John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)

The third instalment overwhelms with opulent martial arts set pieces and a riotous, relentless aesthetic of hi-tech baroque spectacle. It makes an art of pain in a curiously life-affirming way, though the Casablanca segment with Halle Berry is the weakest.

The review lauds the gloriously raucous entry that deepens the mythology and delivers inventive, wince-inducing action sequences, singling out the magnificently orchestrated dust-ups and confident world-building for praise while noting the self-serious tone enhances the fun.

The review praises the film as massively entertaining for viewers with a high tolerance for stylised lethal force, highlighting Chad Stahelski’s kinetic direction that turns gruesome action into something fluid and almost beautiful, along with Keanu Reeves’ gravitas.

The critic praises the sustained hyperbole, dark whimsy, and Chad Stahelski's direction of the action sequences, noting that Reeves convinces viewers Wick is worth rooting for through his mix of agility, shrewdness, and sincerity.

Praises the film's astonishing action set-pieces and staging while noting it remains a solid franchise entry despite being the longest and somewhat bloated by digressions.

The critic notes the film bursts with sleek and squishy top-notch action and winking humor that breaks the characters out of genre bounds. She singles out the sublimely inventive close-quarters fights with the lethally graceful Reeves for praise.

Finds the nonstop kinetic fights and over-the-top gun battles inventive and engaging, singling out Halle Berry's cameo and the dogs for praise while noting the finale slightly over-extends.

The critic praises the film as an epic of choreographed mayhem that expands the Wickiverse in mostly pleasing ways, destined to satisfy fans of the franchise. They single out the inventive, thrilling action sequences such as the antiques store knife fight and the glass offices showdown.

The critic calls the action cranked to melting point and praises the blindingly simple set-up as part of the allure, noting that Wick fans will adore this third instalment that keeps the thrills coming over its long runtime.

Celebrates the rigorously conceived and coherent action sequences as the highlight, calling the film a fever dream of an action movie that is gloriously dumb but remarkably well-staged.

The critic describes the film as a symphony of dazzlingly sterile, cartoonish abuse with guns having more dialogue than the hero. She singles out the staggeringly accomplished fight choreography for praise while noting the minimal time spent on other elements like the High Table headquarters.

The critic calls it unquestionably great action filmmaking on a level of pure craft, the most technically accomplished of the series. He singles out the diminishing returns from watching two-plus hours of mayhem without palpable dramatic stakes or emotion.

The critic finds the film stylish and inventive in its action but notes that the relentless, stylised violence risks monotony and that it remains a one-note exercise with little nuance or characterisation beyond the set pieces.

The critic finds the extended fight scenes range from numbing to repellent, succeeding less as martial-arts spectacle than as a post-apocalyptic political drama. He singles out the remarkable overarching conceit that leaves a chill despite evacuated particulars.

The sequel pushes Reeves and the premise to the limit with bravura long-take choreography and meaty set pieces every reel, standing comparison with The Raid 2, though the saga has ballooned in scale.

The combat scenes are stupendous in ridiculous locations, with the best of them showcasing printed books as weapons; enjoyed more than Chapter 2 but still brain-numbing at times, with the film makers running out of puff by the final act.

The critic hails it as an action masterpiece that ups the stakes with jaw-dropping sequences and strong world-building, noting the playful humor and Reeves's tired but compelling performance. The verdict is that each new entry improves on the last and viewers will be ready for more.

The critic describes the film as exhilarating and exhausting in equal measure and calls it the best chapter in the franchise, praising the top-notch performances, especially from the female cast, and Stahelski's mastery of combat scenes.

The review calls the film an absolute riot for fans, highlighting its breathless pacing, jaw-dropping stunts, and strong new characters like Zero, while noting a few stumbles with Wick's superhuman elements.

The critic praises the film's relentlessly inventive and realistic fight choreography and stunning stunt work with dogs, calling the editing and cinematography top-notch. The verdict is that it is strictly for action fans but very good at what it does, remaining watchable despite little plot.

The critic praises the jaw-dropping stunt work and action set pieces but finds the film hollow because it fails to connect the action meaningfully to story or character development.

The critic finds the film a mostly enjoyable threequel that delivers slick, gonzo action sequences, though the franchise strain is starting to show. They single out the inventive and thrilling action choreography, particularly the knife fight and horse kicks.