John Wick 4 - May 21st, 2021

[RandomHero]

Has John Wick surpassed Neo as Keanu Reeves' signature role?

I don't think there's any debate there. I think Wick has been Keanu's signature role since John Wick 3.

The Matrix movies range from terrible to mediocre since the first one. The Wick movies range from great to fantastic since the first one. Regardless of how you look at the Wick movies - whether they're films you want to take seriously or just enjoy as fun stunt/action movies, they're universally considered to be not only worth the watch, but worth many rewatches.

At this point I think John Wick is far and away his #1 role. You could take Neo or Jack Traven as #2. And probably Shane Falco and Ted Logan as #4 and #5.

 

[jye4ever]

JW4 is his Matrix 1

Sorry JW1 fans lol

JW4 transcended beyond B movie stunt show.

 

[RandomHero]

JW4 is his Matrix 1

Sorry JW1 fans lol

JW4 transcended beyond B movie stunt show.

Yeah, JW1 and JW2 were basically just "kill em all" movies. There's actually a bit of plot in JW3 and JW4, which helps the movies be more than just creative stunt films.

i'd really need to sit and think about how I want to rank these movies, if I even care to do so at all, but if there's anyone who thinks JW4 is the weakest of the films they're on crack lol

 

[MeatHookGekko]

I don't think there's any debate there. I think Wick has been Keanu's signature role since John Wick 3.

The Matrix movies range from terrible to mediocre since the first one. The Wick movies range from great to fantastic since the first one. Regardless of how you look at the Wick movies - whether they're films you want to take seriously or just enjoy as fun stunt/action movies, they're universally considered to be not only worth the watch, but worth many rewatches.

At this point I think John Wick is far and away his #1 role. You could take Neo or Jack Traven as #2. And probably Shane Falco and Ted Logan as #4 and #5.

The Matrix (the first one) changed the entire industry.

Not many films do that. Star Wars. Pulp Fiction. Gone With The Wind. The Godfather.

It's unfortunate that Reloaded had real problems but was fun and Revolutions was just a huge hot mess.

I mean to each their own, but The first Matrix actually has some deep unsettling questions about the human condition. John Wick is a super charged popcorn flick. I mean I love John Wick, my avatar shows that. But total impact on the way movies are made and what audiences expect, much of that was shaped by The Matrix.

But to each their own. One could argue, without Matrix, Reeves would have never had the background or the connections made to have John Wick come to life.

 

[The Clown Prince of Crime]

I think Vigo from JW1 is still the best villain in the series. He managed to be threatening, funny, and scared of John Wick which was a nice balancing act throughout the film.

JW 2 and JW3 had some good henchmen/ henchwomen.

JW4 had an okay villain, and the henchman was also just okay. Ted Atkins, The Tracker, and Cain as antagonists puts it above JW2 and JW3 for me.

I still think JW2 is great because it expanded the world and introduced the bulletproof suit. The weapons shopping scene and suit tailoring sequence is one of my favorite moments from the series.

I still give the edge to JW1 over JW4 because of the villain, and because it was a bit more grounded, even though he still got hit by a car and fell down from about 20 feet in the club scene. The film is still stylish and the story a bit tighter. Plus, the music was great. John driving into the city while "Killing Strangers" is playing might be the coolest JW ever looked in the series.


Then, there's Vigo explaining to his son who John Wick used to be while the JW theme plays. The first film is just awesome.

 

[RandomHero]

The Matrix (the first one) changed the entire industry.

Not many films do that. Star Wars. Pulp Fiction. Gone With The Wind. The Godfather.

It's unfortunate that Reloaded had real problems but was fun and Revolutions was just a huge hot mess.

I mean to each their own, but The first Matrix actually has some deep unsettling questions about the human condition. John Wick is a super charged popcorn flick. I mean I love John Wick, my avatar shows that. But total impact on the way movies are made and what audiences expect, much of that was shaped by The Matrix.

But to each their own. One could argue, without Matrix, Reeves would have never had the background or the connections made to have John Wick come to life.

Just because a film changed the industry doesn't mean an actor who was in it has to be tied to it as defining their career. Star Wars changed the industry, yes, but I would say Harrison Ford's signature role is Indiana Jones, not Han Solo.

The first Matrix movie is very good. I'm not taking anything away from it. The follow ups....not so much. But I don't think Neo is Keanu's signature role just because of everything The Matrix is. I definitely think it's Wick, unquestioned.

