John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum reviewed by Mark Kermode

[@joshthompson7936]

Parabellum is essentially a feature length Third Act, and it's brilliant.

[@FlyingHeadbutt100]

Genius description

[@nastylittlecritter]

Josh Thompson yeah, but it doesn’t really have an ending

[@shawklan27]

@Didac Cerver yep

[@jomontanee]

Yes. Chad even mentioned it's the reason he named the title "Chapter" because this franchise is like a book. 1st Chapter, 2nd, 3rd and so on.

[@danielwebb8402]

Not original suggestion, but best stunt / choreographed scene should be an Oscar category. If best costume is.

[@philcorrigan5641]

daniel webb It absolutely should be, and considering how stunt work has been a big part of Hollywood since the very beginning, it’s bizarre how these are the only movie professionals who never get recognised on the biggest stage

[@brandonehrecke8186]

Not sure if it’s ever been addressed by the Academy but I think the prevailing idea is that they don’t want to further incentivize putting stunt actors at risk. If an Oscar is on the line, people may go to more and more extreme/dangerous lengths to win.

[@TheQuentinSK8]

I was thinking the same thing when I was watching it

[@aidanrogers4438]

The best thing about these films is that they know what they are, action films, but they are some of the best made films of the genre and Parabellum is no exception. The effort they put into the fight sequences is second to none.

[@andremotivation6561]

I could be wrong, but this trilogy all takes place within the same timespan each film picks up were the other leaves

[@renee-kingsdaughter5584]

@@andremotivation6561 ......... They are! According to Keanu, JW Chapter 2 takes place 5 days later of the firs JW,. And in JW 3, starts within the one hour before the hunt begins for Wick!

[@joeodonnell921]

Mark is nervous incase John wick is standing behind him, didn't even try fitting in 'exorcist' comparison tho did sneak in 'french connection'

[@pontifexcellence6648]

Mark has indeed turned up this week dressed as John Wick.

[@youchoosealex]

John Wick's let himself go.

[@EzeICE]

@@broceliandeforest7420 But black when he's in Baba Yaga mode

[@woodhd]

mark - 3 button jacket john - 2 buttons

[@StrikeWarlock]

Funny how Mark mentions The Raid when the movie basically has 2 of the 3 best Pencak Silat fighters from The Raid 2. Indonesians basically squealed on the cinema when Keanu Reeves responded with Sampai Jumpa.

[@Nenjles]

Sampai Jumpa kembali gan... :D 🤭

[@cheekybo9926]

I absolutely loved this film. It hits full throttle immediately, it allows you short gasps for some air and then more stunning action scenes commence for long periods of time. It’s the only film I’ve seen do this in recent memory since Mad Max Fury Road. This film knows what it is and entertains massively. Roll on chapter 4!

[@jomontanee]

To tell you the truth I can’t wait 2-3 years to see the mega war in Chapter 4! I want it NOW.

[@saintsays5773]

Yes...

[@Wintis_Swizzle]

Jo Montanee it’s on like Donkey Kong! Shame it’s going to be 2 years minimum 🥺

[@jomontanee]

@Grahamhg Yes, it's officially announced.

[@Aalborg42]

I like how EVERYBODY in New York is an assassin. Can't blame him for trying to get away 🤣

[@briangriffiths114]

I regularly enjoying watching the two preceding John Wick DVDs which are excellent, but JW Parabellum reaches a whole new level of fight action and cinematic experience. Mark and Simon have summarised it very well.

[@ChrosTV]

I honestly can't believe that there are people who think this is worse than the previous two. Honestly one of the most impressive action movies I've ever seen.

[@RNvidcast]

This is how I felt about the first film. I laughed so much as it was so insane. I'm really glad this film is getting good reviews, can't wait to see it now.

[@shaykhriyadh]

You will be disappointed. I loved 1, and liked 2, but this is really bad.

[@proevofan]

Loved it, with each brutal kill the audience would simultaneously gasp, wince and laugh was glorious.

[@justinstephenson9360]

I saw the film this afternoon, it filled in a couple of hours nicely. Beautifully done, best bits are the book scene and the dogs and there are definitely a few LOL moments. It is very much like the Raid, astonishingly well done...but they forgot about have any sort of story or plot something that JW1 & JW2 had. I disagree with Mark, JW1 is a far better film. There is obviously a JW4 in the wings but they need a better script

[@thehitherto5348]

One of the best things about the Wick character is that, for as dangerous he is, he is still is human who bleed and die. It would be sad if he ended up as an unbeatable Steven Seagal clone, so I hope they won't continue the series for 8-10 instalments.

