CINEMA

John Wick

POSTED BY: SHINYGOODGUY
UPDATED: Thursday, May 7, 2015 19:20
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 4076
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Sunday, April 19, 2015 1:55 AM

SHINYGOODGUY


I rented John Wick the other night (Amazon .99 cents) and I was pleasantly surprised.
Yes, it had a cursory and pedestrian plot, but it was well done. A retired hitman is brought out of retirement by a rather common plot point, revenge. That aside, it serves the film well as the title character makes his way through a number of henchmen.

Keanu was particularly effective in his humble-hitman role, silent but deadly never had a more formidable host. All the actors played it straight, including the lead gangster, except for the gangster's son, who was just this side of over-the-top as the leering smacking cause for World War III in the gangster world. Still though it was entertaining enough, professionally executed and, if you like your action as close to real as possible (within the movie's plotline) this is not a bad way to spend 2 hours.

I put it that way because "action," according to Vin Diesel and company, is what drives the plot in Furious 7. Wall to wall action, non-stop action, over-the-top action, ridiculously outrageous action, new heights in comically phony action as entertainment. Or so they would have you think.

Go, if you like your action spoon fed to the point of exhaustion, and see Furious 7.


SGG


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Sunday, April 19, 2015 2:26 PM

THGRRI


Good review


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Sunday, April 19, 2015 8:37 PM

MOOSE


The wife and I saw it last night. We enjoyed it.

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Monday, April 20, 2015 12:07 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


It kind of reminded me of a Michael Mann movie, like Manhunter, somewhat stylized, very subtle. Even the action was deliberate and calculated, but without being boring or stiff. I found Wick's killing style inventive, I stopped counting the number of ways he could shoot and kill people. And even though the body count reached new heights, it never seemed tacked on or excessive. I know, that's really strange for a movie about a hit man.

There were rules and gangster etiquette, go figure, but it made it entertaining. I really liked the hitman hotel. Lance Reddick as the hotel concierge was really cool. But despite how much I liked it, I hope they leave this one alone and not make a sequel. Well, maybe a prequel. Heh, heh.


SGG


Quote:

Originally posted by Moose:
The wife and I saw it last night. We enjoyed it.


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Monday, April 20, 2015 12:08 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


Thanks, good movies inspire me.


SGG


Quote:

Originally posted by THGRRI:
Good review



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Monday, April 20, 2015 6:45 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
It kind of reminded me of a Michael Mann movie, like Manhunter, somewhat stylized, very subtle. Even the action was deliberate and calculated, but without being boring or stiff. I found Wick's killing style inventive, I stopped counting the number of ways he could shoot and kill people. And even though the body count reached new heights, it never seemed tacked on or excessive. I know, that's really strange for a movie about a hit man.

There were rules and gangster etiquette, go figure, but it made it entertaining. I really liked the hitman hotel. Lance Reddick as the hotel concierge was really cool. But despite how much I liked it, I hope they leave this one alone and not make a sequel. Well, maybe a prequel. Heh, heh.


SGG


I didn't get anything similar to Manhunter. But now mentioning William L Peterson makes me think maybe To Live and Die in L.A. gave me the same vibe. Another, Mulholland Falls also a bit noir, but both of these seemed to have less death. While watching, I recall it most felt like the Payback version with Mel Gibson. Or Stallone's Get Carter or Bullet to the Head.

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Saturday, April 25, 2015 2:06 AM

SHINYGOODGUY


Manhunter is one of my favorite films within the film noir genre. But I can see your point, especially To Live and Die in L.A. I like your Payback reference.


SGG


Quote:

Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Quote:

Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
It kind of reminded me of a Michael Mann movie, like Manhunter, somewhat stylized, very subtle. Even the action was deliberate and calculated, but without being boring or stiff. I found Wick's killing style inventive, I stopped counting the number of ways he could shoot and kill people. And even though the body count reached new heights, it never seemed tacked on or excessive. I know, that's really strange for a movie about a hit man.

There were rules and gangster etiquette, go figure, but it made it entertaining. I really liked the hitman hotel. Lance Reddick as the hotel concierge was really cool. But despite how much I liked it, I hope they leave this one alone and not make a sequel. Well, maybe a prequel. Heh, heh.


SGG


I didn't get anything similar to Manhunter. But now mentioning William L Peterson makes me thing maybe To Live and Die in L.A. gave me the same vibe. Another, Mulholland Falls also a bit noir, but both of these seemed to have less death. While watching, I recall it most felt like the Payback version with Mel Gibson. Or Stallone's Get Carter or Bullet to the Head.


