John Wick

I'm not a big fan of over-the-top action movies. I was a police officer for 7 years, and I've been in a lot of fights and dangerous situations. Most of the movies I see are so fake, they're hard to watch. When you watch John Wick, you'll see the main character wrestling with foes to get their guns away, running out of bullets mid-fight and having to reload, and most fights end up on the ground, just like they do in real life. When he suffocates someone, it takes them a while to die, and the actors struggle for their lives in a believable way. It's all-around good acting from the main cast and everyone that's just there to get the body count higher. The stories in John Wick and John Wick 2 are great. In the first, John Wick tries to retire from his assassin career after his wife dies of an illness. She gives him a dog so he can love something when she's gone, and he finds a way to have hope through his relationship with the animal. That is until someone breaks into his house to steal his car and kills the dog, causing him to get back into his old ways to get revenge. It's a believable setup and the love and loss of his wife and then dog are heart-wrenching. There is a main set-piece that deserves special mention as well: the Continental Hotel. It's run by the shady element John Wick comes from, and is filled with people like him, but there's one special rule to the place, that no "business" can be conducted on the premises. This makes the hotel a sort of sacred ground and gives it its own life, as it features prominently in both the first and second movie. What also makes the world of the John Wick movies feel real are the use of gold token coins. John has a lot of them, and they're accepted as currency in different places and by different people. When he pays someone in a coin, it makes the world feel like it has existed long before we see it, that the ecosystem didn't just start when the viewer arrived to see it like some movies do. The second movie's plot involves John Wick having to repay a debt he owes someone from when he first started his career. This forces him out of retirement until his debt is paid. The plot of the second movie isn't as motivating as the first, but the action is even better. There are more fight scenes, and the quality and duration is higher. The gunplay in both of these movies is outstanding. John Wick has supernatural aim with weapons, and it's not like other action movies where the heroes spray bullets everywhere and no one can ever hit what they're aiming at. Keanu moves like a police officer or a soldier, always aiming down sights and prepared for what is coming around the corner. He shoots people in the foot or chest to cause them to drop their guards so he can finish them off with a headshot. He's also not a "good guy", so he kills the people that are trying to kill him without a second thought. I often watch movies where the hero lets the bad guy go and regrets it later. This would never happen with John Wick, and I appreciate him more for that. I rented the John Wick movies at Redbox, and after I had returned them I found myself thinking about the action sequences again and again. I had to buy them to add them to my collection, and they were just as good during the second and third viewings. They've topped my list of favorite action movies, and I recommend them to anyone who likes expert gun-fighting scenarios without being unrealistic or over-the-top with gore and explosions. I recommend both movies. You don't need to see the first to appreciate the second, but you really should see both as they're that good. Eleven out of five stars if I could.

I ordered this disc mainly out of curiosity. I wanted to see if my Blu-Ray player ( an OPPO 103 'firm-ware' improved to handle 4K discs) would play the 4K and feed it to my 1080p Panasonic plasma. It wouldn't. I don't know exactly why but I'm researching it ( is my Yamaha A/V receiver blocking it I don't know). Anyway, I decided to put the humdrum BluRay disc in and watch the movie. Right from the get-go I knew something good was happening. The DOLBY-'ATMOS' logo came on and sound effects started dancing around the room (the Yamaha is a 7.1 player ). Gee, I thought I might not get 4K but at least I have the sound of a 4K movie (hopefully). Then the movie started and my thoughts were 'what the he..' : The image was not only good, it was 'Ultra' good. It was like BluRay on steroids. There was color, contrast and sharpness (not to mention sound) that I had never seen on a BluRay disc before and I have some good discs to compare it to (Ben Hur, Fifth Element). I'm sure some find the movie itself over-the-top when it comes to violence and the capacity of Keanu Reeves to withstand pain when he dispatches bad guys ( who needs Superman when we have John Wick? ). But if you've seen the movie and like it and are considering buying the BluRay you might want to go the 4K route right now for future reference. If the 4K disc is anywhere near the viewing quality of the BluRay you will be very pleased with your decision ( anybody know what the expectant life of a Panasonic 1080p plasma TV is?) After seeing this disc I also purchased the movie 'Sicario' in 4K to see how it shaped up image-wise. Right off the bat that beautiful DOLBY-'ATMOS' logo came on and the sound was dancing around the room. Again the movie started and visually it was stunning. I can't figure out how this is happening. A disc is made in the 4K format and they make a BluRay from the master that ends-up upgraded as well? Is the BluRay disc which comes with these 4K discs made from the 4K master? That's the question. How else could they incorporate the DOLBY-'ATMOS' sound in the BluRay movie. It's a quandary. I'm hoping somebody out there will beat me over the head with technical sagacity and explain all this. Please be gentle. Back in the day of vinyl records every audiophile had what he called a 'reference' album or two that brought out the best sound from his audio system. This 'John Wick' 4K/BluRay disc is now my reference BluRay. The sound and visual presentation are both very good. No, let me fix that- they are extremely good. If your system is up to the task and you like technical improvements that enhance your movie viewing experience you will be very pleased with this purchase. Highly recommended.

