Includes spoilers … because obviously!
This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link. It’s okay – I love all of these companies anyways, and you will too!
John Wick 4 Starter Pack
Picture it, the beginning of John Wick Chapter 4, and a very telling opening quote from Dante’s Inferno foreshadowing his personal 9 circles of hell: tying up loose ends in Moracco, the Osaka Continental, the Berlin church, Berlin club, traveling the rivers below, the Arch De Triomphe, the apartment building, Sacre Coeur, and finally to his deul.
Guess who hasn’t seen John Wick Chapters 1 – 3? 🙋🏼♀️ Yep, I went in with little knowledge of the franchise and no expectations and oh my gah, the adrenaline rush that ensued for the next 3ish hours was nothing short of epic!
Keep in mind, as a Doña, my movies of choice include dramas, novelas, and romantic comedies. Which is why I hadn’t seen any of the John Wick movies as of yet. But in true Doña fashion, why would I pass this opportunity up?!
#10: Doorbells
I think once we all saw that if Caine made it that far as a blind hitman, his scenes were going to be next level.
What does a skilled hitman do in the absence of a sense? Why improvise of course. So here this fool goes strategically slapping these doorbell monitors on surfaces in the kitchen. I didn’t quite know what he was doing until the first doorbell went off with simultaneous bullets of death at the high table soldiers by Mr. Caine himself. Epic.
#9: The Baddest Bitch with Knives
I can’t tell you how amazing it was to not only witness but to freakin feel Rina Sawayama’s character, Akira in her bitchen black leather combat suit go in on the high table soldiers.
Favorite part … there’s a scene where she is literally climbing the back of Chidi with her weapon of choice, what look like fist blades, as he’s climbing his way up stairs. Seriously this dude is crawling on all fours up the stairs while she scales his back like she’s using ice picks on a mountain. Again nothing short of epic.
I believe this scene is in the trailer but there’s nothing like seeing it in context with the scene. Un gran aplauso Doña Akira 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼.
#8: Soundtrack
A soundtrack of synth music, my fave, red lit room, huge sofa bed, party favors, surround sound and an epic adrenaline induced trip of a lifetime. Epic EpIc EPIC.
#7: Pinup Radio DJs of Death
Can I just say, the John Wick franchise does nothing but do their women riiiiight! Like they are aaaalll baddies. We come in fully respected and then some. So, when it came to the Pinup Radio DJs of Death, all tated up, rockabilly curls, and red lips, announcing the bounty to ALL. It never looked or sounded more beautiful. Epically Neverrr.
#6: The German Shephard and Mr. Nobody
What is a John Wick movie without a dog, amirite?! From what I understand, dogs symbolize the very purpose of this franchise.
Every time the dog entered a scene, anxiety induced chills ran through my body as I thought “no God, no, don’t, do it”. Not knowing what happened to John’s dog, I assumed it was bad because now here in chapter 4 Wick is still pissed, and same Mr. Wick, same. Protect the dogs at all costs.
And in all honesty the way all the hitmen who fight against each other to satisfy the high table form this unspoken alliance to protect and respect man’s best friend, you went right for my soul John Wick Chapter 4. MY SOUL! Ya’ll know what’s coming guys, … epic.
Side Note
I couldn’t help but be distracted by Winston’s teeth when he would utter the slightest word. Veneers or dentures?
#5: Did McDonald’s Sponsor Chapter 4?
@rottentomatoes First look at Scott Adkins as KILLA in John Wick: Chapter 4! #johnwick #johnwickchapter4 #johnwick4 #scottadkins #keanureeves #donnieyen ♬ original sound – Rotten Tomatoes
C’mon guys, I can’t be the only one who saw this guy, as Killa was doing his rounded triangle thing? Gold teeth and inhaler in hand, this fool wobbled around on the dance floor though the whole fight scene.
Not to diminish Killa’s scary character. I think everyone is shook with Scott Adkins’ transformation. And if I ran into ol’ gold teeth himself on the streets, I would do an immediate about face in the other direction. But Grimace vibes prevailed! Crap, Am I the only one that wants McDonald’s? Say it with me now, epic.
#4: Dragon’s Breath Amo
When I first saw guns that shoot magical bullets of flame, I thought, “man, I gots to get me one of those flame throwers😍!” I mean imagine?! That alone prepares you for the zombie apocalypse. Come to find out, this freakin magic really exists. They are these bullets of flame called dragon’s breath (click on link to purchase).
#3: Gunshots and Donuts
Who knew gunshots and donuts were a match made in heaven? The Baba Yaga did, obvio.
The Pinup Radio DJs of Death announced the bounty on Wick’s head and all of Paris seemingly turn into hitmen. Taking shots with weapons and cars at every turn. Meanwhile Wick is fighting them off like nothing with his bulletproof suit. He jumps into a muscle car without doors and proceeds to drift donuts around the Arc de Triomphe, while shooting at the hitmen.
This was the first scene that had me saying, “ooookaaayyyy” to myself, in an “I’m so sure” kind of way, yet it was so well done and beautifully presented, I happily went along for the ride, literally.
#2: Stairs
When I saw the several sets of stairs leading Wick to his ultimate duel AND all the greedy assassins lined up to attack him, I knew he’d survive it. He just had to.
But when he made it to the top and fell all👏🏼the👏🏼way👏🏼 down the stairs. Dios Mio, noooo! That scene was like 15 minutes of him making his way up. You could hear the theater gasp with the one hit that sent him all the way back down.
The boogeyman then unexpectedly, yet out of necessity, joins forces with Caine and they work their way right back up the stairs just in time for sunrise and their duel.
#1: Beautiful Cinematography
In all the destination locations in chapter 4, some seemed too beautiful to be true. Although I knew those were probably the product of a green screen, bro lemme tell you … it did not matter! They fit in with the scenes soooo perfectly!
Osaka
The first destination starts out in Japan, as John Wick visits his ally at the Japan Continental. With dim neon lighting in the beginning scenes, melding modern and traditional glass framed rice paper paintings and Samari suits, to a softly lit Japanese garden, truly starts the movie out on another level.
Berlin
Cut to my next favorite visual oddity, Berlin. The juxtaposition of ornate Holy artifacts combined with the Ruska Roma and a no holds barred Priest and his shotgun, my mind did not know what to do with that blasphemous yet stunning imagery. Just when I thought Berlin couldn’t get anymore epic, there Jonathan and Killa were battling it out in Kraftwerk, a former power plant turned nightclub with cascading walls of water and a beat that don’t stop, even with gunshots.
Paris
Finally, when it came to Paris, I don’t think I’ve ever seen more beautiful scenes inside The Lurve, The Arc De Triomphe, the steps of Sacre-Coeur, and of course the Eiffle Tower. I mean okaay cinematography, do your thang!
There was an epic top view scene in what looked like a tv crack house. It was about 2 full minutes of high table soldiers stalking the Baba Yaga room by room, each with an individual look. At first glance it looked familiar to me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Yet the high table soldiers sure did. They put their finger right on that fire shooter trigger. And that top view, apparently is “game mode” to all the gamers out there. However, this very packed scene was stolen by none other than Mr. Nobody’s German Shepard. Saved by Mr. Wick himself in grand homage fashion to his pup, R.I.P. Do it for the one time ya’ll, eeeepiiiiiic!
Did you stay for the post credit scene? What are some of your favorite EPIC moments? Share them below! #JohnWick’sNotDead
P.S. I AM KLAUS! 😂