John Wick 4 Is Why We Love Movies

this hit goes out to you Mr Wick when I got out of John Wick chapter four I stepped outside and went full Ric Flair mode undoubtedly the best film of the franchise since the original John Wick 4 is such an unapologetically masculine hulking monster of unabashed testosterone-infused Awesomeness there isn't anything in recent memory that's gonna match up I absolutely not the past couple years of big Blockbusters have been hindered by an absurd amount of BS but we were rewarded for our patients well I didn't have any but still by the unflappable entertainment deliverer Tom Cruise in Top Gun Maverick it was hailed by many as the savior of Cinema something the world of film desperately needed and John Wick chapter 4 is next up in helping to re-establish Cinema as a force to be reckoned with something worthy of your time worthy of your attention worthy of your hard-earned money there are so many genres subgenres and different styles of film any one of them done right can reignite even the most cynical of cynics flame For the Love of movies I'm here to tell you John Wick chapter 4 is one of those films this is why we love movies folks a B-movie story concept made by the best in the business it's nothing short of one of the greatest action films ever made thanks in no small part to the unbelievably talented choreographers working on this film gorgeous cinematography and synchromatic music a simple story with Intrigue bubbling underneath with satisfying setups and payoffs supporting characters that pop off the screen with Charisma played by a Dreamcast of actors in almost every role and a stoic lead actor who leans into his strengths while brushing off his weaknesses as a love letter to Sergio Leone's Western Samurai badassery and film Noir the testosterone bleeding out of the screen means you'll walk out of John Wick 4 with a full-on beard and an undying need to sign up for jiu jitsu [Applause] it's a film and franchise that knows exactly what it is doesn't give a flying [ __ ] about being anything else and the world's a better place because of it my personal praise for John Wick stems from how I try and approach most movies is it delivering to me what it promised me there are always exceptions to rules but I don't go to a food truck hoping for a fine dining meal I want good food truck food I'm not expecting The Godfather when I hear John Wick at this point I'm expecting John [ __ ] WIC it's why I took a great big old [ __ ] all over Avatar too if you sold it to me as just a visual spectacle fine it does that but don't sit there and tell me it's one of the greatest stories ever told James Jesus Christ man get a hold of yourself you don't have to like a thing just because it delivers on its promise maybe you're not an action movie fan whatever it may be but if you are a fan of the genre and a film like John Wick comes along and promises you a badass cold-blooded killer and a simple and absurd plot but some of the most unbelievable set pieces you've ever seen well let [ __ ] delivers and then some I just jumped out of my damn seat pumping my fist in the air a few times and the crowd I was with was right there with me laughing gasping clapping cheering my advice see this in a theater on the biggest screen possible what's most impressive about John Wick chapter 4 is how it manages to elevate the franchise without ever feeling like a cash grab it's clear that the filmmakers really care about this world and these characters and they're not just churning out another sequel for the sake of it they've pushed the boundaries of what an action movie can be and in doing so they're creating something truly special let's go over the plot so we can start breaking this [ __ ] down as simple as the story as it is on its surface the movie is so damn fun it ends up with more twists and turns than a roller coaster made out of spaghetti picking right up or chapter 3 left off John Wick is still on the run after being declared excommunicado by the high table he's still got a bounty on his head and every assassin in the world scunning for him and apparently everyone in the [ __ ] universe is an assassin and it's awesome Jon is not one to go down without a fight and he's set out on a mission to clear his name and take down the high table once and for all as Winston would say getting revenge is what Jon does best along the way he teams up with some old friends including the Bowery King played by Lawrence Fishburne and we meet some new friends and allies including the forever badass haroyuki Sonata playing the manager of the Osaka Hotel Jon and his allies plot to take down the table and were introduced to Marquis Vincent de gromo a powerful member of the high table played by the enigmatic Bill Skarsgard if you win the table will honor its world who hires an assassin and friend of John's name Kane played by Donnie Yen who reluctantly has to track down his longtime friend our Baba Yaga the price on Jon's head keeps escalating as the film progresses which makes for a ton of fun moments where its assassin vs Assassin fighting over who will kill Jon meaning he's inadvertently assisted a number of times in hilarious and clever fashion throughout the movie fetch Quest Galore and gargantuan Personalities in every set piece the story lives to serve the audience after four films the movie successfully capitalizes in our attachment to the recurring characters helped out by absolutely outstanding additions to the ensemble cast Donnie Yen steals the [ __ ] show here and Bill Skarsgard is a slimy smarmy Charming