John Wick

7

MovieGuysOct 28, 2014

John Wick is a wholesome return to form for Keanu Reeves, but the movie itself is not as good. I did appreciate how its story isn't just simple action movie formula, but the clichés are there: "torture-in-a-chair" scenes where the villainJohn Wick is a wholesome return to form for Keanu Reeves, but the movie itself is not as good. I did appreciate how its story isn't just simple action movie formula, but the clichés are there: "torture-in-a-chair" scenes where the villain leaves and gets confronted by the protagonist later; conflicting moral struggles for the "hero"; and even a deceased wife is thrown in to the mix. It plays out smoothly and confidently, and I would even recommend seeing it. Just don't expect too much from its one-note acting and clunky beginning.… Expand

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

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8

xhaosisOct 25, 2014

All I can say is it is a solid, action movie. Has a comic feel to it, and it is worth admission.

It is a action movie..

Keanu, did pretty good. If I have any gripe it was the heavy in this movie Nothing close to a darth vader etc.

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

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9

AquaMario123Oct 28, 2014

Outstanding movie - the only reason this is not a 10 is due to the underwhelming finale. Throughout the movie, we are met with storytelling and action of such high quality that the finale (which was by no means BAD) pales in comparison to theOutstanding movie - the only reason this is not a 10 is due to the underwhelming finale. Throughout the movie, we are met with storytelling and action of such high quality that the finale (which was by no means BAD) pales in comparison to the rest of the film.

But seriously, this movie is amazing.… Expand

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

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10

madkriNov 12, 2014

Glad to see Keanu Reeves back in the game. This is a truly great movie if you look at it the way it is supposed to be. Great and fast revenge action. This movie knows what it is doing and so does Keanu.

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

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6

markvantparkJan 20, 2015

It was only a **** dog !
This is an animal protection movie.
A warning for people not to shoot their neighbour's dog.
Actually I preferred the first dog.
For the rest there is little to say.

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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1

abm0Mar 24, 2017

Dumber than a sack of rocks. The way they're painting him as an unstoppable force is so over-the-top and cartoonish it's practically telling me I'm stupid to my face. I couldn't make it to the 30-minute mark before I had to stop the movie, IDumber than a sack of rocks. The way they're painting him as an unstoppable force is so over-the-top and cartoonish it's practically telling me I'm stupid to my face. I couldn't make it to the 30-minute mark before I had to stop the movie, I couldn't take the stupidity anymore. The dog was the best character in the half hour I did watch, so 1 point for that.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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9

GerardistheWayFeb 7, 2017

Keanu Reeves is a solid actor, and it was therefore disheartening to watch his career slip away into flop after flop following his starring turn as Neo in the Matrix movies (the latter two of which weren’t so good, by the way). That’s why itKeanu Reeves is a solid actor, and it was therefore disheartening to watch his career slip away into flop after flop following his starring turn as Neo in the Matrix movies (the latter two of which weren’t so good, by the way). That’s why it was such a delightful surprise to me that "John Wick" returned him to bold, stylistically bloody form in the title role.

As Wick, Reeves plays a hitman struggling to overcome the recent, unexpected death of his wife (Bridget Moynahan) when he receives a puppy as a last gift from her to give him something to love and someone to grieve with. Unfortunately, while out with the dog he runs afoul of a Russian gangster, Iosef (Alfie Allen), to whom he refuses to sell his vintage Mustang, and that night the criminal and a few of his cronies break into his house, beat Wick savagely, steal his car, and kill the dog. This was a bad move, as we later learn from Viggo, the head of the New York branch of the Russian mafia (Michael Nyqvist) who is also John’s former employer and Iosef’s father: years ago Wick was a hitman of legendary status in the criminal underworld who, in an attempt to get out of the life and be able to marry his wife, eliminated all of Viggo’s “business” rivals in a single night. The rest of the movie plays out in relatively straightforward fashion, as a cat-and-mouse neo-noir action thriller with Wick trying to get revenge on Iosef while Viggo tries to protect his son and eliminate his former friend at the same time, but it’s the style with which the proceedings are conducted that set it apart from other movies of its kind.

