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Gotham Plaza => Iceberg Lounge => Movies => Topic started by: Grissom on Mon, 19 Dec 2016, 19:05

Title: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Grissom on Mon, 19 Dec 2016, 19:05
https://youtu.be/3HbcW8UT4kQ
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Joker on Thu, 22 Dec 2016, 06:30

Had alot of fun with the 1st film.

Looking forward to watching Keanu shoot a few hundred or so people in the sequel!
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: thecolorsblend on Thu, 22 Dec 2016, 06:39
An action movie featuring Laurence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves with lots of martial arts and gun fights?

Whoa...
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Dark Knight on Sun, 25 Dec 2016, 23:56
Quote from: thecolorsblend on Thu, 22 Dec  2016, 06:39
An action movie featuring Laurence Fishburne and Keanu Reeves with lots of martial arts and gun fights?

Whoa...
I've undergone a Matrix trilogy rediscovery recently. I was such a huge fan of those movies. And the passion is coming back. I'd actually like to write more about them, but not right now. I'm kind of busy with other things. But needless to say, I love the mix of martial arts, guns, high speed chases, science fiction and philosophy. The movies aren't perfect but they still offer a lot of goodness. It boggles my mind they're over 10 years old.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: thecolorsblend on Mon, 26 Dec 2016, 06:02
Quote from: The Dark Knight on Sun, 25 Dec  2016, 23:56I've undergone a Matrix trilogy rediscovery recently. I was such a huge fan of those movies. And the passion is coming back. I'd actually like to write more about them, but not right now. I'm kind of busy with other things. But needless to say, I love the mix of martial arts, guns, high speed chases, science fiction and philosophy. The movies aren't perfect but they still offer a lot of goodness. It boggles my mind they're over 10 years old.
I think there's a germ of truth to the idea that the Wachowski brothers just threw money at the movies and hoped for the best.

Still, there's a lot to enjoy about them. They zigged when everybody expected them to zag. They didn't take the easy way out with the sequels in terms of story. As over-the-top as some things might've gotten, the sequels aren't as bad as they're made out to be.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Dark Knight on Mon, 26 Dec 2016, 08:11
I don't really agree with that assessment. The money is on the screen, but its clear to me the directors had a vision and they executed it. The Zion scenes in Reloaded AND Revolutions are a chore to get through. But those would really be my only major complaints. The first film is a classic, and the other two are flawed masterpieces. And that kinda make sense them more interesting.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Joker on Tue, 27 Dec 2016, 03:13

(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages2.hiboox.com%2Fimages%2F5216%2F5b6b8c46670ccaad930c2effb6204460.gif&hash=0fc747af19c1b782559818167bcf0427c3197e5f)
(https://www.batman-online.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages2.hiboox.com%2Fimages%2F5216%2Fe0c9e60108490d537566ad8bbda388ad.gif&hash=bdc539a5b8ad6746c35264299bed0f0d2e965c41)

Loved how just the mere mention of John Wick would scared the holy sh*t out of the Russian mafia, but with his prowess in Gun-Fu, and whatever body count he's tallied up thru his career, it's clear as to why that is.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Laughing Fish on Tue, 17 Jan 2017, 13:29
I watched the first John Wick a few weeks ago. Very solid and thorougly enjoyable...but man, that premise with the dog getting killed, which was a final gift by his wife, was hard to watch.  :(

Thankfully, the tone shifted to a more fun action blockbuster. I'll definitely check out the next one. :)
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Joker on Wed, 8 Feb 2017, 01:26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDEWKx0PtUg
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Joker on Sun, 12 Feb 2017, 16:35

Checked out John Wick Chapter 2 last night and ....

Oh. Yes. That was just the amount of carnage I needed.  ;D

The film is a worthy follow up to the first. Honestly, it's really more of the same, doesn't toy around with the formula one would come to expect from a sequel to John Wick, but does add some really nice touches and additions. I don't think it's as good as the first one, mainly because once again, it really is mostly just more of the same. But if you liked the first one, there's no reason you won't like this one. It truly is a direct continuation of the first, and watching the first one before seeing this in the theater was perfect.

"He once killed three guys..."

"Yeah, I kinow; with a pencil."

"...with a F'N pencil! What kind of f***in' guy DOES THAT?!"


John Wick does.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Dark Knight on Thu, 29 Apr 2021, 10:01
I gave John Wick another viewing the other day.

