John Wick: Chapter 3 -- Parabellum (2019) Review

"I have served. I will be of service."

This was my first Wick film. Maybe the gold coins and badges and talk of above and beneath the Table hits different when you're fully read into the series, but it all seemed pretty undercooked to this newcomer. But then, these films didn't turn into an unexpected tentpole franchise for the storytelling. The action, the real draw, was as varied and thrilling and over the top as promised, though with very little humor or much pathos (one understands why the writers kill his dog in the first movie, I guess) to cut the richness, it came close to wearing out its welcome by the end.

90's Capoeira king and Iron Chef MC Mark Dacascos hams it up as the primary antagonist leader of a modern-day ninja gang. Everyone else is snarling or glaring their way through the film, that is, when they aren't bleeding out from knife, shotgun blast, or library book.

Best action scene featuring a dog(s) in a supporting role? Chopper, sic balls, indeed.