creep that I quickly love to hate this dude is such a [ __ ] star man he's fantastic and brings such gravitas that every role he does check out Barbarian to see a different side of him while he still maintains that creep Factor we were introduced to in the film it I won't give anything away the story's light obviously but the twists turns and ending are so goddamn fun you should just go in and enjoy it the conclusion is so satisfying my audience is clapping during the finale not at the credits it's that damn good I have a lot I want to get into but I want to focus on this for a moment the film's Unapologetic hyper masculine nature and that's not to say it's lacking badass female characters there have been plenty in this series so far and were introduced to a new female protagonist in part four and it's exciting to speculate well I'll go with her character in spin-offs but this kind of hyper masculinity is undoubtedly sorely missing in modern Cinema anything to do with masculinity is frowned upon lately well I mean unless those traits are given to women who are equally stripped of anything feminine about them female empowerment indeed just make them men right well this movie doesn't [ __ ] around with that not at all but it's not the trend in the ass steroid pumping Meatheads of the 80s it's how would you describe it what modern day masculinity should be if it were allowed to actually evolve without idiotic cultural interference one of the greatest unabashedly Macho movies of all time is predator it's one of my favorite films and is the first thing I think of when I think of the term manly one you son of a [ __ ] [Music] stick around for Big Damn sexual tyrannosaurus just like me son of a [ __ ] is dug in like an Alabama tick you're hit you're bleeding man I ain't got time to bleed ugly [ __ ] John Wick 4 is a movie that stands Toe to Toe with Predator when it comes to testosterone infused badassery so you want to kill him what about you Mr Vick I'm going to kill you John Kane so let's take a look at how these two things can be equally Kick-Ass yet so so different and figure out what makes John Wick such a perfect modern day dudes movie both films are undeniably masculine in their portrayal of violence and aggression they depict a world where strength skill and physical prowess are highly valued and the protagonists are men who embody those qualities to an extreme they represent two extremes of manly cool the hulking muscular epitome of 80s action and Arnold Schwarzenegger and the smaller fit sleekly dressed and quietly deadly action icon of the 90s to the present in Keanu Reeves there are some other notable differences between the two films John Wick chapter 4 is a modern action movie that relies heavily on the use of guns in hand-to-hand combat to create its sense of masculinity it features an ultra competent protagonist who's able to take on seemingly insurmountable odds through sheer skill and determination WIC also includes elements of stylishness and sophistication like its use of high-end weaponry and elegant settings on the other hand Predator is a classic 80s action film that emphasizes physical strength and survival skills we get gun touting awesomeness in one particular scene in the film's First Act but otherwise it's about brute strength in its arrival movie The protagonists in this movie are elite soldiers who have to use their training and teamwork to fight against the formidable alien foe the film also incorporates elements of horror and suspense as the characters are gradually picked off one by one by the predator in terms of similarities they both feature tough resilient male protagonists who are able to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles through sheer force of will both films also highlight the importance of physical strength and skill with one leading more heavily toward the physical strength category and both films emphasize the importance and value of honor and loyalty so while both films share some similarities in their masculine betrayals they also have distinct differences in terms of their use of violence setting and style ultimately both films are enjoyable examples of the hyper masculine action genre each with its own unique strengths and appeal depending entirely on the time in which they were released watching these two films back to back is a fun way to see the evolution of the ACT movie star and you honestly cannot go wrong with either but John Wick is the here and now and [ __ ] it's awesome that leads me to the action in John Wick 4. something the franchise is known for but it's been dialed up to 12 with this one this is what we came here for right all the pieces are set and you'll be witnessing greatness when you sit down to watch this the John Wick franchise is known for its outstanding action sequences the films feature a wide variety of choreographed fight scenes car chases and gunfights all executed with precision and skill the action sequences are intense fast-paced and leave you on the edge of your [ __ ] seat the film stunt coordinators have created a unique style of action that incorporates a mix of martial arts and Gunplay making each fight scene feel fresh and exciting but not a few points in Chapter 2 and 3 those action scenes became a bit numbing while still being extremely impressive it made the original film shine even brighter with its smaller scale brutal moments chapter 4 though seems to have figured out how to up the ante while thankfully avoiding that numb feeling of experiencing visual noise ever every set piece is purposeful and