John Wick was directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, former stuntmen (Stahelski was a stand-in for Brandon Lee in "The Crow" following his accidental death, as well as Reeves in "The Matrix", and Leitch has doubled for both Brad Pitt and Matt Damon) who have an eye for action sequences. Whereas in many action films these days shaky and choppy camera work is relied on to give a frenetic feeling to the battle (and unintentionally giving people vertigo in the process), the exact same effect is achieved here with clean cinematography that tracks Wick in continuous shots (or they at least feel continuous) as he guns down enemy after enemy with effortless grace. There is a clear sense of who everyone is, where they are and why they are there in each shot, which is a big help to the audience by way of not inducing a headache in forcing them to figure it out for themselves. In addition to this, cameraman Jonathan Sela does interesting things with lighting, weather, and mood: in typical noir fashion many of the scenes are drab and gloomy, almost black-and-white from their dull color palettes, but it is interesting in which scenes this is prominently feature. Wick’s life outside of his criminal past is where things are more cut-and-dry in terms of color, but when he returns to the life of an assassin suddenly there are bright neon lights, blood-red dress shirts, and intricate tattoos aplenty (there’s also the unforgettable thump and whine of Marilyn Manson’s zombified blues-rocker “Killing Strangers” hanging over a number of scenes). This could be interpreted in any number of ways—it could be that John is more alive when he is embroiled in the criminal world and that he was denying who he was, or it could have been just to create a contrast between the two. I will say this, however: the life of a hitman seems far more lively than the life of a civilian in the film.

I keep referring to Keanu Reeves as John Wick because, in a sense, he is John Wick. The role is an amalgamation of many of his past roles: the one-liners of Ted Logan ("Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure"), the determination of Johnny Utah ("Point Break"), and the reluctance of Neo to be a part of a world he was unsure about ("The Matrix") stand out as the most obvious influences. Wick, like Reeves and his other characters, rarely grows visibly angry, frustrated or upset, and his supreme calm at all times makes him even more threatening when he’s wiping out half of New York single-handedly, as well as even funnier during the deadpan delivery of lines maybe not even intended to be humorous.

Lots in this movie is left unexplained when first introduced, including the supporting characters (which include Willem Dafoe as John’s mentor, Ian McShane as the mysterious operator of a downtown hotel catering exclusively to assassins, Adrienne Palicki as a fellow assassin who could’ve been a Xenia Onatopp-style Bond girl in another life, John Leguizamo as a chop shop owner and Lance Reddick as the concierge of the aforementioned hotel who seems to possess an uncanny sense of what the customer wants/needs), and what isn’t elucidated by the end is deliberately left open to interpretation or further elaboration in the next film. I’m looking forward to seeing the explanation behind the gold coins they use to pay for favors and services. 9/10… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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3

3ebfan511Jul 7, 2015

Woah. Blown away by Keanu Reeves incredible acting in this dumbest movie I have seen in YEARS. So Keanu Reeves stunt double got to direct a movie and it turned out to be a steaming pile of garbage with 0 story and some "cool" looking actionWoah. Blown away by Keanu Reeves incredible acting in this dumbest movie I have seen in YEARS. So Keanu Reeves stunt double got to direct a movie and it turned out to be a steaming pile of garbage with 0 story and some "cool" looking action scenes. This is style over substance 100% and with literally 0 character development and story I could not even enjoy the "style" part much. Cliche, predictable, and boring, I could not wait for it to be over and laughed at how stupid it was the entire time. This a movie for people who like stupid movies, but even stupider. Imagine the most predictably bland action movie, written by a guy who has written crappy C level movies and directed by a stunt double, and you get "John Wick".… Expand

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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1

E71Dec 13, 2015

Supremely cheesy compared to "The Equalizer"... Yup, you cannot speak of this movie without comparing it to that other movie that's very similar with exceptions:

This guy everyone knows. He's a hitman working for some cartoony "hitmanSupremely cheesy compared to "The Equalizer"... Yup, you cannot speak of this movie without comparing it to that other movie that's very similar with exceptions:

This guy everyone knows. He's a hitman working for some cartoony "hitman club" right in the middle of a metropolis where everyone dresses up like they're in a 1920's speakeasy. Gun fights are pretty much like OTT, might as well be from the movie "Wanted".

