#JohnWick4 was an absolute BLAST! Bigger in pretty much every conceivable way—from locations to choreography to cinematography—I was stunned for most of its (long!) runtime. I’m not yet sure if it’s the best in the series, but I do think it should be the last. I have thoughts…

Firstly, I’m *very* glad I saw #JohnWick4 in IMAX. The visuals and sound design fully deserved the biggest, loudest experience possible. Those first few punches blew me away and **literally shook** my seat. I was sold within the first 30 seconds…

Keane Reeves needs no introduction. As Wick, he does what he does best—fight—with a vulnerability that makes his actions seem more consequential than, say, Tom Cruise’s stoic Ethan Hunt.

But more so than previous chapters, #JohnWick4 is bolstered by a superb supporting cast…

In fact, #JohnWick4 has such a phenomenal supporting cast, there are long stretches of the film (particularly at the beginning) that don’t feature Reeves at all. That’s a big departure from previous films, but it pays off—the stakes are higher because we care about more people.

If I had to pick a standout, it would have to be Rina Sawayama’s Akira. Fierce, perceptive and loyal, I loved the energy & conviction she brought to the screen. Bill Scarsgaard is also great as the Marquis—#JohnWick’s first ‘proper’ villain. Of course, I’m forgetting Donnie Yen…

In many ways, Caine, Donnie Yen’s blind assassin, picks up the inclusivity torch held by the non-verbal assassin Ares, in chapter 2. #JohnWick4 presents Caine as Wick’s equal, determined not to make his differences disabling. Hollywood should take note of these successes…

A quick word on how these films are shot: they are, quite simply, *breathtaking*. I mean, it’s a bit ridiculous how beautiful #JohnWick4 is—from the neon-lit Osaka to the orange glow of Paris—it’s a visual feast from start to finish. Carefully constructed, gorgeously executed.

While #JohnWick4 may sag a little bit in its middle act, it redeems itself with a propulsive finale that, crucially, shakes the formula enough to avoid feeling like a ripoff of the whole ‘assassins chase John Wick’ thing of the previous 3 instalments.

This film did things with roundabouts, stairs and renovated buildings I didn’t think were possible—quite literally reinvigorating the action genre. I was unsure if I needed a #JohnWick4, but that uncertainty was squarely put to bed by the end. Speaking of: this should be the end!

As much as I’m glad that #JohnWick4 had a stellar opening, I don’t like that it signals ‘SEQUEL!!’ in big, bold letters. This concluded the story the first 3 films started—it doesn’t demand a follow up!

Sometimes we need to let a good story rest.

So, what did I think? Truly, #JohnWick4 felt like a completely different film to its predecessors, which all felt very tightly linked. I liked the scope, but feel it risked drifting into impersonal territory at times. The extra runtime is generally used well, though…

Instead of hopping from action scene to action scene, there’s a palpable buildup that’s often absent from previous #JohnWick instalments. The stakes are clearly laid out for the audience—this time, the plot demands it!—in a way that I really appreciated.

Keanu Reeves proves that you don’t need to jump off cliffs to be a bone-fide action star, and he props up this propulsive instalment with emotion and heart. I enjoyed #JohnWick4 immensely—I’m glad to have caught it on the big screen at last—and can’t wait to watch it again! 4.5/5

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