They really should. Action movies and the genre as a whole is regarded by many as having peaked years ago. Yet it's a fun genre that I'd like to see better directors & writers trying their hand at it. If the academy can have an award for visual affects, then there should def be a category for "best action"
Another thing about the John Wick movies, but especially Chapter 4, is that they're shot and lit really well. The colour, saturation, contrast it's a really interesting style for a major blockbuster franchise and 4 is all the better for it.
In a time where literally 90% of big-budget movies and shows coming out have the blandest fuckin color grading and lighting, and everything is dark and you can't see shit, I'd love to see more movies with the professionalism that goes into making movies like John Wick. It's like the filmmakers switched to digital and forgot that lighting and interesting color grading are actually a thing and we're back in the stone age of filmmaking where everything is so dark you have to shine a flashlight into your tv to see wtf is actually happening.
This is why I like Kermode! He gets what the film is about. Some other critics have trashed this film on the basis of it being silly and over the top and I think that is entirely the point of the John Wick franchise. It is gloriously and beautifully over the top in its action sequences and yes even comical at times. It is intentionally that way and Keanu is well aware of that in some of the delivery of his lines. I particularly loved the villains. Bill Skarsgard was a joy to watch in his dapper suits and the German villain was also a lot of fun. A great film.
Psychologist's have noted that we tend to be drawn to people who exhibit vulnerability, whether it's things like blushing or stammering for instance. Keanu has always had that air of vulnerability, unlike say, Tom Cruise, and I think that's part of the reason film fans tend to love him as an actor and as a person.
@@KD--sj8eo any film, especially made in today’s times that puts a genuine smile on my face throughout watching it and once the credits role deserves endless self satisfaction! Reminds you why you watch movies and pay £10 a ticket!
The cinematography of this was just so amazing. The overhead scene that Mark was talking about… Just amazing. I saw it on IMAX and would recommend it on that format. But damn, I enjoyed it.
The stair fight that he references - Tony Jaa in 'The Protector' - is one of the best fight scenes ever shot. Watch that scene if you love fight movies, look at the story behind how they shot it too!
Mark is totally right about the feet thing. There were a few times where I felt John's feet and his stride after finishing a fight were accentuated to covey his struggle and vulnerability.
I was trepidatious going onto a 4th film after the 3rd, but as the time went on and the cast came about, I got more excited, and I'm happy to say it was quite a fine ride, really appreciate the work and effort they put throughout the series, even as outlandish as it gets the further it goes along. Also love those little nods to "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Killer" and "The Warriors" in this.
Love it when Mark says "Keanu", then backtracks and calls him "Reeves"....this to me says he loves this film and got a bit lost in his excitement talking about it, great stuff 👍
I agree because the set up of John’s legend in the first film is obviously a scent in the sequels. BY the sequels we already know but the build up to how bad ass he is is so fun.
@@scottneil1187 While I like the second one more (haven't seen 4 yet) because of its action and a slightly better story, I agree with the opinion on the third one. I've only watched it once when it came out but I thought it was too long and I guess I expected more from the "everyone's out for John Wick. The third act of the movie is just John going out in the continental, killing bozos, and going back for more ammo and guns, and this goes on for half an hour or so. It's so stationary and repetitive in my opinion. And couple that with for how long those last few fights he has with the main baddie and those two guys from the Raid movies, and it's stretched to a point where you're exhausted and want the movie to end, which is a weird thing to want when watching John Wick. From all the reviews I've seen for the 4th one, pretty much everyone is saying this is the best one, and it's already the longest one, so I hope the story and action warrant the long runtime and you won't feel the repetitiveness of the third one.
I'm surprised more people aren't talking about The Matrix easter eggs - when they're in the underground station for instance. Such a good film and incredibly shot.
Ha, I didn't clock that, good point! Agree also that it was very well shot. At no point did I wonder what was going on or who was shooting or attacking whom, which seems to happen a lot in films of this type.
I've noticed the same thing about Keanu's gait during the fight/action scenes. It almost looks clumsy, but of course, that's ridiculous. It does give him an impression of being human, as opposed to other some martial artists who seem like elegant dancers with the way their bodies move. Cannot wait to see this movie!
Really well summed up but I’m surprised there was no mention of the nod towards The Warriors with the girl DJ/commentator who actually used some of the dialogue from that film.
