From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: A swashbuckling action-packed entry into the John Wick Universe

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: A swashbuckling action-packed entry into the John Wick Universe

Ana de Armas ‘fights like a girl’ in this entertaining, pulpy, ultraviolent, high-octane action-packed spin-off of the “John Wick” franchise.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina movie synopsis

The spin off written by Shay Hatten takes place during the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ Eve Macarro (Ana De Armas) father Javier Macarro (David Castaneda) gets killed by Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne) a dangerous assassin cult leader based in Hallstatt.

Eve survives the attack and is taken by New York Continental Hotel owner Winston Scott (Ian McShane) to join Ruska Roma a New York-based organization of ballerina assassins headed by Anjelica Huston.

Eve gets trained as a badass and fierce assassin and chain of events brings her in front of the cult leader. What follows is a nonstop action bonanza.

What is John Wick doing in this spin off?, who wins the battle between Cult and Eve? The movie answers all the questions.

From the World of John Wick: Ballerina movie review

Director Len Wiseman and writer Shay Hatten must have admired the “Batman” TV series, where Yvonne De Carlo’s Batgirl’s karate kicks won hearts, the ‘fight like a girl’ – this jargon/idiom (whatever you say) has been the base of action movies like ‘Wonder Woman’.  

Remember the 1990 French action thriller La Femme Nikita which inspired both Hollywood (Point Of No Return – 1993 starring Bridget Fonda) and Bollywood (Kartoos – 1999 starring Sanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirala)?!, anyways Eve in ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ a spin off sandwiched between events from ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum’  and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ fights with extreme brutality – guns, knife, axe, flame throwers, hand grenades, utensils, swords and what not, whatever weapon she gets she smashes it in your face – the way John Wick does.

Searching for a plot in this mayhem, well as written above in the synopsis – its pure cliche – but works – perfect example of the formula – ‘tired, tested but trusted’.

A well build up, tight and engaging first half, followed by a nonstop pulse rising second half in those wintry Middle European mountains is worth your money if you are fan of ‘John Wick’ and such intense action. The Chancellor secretly lives in this snow-clad village and we see Eve vs. the entire village in this bloody battle, making ‘Ballerina’ a well-deserved entry in to the John Wick universe – Wickiverse.

Ana De Armas emerges as the perfect choice, she shows her rage and range in action sequences by firing pistols and machine guns, breaking limbs, smashing throats and gouges eyeballs with ease. Armas has a magnetic presence. Director Len Wiseman’s pacy, energetic direction and DP Romain Lacourbas’ glossy visuals ensure that not a single moment is wasted. Needles to add – the action is MIND BLOWING.

---

---