John Wick: Chapter 4
Regal Cinema - Hazleton, PA
I was very late to the party when it comes to the John Wick franchise. The first time that I saw Chapter One and Chapter Two was during the pandemic, and I watched John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum for the first time last week on The Cock. Does anybody else refer to the Peacock streaming service by that name or is it just me? Well, anyway, I loved all three movies and I have no good explanation for why it took me so long to get to them, but better late than never.
This may come across as hyperbole, but I don't care. My first reaction to seeing John Wick: Chapter 4 is that this is greatest action flick that I have ever seen. This was better than Bond... better than Batman or the MCU. This absolutely dwarfs anything that has ever come out of the Fast & Furious or Max Max franchises. I'll even go so far as to say that it's better than Indiana Jones, and I have loved the Indy movies since I was old enough to press play on the VCR. The only thing I can think of that even comes close is Kill Bill and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but when you consider the entire franchise as a whole, I think I'd still give John Wick the edge even after the afterglow dies down.
From the opening lines to the post-credit scene, this movie never lets up. It pays tribute to everything from Shaw Brothers flicks to The Warriors. It is beautifully shot, perfectly written, and it tells a story that makes 169 minutes fly by in the blink of an eye.