I like that the origins of the story have the simplicity of The Big Lebowski. A group attack the wrong guy and damage his property, leading the protagonist into the story proper. That simplicity allows the action to do the talking, and it speaks loud and clear. It's stylish stuff and wouldn't be what it is without the understated cool of Keanu Reeves. I like that he now has two big franchises that's he's known for: martial arts and guns. That's his brand.

I'll check out the other two movies again in the coming days.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Sun, 2 May 2021, 14:35
I rank the John Wick movies alongside the Mission: Impossible films as the best American action flicks of the past decade. Cruise and Reeves are two of the only action stars of their generation that are still delivering top quality material. Their recent work puts the younger generation to shame.

Reeves' martial arts skills have progressed a lot since he made The Matrix trilogy. Don't get me wrong – the fights in The Matrix are incredible. I re-watched the entire trilogy + The Animatrix earlier this year, and the action scenes are still amazing. But Reeves had only just started training in martial arts when he made those movies, whereas now, two decades later, he's a lot more experienced. And it shows on screen. Most Hollywood stars don't look convincing performing martial arts scenes, but Reeves is one of the exceptions.

Quote from: The Dark Knight on Thu, 29 Apr  2021, 10:01
I like that he now has two big franchises that's he's known for: martial arts and guns. That's his brand.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_urZ5KDPec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcVWCF8MC2k
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Dark Knight on Mon, 3 May 2021, 02:10
Quote from: Silver Nemesis on Sun,  2 May  2021, 14:35
I rank the John Wick movies alongside the Mission: Impossible films as the best American action flicks of the past decade. Cruise and Reeves are two of the only action stars of their generation that are still delivering top quality material. Their recent work puts the younger generation to shame.
Absolutely. I finished all three Wick movies and they're top tier. Keanu has been in a number of duds over the years but he's managed to attain cult status with two big franchises, The Matrix and John Wick. They well and truly assure his legacy.

Speed is a classic movie. I enjoy Constantine well enough, and of course there's Bill and Ted. But John Wick resurrected his career and made him bigger than ever. With the experience of Wick under his belt, Matrix 4 should really deliver. Release the trailer already.

Not dissing either actor because they're both iconic, but I see Keanu being similar to Arnold. Not celebrated in the acting department but loved. Keanu's chilled out and known for "woah" and "yeah". Whereas Arnold is robotic but exuding pure masculinity.

John Wick is an original property rather than another remake and I enjoy the concept. Consulate locations around the world where killers stay, and interact with their contracts is both funny and weird. The way bounties are placed, and the rules assassins have to follow otherwise they're hunted down and punished is all great mythology.

The public don't react to the killings but that's explained enough for me. In the Wick world it seems just about everyone is a killer receiving bounty updates. Or law enforcement know about the goings on but simply stay away, as was the case with John when his house was destroyed, or when he shot up his attackers. Police take the opinion that the society are only killing their own, so leave them to it. Wick is pure fantasy but I think these reasonings need to be in-built to the mythology to make it somewhat believable.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Joker on Mon, 3 May 2021, 04:14
Quote from: The Dark Knight on Mon,  3 May  2021, 02:10
Absolutely. I finished all three Wick movies and they're top tier. Keanu has been in a number of duds over the years but he's managed to attain cult status with two big franchises, The Matrix and John Wick. They well and truly assure his legacy.

Speed is a classic movie. I enjoy Constantine well enough, and of course there's Bill and Ted. But John Wick resurrected his career and made him bigger than ever. With the experience of Wick under his belt, Matrix 4 should really deliver. Release the trailer already.

Point Break is another top tier Keanu movie! Following Bill & Ted, there's no doubt that Point Break exhibited Keanu as a bankable action star, which was further propelled by Speed just a few years later.

The remake of Point Break was glaringly lifeless, but the original that was directed by Kathryn Bigelow is aces. Man, I would love Keanu to return as Johnny Utah for a sequel.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Dark Knight on Mon, 3 May 2021, 11:24
Another thing I dig about the Wickverse is the cleaning crews that mops the bloodied floors and dispose of the bodies. That makes complete sense, and it would've been something glaring if it wasn't addressed. But they did. I find it hilarious and logical. Kudos to the creative team there.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Sun, 24 Jul 2022, 12:46
The trailer's out for John Wick: Chapter 4.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiKXJ-ObtGk

