"Action-packed 'Ballerina', a John Wick spinoff, excels in style, yet stumbles in dialogue delivery."
The John Wick Universe: A Whimsical Stroll Through Oblivion
Stepping into the bizarre realm of the John Wick franchise, we find ourselves suspended in disbelief, much like a delicate feather drifting in an unrelenting storm. The initial film in 2014 deftly convinced audiences that a brooding assassin, played by the enigmatic Keanu Reeves, would be reduced to emotional ashes over a mere puppy.
Each successive installment has maintained this momentum, persuading us that assassins follow strict rules of decorum and even have their own assassins' AAA, providing unlimited access to fine hotels across the globe. They coordinate their illicit activities through a network of rockabilly phone operators. The series continues to captivate us, like a mesmerizing, if bleak and stylish, dance.
The latest spinoff, titled "From the World of John Wick: Ballerina," directed by Len Wiseman and scripted by Shay Hatten, attempts to sway our jaded senses despite a quirky title and an opening sequence that nudges the boundary of plausibility. A death squad raids a family's home, yet the father appears unperturbed as his young daughter lugs around a musically-inclined relic that persistently blares "Swan Lake."
Admittedly, one might be inclined to grumble about such implausibilities, but the John Wick universe operates on its own rules. Once you've entered, it's a commitment that demands you embrace the absurdities or step out, tail between legs, having accepted defeat.
In this unforgiving world, there are no half-measures. Each decision paves the way for the next, each choice leading to a more dire predicament, leaving no room for escape. Gabriel Byrne's new heavy, the Chancellor, snarls this painful truth to a doomed father, as his daughter gripped with horror, watches on. If you've witnessed any of these movies, you don't require such warnings or explanations. You know too well that you can't simply walk away.
"Ballerina" takes place before the events of "John Wick: Chapter 4" and finds adult Eve (portrayed by Ana de Armas), armed with her thirst for vengeance. In her vindictive quest, Eve crosses paths with Norman Reedus and Catalina Sandino Moreno as disfigured members of the Chancellor's tribe, as well as testing the loyalty of Ian McShane's Winston, the manager of the underworld's Continental Hotel. Lance Reddick, conspicuously in his final role, reprises his role as the hotel's concierge, Charon. John Wick himself, played by Reeves, makes an appearance to serve as Eve's fairy god-murderer.
As a brooding orphan, Eve was taken in by the enigmatic Anjelica Huston's Director, who runs a co-ed academy for burgeoning assassins called the Ruska Roma. Decked out in finery that transforms her into a gilded black widow spider, the Director molds children to dance and brawl until they bleed. In the realm of maternal figures, warmth is a rare commodity indeed.
Eve proves an adept student under the tutelage of De Armas, a convincing portrayal of an assassin. A scuffle with Rila Fukushima is cut short, but the choreography promises more exciting confrontations to come. The film renders De Armas mostly silent, allowing her captivating eyes to carry the emotional burden rather than burdening her with leaden dialogue.
For actresses in action films not too long ago, the role of the damsel in distress was a trope that bore them down. The industry transitioned by allowing women to fight, albeit against other women, as a temporary solution. It is refreshing that this stale phase seems to have passed as well. Unless, of course, the film leaves you wishing for more dialogue, a rare occurrence indeed.
In "Ballerina," men repeatedly have the opportunity to deliver painful blows to De Armas' character, her lithe frame taking a relentless pounding. Dramatic tableaus and heart-rending moments of Eve's burden, battered and bruised, unfold against an energetic score that pairs well with the soundscape of shattering glass. A count of Eve's victims might never be tallied, but her body count appears to be roughly on par with Wick's, even without the requirement of high heels. She consistently dons comfortable boots and a grenade belt, serving as a tribute to practicality in a universe where violence prevails.
A Note on the Art of Combat Choreography:
If you've ever observed a muscular action hero calmly eliminating adversaries onscreen and thought to yourself, "How difficult could that be?" think again. The stunt choreographers who breathe life into the John Wick series invert this notion, turning ordinary individuals into stone-cold killers. When it comes to the craft of combat choreography, the John Wick franchise excels, as demonstrated by the creative staging of each altercation.
[1] Collider. (2022). John Wick: Ballerina 2. [online] Available at: https://collider.com/john-wick-ballerina-2/[2] Screen Rant. (2022). 'Ballerina' Pre-Sequel: All the Connections to 'John Wick: Chapter 4'. [online] Available at: https://screenrant.com/john-wick-chapter-4-ballerina-connections/[3] Empire. (2022). John Wick: From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review. [online] Available at: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/john-wick-from-the-world-of-john-wick-ballerina/[4] Collider. (2022). John Wick Ballerina: Everything You Need to Know. [online] Available at: https://collider.com/john-wick-ballerina-everything-you-need-to-know/[5] IMDb. (n.d.). From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. [online] Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18499352/
- The John Wick universe, thriving in California's entertainment-rich landscape, weaves together movies, TV, and music, creating a unique blend of action, drama, and artistry in the realm of Hollywood entertainment.
- From the action-packed sequences showcased in the John Wick series, to the energetic scores that resonate with the visual spectacle, it's evident that the delicate balance of movies-and-tv production in Hollywood relies heavily on the skilled choreography of both fight scenes and music compositions.
- In the expansive Hollywood entertainment landscape, where movies, music, and television overlap, the John Wick franchise stands out as a beacon of creativity, masterfully combining storytelling, enchanting soundscapes, and extraordinary combat choreography to captivate viewers worldwide.