Didn't do much for me as a finale since it's just another iterative sequel with a seemingly low-stakes, uninterested story. You're here for the unbelievably well-made, and exhaustively practiced and performed Action sequences and nothing else, because the films have honestly never offered much beyond that. These four films could have effectively all been standalone adventures- but they absolutely will continue to be revered and hold the standard for this kind of Blockbuster Action choreography for years to come. The Hotline Miami-inspired sequence was my favourite, because it did something new with the camera work (and did it bloody well). Also finally great to see Dragon's Breath shotguns actually put to cinematic use (haven't seen it elsewhere), and frankly there could be no better execution of it than this.
I LOVE that they didn’t stop dancing! It’s a comic strip film, it’s just crazy nonsense perfection. There are shots i’ve never seen before, i loved it!!! The staircase is immense! And hilarious!!
I still feel that John wick is better when story takes backseat to the action and immediate conflict - tension could’ve been like the stairs scene where my auditorium felt sympathetic anger alongside mr. Wick. Did we need a detour to the Middle East to learn everyone’s replaceable just to be told as much a scene later? Whatever, pretty cinematography, nice Lawrence of Arabia reference.🔥🌅 Be nice to see one of these films use the martial artists Keanu reeves praises from the rooftops as the final conflict utilizing what wick masters leading up. 3 continues to be my favorite for this. Great work with just as much put into. Less was always more, even with a 3hr runtime that’s paced well enough.
It's coming from an underestimated clichee genre, makes everything bigger, gets the main beats right, in your face visuals that you don't expect, it's big and cinematic that makes theater viewing essential..... Is this another Top-Gun Maverick??? So far those who saw it are going bananas and can't wait to watch it again.
Don't drink 10.5 percent beer whilst watching it... Towards the end you are bursting. But the film is joy. Its got rhe guy who plays IP man....hes excellent. The stair scene in Paris is Buster Keaton brilliance.
I noticed that moments after the van hit him the lights are off and nobody's in it. I was actually looking at small details like this because I found this the most boring of the 4.
Chapter 4 was a Supreme Letdown. The makers got money hungry, scrapped the 5th installment and decided John WOULDN'T take out The Table, but instead he would get his 'freedom' and then die alone on some steps. The fight scenes were bloated and so over the top I couldn't even get lost in the fantasy of it. The overhead fight scene couldn't even save it for me and that looked amazing. I didn't find myself rooting for any character and the only one I found remotely interesting was The Tracker. Ask me about the first three movies and I'll gush and run off at the mouth how amazing they were. This one made me want to cry and for all the wrong reasons.
@3:57 "in the middle of them there's John Wick and a very large chap and they are fighting and beating each other up". Does Kermode know that very large chap is an actor, Scott Adkins, in a fat-suit?
For the mere fact Mark Kermode has given John Wick 4 a thumbs up tells you how good this film is and only goes to reinforce all the other positive reviews and box office takings. No wonder Lionsgate are seriously in discussion about making a 5th film. Can’t wait to see it as I have all the previous movies. Oddly I thought it was only me that noticed and thought generally the same thing about Keanu’s gait. I noticed it from the first Matrix movie, check out the scene on top of the edge of the high rise building.
I might only watch 3 or 4 films a year. In peak lockdown with everything shut I binged the John wick films and they will always remind me of that time of endless 80s Sundays
As a very experienced karateka and competitive success in that art , I understand fully the level of commitment to getting the craft right . I thought it was a work of art . A very witty and stylish movie . The arc de triumph scene was just genius . The best John wick movie and had it all .
Exhausting is definitely the right word! I did have a decent amount of fun with it but you can have 'too much of a good thing' and JW4 did overstay it's welcome for me personally. Change/omit one line of dialogue and you could cut out the entire Berlin section and not loose anything of consequence other than shaving off a good 20 minutes of runtime. I did like the top-down videogame section and the very blatant 'homage' to The Warriors was fun too. I'll doubt I'll ever actively choose to rewatch it.
Mark Kermode should review some of these epic TV shows which are coming out such as The last of us or Reacher etc. As some these are better than alot of the major films have come out in recent years.
