John Wick Review (1 Viewer)

On the surface, John Wick looks like just another cookiecutter revenge-thriller, capitalizing on the success of movies like the Taken franchise, etc., etc.

But Keanu Reeves and stuntmen-turned-directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch turn it into much more, with Reeves playing the titular character, a hitman out of retirement and "out for blood".

Yes, the plot is as paper thin as you've heard it to be, but if you're looking for spectacular action, it more than delivers.

A snippet from my theatrical review:

Whether John is making quick work of a dozen armed assailants who've infiltrated his home or taking the fight to a neon-lit nightclub on his enemies' home turf (the latter of which harkens back to a similar scene in Collateral), Reeves is in top form. And the visceral action is impeccably staged, with fluid camera movements and a restrained editorial style that make it easy to appreciate the many bumps and bruises the stuntmen involved must have had to endure.

Aside from its frenetic action, the film has a couple of other things going for it, not the least of which is its impressive cast. They include the likes of Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane, Adrianne Palicki and Lance Reddick, all of whom know exactly the kind of film they're in, chewing the scenery appropriately and not overstaying their welcome. The world of the film also benefits from an incredible amount of specificity. For example, when John needs bodies removed, he calls a waste disposal service and makes "dinner reservations", paying in gold coins. Small details like these go a long way in elevating the film above the usual genre fare.

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4 out of 5.

There isn't much of a plot in the film, but you can argue that the stylishly, effectively mounted action set pieces ARE the plot. The directors' (Stahelski & Leitch) experience in stunt work serves them well in this enterprise. The pacing, framing, and photography of the set pieces is really well executed and manages to convey the energy and dynamic nature of the action in a very coherent manner. The other big contributing factor to the film's pacing was the extraordinarily well suited soundtrack whose pulsing beat helps set the tempo for the film.

Keanu Reeves cuts an impressive action figure in the feature, particularly at the age of 50. John Wick says at one point "Yeah, I think I'm back." I sincerely hope so (that Reeves continues working in the action genre) after viewing this film.

Recommended for fans of action cinema.

- Walter.

You know, this film isn't billed as a comedy, per se, but I still laughed a lot, mainly from the inferences to the legend of John Wick, as Wick himself finds himself on a path for retribution against a mob family in New York City.

Despite being a retired enforcer with an impressive body count to his resume in the employ of a mob family, Keanu Reeves' John Wick is still a sympathetic character given his motivations, a very simple one, but because his particular skill set, he's able and willing to do whatever is needed to exact his pound of flesh to be paid in full.

It's a lean movie, paced well, with entertaining fights and action scenes. It pretty much delivers what the trailer has marketed, with some extra flourishes that treats criminals having a sense of decorum within their own brand of mayhem, so I was entertained by this movie.

I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.

Patrick Sun said:

You know, this film isn't billed as a comedy, per se, but I still laughed a lot, mainly from the inferences to the legend of John Wick, as Wick himself finds himself on a path for retribution against a mob family in New York City.

Despite being a retired enforcer with an impressive body count to his resume in the employ of a mob family, Keanu Reeves' John Wick is still a sympathetic character given his motivations, a very simple one, but because his particular skill set, he's able and willing to do whatever is needed to exact his pound of flesh to be paid in full.

It's a lean movie, paced well, with entertaining fights and action scenes. It pretty much delivers what the trailer has marketed, with some extra flourishes that treats criminals having a sense of decorum within their own brand of mayhem, so I was entertained by this movie.

I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.

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Come on Patrick, it was at least a B as it delivered what was expected from its audience.

I appreciated John Wick quite a bit. For some intriguing reason, Keanu can sell the romantic pathos (effectively communicated in the first few minutes) and the action well. That you do NOT look at Reeves and see a hardass is exactly why the character works. And Keanu really can act, and has charisma to spare...he just has a unique energy better suited to certain roles. But this is one he does well, that trades off of his skill set. Although it does read like someone made an action/revenge film based on Sad Keanu (the meme).A lean, clean film with outstanding supporting acting, many taken from HBO's large and capable stable. I personally felt the action got a bit redundant, but was always well done and compelling. It is also a well directed film, stylish without being garish, and composed.

I enjoyed 'John Wick' but I felt it slowed down a bit too much late in the second act. Fortunately, it picked up for the finale. The Booth Bijou gives it 3 out of 4 stars.

Mark

Fun movie.

Even included a Matrix: Reloaded Agent alumni Daniel Bernhardt in an extended fight scene with Neo. I mean John Wick.

Worth watching once, but I doubt I'll buy this.

I saw this with my daughter. We both enjoyed it a lot. My daughter went the use the rest room just as the 12 bad guys came to his house. She returned when he was ordering "dinner for 12." She commented "where's the action?" I replied "you missed it. Next time, wait until he is walking or driving somewhere."

