Release Date : March 24, 2023
123telugu.com Rating : 3.5/5
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgard, Laurence Fishburne, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Reddick, Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, and Ian McShane
Director: Chad Stahelski
Producers: Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee and Chad Stahelski
Music Director: Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard
Cinematography: Dan Laustsen
Editor: Nathan Orloff
Related Links : Trailer
After a four-year-long wait, the fourth instalment in the John Wick franchise, directed by Chad Stahelski, hit the screens worldwide this weekend. The movie created a tremendous buzz before its release. Check out our review to know whether the film lives up to the surreal hype it created or not.
Story:
Retired hitman Jonathan aka John Wick (Keanu Reeves) wants to lead a happy life and seeks ‘freedom’ from the High Table, an organisation of assassins. So, he goes against the High Table, which increases the bounty on his head and wants him dead for not following the terms. The Marquis de Gramont (Bill Skarsgard), one of the senior members of the High Table, takes it seriously. He dismisses Winston Scott (Ian McShane) as the manager of New York Continental and destroys it for failing to kill John. He further enlists Caine (Donnie Yen), a retired High Table assassin, to kill John Wick. Why did Caine join hands with The Maquis? Did John Wick kill the High Table member who wants him dead? Did he get the freedom he wanted? What happened next? The film has all the answers.
Plus Points :
The silent yet violent John Wick said, “Guns, Lots of Guns” in John Wick 3 – Parabellum. As said, he uses different vintage and advanced guns to kill hordes of assassins. The latest flick begins exactly where the 3rd part ends. John Wick is hell-bent on killing the assassins sent by the High Table. Keanu Reeves delivers his best as John Wick, an Excommunicado. Like in the previous parts, the character speaks less and kills more! Reeves looks more fierce in action sequences.
The next important character to mention is Caine, played by Donnie Yen. The Ip Man actor’s performance as a blind assassin is absolutely stunning and his tactics to fight John and others will wow audiences for sure. His dialogues, especially with John Wick, are really good.
The Marquis de Gramont, played by Bill Skarsgard, is a stylish yet ruthless villain. Bill’s performance as the senior member of the High Table and the one who wishes for John’s death is good to see on screen. Despite having a few face-off scenes with John, he leaves a solid impression on audiences. The rest of the actors did their job well.
From the start to the end, the film has stunning action sequences that will make one come to the edge of the seat. The film has a high amount of deadly headshots and carves through the flesh and bone of the assassins. Action lovers will enjoy those amazing stunts for sure.
The last hour is a feast for people who love the John Wick franchise and action lovers, as it is filled with mind-blowing, non-stop action sequences. The wonderful visuals shot in Paris, New York and Berlin are spectacular to watch on the big screen.
Minus Points :
From the start to the end, John Wick 4 is good enough to hook one to the seat, but the makers should have thought of showcasing the backstory of several key characters. For instance, the makers should have thrown some light on the past life of Caine and his ‘brotherhood’ with John Wick aka Baba Yaga.
The epic face-off moment in the climax should have been showcased well to create more tension. The director and writers could have injected some emotional scenes between John Wick and Caine and Winston. The climax is a bit disappointing to the fans of the John Wick franchise.
The film doesn’t have any references to The Adjudicator (Asia Kate Dillon), who played a villainous role in John Wick 3. The makers should have teased something about the character if they have any plans to reintroduce it.
Technical Aspects :
Compared to its previous instalments, John Wick 4 is way better in all aspects including direction, screenplay, camera work, editing and music. Action choreographers need a special appreciation for designing extraordinary fight scenes. The terrific background score helped the action sequences sound better. Editing is crisp. Though the film is around 3 hours in length, there is not a single dull moment in the entire film, thanks to all the technicians.
Verdict :
On the whole, John Wick 4 is a great treat for action lovers, especially for the fans of John Wick. The compelling action sequences, short and sharp dialogues, and stunning visuals make the film an epic action thriller. Barring the length, one can enjoy the film throughout. Give it a shot this weekend.
PS: Wait until the end titles roll up as the makers expect you to see something important.
123telugu.com Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewed by 123telugu Team