The film's scheduled for release on March 24th 2023. The cast includes Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Scott Adkins and Clancy Brown.
Title: Re: John Wick trailer 2
Post by: The Dark Knight on Sun, 24 Jul 2022, 13:30
I'm seeing this day one. A midnight screening if possible. There's excitement radiating off this trailer and it reaffirms to me that The Matrix is the past, and I'm happy to keep it there now. Action wise, John Wick 4 is what The Matrix Resurrections should have been. This feels like a much needed palette cleanser.  John Wick is for the here and now, being an evolution of what came before. I'm hoping the fifth film includes Carrie-Anne Moss in some way. That would be the icing on the cake after they included Laurence Fishburne.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Thu, 10 Nov 2022, 19:52
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEVUtrk8_B4
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Thu, 16 Feb 2023, 16:54
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjRHZEUamCc
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Sun, 26 Feb 2023, 12:57
This is one of the first movies in a long while I'm eager to see at the cinema. At the end of the day, strip away all the superpowers in the world and give me human beings with grit who run and shoot their way out against overwhelming odds. That primal humanity is what will always excite me the most. The same statement applies to Mission Impossible, and Batman taps in to that as well.

I appreciate the tone Wick movies have - they're graphic in their depiction of violence but have an undeniable comic undercurrent that doesn't sacrifice humor. They're effortlessly fun, rewatchable and have a breezy feel that evokes action films of yesteryear despite being made in modern times. Fingers crossed Chapter 4 is the same. It should be.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Thu, 16 Mar 2023, 12:58
This is getting exceptional reviews, as I suspected.

Given Keanu's age, and the risk of franchise burnout/repetitiveness, I can see why they went the dying in battle route. Presumably combining the proposed fifth film and this one together and going out on top.

John has had obscenely high bounties on his head for a sustained period of time with a world full of assassins after him. There are halts in between the hordes but more or less they're not going to stop coming for whatever reasons they cook up. There will never be enough bullets to kill them all. Under those circumstances I don't see how John could live a life of solitude away from that world.

His situation just kept escalating once he returned to battle in Chapter 1. The agony of endless combat finally coming go a close with him being placed beside his wife's grave is definitely a conclusion to the story, and ultimately logical despite being downbeat. It does have the potential to be beautiful and dignified if handled well. Much like Neo's last stand in Revolutions.

Looking foreword to see it play out next week.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Wed, 22 Mar 2023, 13:30
I've seen the movie. It's not my favorite of the series but it's still very good. Solid action sequences and a compelling story drives the last half of the film. The characters are some of the best I've seen in recent times, namely Cain played by Donnie Yen. Keanu delivers what you expect and at this age I salute his achievements. There's a sequence with nunchucks that has my admiration - it just keeps going and going. The stamina of the man in depicting a never ending battle for survival is on full display here and it's a series highlight.

About the very end:

Personally, John's mortality could be open to interpretation, even though he's probably dead. We see John wounded and slumping over, embracing his wounds while sitting down on some steps after a duel. We then transition to a graveyard where respects are paid at a grave with his name of it by Winston and the Bowery King. There's a comment about where they think John is, and they walk away. If fans are reaching for an out, the dialogue could be read as keeping up a pretence to allow John ultimate privacy to somehow stay off the grid.

During the duel it is said "if you cling to life, you die. If you cling to death, you live." John embraces death on the steps, so the film, through its own dialogue, could be telling us something there.

They could work out a way to resume the series after Chapter Four, and not be prequels, if they really wanted to. But I'm not sure that will happen. In that event, the franchise still went out on top and gave the series an end, and a hint of ambiguity if you really need it. In that regard I think it's handled pretty well, even if it's rather abrupt. They do make a point about John's whole persona being tied up in killing and fighting, and what is he without that?

All in all, it's well worth seeing but more so if you've been invested in the last three films. If you liked those you'll like this, and should leave feeling satisfied with the overall product.