I loved the action scenes and cast. Definitely worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

I guess I'm in the minority on this one. I found it so unbearably silly and contrived that I couldn't accept a second of it. And Keanu takes more punishment in this one film than Arnold Schwarzenegger did in his entire career and lives to tell about it. I'm sorry, but when a guy gets beaten and stabbed enough times to kill ten ordinary men, with stitches barely holding the wounds in, he's not gonna get up and do fifteen more fight scenes (or however many there are, I lost count). And that whole premise of Reeves being "the one you call when you want to kill the boogeyman" just didn't register with me. I'm sorry, but as a screen presence, he's just not that formidable.

If the whole thing had been done as an anime production, as part of the GOLGO 13 series perhaps, I wouldn't have minded. But in live-action, it just came off as ridiculous.

I thought this was a terrific action film. Simple story on the surface but much deeper when reflected upon. Imo, this was one of Mr. Reeves best performances and the role suited him perfectly. Exciting action scenes choreographed for maximum impact (no pun intended). ***1/2* out of ****

Nice review, can I have your job ? This wasn't style over substance, it was style over style :p. This is the kind of thing which would've gone direct to video back in the glory days of the VHS DTV of Gary Daniels & Cyntha Rothrock market in the 90s, but now digital production is enough to give it a glossy sheen and get it a theatrical release. It was basically the cinematic equivalent of a hammer: narrow in function but good at what it did. I thought it was perfectly adequate fun which for once had the good sense not to overstay it's welcome in an age where every action film is 3 hours. Paper thin plot with no characterization worth noting? Yeah. But let's face it, stuntmen turned directors aren't known for their skill with dialogue scenes. Who cares? It was good fun for what it was. The neon-colored cinematography looked nice though, it was stylishly filmed. When you consider how rudimentary point and shoot and cheap many of the aforementioned DTV flicks looked, it's pretty amazing what you can squeeze out of digital. Perfectly enjoyable. I'm hearing rumors they're trying to kick-start a franchise with this. Also, I hate to be shallow, but damn, Padalecki is sexy as hell.

I enjoyed this. But the title of the film is wrong. If it was named 'Never Kill a Man's Dog' it would be more apt..

I just watched this and really enjoyed it.

A really cool, kinetic ride. Very entertaining. I think most people didn't even notice this when it was in theaters, myself included. A shame. I'll definitely be recommending this one to friends.

Sean Bryan said:

I just watched this and really enjoyed it.

A really cool, kinetic ride. Very entertaining. I think most people didn't even notice this when it was in theaters, myself included. A shame. I'll definitely be recommending this one to friends.

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just about to watch it with the wife. Loved this film and definitely one of the better action films of 2014...if not the best.

A favorite action film of mine from 2014. I will buy the BD of it once the price drops another $5 or so.

I was disappointed with this one. I'm generally a Reeves fan, but this one seemed like it was written as a 13 year old boy's fantasy (minus the boobs). Here we have such a badass that he's the guy one hires to kill the boogeyman but when he encounters some bad guys in his house, he's 'rusty'. He's an assassin, but too often storms into scenarios without a logical means of getting out that he, even straining credulity, should have died a couple times throughout. Also, while he's great with guns, he's not as adept with hand to hand combat.


I was hoping to like this, and even teased my wife that this was a movie where 'a guy goes out to avenge his dog' but came away with little. The idea of the hotel was cute, and certainly fits into a 13 year old's fantasy, but otherwise, if someone was looking for a current 'badass takes out the bad guys', I'd recommend The Equalizer, instead.

It looked cool and it wasn't ever boring, but it wasn't as good as I was hoping for. I actually thought Taken 3 was a better action film.

KevinGress said:

I was disappointed with this one. I'm generally a Reeves fan, but this one seemed like it was written as a 13 year old boy's fantasy (minus the boobs). Here we have such a badass that he's the guy one hires to kill the boogeyman but when he encounters some bad guys in his house, he's 'rusty'. He's an assassin, but too often storms into scenarios without a logical means of getting out that he, even straining credulity, should have died a couple times throughout. Also, while he's great with guns, he's not as adept with hand to hand combat.


I was hoping to like this, and even teased my wife that this was a movie where 'a guy goes out to avenge his dog' but came away with little. The idea of the hotel was cute, and certainly fits into a 13 year old's fantasy, but otherwise, if someone was looking for a current 'badass takes out the bad guys', I'd recommend The Equalizer, instead.

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No boobs?!?

Or to put it another way...I didn't like it.


Who wrote this thing some crazed PETA Nazi? What will the sequel be...he nukes Saint Petersburg because somebody kills his new kitten and takes his very expensive coffee machine? John Wick the avenger of animal cruelty? This movie was blindingly dumb.

I thought it was great.

Besides the fights and the shooting, lot's of head shots instead of body shooting the back story was great.


The Hotel, the language... "Dinner for 12". loved every minute of it.
The Head Russian villain was great too, very tongue in cheek as he seemed to get it.


I would have loved to see Reeves as Jack Reacher. Looks like he would have worked in that better than Cruise.


4/5