Wow! This movie is so well done - you have to see it for yourself. The gritty, but "professional" way Reeves delivers Wick is absolutely amazing - he doesn't say much...he doesn't have too. The way he walks, the intense eye contact, makes you believe he IS John Wick. This is ultimate revenge movie ...rarely have I cheered so loudly for a bad guy. I mean, he kills 84 people in this movie, in a variety of ways - I especially liked the karate/ninjitsu/shooting scenes. It was like poetry in motion to watch. ***Spoiler*** While gassing up his 69 Mustang, a chance encounter between the mob prince (Yousef) and the boogeyman killer (John Wick) sets this ultimate revenge action movie in motion. Yousef and his cronies steal Wick's car and kill his dog. This dog was super special - John's wife died after suffering with an unknown illness. Prior to her death She arranged to have this dog delivered to John after her funeral. What an act of love. Throughout the movie John Wick is chasing Yousef, - everyone he kills is trying to protect Yousef and therefore collateral damage. But there's a couple of times he's saved by Marcus. Old friend, mentor, guardian angel.. Marcus is there. Now once Wick's revenge is satisfied and justice has been served, he checks out of the Continental and heads back towards New Jersey and life in the suburbs. But a phone call from Viggo (THE Russian mob boss) causes John to do a U turn and head to Marcus' (played by William Dafoe) house. The scene at Marcus' house sealed Viggo's fate. This movie was very emotional within the first 10mins. (the wife's death & the dog) -it's tough for animal lovers (like me), but, it was a Necessary scene. ...this is what sets Wick off, brings him back to the Continental... pulling the curtain back and giving us a peek into this professional assassin underworld. I did not think I would like this movie- I was wrong. This is NOT the Keanu Reeves from "Speed" - He's matured as an actor, honed his craft and delivered a stunning performance. This isn't a simple shoot em up flick -it has depth and emotion, ...the story draws you in within that first few minutes and holds you til the very end. And when it ends you wish you had part 2 to pop in the DVD player! Add this movie to your collection - you will want to watch it again!!! Especially since they have announced part 2 is in the making.

I love the John wick movies and this one is great. Thanks.

