Baba Yaga

First and foremost, don't come into this article expecting a leisurely stroll through a whimsical animated feature or a light-hearted rom-com. We're embarking on a sweat-soaked adrenaline-fueled journey into a universe saturated with bullets, blood, and bereavement, also known as, the saga of "John Wick."

John Wick, our central protagonist, is smooth and efficient as a Swiss timepiece; the embodiment of deadly grace. Yet, despite his calculated demeanor, he is not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood action hero. Wick, portrayed with stoic finesse by Keanu Reeves, is a man of few words and countless bullets—a bereaved husband, compelled to return to the underworld he once ruled.

The curtain lifts on the first film, simply titled "John Wick" (2014), in an atmosphere of profound grief. John has just lost his wife, Helen, leaving him engulfed in sorrow. But in her final act, she gifts him a puppy named Daisy—an embodiment of hope and a lifeline in his sea of despair. All is somber but calm until a group of Russian gangsters commits the unpardonable act of breaking into Wick's house, snatching his car, and murdering his dog. His freaking dog, man! This cruel act reignites Wick's dormant flame. Known to some as Baba Yaga - a Slavic boogeyman (boogeywoman, if you want to get technical) - our titular hero embarks on a quest for justice. And in this world, justice comes at the end of a gun, or, in some cases, a samurai sword. Hell, there's a hatchet in there somewhere. Let's just say the weapons in this series are varied and designed for maximum carnage. Oh, and not only do the suits look great, but they're also tactical.

Thus begins the narrative of the series: Wick, the grieving widower, is catapulted into a rampage of revenge. He pulls his weapons out of mothballs, dons his tailor-made Kevlar lined suit, and re-immerses himself in the clandestine world he thought he had left behind; a gritty and sophisticated underworld worth closer inspection.

"John Wick" is renowned for its world-building, and it's easy to see why. This universe is inhabited by assassins, who despite their violent profession, exist within a structured society. Hierarchy, after all, is everything. They obey rules, use gold coins as currency, and co-exist in neutral territories such as the Continental Hotel—a sanctuary for killers. These nuances color the intriguing backdrop against which Wick's relentless vengeance unfolds.

Action sequences in the series deserve their own thesaurus of adjectives—they are explosive, balletic, brutal, and oh-so-satisfying. Each gunshot, every punch, and all the stabs are choreographed with a precision that verges on the beautiful. Every weapon has its own katas and the assassins wield them with brutal efficiency. Not since Chow Yun Fat collaborated with John Woo has action and violence looked so damn beautiful. Every action sequence is like a sophisticated dance, a beautiful ballet of lead, steel, and blood. The sequences involving close combat weapons are a marvel to behold, but the gunplay is truly magnificent. The style of the gunfights is so unique, it's been coined "gun-fu"—a perfect blend of martial arts and gunplay. This sort of thing isn't new to cinema. Let's be honest, John Woo reinvented the action sequence, finding the beauty in every act of violence. If you need proof, just watch Hard Boiled. Even Broken Arrow, a mess of a film, has some beautiful action sequences. But John Wick has taken the barbaric ballet popularized by John Woo to a whole new level. Another aspect that makes the film unique is John Wick's ability to improvise. Like Marvel's resourceful, eagle-eyed assassin Bullseye, anything is a weapon in the hands of John Wick. Who can deny his versatility with a pencil?

As the series evolves, culminating in the fourth installment, "John Wick: Chapter 4" (recently released), the stakes continue to ascend. Wick finds himself excommunicated from the Continental and a $14 million bounty placed on his head after breaking one of the core rules of the assassins' code. The predator becomes the prey.

Yet, even amidst the ceaseless violence and staggering body count, Wick is portrayed as a man with a beating heart. Reeves' portrayal injects an undercurrent of tragedy and vulnerability into Wick. He's a man tormented by his past, mourning his lost love, and continually haunted by the consequences of his choices.

The casting throughout the series is exceptional. Ian McShane exudes an enigmatic authority as Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel. Lance Reddick as Charon, the hotel's unflappable concierge, delivers a standout performance. And in "John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum," Halle Berry joins the cast as Sofia, another killer with her own scores to settle, proving a powerful addition to the narrative.

Each film in the "John Wick" series is an exploration of a man battling his past and the shadowy underworld around him. It's a narrative drenched in vengeance, redemption, and a man’s struggle to reconcile the two. And while the story is intense, the action sequences ensure the ride is exhilarating.

"John Wick: Chapter 4" brings us back into the frenzied chaos, where Wick, betrayed and bruised, stands resilient against the odds. With the help of an unlikely ally, The Bowery King (played with unhinged intensity by Laurence Fishburne), John Wick has recovered from his injuries and is ready to take on the High Table. Donnie Yen joins the cast as a blind assassin, something that Yen does particularly well, as we saw in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Hiroyuki Sanada also joins the cast as Winston's Japanese counterpart. For action nerds, seeing Sanada and Yen share the screen is akin to cinephiles seeing Pacino meet DeNiro in Heat. I hate to use the term orgasmic, but I will. It's orgasmic ... for action nerds. The final installment brings everything up a notch. In the immortal words of Christopher Guest, "It's ten, but one more." When we first see Wick, he is punching a board, a board covered in his own knuckle blood. This opening sequence is a poignant reminder that in his world, Si vis pacem, para bellum - "If you want peace, prepare for war."

"John Wick," in all its glory, is more than a high-octane action saga. It's a series that encapsulates the spirit of a man caught in an unending storm of bullets and blood, but still finds a way to keep moving forward. Each film, each scene, and each bullet fired adds another layer to the legend of the Baba Yaga. Looking back, from the moment we were introduced to John Wick in 2014, to his latest trials in "Chapter 4," one thing is clear—Wick's saga is a cinematic experience that leaves an indelible mark. So, here's to the boogeyman, the Baba Yaga, the man of few words and an unending supply of bullets. Here's to the king of the dance fight. Long may he reign.