[@jomontanee]

So true. He was hurt, in pain, slower, ran with strange painful paces and bow his head to the ones who hold his fate in their hands. That is why I love John Wick.

[@tepsicouch]

This is pretty generous, I think especially towards the end of Parabellum we see just how super human John is. He's basically wolverine, you can stab him, but blunt force does absolutely nothing against him. He fell through the glass dozens of times in the mirror room fight, and even when his opponents suffered the exact same falls as him and were down for the count he still got up and shook it off. He fell off that massive roof and (although obviously hurt) still managed to get away, just like Winston knew he would.

[@paulblake1164]

The glass room was a nod to Game of Death!

[@NatHarwood]

Very good point. Deserves some sort of action oscar...the first did at least. Beautiful choreography in the house sequence

[@shaunsalter450]

Mark mentions the Raid a couple of times in relation to the kinaesthetics of the fight scenes, and of course the "ninjas" in JW3 are familiar faces from that film: Personally my favourite shout out was to Eli Wallace in "The good, the Bad and the Ugly"... where John is carefully calibrating his six-shooter by listening to the click-click of the barrel rotating...

[@adamRKC]

cant wait to see it. sounds like it does for martial arts films as Fury Road did for car chases. I always thought that not having stunt work recognised in the Oscars is a massive oversight.

[@RolfHartmann]

Favorite part was in the stables.

[@landoohmke]

The clip shown on a display in the city in the beginning of the movie was Buster Keaton's "The General". I had a great time watching the movie. I'll watch it again.

[@jomontanee]

Chad must love Buster Keaton because Chapter 2 opened with his footage on the wall too.

[@StrikeWarlock]

@@jomontanee it makes sense, his craft involving physical stunts pretty much resonate with the whole silent cinema when it was all about doing death defying stunts for the sake of cinema.

[@thehitherto5348]

Speaking of The Raid.. They hired Cecep Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian from those movies in JW3, so I hope they don't underuse their skills.

[@BankMoviegoer]

No, they got a great drawn-out fight scene.

[@thehitherto5348]

That's good to hear. I feared they would just include them to make Keanu look cool when he takes them out.

[@jonastiger9747]

@@thehitherto5348 they really made him look really cool though, as did Mark Dacascos, he was amazing.

[@morse8026]

Speaking of The Raid.. we need part 3 of that too.

[@thebois4884]

There are even a few references to The Raid movies in their fight choreography

[@paulblake1164]

Did anyone see Buster Keaton in Time Square?

[@streetstruck8951]

Having not seen any of them, I feel compelled to do so now.

[@TheWaynos73]

The John Wick movies: Keanu kills lots of people in creative ways - repeat - kills more people - the end.

[@Ballbagsaggins]

It's interesting that the Balletic choreography is viewed as a positive in this review whereas for me, one of the negatives was being able to see the choregraphy more in this chapter than the other two. I also thought that the "gags" aeemed to remove the stakes and tension in the action, particularly in the third act.

[@jayrave4]

John Wick 3 is awesome, helped by having Raid performers in there (Mad Dog etc). Incidentally, if you’ve not seen Raid 1 and 2, go watch now - the end fight between Mad Dog and the two brothers in Raid 1 is mind-bending and one of the finest fight sequences ever committed to film.

[@martindunwell6099]

The Belgian malinois made me cry like a baby laughing the film really is that good from the basketball player at the beginning they really have got this movie nailed

[@edwardkinsey5680]

Love Marks reviews. I trust him

[@travislawrencemusic]

I was hoping for a conclusive trilogy and was a bit disappointed with the ending pushing yet another sequel this franchise just doesn't need.

[@jamesluby6705]

I agree, but it's making money, a going concern as it were, so I'm guessing 4, 5 and 6 are well under way...

[@DG-oc2uw]

It's not a patch on Chapter 1. John Wick worked so well because even his name was enough to provoke fear in anyone who knew who he was. By Chapter 3 even Halle Berry can do what John Wick does and just as well as him. John is supposed to be the very best, the one that no-one wants to meet. But now every Joe Assassin lines up to get killed by him. This film ruins the John Wick mystique somewhat.