I first saw the film, John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, at the theater when it was originally released. I hadn’t known anything about the movie until the week before when I accidentally saw a trailer for it on television. That sparked my interest. When I went to see the movie, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Since this Fall season had proven to be a great year for me and seeing movies at the theater (The Expendables 3, The November Man, A Walk Among the Tombstones, The Fury, The Judge, and The Equalizer), I suspected that John Wick might turn out to be the biggest and most badass action thriller of the year. For me, it certainly was. Like most of the other titles listed above, I also realized I needed to see the film a second time to see if I still felt the same about the movie. I had discussed the film with another reviewer whose opinion is usually right on the button with movies. He had graded it, however, a star lower than I would have, expressing a problem with the change in attitude near the end with the head of the Russian mafia in New York City, Viggo Tarasov (as played by Michael Nyqvist). Spoiler Alert! In other words, to live, the mobster had to be willing to turn over his son (Iosef) to John Wick. It took watching the movie a second time for me to feel comfortable with this change in attitude and to understand why the Russian mobster did it. As most viewers already know, the movie opens up with the death of Wick’s wife (played by the lovely Bridget Moynahan as Helen) and a few flashbacks to set up why Wick loved her so much. It worked for me. I could certainly emphasize with man when the Russian thugs break into his house, beat him up with a baseball bat, steal his muscle car, but more importantly, kill the puppy dog that was a final gift from his wife to help him with his grieving and to give him something else to love. Once Viggo realizes that his son (Alfie Allen plays Iosef) did these things to John Wick, he fully understands the nature of his situation and what must be done. He knows there will be no reasoning with John Wick about this, though he does give it the old American effort. That’s when he realizes Wick must be killed. I mean this is the man who used to work for Viggo…the man Viggo sent to kill the Boogeyman. He knows how deadly Wick can be and so sends a dozen well-trained killers to the man’s house. Wick kills them all with either gunshots to the head or hand-to-hand combat. No mercy is shown. That’s the moment in the film when most viewers realize something very special is going on…that Keanu Reeves is back in full battle mode. John Wick eventually has to take out the entire Russian mob in New York City to get to that one person who instigated it all, and he does it with such proficiency and panache that it nearly takes your breath away. The fights scenes alone will blow you away as Wick utilizes every move he knows from throat jabs to high kicks to using his knees and elbows to block and attack, not to mention countless take-down tactics. And these are all done with intensity and speed. They don’t look choreographed at all. Handguns are also treated realistically with Wick having to reload his semi-automatic handguns and automatic rifles continuously as he runs out of ammunition. He also has more than one or two handguns on him at any given time, and when he shoots a bad guy, he always ends it with a head shot. It’s usually two to the chest or stomach, and then one to the head. This way, no one gets back up to attack him. I loved Ms. Perkins (played by Adrianne Palicki), who is just as dangerous as Wick with small arms and hand-to-hand fighting. She’s called in for a high price to take Wick out and very nearly succeeds. She fights him with such skill and relish that I think he spurred her at sometime in the past. Maybe dropping her to marry Helen, and this is her revenge. Then, there’s the other assassin, Marcus, who’s brilliantly played by Willem Dafoe. You don’t quite understand his motives until the end. This is when you grasp the fact that he sees Wick as kind of a son figure. This is a relationship that Viggo will never have with his own flesh and blood. Marcus is ready to die for John Wick, but Viggo does just the opposite with Iosef, which tells you something about Wick and the person he’s hunting. There’s also Ian McShane as Winston, the owner of the hotel where Wick stays. McShane brings his character wonderfully to life by underplaying him. It gives his actions and dialogue even more strength, especially when he confronts Ms. Perkins at the end, knowing how deadly she is. Beautifully filmed, expertly choreographed, this film truly delivers on the action and fight scenes. This is not a thinking man’s movie, but rather one designed to bring Keanu Reeves back with full force to the fans who loved him in the Matrix trilogy. One major thing you should know about the regular DVD. There are no extras on it, unless you count the previews. No commentary, no deleted scenes, and no behind-the-scenes features. I haven’t seen the Blu-ray edition yet, so I can’t comment on that. I was totally surprised since this is the type of film you’d expect to have a ton of extras on it, especially with regards to the fighting sequences. So, if you buy the regular DVD, be aware of that. The movie itself is certainly worth the price alone.

"John Wick" is a great full-tilt action movie with a large body count. Watching it is a whole lot better than kicking the dog. Speaking of which, the dog Daisy's death precipitates the bloody rampage that comes. Keanu Reeves is a lot of fun to watch. His dialogue is terse. He has a couple of nice emotional scenes, but mostly portrays a guy with nerves of steel and focus like a laser beam. In the DVD extras, it talks about how he trained hard in martial arts moves for about three months before filming began. The action sequences like the first one in his house as he lays in waiting for the bad guys are original and amazing. Reeves did most of his own stunts for the film, which allows the camera to linger on his face more and gives the audience his riveting stare of evil intent. Michael Nyqvist plays Wick's nemesis Vigo Tarasov in the film. Nyqvist came to US attention with his three films from 2009 that started with "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." As a mob leader, he's ruthless and icy, giving the character some depth amid the gunfire and car chases. His son who starts the mayhem is played by Alfie Allen known for "Game of Thrones." As Iosef Tarasov, he is so sleazy and spoiled, that we can actively root for Wick to kill him. Adrianne Palicki who is current in the series "The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." plays the insouciant Ms. Perkins who breaks the rules of the killer's hotel without a care. Her action scene with Reeves in boxer shorts is as hilarious as it is wild with Palicki tossing out one liners with a vengeance. John Leguizamo, Ian McShane, Dean Winters and Willem Defoe are also part of this exquisite cast. I particularly liked Lance Reddick's ultra-controlled hotel clerk and hope he'll be back for John Wick 2 which I read is now in the works. The DVD extras help flesh out how the film came to fruition. Directors Chad Stahelski & David Leitch were have a career as stunt men and designing great action sequences. When Reeves approached them about John Wick, they asked to be able to pitch to direct the feature, and were rewarded with their first film as directors. The two seem to have a great collaborative relationship and are on tap to direct JW2. I enjoyed hearing Reeves enthusiastically talk about the project and how he was a proponent of adding more violence and bigger car crashes to the film. "John Wick" is not a film with a great moral message, but it is a lot of fun to watch the cast smash things up. Enjoy!

