John Wick - 捍衛任務

John Wick (捍衛任務) is an 2014 film. The movie stars Keanu Reeves. The film is an revenge movie from the trailers. You just don't mess with a man's car. After you watch the film, you'll know its more than just the car.



John Wick's wife Helen collapses with New York in the backdrop. Eventually succumbing to the illness. With ominous music, we see John pull the plug on Helen at the hospital, have the funeral, and the repast reception at his house. As he's cleaning up, a package is delivered. The package is of a dog named Daisy. A note from his late wife tells him to love not only his car, but the dog to move on with life. John and Daisy get along and move on with life. When John takes his car for a spin, he's at an gas station and bumps into some hip hop thumping Russian thugs. One of them ask about his 1969 mustang and how much. John politely tells him in both English and Russian the car is not for sale. Later that night, the three thugs at the gas station show up and steal his car and does something else unthinkable. All these terrible acts together break John. John wants revenge. As the story unfolds, we find out that John Wick walked away from a super successful career as the ultimate bad @$$ hitman. So awesome that even criminals tremble at his name. The revenge of John Wick against those punks begins.

This movie was actually pretty awesome. I only knew that it was going to be an revenge epic. I walked into the movie theater with absolutely no expectations. But I was treated to so much more. The "hitman" world painted in the film was quite impressive. The hitmen society have a code that they live by and they aim to do that. John Wick travels within this circle and the movie slowly unlocks this secret world.

But the main star of this film is Keanu Reeves at his action best. Is it Donnie Yen action best? Not by a long shot! We are talking about an US production here. But what the film provides in terms of action takes what HK/Thai action films have done well and apply close quarter gunplay. Instead of fist or knifes in close quarter combat, we're treated to a gun rendition that is both brutal and balletic. I will go out on a limb and say that this film had some influence from Equilibrium and its influence on future action films will be felt for years to come.

The trailer does a good job of not giving away the film too much. Surprises in the story are around every corner. The movie ends with John Wick walking into the New York skyline. I hope a John Wick sequel comes soon. Please make a sequel.

The Girl Who Played with Fire - 玩火的女孩

The Girl Who Played with Fire (玩火的女孩) is an 2009 film out of Sweden. The movie stars Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace. The film is the sequel to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. It is the second part of a trilogy.

The story shifts from the mystery of Harriet to the mystery of Lisbeth. A the end of the last film, Lisbeth cons herself into being very rich and wealthy. Lisbeth returns to Sweden for some unfinished business. Back at Millenium with Blomkvist, Dag, a writer for the magazine is going to publish a sex trafficking report. A dead end arises whenever they get to a underground individual named "Zala". Blomkvist starts his search for him and Lisbeth helps out. As this mystery starts to unfold, you find that Lisbeth is in the middle of it. We end the movie with Lisbeth confronting "Zala" and being wounded. Blomkvist comes to the rescue.

The movie wasn't as exciting as the first as this was more of an reveal movie versus the first. The mystery of Harriet was much more exciting than the mystery of Lisbeth. Yes, Lisbeth is special and knowing how she got there is important, but the getting there wasn't as suspenseful. You expect things to be messed up there. I caught this via Amazon Prime again and before the US remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo - 龍紋身的女孩

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (龍紋身的女孩) is an 2009 film out of Sweden. The movie stars Michael Nyqvist and Noomi Rapace. The movie is based on the best selling novel of the same name by the late Stieg Larsson. The movie is the first of a trilogy.

Michael Nyqvist plays a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, just found guilty of libel against a very powerful man. His magazine, Millennium, and the people envolved are now at risk of folding because of this. However, he takes a leave to relieve pressure from the magazine. Noomi Rapace plays Lisbeth Salander, an hi-tech private investigator hired to dig into the life of Mikael. When her report is favorable of Blomkvist, her client decides to hire him because they see him as an honorable man. Blomkvist is hired to investigate the disappearance or death of the niece of one of the most powerful men in Sweden, Hans-Erik Wennerström. In order to help Blomkvist crack the case when things get interesting, Erik allows for the Blomkvist and Lisbeth to partner up. Once the partnering happens, the clues come to life and reveal more than they ever have. With some hi-tech detective work along with good old fashion puzzle solving, the two begin to crack the case. Will they ever crack this 40 year old mystery?

The movie was pretty good. I watched it via Amazon Prime months before the release of the US remake. Noomi played such an amazing Lisbeth, I didn't think it could be remade. The subtitles did not bother me either. The movie does present some very dark subject matter. Stieg Larsson's Swedish name for the novel is translated to "men who hate women". In this film, we see that in the behaviors of a few people. The movie does not have the high production value of the US remake but makes due with storytelling. I wouldn't go so far is to say that you should watch this movie first. But there are elements to Lisbeth's behavior that are explained more in this film vs. the US remake.