John Wick 2014
I rented this movie because I had heard some good things about its 2017 sequel, so I thought I should see the original first. I knew the basics of the plot, what little there is. But this movie is much less about plot than it is an example of “gun fu,” a sort of martial arts with guns. It is not that far removed from the classic kung fu movies where the bad guys surround the good guy and let him pick off one of them at a time until he has defeated ten or twenty guys. Except here it is with guns and so it takes maybe a couple of minutes. There are a series of set pieces where there are big shootouts and it is impressive to watch. Any of these would be a great climax to a movie, but instead that’s just this whole movie. It is kind of silly, horribly violent, usually unrealistic, but it is exciting and fun to watch and you have to love watching a guy so proficient at his job. I’m reminded of Colonel Trautman when he asks how many guardsmen are going after Rambo. When he hears it is two hundred, he says “Don’t forget one thing: a good supply of body bags.” So that’s basically this movie. It is a shoot ‘em up, but it is well done, with some good characters, a cool look, and some great stunts.
Written: 18 Feb 2017
Owned on: Blu-ray, DVD, Digital