From the World of John Wick: Ballerina is now available on 4K and Blu-ray.
While it remains to be seen if Keanu Reeves will return to lead a fifth John Wick film (I suspect he will), the franchise has built a world so vast and expansive that there is no shortage of stories to tell. From the World of John Wick: Ballerina takes the comprehensive web of assassins established in the main film series and broadens its scope.
The plot
Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas, Blonde) is a Ballerina, a member of the elite Ruska Roma assassins. Following a deadly encounter with a dangerous cult from her past, Eve is faced with a difficult decision that will test her allegiance, break a sacred truce, and thrust her into a war she was not prepared for.
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina (4K) review
Set during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Ana de Armas steps into the intricately built world of Keanu Reeves’ iconic assassin turned dog lover. The John Wick franchise has established itself as a leader in the world of action cinema, cementing its status through Reeves’ dedication to perfecting his craft and director Chad Stahelski’s dedication to bringing top-tier action set pieces to the big screen.
Director Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard, Underworld: Evolution) is no stranger to the action genre, having directed John McClane himself in the fourth (and arguably most fun) entry of the Die Hard franchise. Wiseman brings his energetic fervor to the franchise, managing to balance its seriousness with its self-indulgent absurdity. It’s not an easy balance to manage, but it’s one that’s become more necessary as each film leans more and more heavily away from grounded realism and into comicbook levels of ridiculousness.
Ana de Armas commits to the action, fitting into the expansive world with ease. The hand-to-hand combat is impressive, possibly even besting the action of the first two films. I personally think the first twenty minutes and the last twenty minutes of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum are the best action the franchise has to offer. Where Ballerina feels the most detached from the rest of the series is in its traditional, straightforward approach. It’s a very traditional action film (albeit a very good one), where its predecessors feel anything but traditional.
The spinoff could easily have floundered under the heavy weight of the Baba Yaga’s immeasurable reputation, but thanks largely to some spectacular action sequences and a standout performance from Ana de Armas, bringing everything she had to the role, it earns its place in the franchise and serves as a worthy successor to the Wick mantle. Although Reeves does make an appearance as Wick, which helps to round out the universe and ensure that Ballerina feels directly connected, his inclusion wasn’t necessary. The action film is strong enough to stand on its own merits.
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The special features
The new 4K release is loaded with pulse-pounding extras sure to satisfy any physical media-loving cinephile.
Would I recommend this purchase? Absolutely. Ana de Armas is fantastic, and this is a great continuation of the John Wick universe.
Is it worth a bling buy? Yes. If you like John Wick (and who doesn’t?), you’ll enjoy yourself with this movie.
Purchase your copy of From the World of John Wick: Ballerina from Amazon here.
