John Wick 3: Fight Choreography and Fighting the Establishment

John Wick 3: Parabellum is the third in the John Wick series. It picks up right after John Wick: Chapter 2 ends. John Wick has been excommunicated and Winston, played by Ian McShane, gave Wick an hour head start before he is hunted down. Keanu Reeves is great as Wick with his solemn demeanor and quiet composure. The high table has found out what Winston has done and sends the Adjudicator played by Asia Kate Dillon, to figure out what happened.

John Wick is on the run for the whole movie and since he doesn’t have his normal resources so he is forced to use hand to hand combat over guns. This leads to more interesting and varied fight scenes. Since the high table is investigating the events of the previous movie they check on the Bowery king played by Laurence Fishburne. He sees the ramifications for helping Wick as well. The Adjudicator also enlists the help of as assassin named Zero played by Mark Dacascos. He is kind of like Wick and as an actor Dacascos is very intimidating. This is a different side of him and it’s nice to see him take on new things, especially since he hasn’t been in a role in a few years. But it’s interesting to see all the groups feel threatened by the High Table and feel insulted for having their authority challenged.

Throughout the movie John Wick is constantly being challenged and that leads to seeing different fighting styles from people who are attacking him. While Wick still fights that same way it’s cool to see different fighting styles. Two Indonesian actors who were in The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2 are in John Wick 3. There are Cecil Arif Rahman and Yayan Ruhian. They are both incredible fighters and have a respect for Wick as they fight him.

The final act of the movie takes place at the Continental Hotel in New York. The place that was once a safe haven for Wick and Winston is now a battleground. The head of hotel services played by Lance Reddick also has to fight in this movie. There is a big room full of glass and mirrors that the final fights take place. In this room many sword and knife fights take place. Just like in gun fights in the John Wick series, the knife fights are very efficient and strategic. If he is trying to stab someone he hits the handle of the knife to stab the opponent faster.

The final fight is between Wick and Zero. Once again Zero is impressed by Wick and respects him. It’s a pretty even fight. Dacascos is scary and funny at the same time. Even when the fight is over and both Wick and Zero are catching their breath Zero even comments “That was a pretty good fight” which is something action movie characters never actually acknowledge. John Wick 3 is a great entry to the series and a great action movie. It’s use of choreographed fights proves you don’t need special effects to have a frat action movie. 🍔🍔🍔 and 1/2 🍔