 

[Khev]

I think Vigo from JW1 is still the best villain in the series. He managed to be threatening, funny, and scared of John Wick which was a nice balancing act throughout the film.

JW 2 and JW3 had some good henchmen/ henchwomen.

JW4 had an okay villain, and the henchman was also just okay. Ted Atkins, The Tracker, and Cain as antagonists puts it above JW2 and JW3 for me.

I still think JW2 is great because it expanded the world and introduced the bulletproof suit. The weapons shopping scene and suit tailoring sequence is one of my favorite moments from the series.

I still give the edge to JW1 over JW4 because of the villain, and because it was a bit more grounded, even though he still got hit by a car and fell down from about 20 feet in the club scene. The film is still stylish and the story a bit tighter. Plus, the music was great. John driving into the city while "Killing Strangers" is playing might be the coolest JW ever looked in the series.


Then, there's Vigo explaining to his son who John Wick used to be while the JW theme plays. The first film is just awesome.

Viggo: "I heard you struck my son."

Aurelio: "Yes sir I did."

Viggo: "And may I ask why?"

Aurelio: "Yeah well because he stole John Wick's car sir and...killed his dog."

Viggo: "Oh."

*click*

One of the best exchanges ever.

 

[davejames]

I think Vigo from JW1 is still the best villain in the series. He managed to be threatening, funny, and scared of John Wick which was a nice balancing act throughout the film.

JW 2 and JW3 had some good henchmen/ henchwomen.

JW4 had an okay villain, and the henchman was also just okay. Ted Atkins, The Tracker, and Cain as antagonists puts it above JW2 and JW3 for me.

I still think JW2 is great because it expanded the world and introduced the bulletproof suit. The weapons shopping scene and suit tailoring sequence is one of my favorite moments from the series.

I still give the edge to JW1 over JW4 because of the villain, and because it was a bit more grounded, even though he still got hit by a car and fell down from about 20 feet in the club scene. The film is still stylish and the story a bit tighter. Plus, the music was great. John driving into the city while "Killing Strangers" is playing might be the coolest JW ever looked in the series.


Then, there's Vigo explaining to his son who John Wick used to be while the JW theme plays. The first film is just awesome.

Yeah just for having Willem Dafoe as a badass assassin I'd want to give JW1 the edge over any other film in the series. Plus I thought that one had a much greater emotional resonance with his wife having recently died, and with you really wanting to see him get revenge on everybody for the death of the dog she gifted him. With the later movies it felt like Wick was pretty much working on autopilot and killing just to survive or because he felt wronged somehow.

 

[Khev]

Also kudos to JW2 for having all the assassins' cell phones going off at once for John's bounty on account of him blowing away Santino in the Continental which Mando Season 1 blatantly ripped off.

 

[jye4ever]

The Matrix (the first one) changed the entire industry.

Not many films do that. Star Wars. Pulp Fiction. Gone With The Wind. The Godfather.

It's unfortunate that Reloaded had real problems but was fun and Revolutions was just a huge hot mess.

I mean to each their own, but The first Matrix actually has some deep unsettling questions about the human condition. John Wick is a super charged popcorn flick. I mean I love John Wick, my avatar shows that. But total impact on the way movies are made and what audiences expect, much of that was shaped by The Matrix.

But to each their own. One could argue, without Matrix, Reeves would have never had the background or the connections made to have John Wick come to life.

Oh gosh yes culturally Matrix 1 blows away any JW movie you are absolutely right.

But long term Matrix’s influence is not as far reaching as some might believe.

SW had a long life.

JW4 is just super bad ass!

That was my Matrix 1 connection I was trying to make, super bad ass lol

 

[twistedfreak]

I unfortunately won't be able to catch this until next week due to a long stretch of work that I'm doing. But, I did buy a ticket this past weekend just for the sake of supporting the film. John Wick is easily my favorite film franchise right now. So it was a no brainer to support this. I have watched interviews and some of the red carpet premieres. I am so stoked for this film!


Now, I think there's a lot of reasons why these films are held in such high regard. For myself, I will list some of the reasons why I love these films/franchise so much.

With the first film, we get introduced to a John Wick. The narrative was very simple. Kid of Russian mob boss steals the car of the world's greatest assassin, and kills his dog. On paper, how many studios would take that kind of risk on a film? But, it worked. That set this character down a path of revenge. And 3 subsequent films have followed. 2 spin offs so far. So it's pretty cool.