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Saturday, April 25, 2015 3:02 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
Manhunter is one of my favorite films within the film noir genre. But I can see your point, especially To Live and Die in L.A. I like your Payback reference.


SGG


Quote:

Originally posted by JEWELSTAITEFAN:
Quote:

Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
It kind of reminded me of a Michael Mann movie, like Manhunter, somewhat stylized, very subtle. Even the action was deliberate and calculated, but without being boring or stiff. I found Wick's killing style inventive, I stopped counting the number of ways he could shoot and kill people. And even though the body count reached new heights, it never seemed tacked on or excessive. I know, that's really strange for a movie about a hit man.

There were rules and gangster etiquette, go figure, but it made it entertaining. I really liked the hitman hotel. Lance Reddick as the hotel concierge was really cool. But despite how much I liked it, I hope they leave this one alone and not make a sequel. Well, maybe a prequel. Heh, heh.


SGG


I didn't get anything similar to Manhunter. But now mentioning William L Peterson makes me thing maybe To Live and Die in L.A. gave me the same vibe. Another, Mulholland Falls also a bit noir, but both of these seemed to have less death. While watching, I recall it most felt like the Payback version with Mel Gibson. Or Stallone's Get Carter or Bullet to the Head.



OOOOOh. Now I remeberfy that the one I was likely really thinking about was The Limey, but I couldn't get that off the tip of my tongue until now. But The Limey seemed to have more light.

Of course, in Unforgiven both characters played by Morgan Freeman and Clint were supposed to be retired.

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Sunday, April 26, 2015 12:42 AM

SHINYGOODGUY


"Of course, in Unforgiven both characters played by Morgan Freeman and Clint were supposed to be retired."


That is a good comparison JSF. John Wick was much like Clint's character in Unforgiven as he is driven over the edge by the killing of the puppy, which represented the innocence of his wife.

One of my favorite scenes in Unforgiven is when Will snaps at the mistreatment of his friend and, with his wife dead and gone, he loses all sense of humanity in his tortured soul and reverts back to what he once was. That scene, and the aftermath, was worth the price of admission. Brilliant scene and script writing, perfect tone underplayed to perfection by every actor. It also called into the question the roles of the "bad" guy versus the "good" guy in western lore. Despite all of the accolades, I believe that Eastwood's Unforgiven is a deeply underappreciated film who's narrative was simple but powerful.

Keanu channeled Clint, to a lesser degree but nonetheless effective, and willed himself to free his tortured soul. Of course, we must allow that this was basically an action movie and, almost by definition, not very deep on the philosophical. As in Unforgiven, the wife delivered absolution to both Will and John as they saw something good in their men. Evidenced by, in Unforgiven, the friendship with Ned, the raising of the children and the treatment by Will of the whore Faith. And in John Wick, the flashbacks of John with his wife and the treatment of the puppy. Still though I liked John Wick much more than I thought beforehand.


SGG

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Sunday, April 26, 2015 4:01 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
"Of course, in Unforgiven both characters played by Morgan Freeman and Clint were supposed to be retired."


That is a good comparison JSF. John Wick was much like Clint's character in Unforgiven as he is driven over the edge by the killing of the puppy, which represented the innocence of his wife.

One of my favorite scenes in Unforgiven is when Will snaps at the mistreatment of his friend and, with his wife dead and gone, he loses all sense of humanity in his tortured soul and reverts back to what he once was. That scene, and the aftermath, was worth the price of admission. Brilliant scene and script writing, perfect tone underplayed to perfection by every actor. It also called into the question the roles of the "bad" guy versus the "good" guy in western lore. Despite all of the accolades, I believe that Eastwood's Unforgiven is a deeply underappreciated film who's narrative was simple but powerful.

Keanu channeled Clint, to a lesser degree but nonetheless effective, and willed himself to free his tortured soul. Of course, we must allow that this was basically an action movie and, almost by definition, not very deep on the philosophical. As in Unforgiven, the wife delivered absolution to both Will and John as they saw something good in their men. Evidenced by, in Unforgiven, the friendship with Ned, the raising of the children and the treatment by Will of the whore Faith. And in John Wick, the flashbacks of John with his wife and the treatment of the puppy. Still though I liked John Wick much more than I thought beforehand.


