John Wick: Chapter 4 isn’t the strongest entry in the series but still highly entertaining if not a bit on the lengthy side. Keanu Reeves is still in his element as are the stunts and action scenes under Chad Stahelski’s direction.
John Wick: Chapter 4
(2023)
Genre(s): Action, Suspense/Thriller
Lionsgate | R – 169 min. – $42.99 | June 9, 2023
Date Published: 07/12/2023 | Author: The Movieman
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Lionsgate provided me with a free copy of the Blu-ray I reviewed in this Blog Post.
The opinions I share are my own.
Note: The screen captures were taken from the included Blu-ray disc.
THE MOVIE — 3¾/5 |
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Plot Summary: With the price on his head ever increasing, legendary hit man John Wick (KEANU REEVES) takes his fight against the High Table global as he seeks out the most powerful players in the underworld, from New York to Paris to Japan to Berlin. Review: John Wick: Chapter 4 is the culmination in the surprise hit franchise that began as a simple story of revenge to a expanding to a wider world of hit men (and women) and a High Table of anonymous persons who pull all of the strings. The franchise also saw the resurgence of Keanu Reeves who has never been a particularly strong in acting, however fits into that black suit so perfectly and kicking ass thanks to the stunt choreography from Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, the former taking solo directing duties with the subsequent sequels.
This entry I don’t think is the strongest of the series as the story is weak and while I can certainly appreciate the fight sequences and Stahelski going all out in what could be the final installment (at least in the JW franchise, not counting spin-offs), for me the old less is more might’ve been warranted, mainly in a running time that closed in on 3 hours. I guess I prefer a leaner movie than something unnecessarily overstuffed, the John Wick franchise isn’t exactly The Godfather or even Heat. Still, the stunt work and choreography was amazing, that’s for sure. Keanu Reeves once again is in his element, although it is more a physical feat than his line delivery which seemed limited as Wick does spend something like 90% of the time fighting off fellow assassins (mostly inept lucky for him), wanting to collect on an ever increasing bounty. Bill Sarksgard continues being a creep (like his Pennywise) as the film’s primary antagonist; and Ian McShane is as cool as ever; Laurence Fishburne meanwhile has less of an impact compared to what was set up in Chapter 3. And lastly a special mention for the late Lance Reddick who has an all-too-short role as the concierge, though this won’t be his final role as he does make an appearance in the Ballerina spin-off.
In the end, John Wick: Chapter 4 might be on the lengthy side but still solidly entertaining with Reeves continues to show his perfection for the role. I don’t think it’s the strongest of the series but still a nice conclusion, though considering the massive box office, it’d be tempting to come up with a fifth installment. |
SPECIAL FEATURES – 4/5 |
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This release comes with a glossy slip cover and inside a redemption code for the Digital HD copy. There are several featurettes totaling Chad & Keanu: Through Thick and Thin (5:45) — This featurette looks at the collaboration between the director and actor going back to 2014. Train Like a Killer (5:55) — This delves into the training routine for Reeves. Making a Killing (6:25) — Featurette that goes into the bigger budget with each installment. Psychology of a Killer (4:32) is a profile on the movie’s main villain as played by Bill Skarsgård. The Blind Leading the Fight (9:18) is a featurette that profiles Donnie Yen’s character. Suit Up/Shoot Up (5:41) — This one goes into the costumes. Packing a Punch (4:41) is on both the visual effects and stunt work. One Killer Shot (3:09) looks at the one-shot, overhead sequence. Killing at the Speed of Traffic (10:10) delves into the fight scene in Paris. A Shot in the Dark (5:43) — This one is on shooting the film at night and the various locations. In Honor of the Dead (5:23) — This featurette looks at the inspirations that Stahelski and others took with this series. Also includes is: Theatrical Trailer 1 (1:13), Theatrical Trailer 2 (2:37) and “The Continental”: First Look (3:10). |
4K VIDEO – 5/5, BLU-RAY VIDEO – 5/5 |
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Lionsgate releases John Wick: Chapter 4 comes to 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray and is presented with a 2.39 widescreen aspect ratio and a 2160p and 1080p high-definition transfers, respectively. Both formats showcases the beautiful, even though dark as the bulk of the film takes place at night, cinematography with sharp and nicely defined throughout, and colors well balanced along with the black levels appearing stark without being crushed. |
AUDIO – 5/5 |
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The disc comes with a robust Dolby Atmos track which comes to life with the numerous action scenes showing off great depth while the few dialogue-driven scenes also was clear and free of any audio ailments, which shouldn’t be a surprise for a big budget studio film. |
OVERALL — 4¼/5 |
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John Wick: Chapter 4 isn’t the strongest entry in the series but still highly entertaining if not a bit on the lengthy side. Keanu Reeves is still in his element as are the stunts and action scenes under Chad Stahelski’s direction. It’s also a fine conclusion but considering the movie made $430 million worldwide, it’d be tempting for the studio to come up with a fifth chapter… |