[@Luvie1980]

It was a fun movie. The first one is still the best.

[@phichau90]

Really loved it. But my only concern is the they dont over milk it.

[@paulwade4058]

I loved JW3. Halle Berry and her dogs were amazing. The armoured enemies at the end. Boss fight genius. When John didn’t kill the brothers at the end, fantastic. It was a weak ending, but definitely a good setup for the fourth film and upcoming tv series.

[@saxbend]

Why did they make Para Bellum into one word? Ian McShane even says the quote during the film. Si vis pacem, para bellum. Until I heard that I didn't understand what parabellum was supposed to be. I thought it must have been some weird Greek/Latin hybrid. If they had just called the film Para Bellum it would have been fine.

[@glyph2011]

saxbend I Wikipedia’d it. It’s the term for 9mm bullet. And it came from the Latin phrase that Lovejoy utters in the movie

[@mrmagoozle]

time engineer ‘loveloy’. I laughed out aloud to the room alone. Wasn’t expecting that

[@StrikeWarlock]

Like what someone above me said, its a play on the both the name of the bullet and the quote.

[@johnnycalvino7490]

Si vis pacem, para bellum is Latin for "if you want peace, prepare for war".

[@saxbend]

@@glyph2011 ta. I know my Latin, but know nothing about weapons.

[@Kent6494]

"It's quantum, Baby"

[@danthsmith]

It was awesome and laugh out loud. Roll on pt4

[@glyph2011]

I’ve just watched this. Film of the year. Astoundingly good. Brilliant in fact. Loved it.

[@AmbientMess]

Nah that goes to Endgame sir!

[@glyph2011]

Dave Atkins haven’t seen that one yet. I’m still at Thor 2. Lol. Lots of catching up to do :-)

[@punkandprovocation]

@@AmbientMess hahahahahahaha

[@aspizak]

I really liked it, the ending is a bit anticlimactic but still fun.

[@MarklovesTV]

What an exciting action package film. Mark provides a very interesting analysis of how the action scenes were performed.

[@rbdriftin]

My favourite film of the year so far. A glorious piece of cinema.

[@lylehimself9287]

is Quantum baby.

[@ntube7]

It was good but not great. I preferred the first film. Also preferred the Raid movies for the martial arts - this had some, but the constant bullet to the head/neck kills quickly become boring. Ending was ridiculous and shows there were no consequences after all.

[@bengough6955]

I actually think I'll prefer it the second time over. I wasn't aware the writers had changed their mind on this being the close of a trilogy so I was expecting closure and was angry it set up another sequel. Going in again knowing this I think I'll enjoy the ride a lot more. Much like JW2

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film’s well acted, well written, well directed, very stylish, well scored & is an action packed entry into the series. (83%) (4/5 stars) (positive)

[@borismuller86]

Will this be the end of the Trilogy? Will it be a Quadrilogy? Three seems like a perfect end.

[@bolder2009]

Boris Müller Oh there will definitely be another one. It ended on a cliff hanger. There's at least one more to be made. The upper table are going down.

[@chriswyatt9869]

No it doesn’t. It’s not perfect at all. There’s so much more needed to be done, for there to be a satisfied conclusion. It could’ve ended happily, but it didn’t and there definitely needs to be another one to clear things up

[@pimkapitz]

I found the exposition in between the action set pieces to be horribly dull and just shockingly bad. To a point where I would just recommend only watching the action scenes and skipping all the rest.

[@arniearnie3963]

Easily the best out of the three

[@danielmusumeci7187]

John Wick jumped the shark when he fell off the TOP of the building and survived!

[@patrickfreeman4843]

A couple of things come to mind. When ultra-violence is scene as nothing but slapstick comedy have we become desensitized to onscreen violence? If an entire film is basically nothing but action set piece after set piece then what happens to story and character development? Do we care? In each installment of the franchise, where the action get ratcheted up above the previous once, do you eventually reach a ceiling? A perfect example would be Robert Rodriguez - He goes from a crotch revolver to Double D Machine Guns to a fully automatic prosthetic leg. Where does he go from there? What's next? A flame thrower out the ass?

