Keanu Reeves is back in John Wick: Chapter 4. With 3 hours of action, the film has to offer a lot to keep you entertained – luckily Chinese superstar Donnie Yen is there and steals the show!
- The fourth chapter of the “John Wick” saga starts in German cinemas. Keanu Reeves gets support from Donnie Yen.
- The High Chamber has placed a bounty on John Wick’s head, and Wick must fight his way across the planet.
- 3 Hours can get tiring, but luckily Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada and other stars never tire of it.
“John Wick: Chapter 4” finally starts in German cinemas. Keanu Reeves is back, of course, and has to take on the High Chamber. He gets help from some friends and is in turn hunted by others. Who can he trust? We’ve seen the action film in advance and can tell you whether the 3-hour fireworks display is actually worth it!
The film picks up where the third film left off. With John Wick (Reeves) on the run from the High Chamber, Winston (Ian McShane) must face the consequences of failing to stop John Wick’s rampage of vengeance. To escape the High Chamber, John Wick seeks help from a friend in Japan.
John Wick 4: Things are really happening in Japan!
The film jumps from Paris to the desert, to Japan, to Berlin – and back to New York! (Not in that order.) There’s a lot to see and John Wick has to make his way through everything, literally. We would like to emphasize positively: Even with a running time of 3 hours, the never-ending action is not tiring!
In Japan, people fight with katanas, in the desert they ride horses and shoot sharply, and then the fists rule again. Director Chad Stahelski keeps the action fresh and exciting. It starts off really well, especially at the beginning of the film in Japan!
Actor Hiroyuki Sanada plays a not inconsiderable role in this short Japan plot and the “Bullet Train” and “Last Samurai” star has meanwhile internalized the role of a fighter with samurai influences. Every time he’s in the picture, his on-screen presence unleashes a force that draws everyone’s attention!
It’s particularly nice that “John Wick: Chapter 4” doesn’t just waste Asian martial arts culture as a stereotype in order to incorporate “cooler” action. There is a palpable appreciation for Japanese culture and for Asian martial arts film in general.
There is a special highlight that could already be seen in the trailer: Japan’s superstar Hiroyuki Sanada fights against “Ip Man” star Donnie Yen! Every action fan should go to the movie just for that! Two icons meet here.
After the first third of the film, Japan will be left – and the action-packed fight orgy will of course continue elsewhere.
Donnie Yen saves an overly choreographed action
As with the third “John Wick” film, the fourth one unfortunately has a problem with the action scenes: the scenes look choreographed. The fights don’t feel natural and organic. Especially with Keanu Reeves you can see too often that a choreo was worked out here. A cool choreo, without a doubt, but a choreo!
John Wick – Chapter 4: Donnie is the action highlight of the film and Hiroyuki Sanada is the acting highlight. (Source: Leonine Studios / Collage: Netzwelt)
However, this doesn’t seem to affect Donnie Yen (“Rogue One”). Each of his action scenes is perfect all around and the actor believes every punch, every kick and every move one hundred percent. When Donnie Yen takes up arms in John Wick: Chapter 4, the real fun begins!
Only in the last act does Keanu Reeves really warm up!
But not only Donnie Yen and Hiroyuki Sanada are highlights of the film. Of course, Keanu Reeves himself looks cool as ever and delivers well, especially in the last third. An exciting hunt through Paris ensues, and thanks to a nice rhythm of editing and the background music, this is exactly what the film needs in the final sprint.
Without wanting to reveal too much here, a kind of narration voice plays an important role in the final action moments in Paris and this gets the pulse racing. This ensures a completely new type of action dramaturgy within the film and how director Stahelski creates tension for the final showdown and boosts the adrenaline level is remarkable.
Above all, Stahelski manages to ensure that we are really in the middle of the action when we cross the finish line to the actual finale of the film. Something that the film doesn’t succeed so well, especially in the second third. The fact that we are rewarded with western aesthetics and a Parisian sunrise at the end is a symbol that the 3 hours were worth it.
John Wick and the mythology of the contract killers is also taken too seriously in some places. But that doesn’t spoil the fun. Three hours were not absolutely necessary in terms of content, but if you want to spend the time, you will definitely not be bored. On the contrary: “John Wick: Chapter 4” is a cinema treat!
Bill Skarsgard as French… why is that?!
As already emphasized, it is strong that “John Wick: Chapter 4” boasts international stars. Sanada from Japan, Yen from China, Reeves from the USA. Of course, Europe is also served and “It” star Bill Skarsgard plays with it. He plays a creep who sets his sights on John Wick on behalf of the High Chamber.
Skarsgard can play this snooty git very well and the costume design is an absolute eye-catcher for his role. Unfortunately, he speaks – at least in the original English language – with a French accent that sounds anything but authentic. Why is a French role cast by a Swede?!
This is something that I hope isn’t too annoying in the German synchro. It’s a pity that a film of all things that has such a wonderfully cosmopolitan and international cast makes such a strange cast decision.
Hiroyuki Sanada is the acting highlight, Donnie Yen takes the action to a new level!
Keanu Reeves is actually the star of the “John Wick” series, but in Chapter 4 “John Wick” becomes an ensemble action hit à la “Expendables”. Reeves is joined by stars from around the world: Bill Skarsgard, Rina Sawayama, Clancy Brown, Hiroyuki Sanada and Donnie Yen. This makes 3 hours of action feel surprisingly varied. Above all, Sanada and Yen enrich the “John Wick” franchise immensely and conceal the sometimes overly choreographed action.
| age rating | from 18 years |
| Duration | 169 minutes |
| release | 22 March 2023 |
| Post Credit Scene | ✘ |
occupation
Bill Skarsgard
Marquis de Gramont
Clancy Brown
–
Donnie Yen
caine
Hiroyuki Sanada
shimazu
Ian McShane
Winston
Keanu Reeves
John Wick
Lance Reddick
Charon
Laurence Fishburne
Bowery King
Marco Zaror
Chidi
Rina Sawayama
Akira
Scott Adkins
kill
Shamie Anderson
tracker
film series
John Wick
John Wick: Chapter 2
John Wick: Chapter 3
John Wick: Chapter 4
Who is streaming John Wick: Chapter 4?
John Wick: Chapter 4 buy and rent
genre
directing
producers
- Basil Ivanyk
- Chad Stahelski
- David Leitch
- Eric Lee
- Keanu Reeves
- Louise Rosner-Meyer
- Michael Paseornek
production companies
Lionsgate
Thunder Road Pictures
87Eleven
More sources
Don’t miss anything with the NETWORK-Newsletter
Every Friday: The most informative and entertaining summary from the world of technology!