The Equalizer 3 (2023)

The change to Italy adds a giallo-like horror flavor to the violence, elevating the boilerplate plot. Washington’s subtle charisma and the cinematography stand out in the details.

The familiar formula of protecting the weak through brutal vengeance works effectively in the new Italian setting. Washington remains charismatic and the action delivers satisfying catharsis.

The installment feels tired and haphazard with little suspense, but Washington’s quirky, oddball performance and the graphic violence still deliver the goods.

Washington's scowling vigilante slaughters mafiosi in a bloody threequel set in Italy, but the pointlessly sadistic violence and thin characters make it hard to care about the underwhelming climax. It is an offer one can and probably should refuse.

The critic finds the film a numbingly violent, repetitive vengeance tale with little suspense or innovation. Washington’s charisma stands out amid the exploitative grindhouse fare.

A solid conclusion to an unlikely trilogy and fitting end to Robert McCall’s character arc, with Washington still entertaining as a deliverer of slick justice. The film struggles at times to be as compelling as its protagonist and the adversaries are unmemorable.

The critic praises the film's operatic style, pulp poetics, and visceral thrills in an Italian setting, noting Fuqua's visual flair with religious iconography and desaturated colors. Washington's charismatic, fun performance and the reunion with Dakota Fanning are highlighted as the main appeals, delivering enjoyable mayhem despite a floppy plot.

In the third outing, the vigilante McCall confronts Sicilian gangsters after finding temporary peace in an Italian coastal town, forcing a return to lethal action. Fuqua delivers tense stand-offs and bursts of mayhem, with Washington showing charisma and strong chemistry with Dakota Fanning.

The critic calls the film hot garbage, criticizing its weak script, lack of emotional core or narrative continuity, unimaginative action, and reliance on gore over memorable choreography. Washington's evident enjoyment in the role is noted as the only saving grace in this failed attempt at a darker Western-style vigilante story.

The film delivers more of the same extravagantly bloody vengeance from Denzel Washington's vigilante in a Sicilian town, with rigidly black-and-white morals and graphic violence. It offers visceral kicks through the efficient retribution and Washington's devilish glint, though without surprises.

The critic finds the film reliably watchable but ethically challenged and predictable, assuming viewers are there mainly for the entertaining ultraviolence. Washington is singled out as the primary reason to watch, delivering his signature smolder and swagger in an Italian setting that feels like a nostalgic farewell to the character.

The threequel treats its preposterous material with seriousness, finding unexpected gravitas in Washington's reluctant vigilante while Fuqua orchestrates the action with aplomb. It concludes the franchise satisfyingly with a door left open, despite an operatic finale.

Denzel Washington is compelling in Robert McCall's swan song, but the story often falls flat in an uneven send-off. The action is brutal but the film lurches awkwardly between graphic violence and stagnant scenes.

The critic highlights the seamless action and Washington's star charisma as the compelling force, making it easy to root for the vigilante even amid brutal violence. The familiar reteaming with Fuqua delivers exactly what's expected: entertaining, propulsive set pieces and a charming small-town community element without cloying earnestness.

The film works thanks to Denzel Washington's committed performance as Robert McCall and delivers satisfying, gory action sequences in a new Italian setting. The thin story and familiar formula won't win over viewers who aren't already fans of the series.

The Equalizer 3 is accessible even to newcomers and provides plenty of fun, brutal action as Denzel Washington dispatches mafia threats in a small Italian town. It embraces Western-style tropes with strong visuals but lacks the choreography of other action franchises.

The third film improves on its predecessors with a lighter, looser tone, beautiful Italian setting, gorier action, and strong chemistry between Washington and Fanning. It still suffers from weak villains and heavy-handed conservative themes.

The critic views the film as a knowingly unpretentious and brutal action vehicle that delivers exactly what its target audience wants, with Denzel Washington's charm carrying the formulaic revenge plot set in Italy. It singles out the opening action sequence and the star's effortless appeal for praise while noting it feels like slumming for the actor.

The film drags in the middle with repetitive contemplative scenes and underdeveloped themes, but rewards patience with superior third-act action. Denzel Washington's charm and wit elevate the proceedings despite narrative weaknesses.

The review concludes that "The Equalizer 3" is a simpler, more straightforward action film that lacks the previous entries' ethical depth, making it feel less substantial overall. It singles out the exhilarating, brutal violence and Denzel Washington's assured performance for praise.

The critic calls it an uneven yet brutal final chapter that stays true to the series' savage action style and offers a gratifying wrap-up for the character, though it adds little new. It praises the raw action sequences and Denzel's presence while complaining about the film's unoriginality and redundancy.