JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM

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John Wick 3 movie poster
After having killed an Italian crime lord inside The Continental Hotel, super-assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on the run. The High Table, an international assassin's guild whose members find sanctuary at the hotel, has placed a $14 million contract on Wick. Having lost all hotel privileges, John is excommunicado and must defend himself from the world's most ruthless professional killers while trying to get the bounty on his life removed.

Buckets of bloody gore and an endless stream of kick-butt battles
fuel another satisfying entry in this killer series. Nearly non-stop graphic violence earns this thriller its R rating. Each fight sequence, and there are many, goes on way too long. But this is exactly what the legions of Wick fans crave. The seamless blending of well-choreographed stunts and CG is spectacular to say the least. As with chapters 1 & 2, former stuntman-turned-director Chad Stahelski and writer Derek Kolstad (with screenplay help from Marc Abrams, Chris Collins and Shay Hatten) return to keep this series on track. With its simplistic plot, something compelling is needed beyond the confrontations. That's where star Keanu Reeves comes in. He IS skilled assassin, and now fugitive, John Wick - believably delivering one-liners in a husky monotone. A good supporting cast meets expectations. Ian McShane is back as Wick's friend and Continental owner/manager Winston, as is Lance Reddick as hotel concierge Charon. Returning from Chapter 2 is Laurence Fishburne as the Bowery King crime lord. New additions include Halle Berry as assassin Sofia, who is indebted to John, and Anjelica Huston, who plays The Director - a High Table member who must protect Wick. Asia Kate Dillon is ruthless as the Adjudicator, who facilitates the criminal organization's wishes and Mark Dacascos plays formidable assassin Zero. Parabellum is Latin for "prepare for war". This cinematic war is nicely prepared. Newcomers to this franchise need to see the first two films to fully enjoy Chapter 3. The body count is astronomical. This rapid-fire bloodfest is a wicked ride. (3/5 CAMS)

Rated R (for pervasive strong violence, and some language)
Running Time: 130 minutes

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