Hiya!
How are all of you doing today? It's been a while since I posted a review. I seem to say that every single time I review something. I miss this glorious blog. honestly, I've posted 330 posts, and well over 200 reviews on here over the last 18 months. You'd think I'd be posting stuff all the time. but I really don't. Bummer.
Anyway I just got back from yet another American action movie. This one's a bit different. It's actually a really good American action movie. anyway before I gush too much, on with the review!
Review:
John Wick is one of my favorite action movies of the year, hands down. It's up there with Snowpiercer, Edge of Tomorrow and Raid 2.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable film from beginning to end. The Pace kept going and barely ever let up. I found myself enthralled with the character and world this movie made and Loved the whole 'underground society' it lived in. The Continental was a really cool Idea and I Loved how they were all old friends and had respect for one another, mostly.
John Wick was a surprisingly well written character. unlike many action leads he had real motivation and never felt like he was being written just to shoot things. The killing of the dog (which is in the trailer) was a perfect spark to send him headlong into the rest of the movie. I love how he never caved in and never backed down. he may have gotten his ass kicked a few times but he'd still keep going. Keanu Reeves played it perfectly. Brooding, calculating, yet still had plenty of humanity and heart in him for us to care about.
The rest of the cast did a great job as well. There are a lot of small roles but each one was played perfectly, especially Alfie Allen as Iosef. He was great at being that guy we hate from the very beginning. A bit like Theon now that I think of it.
Moving away from actors for a bit, I have to Commend the Cinematography. All the way through it felt stylish and preconceived. Every shot fit in the movie and was interesting in some way or another, this felt like a pet project and less like a Hollywood cash grab. The camera flowed through the fight scenes (I'll get to those soon) and never devolved into shaky cam and never relied on fast edits to create tension.
On a similar note, the action scenes were spot on. Every one was amazingly choreographed and surprisingly I could tell what was going on. Most movies are just a flurry of fists and randomness yet you never really get to see what's going on. this one was all perfectly framed and steady. The stunts were extremely impressive and the calculating Wick was menacing and unrelenting. his insistence on finishing everyone off with a head shot made perfect sense and added a level of ruthlessness to him.
Finally, for my Praises I have to mention the music. It was pulse pounding at times the at times it was some of the oddest choices I've heard in quite a while. The shootout at the bathhouse was accompanied by an almost classical Japanese song. It was weird and unconventional but it gave the scene a very unique feel.
Also, Villain named Ms. Perkins. Bonus points.
So after all that I have to come up with some kind of negative, right? Well, um, This isn't going to do well in the theatres because America is stupid? can that be a negative?
Final Verdict: 98
Awesome action movie all the way through.
Now to get some reading done and head to bed. Expect a cosplay Post before Youmacon!
How are all of you doing today? It's been a while since I posted a review. I seem to say that every single time I review something. I miss this glorious blog. honestly, I've posted 330 posts, and well over 200 reviews on here over the last 18 months. You'd think I'd be posting stuff all the time. but I really don't. Bummer.
Anyway I just got back from yet another American action movie. This one's a bit different. It's actually a really good American action movie. anyway before I gush too much, on with the review!
Movie Review: John Wick
John Wick is one of my favorite action movies of the year, hands down. It's up there with Snowpiercer, Edge of Tomorrow and Raid 2.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable film from beginning to end. The Pace kept going and barely ever let up. I found myself enthralled with the character and world this movie made and Loved the whole 'underground society' it lived in. The Continental was a really cool Idea and I Loved how they were all old friends and had respect for one another, mostly.
John Wick was a surprisingly well written character. unlike many action leads he had real motivation and never felt like he was being written just to shoot things. The killing of the dog (which is in the trailer) was a perfect spark to send him headlong into the rest of the movie. I love how he never caved in and never backed down. he may have gotten his ass kicked a few times but he'd still keep going. Keanu Reeves played it perfectly. Brooding, calculating, yet still had plenty of humanity and heart in him for us to care about.
The rest of the cast did a great job as well. There are a lot of small roles but each one was played perfectly, especially Alfie Allen as Iosef. He was great at being that guy we hate from the very beginning. A bit like Theon now that I think of it.
Moving away from actors for a bit, I have to Commend the Cinematography. All the way through it felt stylish and preconceived. Every shot fit in the movie and was interesting in some way or another, this felt like a pet project and less like a Hollywood cash grab. The camera flowed through the fight scenes (I'll get to those soon) and never devolved into shaky cam and never relied on fast edits to create tension.
On a similar note, the action scenes were spot on. Every one was amazingly choreographed and surprisingly I could tell what was going on. Most movies are just a flurry of fists and randomness yet you never really get to see what's going on. this one was all perfectly framed and steady. The stunts were extremely impressive and the calculating Wick was menacing and unrelenting. his insistence on finishing everyone off with a head shot made perfect sense and added a level of ruthlessness to him.
Finally, for my Praises I have to mention the music. It was pulse pounding at times the at times it was some of the oddest choices I've heard in quite a while. The shootout at the bathhouse was accompanied by an almost classical Japanese song. It was weird and unconventional but it gave the scene a very unique feel.
Also, Villain named Ms. Perkins. Bonus points.
So after all that I have to come up with some kind of negative, right? Well, um, This isn't going to do well in the theatres because America is stupid? can that be a negative?
Final Verdict: 98
Awesome action movie all the way through.
Now to get some reading done and head to bed. Expect a cosplay Post before Youmacon!
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