SGG


Now you've gone into the dog territory.
In Shooter, Bob Lee Swagger was essentially retired from that life, but it was the killing of his beloved dog that set him off.
The book was far better (Point of Impact, introducing the character Bob Lee Swagger for the story which became a series), but the film negotiations took a decade and a half, and much of the storyline was diluted. Maybe the new character template was Chris Kyle, as opposed to Carl Hithcock in the books.

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Tuesday, May 5, 2015 10:34 AM

SECOND

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at https://www.mediafire.com/two


Quote:

Originally posted by REBECCAHGIFFARD26:
I heard that there'll be a John Wick 2.

John Wick 2 Officially In Development -- www.imdb.com/news/ni58559855/ , www.imdb.com/news/ni58558470/
www.imdb.com/title/tt4425200/

John Wick 1
www.metacritic.com/movie/john-wick
John Wick is not only a return to badass form for the actor, it's also one of the most excitingly visceral action flicks I've seen in ages. A lean, spare, stylish and grimly, methodically ultra-violent extravaganza that provides star Keanu Reeves with a much-needed infusion of cool. And hard-core action fans with combat-centric cinematic expertise on a par with 2011’s “The Raid.” Both ludicrous and ludicrously entertaining, John Wick's stylish look, B-movie vibe and less-is-more, longer-takes-are-stronger-takes approach to action make it a standout. The film is thematically thin, and it has a tendency to embrace the action genre's more obnoxious elements, but there's a proudly no-nonsense air to its nonsensicality. John Wick is the most blatant attempt to establish a character’s name recognition since the Angelina Jolie actioneer "Salt".



The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly

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Thursday, May 7, 2015 3:11 AM

SHINYGOODGUY


This movie was a lot cooler/better than I expected that, upon watching JW2, people will say, "where was I for JW1" and go back to see it. And, in these days of MTV/rapid fire filming, this will be a refreshing revisit to action movies that once was. Stylized and loving it!


SGG


Quote:

Originally posted by second:
Quote:

Originally posted by REBECCAHGIFFARD26:
I heard that there'll be a John Wick 2.

John Wick 2 Officially In Development -- www.imdb.com/news/ni58559855/ , www.imdb.com/news/ni58558470/
www.imdb.com/title/tt4425200/

John Wick 1
www.metacritic.com/movie/john-wick
John Wick is not only a return to badass form for the actor, it's also one of the most excitingly visceral action flicks I've seen in ages. A lean, spare, stylish and grimly, methodically ultra-violent extravaganza that provides star Keanu Reeves with a much-needed infusion of cool. And hard-core action fans with combat-centric cinematic expertise on a par with 2011’s “The Raid.” Both ludicrous and ludicrously entertaining, John Wick's stylish look, B-movie vibe and less-is-more, longer-takes-are-stronger-takes approach to action make it a standout. The film is thematically thin, and it has a tendency to embrace the action genre's more obnoxious elements, but there's a proudly no-nonsense air to its nonsensicality. John Wick is the most blatant attempt to establish a character’s name recognition since the Angelina Jolie actioneer "Salt".



The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly


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Thursday, May 7, 2015 7:20 PM

JEWELSTAITEFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by SHINYGOODGUY:
Quote:

Originally posted by second:
Quote:

Originally posted by REBECCAHGIFFARD26:
I heard that there'll be a John Wick 2.

John Wick 2 Officially In Development -- www.imdb.com/news/ni58559855/ , www.imdb.com/news/ni58558470/
www.imdb.com/title/tt4425200/

John Wick 1
www.metacritic.com/movie/john-wick
John Wick is not only a return to badass form for the actor, it's also one of the most excitingly visceral action flicks I've seen in ages. A lean, spare, stylish and grimly, methodically ultra-violent extravaganza that provides star Keanu Reeves with a much-needed infusion of cool. And hard-core action fans with combat-centric cinematic expertise on a par with 2011’s “The Raid.” Both ludicrous and ludicrously entertaining, John Wick's stylish look, B-movie vibe and less-is-more, longer-takes-are-stronger-takes approach to action make it a standout. The film is thematically thin, and it has a tendency to embrace the action genre's more obnoxious elements, but there's a proudly no-nonsense air to its nonsensicality. John Wick is the most blatant attempt to establish a character’s name recognition since the Angelina Jolie actioneer "Salt".


This movie was a lot cooler/better than I expected that, upon watching JW2, people will say, "where was I for JW1" and go back to see it. And, in these days of MTV/rapid fire filming, this will be a refreshing revisit to action movies that once was. Stylized and loving it!


SGG


The film was a good cinematic launchpad for a franchise. Well shot, edited, transitions. I look forward to another.

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