[@Revan-eb1wb]

you must be fun at parties, boy

[@holyflame2]

Thanos is lucky John Wick isn't in Infinity War and Endgame. Otherwise John will facebook his ass.

[@DravicPL]

John Wick facebooking people XDDD genius pun after seeing John Wick 3!

[@Monkeymosh]

But what a about Jason Mantzoukas?

[@paulhudson563]

Didn't she have two dogs and jerome shot one but during the fight there are two dogs😲

[@chriswyatt9869]

If you paid attention, you’d see that he shot the dog in the bullet proof vest as a warning. It didn’t die

[@thomasjuniardi3559]

It's really hard not to compared this with the raid series in terms of fight sequences, but for cameras placements to captured it, I still prefer Garrett Evans works with his camera, its like a third person follow the fight so we the audience's feel more immersed to it. JW3 camera movement is almost like a documentary, its wide and sometime standing still. JW3 fight sequences is awesome don't get me wrong, The Gun Fu + Dogs Fu is so OMFG moment. I really wished Garrett could involved in the next JW movies, at least for director of photography...it would be perfect..JMO

[@ConnorMcCartney95]

His name is Gareth

[@ConnorMcCartney95]

"it's wide and sometimes standing still" that's exactly what you want from an action movie though...

[@thomasjuniardi3559]

@@ConnorMcCartney95 ow yes your right, his Welsh dude 😆

[@thomasjuniardi3559]

@@ConnorMcCartney95 absolutely, but not to much or to long. It's an action movie so IMO it cameras should had more "adventures", not shaky. I amazed by how Gareth use GoPro on his movie, its very unique and refreshing for me as a movie gowers.😁

[@barrymchugh667]

I laughed so much watching this one. Really entertaining

[@Dont_Za_Jah]

Can someone who's seen this tell me if there is any nudity to see who and who not to bring along to the theater? Thx :)

[@vannkamp]

There's literally no nudity from start to finish but there's lots of hardcore violent scenes.

[@Dont_Za_Jah]

@@vannkamp Thank u!

[@DravicPL]

@@Dont_Za_Jah In other words, bring your mother, your grandmother and their girl friends. It's a perfect family movie!

[@Dont_Za_Jah]

@@DravicPL Thanks 😆

[@BreezyE-d3n]

talk about damning with faint praise

[@postmankettle]

Has mark watched the raid 2?

[@kilifischkopp1442]

Can you see it without having seen parts I and II ?

[@sweeperboy]

I second this question!

[@AlphaPapa69]

Kili Fischkopp definitely watch the first two before seeing 3

[@NorthernSeaWitch]

You can watch it without seeing the previous entries but you will miss some of his motivation and 2 fantastic movies.

[@kilifischkopp1442]

Thanks guys :) Just saw the first one's on Netflix. So I'm gonna watch that first :)

[@ConnorMcCartney95]

Definitely not

[@Pintheshadows]

Both Raid villains are in this as well. And the most glass smashed since RoboCop.

[@proevofan]

And the villain from Jet Li "classic" Cradle 2 the Grave

[@raymeester7883]

most glass smashed since Die Hard.

[@briansager3744]

I liked it, but it's basically half of a movie.

[@joe-un1ky]

It was great, but I was kind of expecting the series to end. Just got a setup for John Wick 4

[@ConnorMcCartney95]

@@joe-un1ky I wasn't and don't think they said anything to suggest that

[@dravreh]

Review Chernobyl HBO mini series!

[@Tomanista]

480p?

[@roboliver9980]

First was enjoyable but after a while it feels like you’re watching someone in a video game on cheat mode.

[@willgoodall1529]

So.....is it any good?

[@WeyardWiz]

Yes!

[@Tomherbs]

When is Matrix 4 coming?

[@knightsofn1]

4? The Matrix never had a sequel.

[@bolder2009]

Tomherbs This is Matrix 4 in a weird sort of way. Just kidding.

[@andrewjackson7499]

knightsofn1 The directors are now girls

[@corailgris]

It's a ghastly piece of violence porn. Hated it.

[@edwarddaweed]

I'm yet to watch a John Wick but definitely want to watch them all now - sounds a bit like the Transporter trilogy, which are some of the most enjoyable action films I've ever watched

[@freya921]

They blow transporter out of the water. You have to see them.