Y'know, I love these movies but this was a slight let down. I thought we were gonna find out that 90% of the worlds population are assassins, that's how they get away with shooting at each other in train stations in broad daylight and stuff x
The Paris traffic scene was hilarious... No amount of gunplay and flying bullets will stop traffic flow in Paris. Th hitmen just need to stay out of the way of traffic..lolz..🤣🤣🤣
Concerning servers/helpers who get things set up: (not giving any spoilers here) there’s a scene where the High Table (?) crew breaks down the alter-like set up. That’s the only time I can think of where set up/break down/server crews are seen.
Great point about his gait. I always felt it hampers the flow of the fight choreography especially when compared to the grace and technique of a traditionally trained martial artist. At times he looks almost clumsy. Enjoyable all the same.
Re John Wick I I would say its the only stand alone movie, but this is a suitable climax to the series. Great script, action and plot twists. I hope this has changed action movies for ever and we never to back to Taken/Bourne ultra fast editing instead of reat stunt work...
John Wick and the Marvel movies are B movies with A tier production. The difference is John Wick doesn’t try to make the case it’s a lot more than just an action movie. So the cinematography, setting and music make it both beautiful and modest. The dialogues minimal and the plot is minimal, but it’s not saying otherwise. And for what it is and sets out to be it’s an absolute belter. Peak of the action genre.
Disagree about first John Wick. I thought this was excellent in setting the scene and tone of the character and story. And the father son dynamic was brilliantly thrilling. Would have like to hear more about their views on the casting such as Scott Adkins and Bill Skarsgard
The radio 1 interviewer Ali Plumb asked Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski this exact question in his interview with them! In fact I believe it was possibly the first question of the interview!
I really liked the film but the new stuff was overwhelmed but the now even longer tried and tested action. 30 mins shorter then those new parts would stand out even more.
Kermode as long as I have been watching him, I've realised sees film through two lenses. Playful child, curious adult. The bones, skeletal l and spine require me ning attention to detail and precision. One must move cinema forward no matter what genre. Get that right and then take me to a place where I escape into the belief that what I'm seeing is real. By that I mean that's ridiculous, but I'm so invested right now that, I'm living the story. Every bump, drink, kiss, fear and joy. Convince me of this and then you have a movie. I wonder what his thoughts would be of China Town. One of my favourite movies ever. JW CH4, was for me second watch better than I gave it credit for. As a graphic novel thriller I'm hard pressed to find anything that I didn't love about it. Lawrence fishburne, stole it away for me with his character's development. The introduction of the Tokyo hotel, the beasts that were the table amid the introduction of a black capped mystery overseer utterly blew my mind. Evry character elevated from their humble beginnings in ch1. And well the choreography is baletic. It's far from obvious though prediction is not hard. Its the bits that happen in between, that totally throw you and keep you glued to your seat. Expecting that right hook, you don't see the knee about to readjust you nethers. Spot on review.
It's interesting what Mark says regarding Keanu as an action hero. I find him unusually vulnerable and impenetrable as an action star. Bizarre comparison perhaps, but I would liken it to the way David Tennant commanded the role of Doctor Who. Think Keanu is a superstar and absolutely agree with others who says the film's silliness isn't nearly as important as it's fun.
When did we start calling nunchakas nunchucks?, must have missed a memo!. You're wrong about the dance scene Mark, they do notice and clear a space round them, they should be running but hey, also the 'fat bloke' in that scene is Scott Adkins, one of the best martial artists of the modern age and he's a Brit, he needs much, much more recognition. Keanu walks that way as he had to have his spine fused after a motorbike crash.
I enjoyed the film. I just didn’t realise there were supposed to be any gags in it. It might have helped if there were other people in the audience but I was literally the only one sitting there.
Oddly enough, the more over the top the series has got, the more believable it has become for me, because it has become clear that John Wick's world is not our own, and the same laws (in all senses of the word) do not apply.
The John W/Elvis C thing has me larfing and larfing. I've been intrigued from the first at Wick's ungainly trot/run. That made me realise what I'd not been able to pinpoint. Ta
Saw this last night and kinda shocked the critics are being so good to it. Don’t get me wrong that first real fight scene in Japan is absolutely awesome, but after that the movie is essentially a repeat of that sequence. And the near 3 hr running time is a joke. There isn’t a story at all! It could have lost an hr or more and nobody would have noticed. I did like it though. Don’t get me wrong. Haha
I personally think as a big John wick fan that 4 was a little over the top, bonkers as it sounds how many falls and vehicles hits can a person survive🤷🏼 everything else was brilliant about the film perhaps 15 minutes shorter and your got the perfect movie
Youre thinking of ninja turtles 2 the secret of the ooze where michelangelo, the turtle who uses nunchukas, isnt allowed to use them because the first ninja turtles film was criticised for being too violent so the turtles werent allowed to use their normal weapons in the second film, hence sausages instead of nunchukas.