9/10.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Travesty on Wed, 22 Mar 2023, 14:13
I'm gonna try to see it this weekend. If not, than hopefully the next. I did a rewatch of the trilogy last week to prepare.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Wed, 22 Mar 2023, 15:17
I've got a ticket to see it on Saturday. :)
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Thu, 23 Mar 2023, 08:24
The Matrix (1999) will always be Keanu's best movie, but Chapter Four solidifies Wick as his best franchise. The image of Keanu with his long hair and suit is close to being iconic (I say close because true iconography is rare and the term is overused). I think I'll find myself continuing to watch these movies as the years go by simply because they're pieces of entertainment. They're live action video games in the positive sense and the extended fight choreography, including in Chapter Four, isn't something I've tired of seeing. When you've both seen it we can discuss the spoilers in more detail, but I think you'll at least agree they put attention and care into this one. The same can't be said of many other films, particularly in the CBM genre.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Travesty on Thu, 23 Mar 2023, 15:49
Quote from: Silver Nemesis on Wed, 22 Mar  2023, 15:17
I've got a ticket to see it on Saturday. :)
I got tickets for Saturday, as well.  8)
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: BatmanFurst on Thu, 23 Mar 2023, 23:31
Just got back from seeing it. Easily the best of the sequels.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Fri, 24 Mar 2023, 08:28
Amazingly it's fitting what happens to Charon considering Lance's fate in real life.

I've seen it said that the shots fired by John and Cain were the same safe points the Doctor asked to be fired at in Chapter 3. That fresh detail, along with the rest, now tips the scales for me to support the John lived theory.

I'm going again on the weekend.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Laughing Fish on Sat, 25 Mar 2023, 12:52
I saw JW4 tonight. Absolutely brilliant!

If this is the last chapter of the whole saga, it was a fitting end. Stahelski tops himself with the action, that's all I have to say.

SPOILER:
Such an unfortunate coincidence that Lance Reddick died a week before his character - Charon - died in the film. RIP.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Sat, 25 Mar 2023, 14:10
Quote from: BatmanFurst on Thu, 23 Mar  2023, 23:31
Easily the best of the sequels.
Yeah, I think it is. The original would still be my favorite for sentimental reasons.

He still achieves a lot but I think John felt more vulnerable in this one. I felt his exhaustion and age a bit more. The fight against Killa is a good example of that I think, as the target refuses to stay down and drags the fight out longer than John would've hoped, giving him heavy blows along the way. Killa was akin to an overpowered boss and I loved that. John using the shotgun with explosive shells was also fantastic, and the choice of camera angle made it even better.

I've again seen commentary lampooning the lack of law enforcement in the cities where all this bloodshed happens. To that I say just about everyone in this universe is an assassin or at least aware of the money on the table for collecting bounties. That's enough for me. The Wick world clearly isn't pure reality, just as the NYC Continental gets destroyed with seemingly minor or nonexistent reaction. The High Table have extreme power and law enforcement stay the hell away from them.

I think if JW4 makes a strong profit (it's on track for a record franchise opening) they'll eventually do a fifth and final movie. Maybe even with crossover elements after they complete the spin offs (Ballerina and the Continental show) to bring it all together. By that time Keanu and the director have had a good rest.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Sat, 25 Mar 2023, 20:25
I revisited the previous three movies on DVD over the past few nights, and today I went to see John Wick 4. I'm very satisfied. There hasn't been a bad JW movie yet, and the fourth instalment doesn't spoil that winning streak. Here are some thoughts.

This franchise has an interesting aesthetic that mixes gothic architecture (churches, ruins, museums, art galleries, libraries) with modern art installations, neon lights and random panes of glass. It's a cool look that's simultaneously dark and colourful. No matter what country John's in, the stylish visuals remain consistent. So does the quality of action. This series has done a great job utilising the skills of some of the best screen fighters from around the globe (Mark Dacascos, Yayan Ruhian, Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, etc), and the martial arts choreography in JW4 remains top notch. The photography and editing are excellent, with the overhead one-shot sequence standing out as particularly impressive. This is Hollywood action done right.

A dry sense of humour runs through these films. Whether it's the over-the-top absurdity of some of the action scenes, or the use of gentlemanly euphemisms to refer to weapons and violence (e.g. being fitted for guns and body armour in a tailor's shop as though they were eveningwear, or referring to corpses as "dinner reservations"), the movies don't take themselves too seriously. It's not the tired snarky Whedon/Gunn humour of the MCU, where someone spouts a pop culture reference or says something inappropriate during a dramatic scene to deflate the tension. It's a more ironic form of humour, and Reeves' deadpan performance is perfectly suited to it. He doesn't nod and wink at the camera as if to say "isn't this silly?" Instead he plays it completely straight, and that makes the humour all the funnier when it lands.

