On 24th March 2023, the 4th addition to the John Wick franchise, John Wick Chapter 4 was released, and within the first 24 hours, fans and critics alike are roaring. With 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.5/10 on IMDb, it is certain that Chad Stahleski has delivered a masterpiece in the neo-noir genre of movies. The enormous success has opened the doors for two spin-offs, Ballerina, a movie starring Ana De Armas, and a TV show, The Continental, to be released in late 2023 or early 2024. Keanu Reeves as John Wick has yet again delivered an outstanding performance that is going to stay in the hearts and minds of the fans.
John Wick: Chapter 4 – An Overview
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
John Wick has been taking down the bad guys, searching for answers, and seeking solace ever since John Wick 1. John Wick 4 pushed Wick toward the answer: The High Table. With The Bowery King by his side and having healed from the fight with Zero, Wick is furious as usual and has to take down more bodies to get to the end of things. However, the bodies and fights are endless, and to get out of the loop, Wick must take down the Marquis de Gramont, a French member of The High Table assigned to take down Wick. The Frenchman has assigned a handful of hitmen to return with Wick’s head for an ever-rising bounty, and these are some of the most skilled and lethal assassins in the John Wick universe, including an old friend: Caine (Donny Yen). With so much to be expressed in one movie, Chad Stahleski reveals that there were many ramifications of the movie after the final cut.
Chad Stahleski on the latest movie in the franchise
In an interview with Discussing Film, the director shared some of his insights before the release of John Wick 4. Stahleski mentioned how the entire cast and crew had to up their game for Chapter 4 as they aspired to build the biggest stage in the entire John Wick franchise.
“…..What are the new skill sets for Keanu? I have to learn more about lighting and have to call my cinematographer asking, “What’s the new technology? What’s the new camera? How do we get better?”
The director speaks in depth about the efforts taken to make the movie an absolute spectacle, the movie has been shot in Germany, Japan, New York, and France, with top-notch equipment like IMAX cameras, anamorphic lenses, and hours of training for the stuntmen, Keanu Reeves and the supporting actors.
Different versions of John Wick 4
Although fans and critics have expressed positive feedback after the movie in the masses, Stahleski expresses his opinions on the run-time of John Wick 4, which has been debated and criticized by some viewers. The director said,
“The original cut [of John Wick: Chapter 4] was 3 hours and 45 minutes – we cut an hour out! But we feel the movie we released is the best version of itself. We tried a 2-hour and 15-minute version, a 2-hour and 20-minute version, and a 2-hour and 10-minute version. And I just thought the movie was terrible in all of those. It didn’t land right, it didn’t emotionally sit right with me – it just felt weird. In the final version, I feel like I’m good. I feel like I’m satisfied.”
The die-hard fans of John Wick have expressed their gratitude towards the superb 4th chapter, and are excited for the spin-offs that have been confirmed, Ballerina, and The TV show: The Continental starring Ian McShane. Fans are also aching to know if there will be a chapter 5 in the near future, as the post-credits scene has been a constant talk of the town.
Source: Discussingfilm.net