They need to give Stunts it's own category at the Oscars, these men and women put their lives on the line for their art.
True that.
Jason Statham proposed that some years ago.
I think that's precisely why they don't, so as not to encourage endangermen
They really should. Action movies and the genre as a whole is regarded by many as having peaked years ago. Yet it's a fun genre that I'd like to see better directors & writers trying their hand at it. If the academy can have an award for visual affects, then there should def be a category for "best action"
@@ModestEgg I really do not understand how you correlated the two
Another thing about the John Wick movies, but especially Chapter 4, is that they're shot and lit really well. The colour, saturation, contrast it's a really interesting style for a major blockbuster franchise and 4 is all the better for it.
Also a big shout out to the colourist Jill Bogdanowicz at Company 3. Outstanding work.
In a time where literally 90% of big-budget movies and shows coming out have the blandest fuckin color grading and lighting, and everything is dark and you can't see shit, I'd love to see more movies with the professionalism that goes into making movies like John Wick.
It's like the filmmakers switched to digital and forgot that lighting and interesting color grading are actually a thing and we're back in the stone age of filmmaking where everything is so dark you have to shine a flashlight into your tv to see wtf is actually happening.
Agreed 100%
My friend said about the first one and i'll never forget it. he said "its the most beautifully shot nonsense that i've ever seen"
Bang on, I thought some of the photography was stunning.
This is why I like Kermode! He gets what the film is about. Some other critics have trashed this film on the basis of it being silly and over the top and I think that is entirely the point of the John Wick franchise. It is gloriously and beautifully over the top in its action sequences and yes even comical at times. It is intentionally that way and Keanu is well aware of that in some of the delivery of his lines. I particularly loved the villains. Bill Skarsgard was a joy to watch in his dapper suits and the German villain was also a lot of fun. A great film.
One reason I've always respected kermode is that he has a real love for genre cinema and judges everything on it's own merits
@@TheGeneralDisarray totally agree
Scott Adkins... give the man his due
Go and look up the actor who played 'killa' (the sleazy german) if you want a good laugh.
Most of the time, Yes, probably, but sometimes he doesnt get it - like with Hereditary, for example.
Psychologist's have noted that we tend to be drawn to people who exhibit vulnerability, whether it's things like blushing or stammering for instance. Keanu has always had that air of vulnerability, unlike say, Tom Cruise, and I think that's part of the reason film fans tend to love him as an actor and as a person.
I wasn't knocking Tom as an actor, he was great in Magnolia, I just meant Keanu doesn't project the same air of impenetrable self-confidence.
@@tus2521 he's not an actor, he's a movie star - he plays himself in every film. Referencing one performance from a million years ago is ludicrous
Those psychologists need to check their notes.
Cruise in Mission Impossible 3 and onwards definetly portrayed Ethan as vulnerable. 5 even hinted at him being insane. Horrible comparison.
@@reservationatdorsias3215 I wasn't talking about the roles they've played, I meant as human beings.
I must admit, it put a giant grin on my face to know that Kermode loved this one.
I'm quite surprised that he did actually lol
@@KD--sj8eo any film, especially made in today’s times that puts a genuine smile on my face throughout watching it and once the credits role deserves endless self satisfaction! Reminds you why you watch movies and pay £10 a ticket!
RIP Lance
The cinematography of this was just so amazing. The overhead scene that Mark was talking about… Just amazing. I saw it on IMAX and would recommend it on that format. But damn, I enjoyed it.
The stair fight that he references - Tony Jaa in 'The Protector' - is one of the best fight scenes ever shot. Watch that scene if you love fight movies, look at the story behind how they shot it too!
Mark is totally right about the feet thing. There were a few times where I felt John's feet and his stride after finishing a fight were accentuated to covey his struggle and vulnerability.
