John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023, Blu-ray, Netflix Rental) Review

[SRW1000]

Studio:  Lionsgate
Release Date:  6/13/2023
Rating:  R
Film Grade:  B

The Story:  When we last saw John Wick, he was a physically broken man, still wanted, with no way out from the choices he made.  This film picks up some time after that, with Wick training so he can make his way back and find some path to once again be free. 

Along the way we see how his actions have led to long-lasting consequences for himself and others – some old and some new.

My Take:  I was a bit late to the first John Wick movie, and only watched it due to the accolades it had gotten on one of the AVS bass-lovers’ threads.  Not expecting much besides a demo-worthy subwoofer workout, the movie took me totally by surprise.  Yes, the bass is fantastic, but there was an engaging story underneath that held our attention and made the sequels must-see material.

One of the things that has made the movies special is the amount of world-building they’ve done.  A secret society of assassins?  Rules that they agree to be bound by?  High-end hotels that double as safe houses?  On top of that add locations around the world, well-drawn characters, innovative actions scenes with astronomical death-counts, and what more could you ask for?

We meet a bunch of new characters in this film.  Hiroyuki Sanada as the manager of the Osaka Continental, Donnie Yen plays a bind assassin, Bill Skarsgård has a somewhat restrained role of Marquis, the head of the High Table.  Shamier Anderson is Nobody, a Tracker who has to make tough decisions for himself, and Scott Adkins hams it up as Killa, head of the German High Table.

The film features callbacks to the earlier entries:  A character and highly-trained dog, nightclub fight scene, horseback chase, abandoned locations, fights featuring glass display cases, but it never feels derivative.

For the first time the series may be showing some minor cracks.  At 169 minutes it’s almost 40 minutes longer than any of the prior movies.  Much of this time is spent on the multitude of fight scenes, which seem both more plentiful and prolonged than past entries.  Similar to the question of whether or not you can ever have too much hot fudge on a sundae, viewers may be tempted to ask if there’s too much time dwelling on action.

Another thing that feels off are the rules, that seemed integrated in the plot as we learn more and more.  For the first time, they come across as a way for the filmmakers to get out of corner they’ve written themselves into, rather than pre-existing constraints.  Maybe some of this is due to the absence of Derek Kolstad, creator of the character, who wasn’t asked back for this chapter.

One last quibble is just how much damage John Wick can endure.  We’ve seen him suffer plenty before, and it’s always stretched believability, but this film takes it to an extreme that amplifies those levels to a point some won’t be willing to buy into.

Video:  This is a sumptuous presentation.  The earlier movies were no slouches for video quality, but this film raises the standard to a new level.  Primary colors are bold and vibrant, blacks are deep and rich.  Details seen in the location shots and imaginative set design are marvelous and do a fantastic job of transporting the viewer to those places.  There’s an overhead sequence in the movie that will remind viewers of classic video games like Gauntlet, Commando, or the more recent Diablo, and it’s a blast to watch.

A Blu-ray this beautiful has me wondering how much better the 4K version could possibly look.

Audio:  This is a good Atmos mix, that actually uses wides and tops frequently, if not extensively.  There are ricocheting bullets, cascades of water, environmental sounds featured throughout.  Yet there are other times when sides and rears are underused.  One example is in a train station, and as the train moves across and behind the screen we hear it pan from the right to the right surround, but the not in the right wide or right rear.  It doesn’t lessen the movie but seems like a lost opportunity. 

Bass doesn’t disappoint.  From the opening scene, you know you’ll be in for a treat.

Special Features:  This disc is really loaded!

Chad and Keanu: Through Wick and Thin
Train Like a Killer
Making A Killing
The Psychology of a Killer
The Blind Leading the Fight
Suit Up / Shoot Up
Packing a Punch
One Killer Shot
Killing at the Speed of Traffic
A Shot in the Dark
In Honor of the Dead
Theatrical Trailers
The Continental First Look

Final Verdict:  John Wick 4 is more of everything we saw in the earlier films:  More action, more locations, more deaths, more weapons, more consequences, more run-time.  But could it have used some restraint rather than trying to top all of those in one entry?  That will be up to the viewer.

Be sure to watch through the end credits to see where the series might be heading.

This is a must-see for any fan of the series, and recommended for anyone else that enjoys action-oriented movies.  We’ll be adding the 4K version to our collection for sure.

Fun Fact:  The Pit Viper pistol shown near the end of the movie is an actual gun you can actually own (unless you live in California).

My Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
Elite Screens Sable Frame B2 117” Width with Infinitely Variable Height
Monolith by Monoprice HTP-1 16 Channel Processor with Dirac Live
Monolith by Monoprice 7x200 Watts Amp
Monolith by Monoprice 3x200 Watts + 6x100 Watts Amp
JBL Studio 590 for Left, Center, Right, Wides, and Rears
JBL Studio 580 for Side Surrounds
JBL Studio SCS 8 for Tops
JTR Captivator 1400 Subwoofer X 4
Panasonic DP-UB420 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
NVIDIA Shield Android TV - 4K
HTPC Running madVR (work in progress)
Remote: URC MX-780
Mini DSP 2X4 HD controlling all subwoofers
APC S15 Power Conditioner with Battery Backup

[David Vaughn]

Great review Scott. At some point I'll get to watch this when my wife takes a trip somewhere. That way I can listen as loud as I want

[SRW1000]

Great review Scott. At some point I'll get to watch this when my wife takes a trip somewhere. That way I can listen as loud as I want

Thanks, David.  I'm sure you'll find plenty to like in this one, especially with unfettered volume.

At the opening of the movie my wife turns to me and says she knows why you'd be grounded over this one.  

[David Vaughn]

Thanks, David.  I'm sure you'll find plenty to like in this one, especially with unfettered volume.

At the opening of the movie my wife turns to me and says she knows why you'd be grounded over this one. 

LOL...tell your wife "Touche!"

[bmoney]

Def need to carve out 3 hours for this soon 

[Craig Peer]

Watched this last night with some friends. The cinematography was amazing in this movie - loved the lighting and sets. The 4K disc looked stunning. The guys / gals shooting these movies really know how to light sets - even in the dark, to make them look electric! And the backdrops / framing is like an art film - a hyper violent art film, but an art film none the less! 

My wife remarked that it didn't really have much of a plot - I think we should have watched #3 again first. It's pretty much a long series of wild action sequences, but there were quite a few things I've never seen before ( or not as well done ). I liked it, but not as much as 1 or 2. I'll rewatch it again soon to see how it holds up to repeat viewings. 

My take is that #4 is a long test and journey for John to try to find a way to break free of the High Table or die trying. Donnie Yen was great - love the actor and loved his character! This film is the ultimate fan service.  

[SRW1000]

Watched this last night with some friends. The cinematography was amazing in this movie - loved the lighting and sets. The 4K disc looked stunning. The guys / gals shooting these movies really know how to light sets - even in the dark, to make them look electric! And the backdrops / framing is like an art film - a hyper violent art film, but an art film none the less!

My wife remarked that it didn't really have much of a plot - I think we should have watched #3 again first. It's pretty much a long series of wild action sequences, but there were quite a few things I've never seen before ( or not as well done ). I liked it, but not as much as 1 or 2. I'll rewatch it again soon to see how it holds up to repeat viewings.

My take is that #4 is a long test and journey for John to try to find a way to break free of the High Table or die trying. Donnie Yen was great - love the actor and loved his character! This film is the ultimate fan service. 

Yes, we watched Chapter 3 the weekend before, and it was a good reminder of where we left off.

I agree with your wife.  This one ranks the lowest on a plot/runtime ratio.

At one point they were going to film Chapter 4 and 5 back-to-back.  One has to wonder if both films were combined into a single entry, or if Chapter 4 might have been padded.

Scott

[David Vaughn]

Oliver Stone isn't a fan:  Oliver Stone Says ‘John Wick 4’ Is ‘Disgusting Beyond Belief,’ Rails Against Marvel Movies (msn.com)

[SRW1000]

Oliver Stone isn't a fan:  Oliver Stone Says ‘John Wick 4’ Is ‘Disgusting Beyond Belief,’ Rails Against Marvel Movies (msn.com)

He has some fair points there, mainly that it's not realistic and has the feel of a video game; this chapter is the least believable, and that says a lot.  

I wouldn't go so far as to call it disgusting.  It's not meant to be reflective of real life, and the violence is hyper-stylized for effect in what is essentially a fantasy movie.  

But you know what is disgusting?  Watching a movie like this on the plane, the way Stone did.  

[David Vaughn]

But you know what is disgusting?  Watching a movie like this on the plane, the way Stone did. 

Hilarious...then again, he probably flew private with a 100 inch screen and Dolby Atmos surround sound. Just sayin'. 

[Paul Heroy]

“Maybe I was watching G.I. Joe when I was a kid. But [Keanu Reeves] kills, what, three, four hundred people in the f****** movie. And as a combat veteran, I gotta tell you, not one of them is believable. I realize it’s a movie, but it’s become a video game more than a movie.”

John Wick actually kills 151 people in the fourth installment of the popular film franchise – a new record!

Well, I agree with Stone there. I have zero interest in these.

[David Vaughn]

Well, I agree with Stone there. I have zero interest in these.

I look at them as mindless entertainment with great audio and video quality. Nothing more, nothing less. 

[bmoney]

It does get a bit repetitive 

[TRainH2O]

Oliver Stone isn't a fan:  Oliver Stone Says ‘John Wick 4’ Is ‘Disgusting Beyond Belief,’ Rails Against Marvel Movies (msn.com)

I suspect that he wasn't a fan of the Kill Bill franchise. Talk about over-the-top and in no way believable. 

[TRainH2O]

Thanks for the review SRW1000. I will have to give this one a watch but I have some catching up to do first. I can't remember watching anything past JW 1.