The other guy, no-one knows (who he really is), he's a former CIA (presumed) assassin who plays vigilante and doesn't do cheesy Hollywood backflips with two guns drawn out. The way he kills sometimes some of his foe is truly brutal.

No movie is completely believable but this movie, although still enjoyable enough to watch is pale in comparison to The Equalizer. I highly recommend watching that one.… Expand

3 of 8 users found this helpful35

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8

quincytheodoreNov 2, 2014

The One has been stylishly resurrected from depth of obscurity. It's a crucial requirement for hitmen to have a mediocre first name and quirky last name, as seen with Bond or Bourne, by this standard, John Wick has secured himself in pantheonThe One has been stylishly resurrected from depth of obscurity. It's a crucial requirement for hitmen to have a mediocre first name and quirky last name, as seen with Bond or Bourne, by this standard, John Wick has secured himself in pantheon of action heroes. His tale follows the known formula of one assassin returning to his old life, but what makes John Wick stands out is how vibrant and exciting the movie portrays him. From the nuance, visual and audio, everything looks like enhanced virtual reality or a very polished video game. Keanu Reeves struts with every bone breaking moves he makes, and without a doubt delivering his best performance in years.

Keanu Reeves, despite having impressive resume, might not be the most dynamic actor. He doesn't transform himself in every role, like say, Tom Cruise. However, with good direction and material, both are present in this movie, he will perform amazingly. This is one of Reeves' best roles aside from his in Matrix and Speed, he brings the air of confidence along with hidden yet excessive violence. Reeves display a good emotion as the character, and he also moves with certainty like a hitman would. There is expert use of close quarter combat technique with multitude of fire arms and knowledge of martial arts for the foundation of the character. Although it is heavily brimmed with action elements, John Wick is also equipped with a bit of emotional baggage. From ancient time, the loss of loved one is an acceptable motive for incoming rampage.

The movie is exhibited with flair, its use of color is simply impressive. Every set piece is done with meticulous vivid visual. The camera angle makes it as though the world of John Wick is seen in different light, almost in the setting of enhanced modern noir. Each action is choreographed meticulously and it's a paramount aspect to make him believable as a lethal force. One of the best things about the action is how the fast pace can be captured with precision. Oftentimes movie employs shaky camera or highly uncoordinated editing. This movie manages to display action with clear focus and crisp movements, even at more crowded setting it never relents or overload the viewer with too much visual information.

Soundtracks help a lot with solemn tone and faster techno rhythm. It's probably one of the best soundtracks of this year, rivaling Hans Zimmerman's from The Amazing Spider-Man 2. There are not many action movies with this high of production value, it certainly packs enough fiery punch to leave a scorch mark for sequel, I won't be surprised if there's even a video game of it. With no Bond, Hunt or Bourne in sight, this may be the time for John Wick.… Expand

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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8

tvhandyOct 24, 2014

The best pure action film this year. John Wick is a fun film that wants you along for the ride as Wick is out for revenge against the man that took what little he had to keep him sane in his new life.

3 of 9 users found this helpful36

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5

djniceyMar 22, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Its not a bad film but its just one generic fight scene after another. The movie could easily have been shorter, the entire plot is:

1) Burglars kill hard mans new puppy.
2) hard man kills hundreds of men because of 1.
3) Man adopts new puppy.

If Wick went straight from 1 to 3 the movie would have made much more sense.

I have no idea why its rated so highly, its just one predictable generic fight scene after another. It has the usual tough-guy trope where one minute he's invincible, the next minute he's weak and vulnerable, next minute he's magically invincible again.

Keanu plays a good role but there is no plot to speak of and the fight scenes have all been done a thousand times before.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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8

KenmeiSep 28, 2015

A fun action movie that doesn't break new ground. The best thing this movie did was hype up John Wick as a super badass. Alot of movies with ultra cool dudes don't do very well in making you believe that the main character is that much of aA fun action movie that doesn't break new ground. The best thing this movie did was hype up John Wick as a super badass. Alot of movies with ultra cool dudes don't do very well in making you believe that the main character is that much of a badass but not this movie. This movie sets up the rest of the movie perfectly and, even though the story is about as run of the mill as it gets, it was still a very fun movie to watch.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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10

StiffNippys666Oct 29, 2014

Fast Paced action packed Keanu Reeves kicking all sorts of butt! If you love action, revenge movies, and miss Neo, go see this flick. He's angry and badass!

