JASON EVANS' 100-WORD REVIEWS: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

Courtesy of Lionsgate

Famous actress Louise Brooks once said, "Writing is 1% inspiration and 99% elimination." So, to honor that quote by one of America’s first sex symbols, film critic Jason Evans is making it his personal mission to say more by saying less. He has embarked upon an effort to provide quality film criticism in exactly 100 words (no more, no less). Each of his reviews will contain a brief synopsis of the film and then a 100-word review. Without and further ado, here is his take on John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.

The Premise: Set just moments after the conclusion of Chapter 2, this film finds former assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) on the run with a $14 million bounty on his head. He broke the one sacred rule of the assassin world: he killed someone on the neutral ground of The Continental Hotel. To make matters worse, the man he killed (at the end of Chapter 2) was a member of the High Table, the group that rules the wonderfully rich world of assassins.

The first third of this film is Wick fending off a hoard of killers who want to collect the bounty. From there the movie goes to Casablanca as Wick tries to find a way to get rid of the price on his head. His adventures feature a fabulous supporting cast including Halle Berry, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick.

The 100 Words: This action masterpiece contains some of the best fights ever shown on film, some of which must have taken weeks of rehearsal. Guns and knives, sure… but Wick uses books, dogs, and even horses as lethal weapons in ways that leave the audience cheering for more. The movie wants to be more than just jaw-dropping hand-to-hand combat and getting to know the side characters make this world even more interesting. But the flick lags a bit in the middle and the ending fights go on a shade too long. Still, it’s a worthy addition to Keanu Reeves’ remarkable action catalogue.