Fast-paced and visually striking, latest John Wick is a dandy
Yes, there is all the blood and gore you would expect. But there is also heart and emotional weight
Welcome back to the dark, ultra-violent, visual spectacle that is the World of John Wick. Len Wiseman’s Ballerina dives headfirst into the seedy underworld of killers-for-hire, this time with Ana de Armas at the helm. Ballerina follows in its predecessors’ footsteps, blending intense fight scenes with a wonderfully eclectic soundtrack to match while all while continuing the John Wick tradition of bringing unique style and flair to the series.
Ana de Armas stars as Eve Macarro, a killer in training growing up in the assassin-bred ballet school of the Ruska Roma. As she trains, she is assigned tasks and “jobs,” all of which lead her down her own path to hunt the Chancellor (Gabriel Bryne), a ruthless killer in his own right who murdered Eve’s father when she was a child. Throughout the film she encounters many familiar faces from the series, including the Baba Yaga John Wick himself.
Similar to the original and almost fabled John Wick story, this is a classic revenge movie. But unlike the “man of focus” who can kill you with a ballpoint pen just as easily as he can with a knife or gun, Eve is still figuring herself out. As a smaller woman, she knows she will have to fight bigger and stronger opponents to see her story through. But that is exactly what sets this movie apart. While John relies on impeccable shooting accuracy and precision striking, Eve must be far more versatile and resourceful. As the movie builds, so does her arsenal. But there is still a (literally) painful learning curve she must endure before she becomes the deadly assassin she longs to be.
Ballerina starts off slow and methodical, but once it picks up it goes full speed into a fast-paced, visually striking piece of cinema. The sound engineering almost makes you cringe in the best way possible as you can hear the bones breaking with each punch, or the scorch of the flame thrower as it is being wielded around a cold and stark yet beautiful Eastern European backdrop. Yes, there is all the blood and gore you would expect. But there is also heart and emotional weight. Ana de Armas shines as both the beauty and the beast you need to take this film to the next level. It’s safe to say the John Wick franchise is in good hands going forward.