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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10

andrewmakatsariJan 5, 2017

JOHN WICK (review) John Wick is one of the best action movies of the year,with an all star cast ,a great world building script,that easily makes this kind of clichéd action movie a fun ride ,with amazing set-pieces,that are supportedJOHN WICK (review) John Wick is one of the best action movies of the year,with an all star cast ,a great world building script,that easily makes this kind of clichéd action movie a fun ride ,with amazing set-pieces,that are supported with superb soundtrack from Tyler Bates. First of all I must say that the story here,while having a standard revenge story structure,is handled with such equisitely good writing and acting that,you just can’t help but really enjoy it once again,since it uses all of the previously known stereotypes of characters,but constantly finds new ways to surpise you and engross you further into it’s world.Keanu Reeves,is an actor that I always liked,he is very good in interviews,he loves what he does and respects the work the directors put in(since he too was a director of “man of tai chi”)and still knows how to be in great physical shape for the stunts and fights,but I have to say that he was able to deliver an emmense amount of emotion in this film.There are scenes here that demand a lot of heart and soul from an actor and it is very pleasing to know that Keanu has handled it so well,it is truly his best performance since the matrix (or “the devil’s advocate”).All of the supporting cast is fantastic as well,Michael Nyqvist plays a highly charismatic and at times hilarious villain,Alfie Allen plays his **** son,who you want to see get beat up and killed.While other big name actors like Willem Defoe and Adrianne Palicki have smaller yet equally great roles,as Marcus(a skilled sniper and an old friend of John),and Perkins(who is hot as hell,fights like most men can’t and has great hair,loved her.).The premise itself is both ludicrous and clever,ludicrous for it’s overall resolution,you would think that a guy killing 84 people for a dog and a car would be dumb and downright idiotic,but because of the way Keanu commits to his job and delivered his performance you just can’t help but root for the poor guy.Meanwhile Derek Kolstad’s script ,establishes the world of John Wick very well,with hotels ,made for hitmen exclusively,that have certain rules,and you get killed for breaking them,the asthetic is mysterious yet very clear and logical and the overall atmosphere and the mood of the story is tonely consistent and very neat. Not only is John wick extremely well written and delivered,it is also masterfully directed ,by first time director Chad Stahelski and David Leitch(who have enormous amounts of stunt choreography and doubling expereince ,working for some of the best action films in recent memory).Since I too want to become a director ,I feel hugely inspired,to see such terrific directorial debuts.The action scenes are long ,inventive,slick ,fluid and well-choreographed.It is all directed steadily and confidently,with blood splatter and shell cases firing all directions and Keanu Reeves using the guns as his extensions rather than normal weapons,I was staring in pure awe and wincing at every bloody headshot, John Wick pulled.And like I said before the music accompanies the action and the fights like some intense orchestra that knows just when to hit to deliver that adrenaline rush of guys beating and shooting the crap out of each other,it may sound primitive,but just wait till you see the “Red Circle”club shootout it is most definitely the best club set-piece I’ve ever seen even better than Tom cruise’s Collateral club scene.It’s the kind of place were electronic dubstep and rocknroll was used to it’s best and most natural,with gunshots mimicking the rises and falls of the music’s rhythm ,it is a deadly dance,with great dancers ,explicit planning and brilliant orchestra,and while the latter action sequences,kind of fall apart just by a tiny,tiny,tiny bit(yes it was that awesome)it still remains a solidly directed action movie.I also loved the color palette of this movie,it was very bright neon,mixed with royal white and deep blue,that made the city of NY all the more vivid and exciting to travel though.All in all it was visually stunning. In conclusion John wick is certainly one of my favorite movies,of the year that uses those precious 96 minutes of runtime to entertain the audience the best it can.It’s brilliance lies in It’s simplicity,it’s complexity lies in it’s choreography and action,and it’s acting performance lies within the grasp of intelligent writing and terrific performance from the main stars, as well as the supporting cast.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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9