'John Wick' came to us in theaters during an influx of assassin-related films seemed to be hitting the theaters across the globe. To break away from the pack Keanu Reeves needed to will the film through the similarities between the sub-genre and lot of films that came out during the time period. When you look at films like 'Safe House' or 'The Mechanic' it becomes evident that 'John Wick' could linger into the same trap that this sub-genre is susceptible to. Truthfully I love everything about the assassin-related sub-genre, but finding something to truly connect with is a rare breed when considering the formula used to make these films. Looking at Keanu Reeves' acting in 'John Wick' I have come to find this one of his best performances. The entire film revolves around John Wick and his transition from the assassin lifestyle to pseudo-retirement, back to full-time assassinating. While there is a pretty strong cast around Keanu (Willem Dafoe, John Leguizamo, Michael Nyqvist, Ian McShane to name a few) the linchpin that carries the entire film is Keanu. Portraying a wide multitude of emotions, physical stunts and work that is taxing to watch let alone perform, and deep emotional scenes throughout, Keanu delivers from the first scene through to the end. If you couldn't tell already I believe Keanu Reeves absolutely wills the film to success. But with his performance aside I want to hit on some of the other amazing components. The action was raw and exhilarating. Each scene felt like it had to outdo the last and the building up of the drama only seemed to heighten as time went on. The choreographing and fight coordinating worked so well together that they truly did feel like part of the film and not just additions to keep the viewer's attention. The emotion was intense and fulfilling. I think one of the most under rated aspects of 'John Wick' was the raw emotion throughout the story. We are meant to suffer with John Wick as he relives his past, endures the present, and plans for a better future. For assassin-genre films the emotional component his quite high. I also thoroughly enjoyed the entire look of the film. I wouldn't exactly consider the film's color dulled, but the color choices are much darker and more deep rooted giving the entire film a more dark and mysterious feel. I highly recommend 'John Wick' for anyone looking for an action flick, a Keanu Reeves success, or an assassin-genre top title. 'John Wick' is sure to please from first note to the final huzzah. 5 Pumped Up Stars out of 5!

John Wick is a fairly "simple" story. Keanu Reeves plays an ex-assassin who left the profession to get married. His dying wife gives him a puppy so he will not be alone when she dies, and the son of a Russian mobster, not knowing who he is, breaks into his house, beats him up, steals his car, and worst of all kills the dog. From that point, it is Keanu killing everyone in sight to get revenge. Of course, every action movie Keanu does is going to be compared to the Matrix movies. This does have very similar fight scenes with a lot of martial arts and shoot-em-up "gun-fu" as they call it. The fight scenes are more realistic than the Matrix, obviously, and Keanu is not quite as indestructible as he is in those movies. Almost, however. The supporting cast includes a great mix of notable and character actors including Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Lance Reddick, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Willem Dafoe. It seems like everyone involved was having fun with the movie, being serious about it, without taking it too seriously. For those who get the 4k disc, the movie looks and sounds great. The UHD disc has the movie and all the extras, which include about 45 minutes or so of making-of and behind-the-scenes material, the best of which show that Reeves is still committed to doing as many of his own stunts as possible. A good amount of material included, especially since the movie is only about an hour and 40 minutes long. Overall, if you are looking for a good action movie, that flows well, and is a fun ride, this is definitely worth it. It is very violent and bloody, but that works for the type of movie that it is. I absolutely recommend it.