That said, these films also have their share of darkness and pathos. Charon's death was especially poignant, given the recent passing of Lance Reddick. He was one of the most likeable characters in this franchise, and it was nice to see Winston and John show genuine sadness at his demise. Themes of friendship feature more prominently in JW4 than the previous films, and this time there's a hint of loyalty underpinning some of the alliances rather than just mutual convenience. In particular the relationship between John and Cain, the latter of whom might be my favourite character in the entire saga. He's the only person in that universe who shows mercy and only kills when he has to. I got the impression he was the one character who might, back in his prime, have been superior to Wick. At the very least he was his equal, and Donnie Yen was perfect in the role. I hope he survived the post-credit scene. Tracker was also an interesting new character, and like Caine he ultimately displayed more conscience and honour than most of his contemporaries. I didn't even recognise Scott Adkins as Killa. It was only when he started fighting that I realised it was him. An all round solid cast.

The JW films have often paid tribute to their influences. While earlier entries referenced things like The Prisoner (1967) and The Matrix (1999), the most obvious allusion in JW4 is to The Warriors (1979). The sequence with the radio DJ calling on all the "boppers" to prevent John reaching his destination, and even playing the song 'Nowhere to Run', was a direct homage to Walter Hill's movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj8bAd9fQ18

The final dual reminded me of Barry Lyndon (1975), and I also got strong Daredevil vibes. There was the moment where John threw a playing card like Bullseye, the fat mob boss who could fight like Kingpin, and of course Caine being a blind martial artist like Matt Murdock. Even his name, Caine/Cane, evoked Stick.

Apropos of the ending, when John asked Winston to take him home I didn't realise at first that he was talking about his body. I'd seen something online about John Wick 5 being in production, so I wasn't expecting him to die. But I thought his death ended the film on a satisfying note of closure, which is something audiences are generally denied in this modern age of shared universe open-endedness. I'm happy for the series to end here, with four good movies and a perfect batting average. However, if it turns out John faked his death so he could team up with Winston, the Bowery King, Caine and Tracker to dismantle the High Table, then I'll be first in line for John Wick 5.

I don't really have any major criticisms. If I had to nitpick, I'd say it's a bit on the long side and some of the CG effects weren't entirely convincing (for example the dog). But these really are minor points. It's a very satisfying film that lived up to my expectations. This is one of the best action movie sagas of the modern age. I'm looking forward to seeing The Continental.

On the useless trivia front, this movie features two Highlander villains. Clancy Brown, who plays the Harbinger, played the Kurgan in the first Highlander (1986), while Donnie Yen played Jin Ke in Highlander: Endgame (2000). According to writer Derek Kolstad, the 2021 movie Nobody takes place in the same universe as John Wick, and Nobody featured Michael Ironside, who played the villain Kain in Highlander II: The Quickening (1991).
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Sun, 26 Mar 2023, 15:49
John Wick 4 is killing it at the box office. According to Deadline:

QuoteWorldwide start is also a franchise best as we always knew it would be with $137.5M. The Keanu Reeves movie debuted to No. 1 in each of the 71 markets where the pic opened this weekend. Internationally, the film took in an estimated $64M overseas exceeding all pre-release estimates for the film.

Other bragging points:

—John Wick joins a select few film series that set a franchise record with their fourth outing, only nine in the past 40 years. Of those nine franchises, only five have done what John Wick has accomplished in building to four films with each new offering exceeding the last (i.e., 4 greater than 3, 3 greater than 2, 2 greater than 1).

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the biggest R-rated opening post-pandemic, exceeding Halloween Kills' $49.4M (which was hampered by a theatrical day-and-date release on streaming service Peacock).

To date, John Wick: Chapter 4 is the second best domestic opening of 2023 after Disney/Marvel Studio's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania ($106.1M).
https://deadline.com/2023/03/box-office-john-wick-chapter-4-keanu-reeves-1235309015/
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Mon, 27 Mar 2023, 11:28
The last two DCEU films have been flops, and I've seen it said that The Suicide Squad, Black Adam and Shazam 2's box office wouldn't equal Man of Steel's take. That's absolutely damning. The aftermath of these films has been more entertaining than the content, with the cast and crew squirming around, assigning blame and maintaining the product is actually good...when it's not.

None of that mess exists with the Wick universe. Each movie opened better than the previous, and the audience/critical reviews matched that. The movies also feel genuinely like one connected series, especially in the way Chapter 2 segues into Chapter 3. There are franchises that don't capture that and instead end up becoming a patchwork quilt - the DCEU being a prime example of that.