it's clear how meticulous the filmmakers were in planning and executing these each action scene is a story within a story there are beginning middles and ends and there are consistently moments that pop in each one that had me gasping clapping or laughing at the brutality and absurdity these pops keep people's attention and keeps the lengthy scenes from falling into visual static territory the kind of intricacy and thought put into these are astounding and I'd suggest the delay caused by the pandemic actually helped the project which makes me question why is the pandemic being used as an excuse constantly for film and television products that end up being complete dog [ __ ] greatness is achieved through stress hard times and difficult scenarios what a surprise that certain Studios rather make excuses and not take accountability while films like Spider-Man no way home Top Gun everything everywhere and John Wick proved the pandemic is nothing but another excuse machine for Studios that provide you with piss poor products hey feige John Wick would like to have a word there's one particular action sequence that is one of the coolest things I've seen in a long time it's a top-down perspective which we've seen before yes but the weapons used and length of the shot reminded me a lot of the video game Metal Gear Solid on Playstation 1 back in the day normally if I call the scene in a movie video game mask it'd be an insult but that's usually because the film doesn't want you to perceive it that way Wick 4 is absolutely right there with you a nod and a wink at the audience saying hey isn't this absurdity fun while we show up to John Wick for the action scenes it wouldn't be the cultural phenomenon that it is without wonderful characters in an outrageous over-the-top world it's nothing but complementary to have some over-the-top characters with big personalities with the lead character being a man of few words the sporting cast is vital and God damn do they do their job there are two additions to the cast that push one into the stratosphere Donnie Yen as Kane and Bill Skarsgard as Marquis as mentioned Donnie Yen has been underrated and underappreciated in his career and it's great to see him given a role in such a huge franchise his character Kane is a friend in reluctant Nemesis to John and he's not your typical menacing antagonist he's witty Humane in your rooting form at times when you couldn't imagine doing so because of his connection with the Baba Yaga he brings a Humanity to the role that keeps the audience away from disliking him I'm sorry me too the same kind of humanity that John has he kills when he must not because of bloodlust Skarsgard is marquee on the other hand is a menacing despicable little [ __ ] who will be more than happy to judge others for not participating in the cause while also being a [ __ ] when it comes to holding up his end of the bargain you come here thinking there is a way out of this world for you Mr Wick or is not Skarsgard is such a brilliant actor when this guy's on the screen he's so captivating you can't help but appreciate his character's sliminess Shamir Anderson plays nobody slash the tracker an assassin who plays off of Wick and Kane and bounces back and forth between you're not paying me enough to hunt John Wick too alright that'll do while I really enjoy the character it might have been more appropriate to have Halle Berry kind of fill this role it's not a bad addition whatsoever it's just interesting they decided to go this route when they had a role like this already perfectly suited with Miss Barry still he's good fun on the screen and his character brings some things full circle to Jon and the audience the rest of the returning Supporting Cast is great with Lance Reddick playing his role for the final time rest in peace you [ __ ] badass Ian McShane and Lawrence Fishburne return as well and are as good as ever in their roles they've mastered over multiple movies although I have to question is Fishburne legitimately going insane in real life I feel like his performances get more and more over the top totally fine for a John Wick movie but he's come a long way since A Nightmare on Elm Street part three all right great because I have you set up in your own space by the end of the week patience rooms down this way and that brings us to the man the legend Keanu Reeves while no one would ever consider him the greatest actor on Earth he's at least consistent and has been a gargantuan movie star for decades for a reason he's been in legendary projects from the 80s up to the present and that kind of career is few and far between on and off the screen he's Beloved the guy is like if a kitten and a ninja had a baby you can't dislike Keanu while his line delivery isn't always the greatest the man plays into his strengths while minimizing attention to his weaknesses John Wick is stoic uses an economy of words and delivers a brutal end to hundreds of people that's where keanu's strength lies dating back to his hit films speed in The Matrix he sinks everything into the Artistry required to make it look as real and authentic as he possibly can the Matrix resurrections also known as the worst film ever mood proved he's getting long in the tooth because he can't move as fast as he could in the 90s but the John Wick franchise keeps the man fresh instead of almost exclusively Kung Fu we're talking gunfu meaning he still comes off as the most badass person on the planet even at 58 years old it doesn't require the speed the character of Neo did but if anyone's seen the behind the