I reckon his knees are just wrecked
@@selectjed1 He's also 58 freaking years old, so that might have something to do with it lol
If I'm not mistaken, Keanu had an injury when he was younger, playing ice hockey
@@monohalcyon that goes without say , what's amazing is how fit and agile Donnie yen is for 60, dude is built different
The scene in his house. 1st movie. Where they come to kill him and he's hiding in his suit waiting. That sold it for me. Such slick action.
I was trepidatious going onto a 4th film after the 3rd, but as the time went on and the cast came about, I got more excited, and I'm happy to say it was quite a fine ride, really appreciate the work and effort they put throughout the series, even as outlandish as it gets the further it goes along. Also love those little nods to "Lawrence of Arabia", "The Killer" and "The Warriors" in this.
Love it when Mark says "Keanu", then backtracks and calls him "Reeves"....this to me says he loves this film and got a bit lost in his excitement talking about it, great stuff 👍
This series is like a video game in terms of how well it does world building and has a stylish aesthetic
It also has a brilliant video game called John Wick Hex.
Keanu Reeves' walk is so unique. In complete shadow you'd know it's him.
Shout out to Scott Adkins who I think steals every scene he is in as the transformed golden tooth gangster, great casting
Adkins really upped his acting skills over the years. That was a suprisingly good performance acting wise.
I still think the first John Wick is the best! The third one was all over the place
The first one has the most cohesive plot. But the sequels have better action and world building imo.
I agree because the set up of John’s legend in the first film is obviously a scent in the sequels. BY the sequels we already know but the build up to how bad ass he is is so fun.
Hard not to agree.
Yeah, glad I'm not the only one who thinks that, 3 was still great but lacking something imo.
@@scottneil1187 While I like the second one more (haven't seen 4 yet) because of its action and a slightly better story, I agree with the opinion on the third one. I've only watched it once when it came out but I thought it was too long and I guess I expected more from the "everyone's out for John Wick.
The third act of the movie is just John going out in the continental, killing bozos, and going back for more ammo and guns, and this goes on for half an hour or so. It's so stationary and repetitive in my opinion. And couple that with for how long those last few fights he has with the main baddie and those two guys from the Raid movies, and it's stretched to a point where you're exhausted and want the movie to end, which is a weird thing to want when watching John Wick.
From all the reviews I've seen for the 4th one, pretty much everyone is saying this is the best one, and it's already the longest one, so I hope the story and action warrant the long runtime and you won't feel the repetitiveness of the third one.
It was TMNT: Secrets of the Ooze which had the "sausage-chucks" removed.
Some joy in the faces and delivery when reviewing this film, really good to see. I'll definitely go and see it.
I love all the John Wick movies. It is a classic franchise.
John Wick 2 is rubbish
I'm surprised more people aren't talking about The Matrix easter eggs - when they're in the underground station for instance. Such a good film and incredibly shot.
Ha, I didn't clock that, good point! Agree also that it was very well shot. At no point did I wonder what was going on or who was shooting or attacking whom, which seems to happen a lot in films of this type.
*A series that seems to get better and better.*
I've noticed the same thing about Keanu's gait during the fight/action scenes. It almost looks clumsy, but of course, that's ridiculous. It does give him an impression of being human, as opposed to other some martial artists who seem like elegant dancers with the way their bodies move. Cannot wait to see this movie!
It's because his spine had to be fused after a motorbike accident, he lost range of mobility due to it, makes his work even more impressive imo.
@@scottneil1187 That's incredible
He's also not a classically trained martial artist like a lot of the guys he's fighting
Really well summed up but I’m surprised there was no mention of the nod towards The Warriors with the girl DJ/commentator who actually used some of the dialogue from that film.
And can't forget they actually used the "nowhere to run" song 😂
Just saw the movie, everybody is very good in their role including the dog, the stairway scene make me laugh so loud if you know what I mean.
The whole cinema was cracking up at that bit.
I did like John Wick the FIRST time I saw it but this film was just a way to pass the time.
Shout out to the film The Warriors. The black female D.J. Was clearly a nod to the D.J. In The Warriors.
I said the same thing, she even used some of the dialogue from The Warriors
@@MrWorfy99 and the song, too.
How can you not be a fan of the first John Wick film?
Yeah, a bizarre opinion from Kermode that. A far better movie than the third.