I agree about the artistic flair in the Wick series, particularly in the transition shots and cinematography. Bowery King blowing out the match and jumping straight to the desert sunrise is straight out of Laurence of Arabia, for example. And for a nearly three hour film I wasn't checking my watch. The pacing is remarkably good.

I'm open to a fifth but at the same time think this would be a fine ending if the studio refuse the temptation for more. Can the High Table be destroyed? I'm doubtful. Chapter Four makes it pretty clear that another head grows at the head of the snake if it's chopped off. Nobody can escape the rules and the dogs are only called off if you play by them.

Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Travesty on Mon, 27 Mar 2023, 15:50
I liked it a lot, but I was pretty surprised by the ending. I didn't see that coming.

Selfishly, I want to see more. So who knows?
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: thecolorsblend on Mon, 27 Mar 2023, 18:13
Working my way through the first three so far in advance of the fourth one. Never seen them before. Just finished the first one.

It's good. But I see room for improvement. And it already looks like the sequels will deliver on that. Enjoying what I've seen so far.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Tue, 28 Mar 2023, 21:12
Quote from: Travesty on Mon, 27 Mar  2023, 15:50
I liked it a lot, but I was pretty surprised by the ending. I didn't see that coming.

Selfishly, I want to see more. So who knows?
Quote"There's a will and there's an openness. And you could certainly interpret that ending in different ways," said Drake. "We're all going to take a tiny rest here and then scratch at ideas about whether there's a credible way to get into five. But there's no guarantee."

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/john-wick-5-back-on-the-table-box-office-blowup-1235361085/
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Fri, 31 Mar 2023, 13:25
On reflection, I think they should leave it at four and go out on a high note. I don't like the idea of bringing JW back just because the latest entry is overpeforming. I'm looking forward to The Continental, but I think adding to the main film series might be stretching it too far. But we'll see what happens.

It's interesting to note that if you add up the production costs of all four John Wick movies, their combined production budget (unadjusted for inflation) is smaller than that of Thor: Love and Thunder. In other words you could finance an entire series of films based on an original IP for less than the cost of a single formulaic MCU sequel.

The fact that John Wick is an original IP, and a relatively new one at that (still less than a decade old), is part of its appeal for me. I think audiences in general are tired of Hollywood's overreliance on pre-existing cinematic brands. They want to see movies and TV shows based on original screenplays, or adapted from works that haven't previously been adapted. I'm okay with a small number of old franchises coming back, but let's start building more new IPs instead of just endlessly milking things from the seventies, eighties and nineties.

Obviously John Wick is influenced by earlier films and TV shows, but rather than simply remake those influences the filmmakers used them to build something fresh from the ground up. The result has its own distinct identity. I have a soft spot for The Conjuring franchise for the same reason, even though most of those movies aren't very good. We need more new IPs and fewer reboots.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Joker on Sat, 1 Apr 2023, 08:11

Finally checked this out tonight, and yeah, it's one heck of a ride.

I've only seen the 3rd John Wick film once, and it's been awhile, but I would probably rank em as of right now; 1, 4, 3, 2.

We'll see how the spin off stuff pans out. Keanu being apart of "Ballerina" is a big plus, and "The Continental" taking place in the '70's with Mel Gibson in the cast does sound intriguing to me.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Laughing Fish on Thu, 13 Apr 2023, 07:40
The sneak peak for The Continental spinoff is here.

https://youtu.be/S4GmiggFXRI
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Travesty on Fri, 14 Apr 2023, 13:34
It looks like it's going to get even wackier. I hope it stands up to the quality of the movies....or at least, gets close. 
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Fri, 14 Apr 2023, 22:54
Quote from: Travesty on Fri, 14 Apr  2023, 13:34
It looks like it's going to get even wackier. I hope it stands up to the quality of the movies....or at least, gets close.
In any case I don't see it as a threat to the four movies. It's only three episodes and set way before them. Even if I don't like the show it's disconnected enough from John's arc. But it still looks pretty good, and Gibson is sure to make it worthwhile.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Thu, 20 Jul 2023, 18:57
Here's our first look at Gibson as Cormac.

(https://onecms-res.cloudinary.com/image/upload/s--z8oFTjMP--/c_fill,g_auto,h_468,w_830/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mediacorp/8days/image/2023/07/18/tcl1_022022_04121r.jpg?itok=elJM0V9A)
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Fri, 25 Aug 2023, 20:16
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3FzXBkCUAg
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Fri, 15 Sep 2023, 14:43
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnz2c1l30F4
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: thecolorsblend on Sat, 22 Jun 2024, 06:09
Finally watched JW4.

