One of the most hotly anticipated films of the year is John Wick Chapter 4. Slated for release in 2021, it was delayed due to the pandemic, but diehard fans will know it was definitely worth the wait. She Society were delighted to attend an advanced screening at Event Cinemas in the Myer Centre, where a full house of action junkies gathered to see the latest adrenalin fuelled ride from the popular franchise.
Keanu Reeves is my very favourite star and many report he is one of the nicest guys in Hollywood, but when he moves into the role of John Wick there is no more Mr Nice Guy. John Wick is a killing machine, the best of the best and in the latest film he must fight off new enemies and old friends to survive. A huge price tag has been placed on his head by the infamous group – The High Table and John finds that there is now nowhere for him to hide as he travels from New York to Osaka, Berlin to Paris.
In this fourth action packed film, John Wick is on a mission to bring down the High Table. With an ever increasing bounty on his head, an all star cast of assassins are sourced to bring him down.
I haven’t seen any of the previous films but my husband and sons are diehard fans so I thought I’d have my husband help me with this review and compare my perspective as a first timer to his more expert opinion.
She Said:
I haven’t seen other John Wick films but you can definitely watch it as a stand alone. I lost count of the number of bodies within the first few minutes, but found myself enjoying the martial arts scenes, special effects and high speed chases. I particularly loved travelling the world through the film. There were some breathtaking scenes set in major cities. The Berlin nightclub scene was a triumph and I particularly loved the scenes set in Paris. The Paris fight scenes and last scene in the story will stay with me for a long time.
I was surprised to find myself and the audience laughing out loud at times and some parts were really heartwarming which I didn’t expect. Keanu Reeves is very, very good as an action hero. He delivers his lines without missing a beat, even in the midst of a fight. Laurence Fishburne is still one of the coolest people on the planet. I certainly have a new respect for stuntmen and the actors who do their own stunts. Wow!
Some of the newer characters like Donnie Yen as the blind assassin and the Tracker were also top drawer new opponents for Wick. They helped show a little more of Wick’s more human side, as well as adding another dimension to some killer martial arts scenes. I loved that dogs were included in the story.
He Said:
It’s like Call of Duty on steroids and is probably the best John Wick film yet. You definitely don’t need to have seen the other three films. You really need to tell people to see it in the cinema to appreciate all the fight scenes and special effects. It would be interesting to know how much of the film was stuntmen and how much AI and special effects.
I loved the car chase at Notre Dame. I’ve whizzed round there myself. It is longer than the other movies but there is even more action than the previous films. The stunts and special effects are even better this time around. Five stars out of five.
If the reaction from the audience in our screening was anything to go by director, Chad Stahelski, is onto another winner. It’s not often everyone claps at the end of the movie as they did here. It was a colourful and fast paced blockbuster which will sweep you away for a while and definitely keep those loyal Wick fans happy. Grab your choc top and a popcorn for this one which runs almost three hours. John Wick : Chapter 4 is in cinemas from March 23.
Michelle Beesley is a Brisbane born and bred former primary school teacher. A wife, proud grandma and mother of three grown sons, Michelle is thrilled to have recently published her debut contemporary romance novel, It Happened in Paris, with Serenade Publishing. Her novella – Escape to D’ Amour was published in 2019. Michelle’s work can be found in the anthologies – Destination Romance and Short & Sweet. When not reading or writing Michelle can be found at a coffee shop chatting with friends, front row at a fashion show, or beside a rugby union field cheering on her favourite teams.
Michelle is a reluctant traveller, Francophile, keen walker and avid yoga enthusiast plus a book, film and theatre lover who loves everything pink and sparkly (including champagne). You can find Michelle on instagram @michellebeesley_writer and her website: michellebeesley.com.
