Never has a trip to the Continental Hotel been so important. With the clock ticking down John Wick has to make it there before he gets excommunicated from the international assassins guild. But even if he does make it there will they let him in? This is the dilemma of the latest John Wick movie, John Wick 3 Parabellum.

Part 3 starts with John Wick (Keanu Reeves) on the run, having killed whilst inside the sanctuary of the Continental Hotel, a real no no under the international assassin code of conduct, evidently. Will the business like Charon (Lance Reddick) let him in?

The powers that be, the High Table, are about to have him excommunicated. We know this thanks to a glimpse behind the door into the administration section, where Python-esq employees juggle paperwork, bark orders and watch the clock that will determine Wicks fate, tick down. These random peeks into administration help ramp up the anticipation, while providing much needed breathing space from the action, and what action.

Watching Wick dispatch someone with a book is impossible to look away from, as are so many of the fight scenes, and when I say scenes I mean the whole movie. The movie is a ode to the stuntman and why not.

With a $14 million price on his head Wick has to fight of hit men and women of all types. There’s swords, knives, guns, motorbikes, horses you name it. Some of the most powerful images are those played out in a glass room.

Taking a step away from the action for a moment Wick seeks solace in an old theatre, where we soon learn he was taught to fight. Images of ballerinas remind us of the fine line between dance and martial arts. The Director (Anjelica Huston) holds the key to Wicks next move, a move that will see him team up with Sofia (Halle Berry) and her two dogs. It’s got to be said that the dogs almost steal the show in some scenes, particularly as the dialogue in this chapter is lacking.

Mark Dacacos (Zero) is great as the man most likely to defeat Wick and delivers some great comedic lines. Laurence Fishburne puts in a fine performance as Bowery King and Ian McShane is as delightful as ever as the dapper Winston. Asia Kate Dillon is suitably professional as the Adjudicator and holds her own in this male dominated world.

John Wick 3 Parabellum aptly follows on from before. If you loved Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee movies you’ll love this one. This movie goes a long long way to promoting the idea that stuntmen should be recognized at Awards.

When I read that the director was also behind Matrix I wasn’t surprised, there is at least one scene that provides a big tick in that direction. I won’t tell you. Indeed there are several in jokes to delight the faithful.

While it was breathtaking to watch many of the action scenes, it has to be said that the number of direct headshots was off-putting in the current era we live in. Similarly, the action did become a bit drawn out in some points, particularly given the lack of story to support it.

Watch: John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum Trailer

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