I Watch Films: John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum

 

John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum

What to say about this film that I didn’t say before? Having recently watched John Wick and John Wick Chapter 2 I have a new appreciation for John’s conversation with the Elder who stands above the High Table. That he wishes to keep alive the memory of his wife and their love, no matter how much that might cost, no matter what that might mean. And then to have his loyalty immediately tested and he has to choose.

Yet the structure of the film does not seem to appreciate this. In the first film John explains why the dog means so much (unnecessary, as it’s already been acted) before then being rescued by a friend and going on to complete his revenge; the friend is then killed and John goes back to avenge him as well, the cycle of revenge never ends, vengeance is like a river, before setting out on revenge dig two graves, sorry, not two, two hundred etc.

But in this film John explains that he will do anything to preserve this memory of love, is told to kill his old friend and mentor, goes back to New York and then decides not to kill him because he’s his old friend and mentor. So this is something he won’t do? If you’re going to have John Wick deliver one speech about what he wants from this fairy tale underworld of assassins, maybe have it comment on what he actually does in the film.

Fairy tale is sort of the key here. That there is a secret New York within New York, that ordinary appearing sushi chefs and beggars are also assassins, carrying out their missions while ordinary people walk by obliviously. (What crime does this underworld commit, that it never impinges on everyday life?) That there is a guy in the desert who comes to you when you are dying and can give you what you want – at the cost of everything you have. That there are deals to be struck and bargains that have power.

Lot of good action scenes, though the various museum and gallery sections of the Continental felt over the top.

Watch This: Exquisite action thriller with fairy tale logic
Don’t Watch This: Violent, inexplicable, full of betrayal