thereu0026#39;s no denying just how slick and purely entertaining a thriller this is regardless.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOf course, the action itself is brilliant as well. The opening act is astonishing, filled to the brim with insane action that features seamless fight choreography, brilliant camerawork and a fantastic sense of self-awareness that allows you to laugh at the most ridiculous moments. From then on, the film continues to burst into life with mad, energetic and dazzling action sequences again and again, only furthering the sheer entertainment appeal of the whole affair.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAlso, thereu0026#39;s no getting away from just how good-looking a movie this is. The camerawork in the fight sequences is certainly excellent, but itu0026#39;s the filmu0026#39;s kaleidoscopic colour pallette and slick cinematography that makes it a feast for the eyes, pulling off the style of a pure pulp thriller in brilliant fashion once again, and with a pulsating, intense score playing throughout to boot, youu0026#39;ll definitely be on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAll in all, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum isnu0026#39;t much different from the previous two movies. It isnu0026#39;t the worldu0026#39;s most intricate or intelligent thriller. However, with brilliant energy, dazzling visuals, stunning action and an invaluable sense of fun, absolutely none of that matters, and it instead proves a solidly entertaining, manic and dizzyingly joyful thriller throughout.”