[@ConnorMcCartney95]

Except John Wick is way way better

[@TheScotchaholic]

Meanwhile, Hong Kong martial arts/action cinema has been doing this for ages....

[@selectjed1]

What is "this"?

[@TheScotchaholic]

Thanks for proving my point.

[@selectjed1]

@@TheScotchaholic hmmm, yeah man, fairly sure I didn't make a point, I asked a question, you used that phrase wrong, try again

[@TheScotchaholic]

@@selectjed1 If you knew, you wouldn't be asking. You've proven my point.

[@selectjed1]

@@TheScotchaholic you never made a point, you could just answer my question instead of being an asshole on the internet

[@qs5523]

Would love the next John wick movie to have a end credit scene and it’s nick fury

[@stevemitchell3464]

Good film but a bit over the top.

[@s.mas.w]

Saw it this afternoon. Have to say, not as good as 1 or 2. Ridiculous reveal in the desert and the attempt to add black humor falls flat. Also the adjudicator chick was not believable AT ALL. Still worth going to see as a JW fan, but disappointed unfortunately. Was really looking forward to this one. Just my take on it

[@johnherbert9566]

Honestly I LOVED the first JW, but this was on a whole new level of bad, abysmally bad! Story narrative, non exsistant, violence on a level that was so gratuitous and unnecessary especially for a 15 certificate film in the UK. Constant close up head shot hand gun kills, and fight scenes so long they'll become uninteresting, flat and just plain boring. I expected so much better, not even close to JW one, and unfortunately left open for a fourth instalment.

[@hopeysmoke]

This film was so tiresome It is shot beautifully but there is no tension, thrill or character empathy - the unnecessary humour also takes the edge off it and the plot is poor Damn shame...

[@bastianpeak1656]

What about story, dude?

[@GrumpyAndrewsHorrorHouse]

John Wick is going to kill EVERYBODY and I am here for it. It was not just a puppy.

[@barrypapworth9495]

It is a beautiful thing.

[@KingDomIV]

That's not a review. You didn't say whether it was good or not. There's no conclusion.

[@Tomanista]

Joihn Wick Chapter 4 Endgame

[@TheSpeedfreak665]

Love this movie so much I'm going to go and see it second time..

[@barrycoote9562]

Loved this film.. action packed

[@yidavv]

Did people really enjoy this? I didn't like it. Way too much action and it kept dragging, every action scene I would be rolling my eyes waiting for it to be over. Not enough chabge in the action to keep me interested. Some scenes were just plain boring

[@peterbaxter9023]

ASBDAU fnid I can't help but agree with you. I thought that the last act of this film went on for far too long with the fight scenes even at the half way mark feeling repetitive (nothing every really peaked past the scene where John Wick throws an entire cabinet of knives at three guys). I just feel that the characters and plot really don't go anywhere and John's predicament at the end of the film is practically the same as when it started, on the run after being helped by some friends. I enjoyed the film overall although I do think it really lost its momentum at the halfway point.

[@vannkamp]

I most def. thought this too. There should have been more thriller/intrigue-like scenes. I really do wish that they rectify this in the next one.

[@lastventure8377]

So what was your verdict? At no point does he round off his talking.

[@BannedPhotoshop]

The movie was 20 minutes too long

[@MichaelRyanPetsinwater]

The best John Wick ever was promised but not delivered. This movie is a disappointing addition to the John Wick Franchise. I hope the writers do better with number 4.

[@mantvydasvabuolas4950]

hi were in site onile i cant see full move this jonh wick3

[@HDB1974]

John Wick 3: Jumping the shark..

[@elftower907]

why is he being so positive about it. it sucked.

[@ConnorMcCartney95]

How did it?

[@DaveBowman]

Potentially the worst film I’ve ever seem, and I don’t say that lightly.

[@Etherglide]

Not the worst for me, but not good.

[@shaykhriyadh]

John Wick 3 is utterly rubbish. I was a hardcore fan of the previous installments, but this film is basically a cash grab for what has become a cash cow franchise, which is a world away from where it started from. Only brain dead zombies will enjoy this sequal. It's as bad as it gets.

[@jonathansteel8565]

I'm guessing the SJW'S won't like this movie. Looking forward to seeing it

[@brianfranco1143]

Stfu virgin

[@lillysf1819]

Actually, I loved it!

[@DwainDwight]

A completely rubbish film. Yawn.