@@yaboym3247 How? The 3rd one is the best
@@strikerbowls791 it's empirically NOT the best.
@@yaboym3247 I thought it had a better balance of humour, fight ingenuity and story than the 4th.
@@ryanwheeler1875 that maybe so, but it sure ain't better than the first Wick movie.
The overhead filming of the shoot out was fascinating,complex and so cool.
Yea the scene with the van. Yea, there didn't appear to be anybody driving the van lol
I've always said that about the way keanu walks! It totally adds to the character
He had to have his spine fused after a motorbike crash, that's why he's like that.
I haven’t seen the JW films - have always wanted to though - so I’m planning to watch the last 3 over the next week & watch JW4 next weekend :)
Didn't do much for me as a finale since it's just another iterative sequel with a seemingly low-stakes, uninterested story. You're here for the unbelievably well-made, and exhaustively practiced and performed Action sequences and nothing else, because the films have honestly never offered much beyond that.
These four films could have effectively all been standalone adventures- but they absolutely will continue to be revered and hold the standard for this kind of Blockbuster Action choreography for years to come.
The Hotline Miami-inspired sequence was my favourite, because it did something new with the camera work (and did it bloody well). Also finally great to see Dragon's Breath shotguns actually put to cinematic use (haven't seen it elsewhere), and frankly there could be no better execution of it than this.
Loved the reference to the Warriors especially ❤
I LOVE that they didn’t stop dancing! It’s a comic strip film, it’s just crazy nonsense perfection. There are shots i’ve never seen before, i loved it!!! The staircase is immense! And hilarious!!
I still feel that John wick is better when story takes backseat to the action and immediate conflict - tension could’ve been like the stairs scene where my auditorium felt sympathetic anger alongside mr. Wick.
Did we need a detour to the Middle East to learn everyone’s replaceable just to be told as much a scene later? Whatever, pretty cinematography, nice Lawrence of Arabia reference.🔥🌅
Be nice to see one of these films use the martial artists Keanu reeves praises from the rooftops as the final conflict utilizing what wick masters leading up. 3 continues to be my favorite for this. Great work with just as much put into. Less was always more, even with a 3hr runtime that’s paced well enough.
I've always considered fighting on a dancefloor to be the highest artform.
Loved every one. Brilliant.🙏🏴
I can’t understand anybody who doesn’t enjoy the John Wick franchise. It’s obscenely enjoyable!
It's coming from an underestimated clichee genre, makes everything bigger, gets the main beats right, in your face visuals that you don't expect, it's big and cinematic that makes theater viewing essential..... Is this another Top-Gun Maverick??? So far those who saw it are going bananas and can't wait to watch it again.
@YellowMeadow Spirituelle Homeric.
Don't drink 10.5 percent beer whilst watching it... Towards the end you are bursting. But the film is joy. Its got rhe guy who plays IP man....hes excellent. The stair scene in Paris is Buster Keaton brilliance.
The film was great. The sound in an IMAX cinema is insane!
I've seen Keanu is doing a ton of interviews on this press run so I was really hoping Simon was going to interview him?
I love his "gait," too!
I hope it'll be better than the 3rd one, which I thought dragged on for ages
Clint Eastwood also had a very distinctive gait.
I saw it last night and can confirm - no one was behind the wheel of that van. Still, loved every second of the movie.
I noticed that moments after the van hit him the lights are off and nobody's in it. I was actually looking at small details like this because I found this the most boring of the 4.
I noticed the invisible driver as well Mark, you are not alone.
The DJ is right out of Vanishing Point
I was wondering about that van as well. It does seems like nobody is driving it.
Chapter 4 was a Supreme Letdown. The makers got money hungry, scrapped the 5th installment and decided John WOULDN'T take out The Table, but instead he would get his 'freedom' and then die alone on some steps. The fight scenes were bloated and so over the top I couldn't even get lost in the fantasy of it. The overhead fight scene couldn't even save it for me and that looked amazing. I didn't find myself rooting for any character and the only one I found remotely interesting was The Tracker.
Ask me about the first three movies and I'll gush and run off at the mouth how amazing they were. This one made me want to cry and for all the wrong reasons.
@3:57 "in the middle of them there's John Wick and a very large chap and they are fighting and beating each other up". Does Kermode know that very large chap is an actor, Scott Adkins, in a fat-suit?
