The following contains minor spoilers for Ballerina.
As an ardent enthusiast, I can’t help but sing praises for everything John Wick. I’ve watched all the films, even stepped foot in the Las Vegas Continental, and the Keanu Reeves-fronted franchise has me hooked. So, the news that we’re not just getting more John Wick sequels, but prequels and a variety of spinoffs, fills me with joy. Thus, my anticipation was high for the first spinoff, the Ana de Armas-starring Ballerina.
All in all, I found the movie titled “Ballerina” to be quite commendable. The fight scenes, though perhaps not reaching the same level as those in the John Wick series, were still skillfully executed, featuring some truly impressive moments. Ana de Armas delivered a strong performance throughout the film, living up to many viewers’ expectations. However, while “Ballerina” was an enjoyable action movie, I felt it fell short when compared to a John Wick film, not because it lacked Keanu Reeves, but due to its inability to capture the essence of that particular series.
Ballerina’s Villains Are Less Interesting Because They’re Outside The Rules
In the John Wick films, there’s a fresh addition: a clandestine gang of ruthless assassins, previously unseen. This secretive collective is often referred to as a cult, and the term seems fitting given they reside together, isolated from the outside world.
What makes these characters unique from others we’ve encountered is their deviation from the established norms. It becomes evident that this cult maintains a tenuous truce with the world governed by the High Table. They are granted access to resources such as the Continental, primarily for observation purposes rather than out of trust.
It’s interesting to observe their methods as they try to persuade the High Table assassins to commit a murder within the premises of the Continental. However, when this strategy fails, they don’t hesitate to take matters into their own hands and engage in business activities on the hotel grounds by directly pulling triggers themselves.
Although I’m a fan of Gabriel Byrne, I was looking forward to his role in “Ballerina“, but I found the villains lackluster as flouting the rules suggests they’re beyond accountability, and it’s the rules that make the “John Wick universe” intriguing.
The Rules Are What Makes The World Of John Wick Interesting And Unique
To craft an engaging tale within the realm of John Wick, ensure you adhere to the established guidelines of this world. While these rules may present certain limitations, it’s all about using your creativity to effectively employ these constraints or even expand upon them to ensure a compelling narrative unfolds.
In a similar fashion, even a Ballerina might do something like this. When Ana de Armas’ character is faced with the possibility of death for violating the rules, she asserts that her actions were self-defense, and that no one was actually killed on Continental grounds. The rule against “transacting business” is ambiguous enough to make this argument plausible.
With another anticipated spinoff, titled “Caine“, featuring Donnie Yen, approaching, along with an animated “John Wick” prequel, I fervently hope these upcoming films learn from the lessons of “Ballerina” and avoid treading on similar paths. Instead of disregarding guidelines altogether, strive to inventively employ them in ways that enhance both the action sequences and the narrative.
As a film enthusiast, I must admit that the intricacies of the John Wick cinematic universe can sometimes be puzzling, even downright peculiar. The gold coin economy system, for instance, is something I can’t quite wrap my head around, but I find myself not really minding it. It’s these unusual rules that set the John Wick films apart from other action flicks, and as we delve deeper into sequels, spinoffs, and any future expansions of this captivating universe, I eagerly anticipate more movies that creatively exploit these rules, rather than just brushing them aside.
Read More
2025-06-09 12:07