Ep. 715 - John Wick: Chapter 4

Mountain of Conflict

I really wonder why they make the suits indestructible because I had the same thought as you. Make the suits degrade over time and John has to factor that in.

Jesper

So here is my take on John Wick Chapter 4: While I do appreciate the artistry and the hard work that is put into this (and the other) movies I realized that filming everything in medium- to far shots really make the whole thing clinical. What I mean by that is that I am not engaged in the movie but I merely looking on at a performance. Counter that with Mad Max Fury Road (which admittedly is one of the best movies ever) which also features great stunts and where the cinematography and the editing makes it feel really kinetic and like I am really in it while still making it comprehensible. This movie, to it's credit, is really comprehensible but there is no real emotion there. I simply don't care because there are almost no reaction shots and the lack of editing makes it feel lifeless in my opinion. I am not saying that we should go completely Bourne Supremecy or Taken 2/3 where the editing is so fast that you can't comprehend what is happening but there has to be some middle-ground I feel. I also really don't like the whole suit armor-thing. I could accept it if, when shot, the suit would flinch/flap and it would get more and more degraded. But with no reaction at all it doesn't work. John Wick is also undestructible to a point that now it gets ridiculous and I can't suspend my disbelief. As for the fight scenes they mostly feel samey and go on for way too long. There are some cool things thrown in here and there but for the most part it indulges itself in the action and the stunts for way to much. There is only so many ways John Wick can submit a person through a throw or whatnot and it still feeling entertaining and interesting. The movie is solid, despite it's almost 3 hour running time, but I have a hard time seeing myself seeing it again in the near future.

Positive of Picard Season 3 is that it introduced me to Todd Stashwick. I’m loving his performance!