KingDevil999Feb 19, 2017

Wow this was an hidden gem at least for me, awesome action scenes and choreography, memorable soundtrack and simple but yet full of impact story, it starts really sad man, Keanu reeves just know what he is doing, he isn't some generic actionWow this was an hidden gem at least for me, awesome action scenes and choreography, memorable soundtrack and simple but yet full of impact story, it starts really sad man, Keanu reeves just know what he is doing, he isn't some generic action actor, no he is awesome actor and person, one that should be commendable, if you wanna see an good action movie, that is somewhat rare nowadays, watch this, it's totally worth your time/money, now i'am really excited to see the second movie.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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6

ggustaFeb 28, 2015

Mayhem is everywhere. The male russian population of the tri-state area was decimated in the disco scene alone. We're running out of racial stereotypes. Movies wont do much with muslims anymore, other than portray them as victims orMayhem is everywhere. The male russian population of the tri-state area was decimated in the disco scene alone. We're running out of racial stereotypes. Movies wont do much with muslims anymore, other than portray them as victims or conciliating peacekeepers. Art DOES reflect reality after all.

And to kill a little snoopy dog in cold blood? You lose a star for that alone. The story is a little complicated. It seems that there was a car and a dog and a man trying to grieve over a lost wife. No one ever loses an uncaring fat ugly wife in the movies like in reality. They lose a smoking hot soulmate. Totally irreplaceable.

And a perfect all orig 69 boss mustang fastback. Russians and ISIS might start makng their own mov- oh never mind. Willem Dafoe, too cool. Hope he is back for a prequel.Ian McShane too.

An outtakes reel with some state farm spoofs would have gotten a higher rating. Mayhem is everywhere.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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7

CineAutoctonoFeb 10, 2017

"John Wick" was an entertaining, intriguing and action-packed film, Keanu Reeves, excelled in almost every scene that appears, and it never ceases to amaze us.

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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2

JE61Oct 24, 2014

I admit I went into the film with low expectations but even my low expectations were not met by this clumsy clunker. The plot was unquestionably one of the most uninspired, banal, hackneyed pieces of drivel I have seen in a long time. ThisI admit I went into the film with low expectations but even my low expectations were not met by this clumsy clunker. The plot was unquestionably one of the most uninspired, banal, hackneyed pieces of drivel I have seen in a long time. This film somehow made me feel equally indifferent to the villainous puppy-killer and the vengeance seeking protagonist. How the f*%k did they pull that off? Jeez! The director of this film was able to draw out the most pedestrian performances out of every actor in the cast including the talented Willem Dafoe.… Expand

10 of 32 users found this helpful1022

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10

Zero_RegenOct 28, 2014

John Wick was perfect. It built it's awesome world in quick and cool way. It was shot beautifully every action scene i knew what was going on and they were all a blast to watch. All of the performances were great, not a bad one at all. I wasJohn Wick was perfect. It built it's awesome world in quick and cool way. It was shot beautifully every action scene i knew what was going on and they were all a blast to watch. All of the performances were great, not a bad one at all. I was immediately invested in John and you really understand his rage. I loved the characters and the way the world worked and i just want more. John Wick was perfect and is my favorite movie of the year so far. It's also crept it's way into my top 3 of all time. I hope we get more out of John Wick in the future.… Expand

3 of 10 users found this helpful37

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0

zaitenJan 14, 2015

John Wick is an action film for millennials who grew up on a diet of Call of Duty and Marvel movies. It's like that, sans that pesky "plot" stuff. Remove all semblance of coherent character development, leave all running and gunning and youJohn Wick is an action film for millennials who grew up on a diet of Call of Duty and Marvel movies. It's like that, sans that pesky "plot" stuff. Remove all semblance of coherent character development, leave all running and gunning and you got John Wick. It's actually less fun than it sounds. It's like a shooter video game with silly cut-scenes; except you're stuck watching the cut-scenes. This is like a movie based on a crummy videogame, which was based on a B movie. This isn't like watching 1995 Mortal Kombat "so bad it's good", it's like watching an Uwe Bol film, retardedly bad. An action movie without a proper plot is like a shinny sports car without an engine.

