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‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ Rips and Tears to New Action Heights

Published

5 years ago

May 17, 2019

Some people want enormous showdowns featuring their favorite Marvel characters, I on the other hand wait with anticipation to see someone give John Wick a gun. And boy does he get a gun or two in the runtime of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

The story takes off like a bullet from where John Wick 2 left off. Wick is running through the streets of NY making strategic moves to assist in his upcoming excommunicado sentence, during which he will receive no assistance from anyone under The High Table. As Wick fans recall, Wick broke some very important rules on Continental grounds that lead to an impending contract on his life.

The film takes no time getting into the nitty-gritty world of headshots and and constantly cool choreographed violence. This time however, Wick is up against the clock and in constant survival mode as opposed to his usual just and vengeful self. The Baba Yaga’s biggest enemy this time around is time itself.

Director, Chad Stahelski brings that trademark flare back to the Wick series once again. Combining the genius and timing of Buster Keaton with masterful martial arts and gun-fu of East meets West. This time around, Stahelski steers heavily into inspiration from High Noon, complete with homages to clocks ticking down to inevitable final moments and subsequent consequential action. Stahelski elevates his already deep understanding of the language of cinema and generously gives us the action we have come to expect from the series and then raises the bar he set.

Wick’s nemesis this time around lies in the deadly hands of Mark Dacascos, who brings a very interesting take on his approach to lethal assassin, Zero. Dacascos is the real deal in the world of martial arts and that lends to his character here with his precise approach to action. The interesting thing that Dacascos does here is to turn his character into a genuine John Wick fanboy. Sure, he needs to kill Wick, but that doesn’t stop his childlike wonder while attempting it. The third act moments between Zero and Wick are well-done outright hilarious.

Wick

Through a series of events, I will avoid spoiling, Wick ends up partnered with Sofia (Halle Berry) in a some sequences that viciously doubles the action of what we have seen in previous John Wick films. What you have to remember, especially during these scenes, is that they are doing all this shit for real. Reeves and Berry unleash a slew of bullets paired with an intense duo of dogs who in turn unleash their own hell onto the baddies. The result is bloody and magical. The stunt work that went into this stuff is fuckin’ legendary and I’m still in complete awe.

Reeves is Wick. Wick is Reeves. The dude pours himself into the role once again and has a profound understanding of exactly what to bring to Stahelski’s table of action. Well-versed in gun fu and kung fu and everything in between, Reeves is a craftsman whose blood, sweat and tears lies in each frame of the film to mesmerizing results.

One of the best things about this series outside of the outstanding action has always been the world that John Wick created from the get go. Secret code, double speak, gold coins, keys and an underground that we hadn’t seen previous to these films is absolutely rich. Chapter 3 takes us further down that alluring rabbit hole. New locations, characters and big and game changing reveals are made throughout, never taking away from action set pieces.

While a lot of action films are just that. The rich world of John Wick is busting at the seams with symbolism. The historical, philosophical and even religious undertones are everywhere and throughout. This time around that substance is capitalized on with bits of those symbols bleeding into the narrative to satisfying and well earned results.

For me it is hard to rate any of the Wick films. They are all equally fantastic and I’ve loved every single badass second with them. From start to finish this series has been a masterpiece and we are lucky enough to have witnessed it. Wick maintains the lightning in the bottle sensation that It has always been and still promises more of this vicious ballet, and I for one am entirely here for that.

‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ is out now in theaters.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

22 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.