For the mere fact Mark Kermode has given John Wick 4 a thumbs up tells you how good this film is and only goes to reinforce all the other positive reviews and box office takings. No wonder Lionsgate are seriously in discussion about making a 5th film. Can’t wait to see it as I have all the previous movies. Oddly I thought it was only me that noticed and thought generally the same thing about Keanu’s gait. I noticed it from the first Matrix movie, check out the scene on top of the edge of the high rise building.
I might only watch 3 or 4 films a year. In peak lockdown with everything shut I binged the John wick films and they will always remind me of that time of endless 80s Sundays
As a very experienced karateka and competitive success in that art , I understand fully the level of commitment to getting the craft right . I thought it was a work of art . A very witty and stylish movie . The arc de triumph scene was just genius . The best John wick movie and had it all .
Name me another four series films where they get better as they progress.....I'll wait.
Mission: impossible. John woo improved on de Palma. Jj abrams improved on John woo. Brad bird improved on jj abrams
@@nms7872 "John woo improved on Brian de Palma" No he didn't MI2 is Garbage..
Putin
Putin Reloaded
Putin Revolutions
Putin Forever
Exhausting is definitely the right word! I did have a decent amount of fun with it but you can have 'too much of a good thing' and JW4 did overstay it's welcome for me personally. Change/omit one line of dialogue and you could cut out the entire Berlin section and not loose anything of consequence other than shaving off a good 20 minutes of runtime. I did like the top-down videogame section and the very blatant 'homage' to The Warriors was fun too. I'll doubt I'll ever actively choose to rewatch it.
Mark Kermode should review some of these epic TV shows which are coming out such as The last of us or Reacher etc. As some these are better than alot of the major films have come out in recent years.
Y'know, I love these movies but this was a slight let down. I thought we were gonna find out that 90% of the worlds population are assassins, that's how they get away with shooting at each other in train stations in broad daylight and stuff x
...and now I'm going to be watching his feet. Thanks for that.
I love these reviews; Mark brings some depth and is bang-on about Keanu and his walk.
The Paris traffic scene was hilarious... No amount of gunplay and flying bullets will stop traffic flow in Paris. Th hitmen just need to stay out of the way of traffic..lolz..🤣🤣🤣
Concerning servers/helpers who get things set up: (not giving any spoilers here) there’s a scene where the High Table (?) crew breaks down the alter-like set up. That’s the only time I can think of where set up/break down/server crews are seen.
The camera overhead style is inspired from Video Games.
I'm surprised there was no mention of the homage to the cult classic movie The Warriors with the radio dj. Even had the same needle drop 👏🤓
Really?!! The first movie is absolutely my fav. Haven't seen this one yet.
Great point about his gait. I always felt it hampers the flow of the fight choreography especially when compared to the grace and technique of a traditionally trained martial artist. At times he looks almost clumsy. Enjoyable all the same.
I loved it too but I did notice the driver-less van at the time too! It really did seem to have driven itself. Such a great film though
Re John Wick I I would say its the only stand alone movie, but this is a suitable climax to the series. Great script, action and plot twists. I hope this has changed action movies for ever and we never to back to Taken/Bourne ultra fast editing instead of reat stunt work...
It's funny that Mark mentioned dance as there is still called 52 block style that looks very much like John Wick-style martial arts
John Wick and the Marvel movies are B movies with A tier production. The difference is John Wick doesn’t try to make the case it’s a lot more than just an action movie. So the cinematography, setting and music make it both beautiful and modest. The dialogues minimal and the plot is minimal, but it’s not saying otherwise. And for what it is and sets out to be it’s an absolute belter. Peak of the action genre.
the cut sausage nunchucks scene I believe was in the second Ninja Turtles Movie..
Disagree about first John Wick. I thought this was excellent in setting the scene and tone of the character and story. And the father son dynamic was brilliantly thrilling.
Would have like to hear more about their views on the casting such as Scott Adkins and Bill Skarsgard
Great action movie, can’t wait for the 5th and 6th films.
“Would you carry on dancing if people were getting thrown over balconies?”
You have obviously never been to my local.
Having just watched it, is John Wick's skeleton lined with adamantium?
The radio 1 interviewer Ali Plumb asked Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski this exact question in his interview with them! In fact I believe it was possibly the first question of the interview!