Quote from: Silver Nemesis on Sat, 25 Mar  2023, 20:25I don't really have any major criticisms. If I had to nitpick, I'd say it's a bit on the long side and some of the CG effects weren't entirely convincing (for example the dog). But these really are minor points. It's a very satisfying film that lived up to my expectations. This is one of the best action movie sagas of the modern age. I'm looking forward to seeing The Continental.
I agree with all of your post. But this part especially.

The closest I can come to criticizing JW4 is the runtime. It never needed to be this long. But apparently, the movie was intended to be Wick's swan song. Whether or not it actually is doesn't seem very clear at the moment. Still, IF this is his farewell tour, then I suppose I can overlook the movie's occasional self-indulgence.

As you say, the franchise doesn't take itself too seriously. But it also doesn't outright laugh at itself either. It strikes a pretty unique (and entertaining) balance of humorous moments vs. action fest moments. On that basis, being able to maintain that balance over a nearly three hour runtime is quite the achievement. Not just any filmmaking team would be able to do that.

The spinoffs don't appeal to me much. Maybe they will at some point. But I enjoy John's story and that's all I particularly want from this series. But I might check out the spinoff shows and movies at some point.

I hope future directors take inspiration from Wick's emphasis on practical stunts and effects when possible.

As to the Daredevil stuff, it's nice to know that I wasn't the only one who picked up on that. I truly thought I was just imagining things until I read your post.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Sat, 22 Jun 2024, 11:46
I'm still not sold on the idea of John Wick 5. The fact the first four films are so consistently good, and that they ended the saga on a high note, makes me wish they'd just leave it. I'm happy with the four movies we got.

Regarding the spinoffs, I watched the first episode of The Continental when it was released last year. It didn't grip me enough to watch the remaining two episodes, though I've heard the show picks up as it goes along. The main problem for me is that it introduces lots of new characters – too many, really – and throws us into the action without giving us a reason to care about anything that's happening. Compare that with the first John Wick movie, which instantly hooks the audience's sympathies by showing John lose his wife and suffer the injustice of being beaten, robbed and having his dog killed. Beginning his story on such a tragic and intimate note immediately arouses pathos and gets us on John's side. We want to see him get revenge.

By contrast, The Continental throws us into the action with characters we've never seen before, and there's no comparable dramatic hook to make us care. The action is impressive and it has a stylish look and high-quality production values similar to the main films, but the writing and storyline aren't as compelling. The only characters I felt invested in were Winston and Charon, and only then because I knew them from the movies. But the consensus seems to be that the show picks up in episode 2, so I might go back and finish it.

Did anyone watch the whole series? If so, is it worth persevering with?
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Fri, 27 Sep 2024, 12:35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FSwsrFpkbw
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: thecolorsblend on Fri, 27 Sep 2024, 18:17
On the one hand, this does look sort of interesting. Yes, Keanu helps.

But on the other hand, do women need their own version of EVERYTHING?
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: The Dark Knight on Tue, 1 Oct 2024, 10:19
In the absence of a fifth film (for now) this is as good as it gets. Seeing Winston and Charon featuring prominently in the trailer makes it feel like a very legitimate addition to the franchise. And of course there's Keanu. I get the whole girl power trope being overdone but I think this can work. I do like Ana and after No Time To Die I wanted to see more of her in that type of action role. I think this is a movie that can get bums on seats for a variety of reasons.
Title: Re: The John Wick Thread
Post by: Silver Nemesis on Fri, 25 Apr 2025, 11:06
(https://comicbookmovie.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=cover,width=920,quality=75/https://i.ibb.co/6RnkC59b/b-13.jpg)

(https://comicbookmovie.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=cover,width=920,quality=75/https://i.ibb.co/Gfz4B0Hj/b-1.jpg)

(https://comicbookmovie.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=cover,width=920,quality=75/https://i.ibb.co/svZgRVf9/b-2.jpg)

(https://comicbookmovie.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=cover,width=920,quality=75/https://i.ibb.co/jk8tWzPC/b-5.jpg)

(https://comicbookmovie.com/cdn-cgi/image/fit=cover,width=920,quality=75/https://i.ibb.co/P73q3Nb/b-6.jpg)