Film Review: John Wick (2014)

~ beetleypete

Another film I came to late, and one that has inspired sequels since.

 

Sometimesyou have to sit back and let a film wash over you, and this is one of those times. Extremely violent, and rather pointless, this is a relentless revenge-thriller about a retired hit man who returns to take on his former employers and colleagues.

Following the death of his wife from a terminal illness, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is bereft and depressed. He has a luxurious house and a fantastic classic car, but he is lonely and sad. Then one evening a parcel arrives, and it is a puppy, sent by his wife as her last wish. Something for him to love, and to give him a reason to carry on.

One day when he is filling up his car with petrol, a group of Russian gangsters appear, and ask to buy his beloved Mustang. He refuses to sell, and drives off. But that night they break into his home, beat him up badly, and kill the little puppy. Unknown to them, he is a retired hit man with a terrifying reputation. One of them is the son of the local Russian mafia kingpin, and when his father discovers he has upset the legendary John Wick, he knows bad things are going to happen.

And they do. Lots of them.

I lost count of how many people got killed, and how many times Wick was injured. He goes on a rampage, assisted by his old hit man friend, played by Willem Dafoe. On the way he has to deal with contract killers, and the legions of russian gangsters employed by the big boss. Ultimately, he tracks down the repulsive son (Alfie Allen) and finishes the job.

Reeves is ideal in the role of the effcient and emotionless killer, and the rest of the cast do their jobs well-enough. The pace of the film rarely slows, and the action sequences are beautifully choreographed, even when it seems unlikely that Wick could possibly be THAT good!

I actually enjoyed it, maybe because I am still ill.

This is my first post using the Block Editor. I clicked on the + sign, chose Classic, and carried on typing ignoring everything that popped up. If it looks any different, that’s why.

36 thoughts on “Film Review: John Wick (2014)”

  1. The fight choreography is very impressive and I loved being thrown into the fascinating secret assassin world, complete with body disposal dinner reservations and “no business on site” hotel. There’s not an enormous amount of substance but it doesn’t really matter. John Wick is just fun.

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  2. Pingback: Film Review: John Wick (2014) – Kisafilms.com

  4. Of course we loved the Wick movies, I reviewed the 3rd a while back and it’s just as bonkers but with the addition of a funky Halle Berry. Sorry to hear you’re still poorly, and well done for using the block editor, the post looks absolutely fine.

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    1. Thanks, FR. The second one is on telly next week, and I will try to watch it.
      I was initially excited about using the Classic option on the BE, and started another post to find it had changed completely once again. Just too annoying.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  5. Funnily enough, the film was shown again yesterday evening, but I’d watched it not so long ago, so I didn’t bother again. I did enjoy it though, and although Reeves’s character isn’t a million miles away from his character in the Matrix, I feel he does it well, and, of course, it’s very different from his Bill and Ted character. I’m not sure why the film pushes the right buttons for me, because I abhor violence, and it’s not as if Reeves is a ‘little man succeeding against the odds’: he is a hit man, after all; but I think we empathise with him because of the loss of his wife, and then the brutal killing of a defenceless animal. So: a thumbs-up from me, too! Cheers, Jon 😀

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  7. Firstly, I’m sorry you are not feeling well and hope you will be on the mend soon. Secondly, I just read your most recent post. I too am having difficultly with the block editor. I spent 2 hours trying to figure out how to compile the post of my serial. I couldn’t figure it out and it was frustrating, so I sympathize. I know I speak for all of your faithful followers…please don’t leave Word Press, Pete. It’ll get better. I think your John Wick post looks great.
    About John Wick…I liked it. I thought it was a very stylish action movie with a great color palette and wonderful choreography and cinematography. That said, I got exhausted from the incessant action and body count.

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    1. Thanks, Pam. The John Wick post worked quite well, and then WP decided to play games.
      I am too old to play games anymore. My patience with this crap is completely exhausted.
      They can have it back, and hand it over to their business users..
      Best wishes, Pete.

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    1. The puppy is killed, Kim. It’s a very brief scene, and not too graphic.
      I am not doing at all well with the BE, despite this post. You may be hearing some big news from me soon.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  11. “One day when he is filling up his car with petrol, a group of Russian gangsters appear, and ask to buy his beloved Mustang.”

    That setup seems a bit far-fetched. Couldn’t they have offered to buy the puppy, and then blow up the Mustang when he refused? That would have been far more believable!

    In any event, the “John Wick” movies get great reviews, and everyone agrees Keanu Reeves is perfect for the part. Too bad Sandra Bullock isn’t along for the ride. She could speed thing up even more!

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  13. Pete, as you will see if you continue on to parts 2 and 3, they have created a unique world here – incredibly violent, but do you notice that only the bad guys get killed? It’s an ultra-violent world in and of itself, instead of one where innocent people are murdered without guilt…for that reason, it’s an entertaining journey, and it does have the most “kills” of any film I can remember! Great review!

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  14. This movie is so great! I enjoyed it immensely. And if you thought that this was over the top: the sequels are even more extreme! 😂😂 It’s going to spawn an entire franchise, as there are now talks of a tv series, and there’s a fourth part in the works as well.
    But Reeves was great in this and born to play the part. Yes it’s crazy, but well sometimes crazy can be fun😂

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  15. well the post looks good to me, other than the missing spaces ‘Sometimesyou’ 🙂
    I have the series waiting to be watched, now I have your seal of approval I may find an child free hour or two to indulge 🙂

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