REVIEW: 

The Director: All of this for what, because of a puppy?
John Wick: It wasn't just a puppy.

Ok wait, wait, ok, wait, WAAAAIIIIT! Give me a sec. Let me catch my breath. Whew! Wow! Have you guys been following the hype that surrounds this John Wick franchise? This is the third chapter and the hype is real. It just keeps getting better and better. Priscilla repeatedly commented on how exhausted she was. It is, it is extremely exhausting but oh in such a good way. This is by far an action junkie’s fix, it’s a dream come true for gun play fanatics, it is almost a non-stop frenzy for fight scene freaks, and for John Wick fans it is everything you love about the first two films amped up a notch or two if you can believe that. If you do plan on seeing this one and you haven’t seen the others, well you could obviously, but it would help make the story that much clearer if you see the first two first, or at a minimum John Wick 2. This film picks up right where part 2 leaves us, and let the games, intensity, thrills, desperation, hopelessness, and overall fight for survival begin. This movie is a lot of fun, for sure. The plot is getting thicker but at its very core it’s still all about the action and this film has arguably some the best action sequences ever seen on the big screen. The fights and martial arts choreography are crisp and intense, the gun play is just crazy, the weaponry is vast and impressive, and the kills, well, let’s just say you’ll be gasping, moaning, and groaning throughout the entire movie.

Winston: What do you need?
John Wick: Guns, lots of guns.

If you have seen John Wick 2 then you know his status quo. It is not very good. He is on the run and basically all alone. If you know me well enough, you probably know that one of my favorite film series of all time is the Matrix. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed that quote above by Keanu. It was an excellent nod to one of my favorites. And by the way, Neo ain’t got nothin on John Wick. Keanu was well cast for this role. He helps make it real when it seems so unrealistic. Having played Neo, he is good at larger than life characters and John Wick is definitely one of them. His reputation precedes him and we are witness to this throughout the three films. As for the rest of the cast, well, having the likes of Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, Anjelica Huston, and Halle Berry is a blessing to any cast list. A special mention goes out to the Adjudicator played by Asia Kate Dillon. Asia’s performance was so cold and calculated that it was very entertaining. We are also treated to some brief moments of levity and humor amidst the violence, and the effective performance of Mark Dacascos gives us some of those moments. Even though this movie is mostly about the action variety of eye candy, we get some eye candy in the form of cinematography too. Not only are there amazing filming locations and sets, but the camera work to keep up with this fast-paced film must have been a bear. Another element that keeps this franchise so consistent and strong is that Director Chad Stahelski has remained at the helm. So movie goers, you are in for a treat. This is everything you’d expect from a Chapter 3 of John Wick. Si vis pacem, para bellum ("If you want peace, prepare for war").