I never watch a film without scrutinizing the people involved. I should have known better, I was tricked by my inner Keanu fan. You know how sometimes you watch a flick so bad you feel like punching something? I wrote my first review. This nearly plot-less drivel was written by stunt actors. I didn't know stunt actors could write and direct. The answer is they cannot, specifically, not these guys behind this script. if you want stylish gun action, watch Equilibrium. If you want a great revenge movie, get Deathwish, Taken, Old Boy. I am going to watch Pointbreak, Speed and Matrix back-to-back to lift myself up from the utter let-down that was John Wick. Also, beware the dead CGI puppy.… Expand

11 of 37 users found this helpful1126

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9

lordslayerJan 13, 2015

Well, i do wish it had a little more "killing genius" to it like "The equalizer" had, although it's also true that Wick makes up the lack of words with bullets.
Also felt the same level of Badassary as in Jack Reacher, but this movie hasWell, i do wish it had a little more "killing genius" to it like "The equalizer" had, although it's also true that Wick makes up the lack of words with bullets.
Also felt the same level of Badassary as in Jack Reacher, but this movie has clearly the upper hand in action. although it lacks in plot...

the Continental really was great and all the assassins sub culture with their rules and gold coins.

Would maybe give a nice spin-off, or even a tv series..

as far as the overall movie rating, i think this one sums it up well:

"John Wick is undiluted
entertainment and slick-as-hell
action.!!! fast n fast packed action film,Keanu Reeves show!"… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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9

ToFewViewsOct 31, 2014

John Wick follows the story of a retired hit-man John Wick (Keanu Reeves) whose recently deceased wife has left him one final gift, a dog. Not to long after that, the dog is killed in-front of John Wick, whose sweet ride is then stolen by theJohn Wick follows the story of a retired hit-man John Wick (Keanu Reeves) whose recently deceased wife has left him one final gift, a dog. Not to long after that, the dog is killed in-front of John Wick, whose sweet ride is then stolen by the son of a mob boss. So the next hour and change is basically Keanu just brutally killing every person that gets in the way of the man hunt for the his dogs killer. This was one of those movie that needs to be seen on the big screen, it has a some of the wildest fights scenes out of any movie I've seen in a long time, a variety of fitting music for the array of scenes and shots. This is by far Keanu Reeves best performances since the Matrix, its been a while since I've seen him put that much emotion into acting in some of the scenes in flick. Altogether this is a sweet film of nonstop action from beginning to end and is definitely worth seeing in theaters, at least for the first time.… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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8

NerdConsultantApr 16, 2015

Overall John Wick is a very good action film. I can only recommend it to action film fans , however, because I don’t think it is going to largely appeal to people outside that demographic. Is there anything that is new or innovative here orOverall John Wick is a very good action film. I can only recommend it to action film fans , however, because I don’t think it is going to largely appeal to people outside that demographic. Is there anything that is new or innovative here or has large deeper meaning? Not really, but it doesn’t need to do any of that, it’s just fine as it is. The pacing is pretty good, the action is excellent and it never over stays its welcome coming in a 101 minutes. The actors deliver pretty decent performances. It’s the exact film I needed to see after the last two reviews I had done!! However, I am in no mad rush to return to this film and I think I possibly might have enjoyed it more if the hype hadn’t built it up and if I had seen this before Kingsman. A sequel has already been announced, but I came out of the Cinema thinking that I think this film would work better as a solo film and I am slightly concerned that it will become like the ‘Taken’ movies where they would have been better staying as ‘one film’!!… Expand