John Wick
I really like all the subtle and ambiguous aspects of the films. That has been how much of the world building has transpired. It all started when Wick slides that gold coin to Charon in the Continental hotel. The series has so much symbolism woven into it. I love that for the most part that its not explained in great detail.


-That cop Jimmy that shows up after Wick kills that crew. "Are you working again?" That scene says a lot. The cops know about this whole world of assassins.
-The clean up crew after Wick protects his household from the crew that is sent to kill him. I love how it's called a "dinner reservation " lol.


When John and Winston talk for the first time at the hotel. Winston foreshadowing what will occur if Wick seeks out his revenge with the whole "Have you thought this through? I mean, chewed down to the bone? You got out once. You dip so much as a pinky back into this pond, you may well find something reaches out and drags you back into its depths." And that of course gets paid off in Chapter 2 with Santino collecting on the marker from Wick.



The first film can stand on its own. It could be treated as a standalone. I think that's pretty cool.



Chapter 2 rolls around and the world of John Wick gets expanded.

-the introduction of markers
-introduction of the High Table
-the Continental in Rome (hinting that the world is much bigger)
-the rules that govern the assassin world
-what happens when you break the rules e.g. Excommunicado
-the Bowery
-and the video game like vibes


Chapter 3 is all about Wick taking on the very system that he abided for whatever period of time that he spent in it.
-John literally fighting to stay alive
-He expresses why he wants to live when confronting the Elder
- the action scenes of course (the knife fight scene, the scenes with Halle Berrys character (dogs), and the final fight scenes with Zero and his goonies
-The color palette of this entry


These films have breathtaking lighting and cinematography. Keanu is the hardest working man in Hollywood and it shows. This has become a passion project for him. The first screenplay version of John Wick was entitled "Scorn". It had a much older version of Wick, and far fewer kills. After Reeves was brought on, he was instrumental in getting the script to Chad Stahelski, and David Leitch. So Reeves played a major role in helping them break into directing. Very cool.


Below are some videos offering analysis of the films. While I don't agree with everything, there is a lot that I do and it makes for interesting comparison.

 

[chrisstbh]

Just on way home from cinema now, loved this movie and nothing negative to say about it. The action, cinematography, choreography, stunt work, everything was fantastic. Keanu is still a beast pushing 60.

One thing I did notice is that a few of the stunt vehicles had no drivers though .

 

[Khev]

One thing I did notice is that a few of the stunt vehicles had no drivers though .

Citizens of France know that when the high table is having a shootout you just duck below the dash and keep going about your normal commute and if you feel a couple of bumps on your fender or drive over some speed bumps that weren't there the day before it's best not to have those images burned into your brain, lol.

 

[chrisstbh]

That reference to The Warriors they put in the movie made my day though

 

[Johnny Utah]

Saw it today. The Arc de Triomphe sequence was the highlight for me. I wish Scott Adkins played the Marquis's henchman instead of being in a fat suit but he was still so great.

The phosphorus shotgun shells were so satisfying to see on screen too. Overall, the film is my favourite of all 4, bring on the figures!!!

 

[JAWS]

Citizens of France know that when the high table is having a shootout you just duck below the dash and keep going about your normal commute and if you feel a couple of bumps on your fender or drive over some speed bumps that weren't there the day before it's best not to have those images burned into your brain, lol.

Such is the life when you live in a world where the population is almost 50% assassins

Seriously though… Do you think being an assassin is a lucrative job in JW world. I mean how many people need killing? Do they really need so many assassins? Seems like supply and demand would be all out of wack

 

[JAWS]

That reference to The Warriors they put in the movie made my day though

I was shocked she even went as far to say boppers. I know it was a reference but one could see how both films could almost take place in the same Universe. Over the top street gangs right out of a comic book and I after JW2 I had to go check to see if it was based on a graphic novel due to its comic like world building.

 

[Khev]

Such is the life when you live in a world where the population is almost 50% assassins

Seriously though… Do you think being an assassin is a lucrative job in JW world. I mean how many people need killing? Do they really need so many assassins? Seems like supply and demand would be all out of wack

It seems like a part time gig for pretty much the entirety of society from CEO's to street bums, lol.

 

[choombaz]

 

[RandomHero]

Such is the life when you live in a world where the population is almost 50% assassins

Seriously though… Do you think being an assassin is a lucrative job in JW world. I mean how many people need killing? Do they really need so many assassins? Seems like supply and demand would be all out of wack

The way I look at it, the majority of people are henchman in these movies. Easier way to explain how they all die so quickly. You can tell who the actual assassins are in the tougher fights. Just my view on it.