Niko Ramses’s review published on Letterboxd:
I have to admit, it was very bold of Chad Stahelski to introduce live-action reimaginings of the Pigeon Man and Sewer King from Hey Arnold! in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, and it’s even bolder that he decided to cast Laurence Fishburne to play both roles.
After watching John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, I believe that I have to retract some of my statements about John Wick: Chapter 2 because every sentiment that I expressed in that review, especially pertaining to the self-parody of the franchise, is far more applicable to Chapter 3.
This becomes most apparent when viewing the film’s action sequences. While it is evident that these are the best of the franchise (bearing in mind that I’ve yet to see Chapter 4) with some of the best choreography to come from a recent blockbuster (except for that one with the dogs and motorcycles), there is something about them that makes them feel boring. Don’t get me wrong, these sequences are phenomenal in isolation, but when they are placed back-to-back with very little in the way of distinguishing them from one another when there’s hardly ever a plotline to follow and break-up these sequences the magic wears thin and the immersion is broken. If anything, you’re given more time to notice how outlandish and goofy these sequences are.
But who am I to complain? Fans of the John Wick franchise know what they want and I’ll just have to accept that these movies aren’t for me.