scenes training videos of him for John Wick he's one of the most dedicated men in Hollywood when it comes to making his character feel like the real deal countless Professionals in the military and Firearm experts have complimented how authentic as weapon handling abilities are and that's a testament to his undying need to do his absolute best It Shines on the screen in a crazy surreal World John Wick never feels like he doesn't know what he's doing that's because of keanu's dedication he's simply one of the greatest and arguably the greatest action stars of all time and the film looks so beautiful it makes me want to dive into the profession of cinematography just to learn more besides writing I'm a visual artist so I have an interest just an adoration for a great looking film last year we had the Batman and however you feel about that movie you can't deny its Visual moodiness and that [ __ ] was robbed of an Academy Award nomination in that department just saying and John Wick 4 better not be snubbed because it's one of the most visually stimulating movies in recent memory if everything in this film is an assault on the senses the gorgeous shots locations and color palette holds up its end of that bargain cinematographer Dan Lawson is on another level here and I have to bring this up you can't talk about the John Wick franchise without talking about the Matrix okay so what do you need so that's a miracle guns lots of guns what do you need guns lots of guns they have quite a few similarities and it's no coincidence the two franchises share the same creative team behind the scenes John Wick actually started out as a passion project for Keanu he's not only the star of the film he's also a producer Reeves had always been a fan of action movies and wanted to make his own but he was tired of the over-the-top CGI heavy Blockbusters that were dominating the genre at the time and don't get it backwards he starred in a few of those thinkers himself so he teamed up with stunt coordinators Chad salski and David Leach who had worked with him on the Matrix trilogy and together they began to develop a different kind of action movie the result was John Wick a film that was grounded in reality and relied on practical stunts and real-life fighting techniques instead of computer generated effects the movie was a critical and Commercial Success and it quickly became clear that audiences were hungry for more so how does it connect to the Matrix beyond the production team for starters the franchises are of course known for the incredible action sequences and the influence they've left on Cinema The Matrix revolutionized action filmmaking with its use of wire work slow motion other visual effects and John Wicks continued that Legacy with its own unique style of choreography and cinematography the fight scenes in both franchises are beautifully crafted and Incredibly memorable and they both feature some of the best action sequences in modern Cinema another similarity between the two is their World building the Matrix created a rich and detailed Universe filled with complex ideas and philosophical Concepts and John Wick's done the same thing with its own unique mythology both franchises have their own rules in lore that help make their worlds feel fully realized and that basis in mythology and symbolism is perhaps the biggest influence that the Matrix has had on the John Wick franchise The Matrix is filled with religious and philosophical imagery from the christ-like resurrection of Neo to the Buddhist concept of emptiness John Wick on the other hand draws heavily from European folklore and mythology with characters like the high table and the Bowery King representing different aspects of that mythology both franchises are also deeply concerned with ideas of Fate Destiny and Free Will the Matrix explores the concept of choice and whether whether or not our decisions are truly our own while John Wick delves into the idea of Destiny and whether or not we can ever truly Escape our pasts these themes give both franchises a depth and complexity that sets them apart from other action movies The Matrix sequels in my opinion failed because they harped on these themes too much instead of worrying about making an entertaining story if John Wick is every bit the spiritual successor of that franchise it learned from The Matrix sequel's mistakes and puts entertainment first in the themes in mythology Mark gravy on top when the first John Wick movie hit theaters in 2014 no one could have predicted that it would go on to become one of the biggest action franchises of the decade but now with four movies and a spin-off TV show under its belt the John Wick franchise has established a powerful Legacy and become an absolute force in popular culture it's redefined the action genre created a unique and memorable World sparked a cultural phenomenon features a charismatic and relatable protagonist and has a dedicated fan base because of it all it's no wonder these movies have become such a big part of our cultural Zeitgeist whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual viewer there's no denying that John Wick has left a lasting impact on the world of Cinema in John Wick chapter 4 only adds to the franchise's Legacy I can't [ __ ] wait to go see this movie again and I give it the highest of recommendations to any action movie fan GG's Gents

Channel: The Movie Cynic

Views: 105,488

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Id: JlOXO_mvNRk

Length: 20min 17sec (1217 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 29 2023