At the risk of sounding outdated, because I have written this weeks after the movie came out, here are some Takes:

• I love John Wick and his many franchises. The subtitle “Parabellum” sounds super cool for 2 seconds until your stupid dick joke comedy brain morphs it into “perineum?”
• They gave Keanu Reeves a lot less dialogue, which is probably good because 1) John Wick has said about all he can say in this series without being redundant, and 2) Goodness I love Keanu Reeves but his delivery can feel uncomfortable and stiff sometimes
• Then again, what do I know? Maybe it’s not Keanu’s acting chops at all. Maybe John Wick is merely a Super Weird, Awkward Dude (which would make his character more interesting! Who wants a super assassin that’s also suave. That trope is tired after Bond.)
• Halle Berry is as ageless as Keanu and is also the only person that could have pulled off that duo dynamic THAT well
• I was so scared for Halle’s dogs!! When the Big Bad Guy shot one of her pups I was beside myself. Luckily it was okay. I think the writers/creators know they had one (1) dog death and they spent it in the first movie.
• Also having attack dogs as your teammates while you fight off other assassins?? Genius. I want a movie about Halle Berry’s character and how she runs the Casablanca Continental.
• As someone who got a concussion from a relatively minor blow, I know how easy it is to get a TBI. John Wick should have had a concussion starting in scene one, continuing through all the fights, and should have died after he fell from the NYC Continental. I’m willing to suspend disbelief for most of those head blows, because I get it, movies and all that. But falling from a ROOF and whacking your dome on the railing of a METAL FIRE ESCAPE on your way down? If that doesn’t cause a subdural hematoma I don’t know what does.
• In the switchboard office (call center?) I really liked seeing this space filled with exclusively women/non-binary/queer-coded individuals. And my heart filled with joy seeing the older woman (the one who did the countdown to announce John Wick’s kill contract) with all those tattoos. She looked great! It was fabulous seeing that kind of body representation, because THAT is who I will be in a few decades. Aging and tattooed and rocking it.
• Asia Kate Dillon was phenomenal. Their delivery was controlled, no-nonsense, and a touch theatrical. PERFECT for a servant of the Table.
• The costume design for AKD was of course fantastic too.
• Hey Winston! My guy! My dude! I really hope you didn’t double-cross John Wick! That would be a real bad move!
• I would like some more Jason Manzukas.
• John Wick’s dog running to greet him and lick his face?? Very good.
• I liked the weird/fun dynamic of John Wick’s ultimate fanboy being the one sent to kill him. Of COURSE he’s a celebrity! And it really puts the fanboy trope on its head in a way I haven’t seen since Syndrome in the first Incredibles movie. It was a fun dynamic to help heighten and balance the fight scenes and tension.
• I related to the moment where Lawrence Fishburn’s character told his pigeon to look away because he didn’t want it to see him be eviscerated with 7 cuts.
• The antique shop scene was a great example of how setting can be used to inform the narrative and bring a scene to life!
• Great movie, I Can’t Wait For The Next