johnke.meBallerina
The John Wick films have always worn their videogame influences on their sleeves, and Ballerina is no different. This film is centred less around set-pieces than all-out levels. It’s pure game logic and I’m totally fine with that. I was even wondering if they had deliberately de-rez’d the flame-thrower baddie’s head to make him look even more like a PS1 character.
But this videogame structure contributes to the feeling that, even in a franchise not famous for its story, this is the worst story so far. Cults and counter-cults and there are no consequences for anthing and it all makes no sense. But that’s by design, so I’m left feeling a bit stupid for even mentioning it here?
On the other hand, Ballerina contains easily some of the best fights in the franchise. They’re more physical and acrobatic and weightier than we’ve seen in a while. Axes lodge themselves in bodies with a believable thunk. Obviously helped by the fact that Ana de Armas is almost twenty five years younger than Keanu Reeves, so she’s able to throw herself around a lot more. It also means they’re not relegated to just using stupid kevlar suits as a get-out-of-jail-free card in the fights.
And, I’m sorry to report that I’m a but a weak middle-aged hetero male and so any scene with Ana de Armas kicking ass a split-leg dress and big stompy boots will instantly earn the film an extra star by default.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting to.