2 of 7 users found this helpful25

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10

BADASSMONSTER7Nov 10, 2014

John Wick is one of the best action movies of the year,with an all star cast ,a great world building script,that easily makes this kind of clichéd action movie a fun ride ,with amazing set-pieces,that are supported with superb soundtrack fromJohn Wick is one of the best action movies of the year,with an all star cast ,a great world building script,that easily makes this kind of clichéd action movie a fun ride ,with amazing set-pieces,that are supported with superb soundtrack from Tyler Bates.
First of all I must say that the story here,while having a standard revenge story structure,is handled with such equisitely good writing and acting that,you just can’t help but really enjoy it once again,since it uses all of the previously known stereotypes of characters,but constantly finds new ways to surpise you and engross you further into it’s world.Keanu Reeves,is an actor that I always liked,he is very good in interviews,he loves what he does and respects the work the directors put in(since he too was a director of “man of tai chi”)and still knows how to be in great physical shape for the stunts and fights,but I have to say that he was able to deliver an emmense amount of emotion in this film.There are scenes here that demand a lot of heart and soul from an actor and it is very pleasing to know that Keanu has handled it so well,it is truly his best performance since the matrix (or “the devil’s advocate”).All of the supporting cast is fantastic as well,Michael Nyqvist plays a highly charismatic and at times hilarious villain,Alfie Allen plays his **** son,who you want to see get beat up and killed.While other big name actors like Willem Defoe and Adrianne Palicki have smaller yet equally great roles,as Marcus(a skilled sniper and an old friend of John),and Perkins(who is hot as hell,fights like most men can’t and has great hair,loved her.).The premise itself is both ludicrous and clever,ludicrous for it’s overall resolution,you would think that a guy killing 84 people for a dog and a car would be dumb and downright idiotic,but because of the way Keanu commits to his job and delivered his performance you just can’t help but root for the poor guy.Meanwhile Derek Kolstad’s script ,establishes the world of John Wick very well,with hotels ,made for hitmen exclusively,that have certain rules,and you get killed for breaking them,the asthetic is mysterious yet very clear and logical and the overall atmosphere and the mood of the story is tonely consistent and very neat.
Not only is John wick extremely well written and delivered,it is also masterfully directed ,by first time director Chad Stahelski and David Leitch(who have enormous amounts of stunt choreography and doubling expereince ,working for some of the best action films in recent memory).Since I too want to become a director ,I feel hugely inspired,to see such terrific directorial debuts.The action scenes are long ,inventive,slick ,fluid and well-choreographed(that makes even “the raid ”look back and be like:”damn that’s badass !”)it is all directed steadily and confidently,with blood splatter and shell cases firing all directions and Keanu Reeves using the guns as his extensions rather than normal weapons,I was staring in pure awe and wincing at every bloody headshot, John Wick pulled.And like I said before the music accompanies the action and the fights like some intense orchestra that knows just when to hit to deliver that adrenaline rush of guys beating and shooting the crap out of each other,it may sound primitive,but just wait till you see the “Red Circle”club shootout it is most definitely the best club set-piece I’ve ever seen even better than Tom cruise’s Collateral club scene.It’s the kind of place were electronic dubstep and rocknroll was used to it’s best and most natural,with gunshots mimicking the rises and falls of the music’s rhythm ,it is a deadly dance,with great dancers ,explicit planning and brilliant orchestra,and while the latter action sequences,kind of fall apart just by a tiny,tiny,tiny bit(yes it was that awesome)it still remains a solidly directed action movie.I also loved the color palette of this movie,it was very bright neon,mixed with royal white and deep blue,that made the city of NY all the more vivid and exciting to travel though.All in all it was visually stunning.
In conclusion John wick is certainly one of my favorite movies,of the year that uses those precious 96 minutes of runtime to entertain the audience the best it can.It’s brilliance lies in It’s simplicity,it’s complexity lies in it’s choreography and action,and it’s acting performance lies within the grasp of intelligent writing and groundbreaking performance from the main stars and the supporting one as well.It is a big HUGE shame to my country to not release this film in theaters and it is an even bigger shame to force me to pirate and not support this film,so I hope with this review at least someone from you will check it out ,because it’s worth every penny.… Expand

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8

AidanLockhartJan 17, 2015

The death-wish revenge fantasy is, for the most part, in rigor-mortis, and every now and then a bored, juvenile director will poke it with a stick or the toe of their boot. Stahelski and Leithch string it up and make it dance. This ultraThe death-wish revenge fantasy is, for the most part, in rigor-mortis, and every now and then a bored, juvenile director will poke it with a stick or the toe of their boot. Stahelski and Leithch string it up and make it dance. This ultra stylish neo-noire occupies a para-alternate universe, New York is the playground for snarling mob factions, hard-knuckle gangsters and velvet smooth assassins. Headshots lightly mist ornate wallpaper; esoteric gold coins dominate the sanguine economy; shell-casings drop like jewelry and punches land cold and honest.… Expand

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10

lukechristianscJan 30, 2015

fans and critics say this is the best performance Keanu Reeves did since the matrix is it?
The movie is about: an ex hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him that he once loved. The plotfans and critics say this is the best performance Keanu Reeves did since the matrix is it?
The movie is about: an ex hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him that he once loved. The plot seems cliche'd and the film began it started out as a "B" movie, then the action starts the performances by the actors is some kick ass fun with tip-top characters such as Dafoe, Reeves, Michael Nyqvist ( basically the characters through out were blowing up my mind!) when the movie first began i thought it out was predictable (thanks a lot trailer!) stuntman Chad Stahelski's first directorial debut, was actually quite impressive the guy knows action! and smooth cinematography i want to see this "stuntman" behind the camera more! Grade A-… Expand

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9

DamienOliveraFeb 19, 2015

Funny how there are some really serious reviews complaining about "been there, done that," "story is horrendous," or "It's all glorified violence." To that I say, did you see what the trailer was even establishing with this film? StopFunny how there are some really serious reviews complaining about "been there, done that," "story is horrendous," or "It's all glorified violence." To that I say, did you see what the trailer was even establishing with this film? Stop complaining about the violence! You know what you are getting into!

This is a straight up action, and in all it's glory, I loved it!!

Just look at the trailer again, and realize what you are walking into. A simple story, with some of the most beautifully choreographed action scenes that flow (and ontop of that, the dialogue is awesome to boot! and acting, and everything!).

I haven't seen this great of action since "The Raid 2."

To be fair however, I am a huge action movie fan, so I was automatically giving it browny points there.

What "Equalizer" failed to do (it's a good action film itself, but too slow for my taste) this film makes up for it.

Looking for a great drama? Look elsewhere.
Uneasy about the body-count? Then look elsewhere.

It was a ton of fun. Not every movie caters to every person, the trailer specifically makes that clear what it's going for.

Same with any movie nowadays ("TMNT" exclusively for kids, albeit it has a lot of questionable humor [it's Michael Bay of course]).

Loved every moment of it, knew what the film was going for and didn't walk away, but instead re-watched it on Blu Ray, cause it was that spectacular!… Expand

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9

MattBrady99Mar 10, 2015

Three things you shouldn't do to a bad-ass:

1. Ruining his life 2. Kill he's family 3. Push him till he snaps The story is about ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. When IThree things you shouldn't do to a bad-ass:

1. Ruining his life
2. Kill he's family
3. Push him till he snaps

The story is about ex-hitman comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him.

When I first heard the news that this movie was getting made and the face that two directors that never directed anything before I thought it was going to be a load of crap, but it turns out I was wrong and this movie is awesome.

Keanu Reeves is simple at his best here, even if he's not the greatest actor on the planet, he does try every role and in this movie he does. The directors of the film David Leitch and Chad Stahelski both do a excellent and fantastic job of directing this movie and I found out that these two are actually stunt men. The villain was good, the action scenes were shot perfectly.

Towards the end of the movie felt a bit cliche for me. You know in every action movie that the main hero is facing off the main bad guy and they shouting out one liners at each other, you know what I mean and that to me felt like the writer's got lazy half way through.

John Wick has to be the biggest surprise for me with it's intelligent writing and nail biting action scenes.… Expand

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3

FastpooseNov 16, 2017

What a waste of time. 904 positive reviews is depressing, people actually like this crap.

No story, unrealisting killing, rinse repeat for 2 hours, boring, just awful. Keanu looks great, that's the only positive, I should give a one star,What a waste of time. 904 positive reviews is depressing, people actually like this crap.

No story, unrealisting killing, rinse repeat for 2 hours, boring, just awful. Keanu looks great, that's the only positive, I should give a one star, but I'll be nice...3 stars.… Expand