I really liked the film but the new stuff was overwhelmed but the now even longer tried and tested action. 30 mins shorter then those new parts would stand out even more.
Scott Adkins is a British martial artist in the fat suit.
Kermode as long as I have been watching him, I've realised sees film through two lenses. Playful child, curious adult. The bones, skeletal l and spine require me ning attention to detail and precision. One must move cinema forward no matter what genre. Get that right and then take me to a place where I escape into the belief that what I'm seeing is real. By that I mean that's ridiculous, but I'm so invested right now that, I'm living the story. Every bump, drink, kiss, fear and joy. Convince me of this and then you have a movie. I wonder what his thoughts would be of China Town. One of my favourite movies ever. JW CH4, was for me second watch better than I gave it credit for. As a graphic novel thriller I'm hard pressed to find anything that I didn't love about it. Lawrence fishburne, stole it away for me with his character's development. The introduction of the Tokyo hotel, the beasts that were the table amid the introduction of a black capped mystery overseer utterly blew my mind. Evry character elevated from their humble beginnings in ch1. And well the choreography is baletic. It's far from obvious though prediction is not hard. Its the bits that happen in between, that totally throw you and keep you glued to your seat. Expecting that right hook, you don't see the knee about to readjust you nethers. Spot on review.
As you well know, Pisces rules the feet.
The stairs scene just reminded me of Laurel and Hardy and the piano
This is an absolutely amazing movie. one of the greatest action movies for sure!
It's average.
The feet observation was most unexpected
It's interesting what Mark says regarding Keanu as an action hero. I find him unusually vulnerable and impenetrable as an action star. Bizarre comparison perhaps, but I would liken it to the way David Tennant commanded the role of Doctor Who. Think Keanu is a superstar and absolutely agree with others who says the film's silliness isn't nearly as important as it's fun.
Look forward too seeing this Keanu is a very much underrated actor. He always give it everything mentally and physically
Yeah...
When did we start calling nunchakas nunchucks?, must have missed a memo!. You're wrong about the dance scene Mark, they do notice and clear a space round them, they should be running but hey, also the 'fat bloke' in that scene is Scott Adkins, one of the best martial artists of the modern age and he's a Brit, he needs much, much more recognition. Keanu walks that way as he had to have his spine fused after a motorbike crash.
Kermode is on the money about the way that John Wick moves. He kinda hobbles to the next kill!
I enjoyed the film. I just didn’t realise there were supposed to be any gags in it. It might have helped if there were other people in the audience but I was literally the only one sitting there.
Oddly enough, the more over the top the series has got, the more believable it has become for me, because it has become clear that John Wick's world is not our own, and the same laws (in all senses of the word) do not apply.
I also thought of Tony Jaa when Mark mentioned the staircase.
small feet, strange gait, interesting analysis. his walk has been curious to me as well
This review makes me think that Kermode would really like Wrestling. Someone show him the HBK/Taker matches or something.
John Wick, the musical. I'm glad that my guilty pleasure has been vindicated by the Doctor. I can now claim it as high brow.
Very stylish film - ridiculous but done so well! Good baddies too!
The John W/Elvis C thing has me larfing and larfing. I've been intrigued from the first at Wick's ungainly trot/run. That made me realise what I'd not been able to pinpoint. Ta
I wish I did go to the bathroom during the trailers😂 9:04
Van driven by the ghost of Rémy Julienne \m/
Saw this last night and kinda shocked the critics are being so good to it.
Don’t get me wrong that first real fight scene in Japan is absolutely awesome, but after that the movie is essentially a repeat of that sequence.
And the near 3 hr running time is a joke. There isn’t a story at all! It could have lost an hr or more and nobody would have noticed.
I did like it though. Don’t get me wrong. Haha
I personally think as a big John wick fan that 4 was a little over the top, bonkers as it sounds how many falls and vehicles hits can a person survive🤷🏼 everything else was brilliant about the film perhaps 15 minutes shorter and your got the perfect movie
Youre thinking of ninja turtles 2 the secret of the ooze where michelangelo, the turtle who uses nunchukas, isnt allowed to use them because the first ninja turtles film was criticised for being too violent so the turtles werent allowed to use their normal weapons in the second film, hence sausages instead of nunchukas.
Love the G9 Harrington