John Wick 3

Director- Chad Stahelski

Cast- Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry

Country of Origin- U.S.

Distributor - Lionsgate

Number of Discs - 2

Reviewed by - Scott MacDonald

Date- 09/17/2019

    I'll admit that I was so late to the John Wick game that I only saw parts 1 and 2 on Blu-ray after the third film came out.   My action film tendencies to run more Asian than American (Though I am a pretty big fan of American Action Cinema in the 80's).  That being said I've had loads of friends, and peers wholeheartedly recommend the John Wick films, so I knew I'd get to them eventually. When I did just the other week,  I was immediately surprised how much I ended up loving them.  These films are stylish action extravaganzas, with Reeves doing solid work in the central performance and populated by a cast that is equally excellent.

    The John Wick films so far are an example of continuous story telling that I like. Before the original film begins, we find that John Wick has recently left the assassin game due to falling in love, and wanting a life of peace. He is brought back in when his car is stolen, and his dog is murdered by a group of thugs. He immediately begins to track them, and kill them.  The repercussions of these actions echo through the beginning of the 2nd film, and launch Reeve's Wick on a continued quest for vengeance. At the end of the 2nd film, he ends up committing an act of murder in the assassin's neutral territory the Continental hotel. This gets him thrown out of the guild of assassin's he is a part of, and gets him a huge price on his head.

    Since the films have connected story wise, this allows John Wick 3 to pick up soon after the 2nd one ends (within an hour), and finds John Wick trying to escape the assassin's who are trying to end him.  The story connects him with a handful of assassin's also "preparing for war" with the High Table, the organization of assassin's that Wick is trying to outrun, and put an end to.

    Wick 3 basically hits the ground running, and rarely finds the time to catch its breath. The film has insanely well-done actions sequences right from the start, with amazing, sleek, Blade Runner-esque visuals.  Mix in some quite solid, and interesting surreal moments (Wick's trek into the desert), and you have something that really adds to the deeper mythology of the series, while also moving it forward.  Now I am personally excited for John Wick 4, which this most definitely sets up.

   John Wick 3 - Parabellum is presented by Lionsgate with a 2:40:1 1080p AVC encoded transfer. This is a sleek modern film, and the Blu-ray transfer represents that well. Colors pop, flesh tones are accurate, black levels are inky and deep. I may have noticed some minor instances of crushing, but they were minimal, and everything still looked great. Audio is handled by a True HD 7.1 track (Also Dolby Atmos), that sounds AMAZING. The sound is well balanced, and erupts from one's speakers.   Extras include a handful of short featurettes on various aspect of the making of the film, and background plus trailers. John Wick 3 is the latest in a series of American action films that is truly brilliant, and absolutely exciting. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.