Taking the story forward from the precise moment the second part had concluded, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum shoots forward with its exhilarating action. There is more fist to fist combat here than the prequels where John Wick (Keanu Reeves) did most of his fighting with the guns.

If you want peace, prepare for war.

Chapter 3 is as entertaining as its prequel when you look at its action. In fact, it is in just the right amount this time that doesn’t compromise its story. Apart from what the franchise has been selling us for so long, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum drives on interesting meandering roads in perfect unison with its plot. New characters are introduced herein as the movie lets us get a proper look and feel of the whole Wick universe, making the entire picture clearer.

The Direction of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

The best thing about Chad Stahelski‘s direction is that he lets you submerge in his world of noir, lets it consume you, using as fewer words as possible. His characters don’t do the talking much, yes, they are laconic but are riddled with gravitas when it comes to acting out the situation. In his universe, everything seems to play out in a proper manner, the way it is supposed to. Like nothing is forced and every action is a result of something.

John Wick: Chapter - 3 Parabellum wallpaper of Continental

That being said the screenplay doesn’t get affected at all. Right words are said at the right time.

Winston: You do what you do best.
John Wick: What’s that?
Winston: Hunt! Si vis pacem, para bellum.

The music picked up is as ravishing as all the prequels giving you a next-generation neo-noir feel that will set the right mood. The visuals are in sync with a dark bluish hue that makes every frame look appealing. To top that off, the cinematography is of the most superlative quality as well.

What Chad also does effortlessly is to bring all his stunt coordinating experience into play and allowing it to automatically create something very tangible when it comes to depicting bone breaking hardcore real action.

Humour in John Wick

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum has just the right amount of humorous exchanges like its characters reloading their guns at dire times, or the doctor taking deliberate hits, or goons hired to kill John Wick paying their respects as Wick’s popularity precedes him.

I gotta say, I am a pretty big fan.

Often it is the reaction that Keanu Reeves gives that does the trick. Fans love his new avatar that seems to be different from everything that he has done before. However, his mannerisms almost remain the same. The brooding demeanour suits him the best, and the fewer words spoken, the better it is. Keanu simply nails Wick. It is as if he was born for this role.

Action (Spoilers)

Coming to every fan’s favourite topic, the action of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum simply hits the ball out of the park. The movie’s action begins with his escape followed up by a quick book-fighting meet with a Serbian Giant Ernest played by the basketball player Boban Marjanovic.

Soon it is followed by what seems like a debatable wasted shot of John assembling a gun just to pull off a headshot and then heading towards an unavoidable knife fight.

Nothing’s ever just a conversation with you.

The gore is pumping in all of the fight sequences that we get to witness. John is simply relentless. The scene with the horses is one of the highlights here, as you get to know how deadly horse’s kick could be. The bike fight and the fight iced with Sophia’s (Halle Berry‘s)dogs are another one of those sequences that you can never forget.

It has a lot of fist fighting entailed too where John gets dirty with some really good Ninja fighters. The use of belt as a prop or glasses and swords as weapons help him stand tall, way up above the others in the pyramid of really good fighters.

They about to learn that if you cut a king, you better cut him to the quick.

Final Moments

The final gunfight is like an eye opener for all those people who think it is easy to kill a properly clad body armored person. Making things harder for Wick and company, these enforcers help us witness some mind-numbing action come into play as Wick wipes them out one by one in different and interesting ways.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum final scene

Guns, lots of guns.

What cannot go unnoticed is how Winston portrayed by Ian McShane remains calm, composed and cool even as the Enforcers come knocking at his hotel. He has become so used to it all that even when there’s a surety of death it doesn’t surprise him at all. And when it comes knocking at his doors he wears a mien of tranquility to face everything, come what may, with open arms.

The Vocabulary in John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum

It is hard not to notice how the John Wick franchise is brimming with a winning vocabulary. Terms like “Deconsecration” or “Parley” or “Excommunicado” carry proper weight and substance. In a world where everything goes by the book, as people follow a code, little things have the highest of values.

Ingrained in their natural vocab are words that carry import, and every simple word is made out to sound as if it were a thing. It is in a way very intriguing and soothing to hear. Words chosen are alluring as hell as they quickly turn into diamonds in your ear.

Everyone in the movie carries a unique style and flair. There is depth in every character we see. Every villain who opens his mouth has a mannerism that is simply exemplary.

You look as bad as I feel.

It is suggestive of a style that this universe carries. It is subjective, yes, but I am pretty sure it is one of those highlights of the franchise that sets it apart.

You can order John Wick: Chapter – 3 Parabellum from here:

On the downsides, you can say that the bit with Sofia seems a bit cliched as if it was something that has been used thousands of times in games. The dog fight scene felt a bit forced because you could see through it, like the dogs waiting for a signal before jumping on the goons.

Sofia: He shot my dog.
John Wick: I get it.

The Final Verdict

Overall the movie deserves to be called a perfect sequel. In a world where it is hard to maintain balance as you come up with sequels, Chad is still doing things right with the franchise. Gladly the place it is headed for looks promising. The movie ends on a note that makes us wonder what else can the director think of and eventually pull it off like he pulls this one off.

Bowery King: Are you pissed off, too, John?
John Wick: Yeah.

Splendid watch! Highly recommended!

Check out the trailer of John Wick Chapter 3 – Parabellum here: