Initially, I wanted to put something like "Ipman vs. Neo" in the title, but this is the first thing that came to mind, and probably not me alone, and in general it does not reflect the very essence of the film.
What, then, better characterizes this action movie? Its structure.
Even after watching the third part, many viewers noticed that the story is based on the formula of quests from various games, where the hero must use some object or talk to someone to go further along the plot.
The fourth part continues this idea, and at various points you can imagine that we have a very elegant adaptation of such games as GTA, Hotline Miami or even something more classic like Final Fight or Streets of Rage.
Unlike past films, where the powerful rubilovo began from the very beginning, here the authors decided to give more exposure and first allow the viewer to enjoy the aesthetics of the refined world of bandits, where the characters reflect exclusively in philosophical phrases, sometimes giving out very cynical jokes in the dialogues.
Of course, all the grandiloquence and pathos mainly serves for humor and maximum distance from the real world, so that the viewer does not have questions "How does it work at all? ".
Before us is the case when style and action itself are more important than meaning.
In the second half of the film, the plot generally boils down to a function and simply leads the protagonist from one battle to another.
However, the way this "combat ballet" is staged and filmed is only admirable. The variety and ingenuity of fights with shootouts are simply incredible.
There are armored sumo wrestlers, sword fights, car shootouts and much more that I don't even want to voice so as not to spoil your impression.
Of course, there was also an episode shot in one take, and this is just some kind of exorbitant level of skill.
Almost all combat segments demonstrate how incredibly cool the work of stunt directors, as well as actors and stuntmen performing them is.
Over the course of four films, John Wick has developed and honed his fighting style, or rather the logic of battle.
Due to the presence of the main character's suit with Kevlar inserts, opponents often have to get closer or use cold weapons, which creates conditions for experiments and combined choreography, where techniques from sambo, jiu-jitsu and other hand-to-hand styles alternate with cold and firearms attacks.
By the way, some viewers may have a question about how a bulletproof suit is pierced with a knife.
In reality, Kevlar bulletproof vests, despite their ability to stop bullets, do not save from knife or awl strikes, so in some countries, during mass riots, police officers wear chain mail under a bulletproof vest (this is not a joke).
It's also worth mentioning that jackets with Kevlar lining do exist, but, of course, after a couple of hits they won't look as neat as in the movies.
Returning to the film, it is important to note that Chad Stahelski and his team have grown up professionally, not only in the context of combat segments.
Directing and camerawork have become much more inventive, and this is immediately felt.
The picture is incredibly stylish and beautiful, and many frames can be safely saved and put on the desktop background or hung on the wall instead of posters.
In some places, the authors create complete symmetry on the screen or emphasize the desired mood with light and color.
All this often increases the already high level of pathos and style of this movie.
In addition, the authors gave the opportunity to show their acting talents to Donnie Yen and Scott Adkins, whom the audience has always perceived primarily as martial artists.
If I saw dramatic scenes performed by Ian, then Adkins pleased with an unusual character for himself. He played a very colorful and vile high-ranking bandit.
By the way, I didn't even recognize him right away in this makeup — it was so unusual to see Scott in such a role. "John Wick 4" is a powerful completion of quadrology.
Of course, we are still waiting for other films and TV series in this universe, but it seems that this particular story has come to an end, at least so far it seems so.
The video games that I would choose to resemble John Wick would be: -Splinter Cell: Black List/Conviction. -The modern Tomb Raider trilogy. -CONTROL but without paranatural powers. -Ion Fury with the revolver and its secondary mode. -Sifu for melee combat. Also, John Wick is also similar to a video game because there are two types of enemies: regular ones, who usually outnumber the protagonist, but are inferior in training and equipment, we don't know their names and they die by the masses. And bosses, like Ares, Cassian, and Victor, who often duel the protagonist and have training and equipment on par with the protagonist (Cassian wears armored suit like John). And why doesn't John wear an armored biker helmet like those assassins in the third film? The protagonist has to reveal his face so that the viewer can identify him, but that is a reason external to the plot. Although wearing a helmet at all times would already be a statement that you are a threat to anyone who sees you.