From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – Budget of $80 – 90 million – 2 hours and 5 minutes
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Eve listens to her ballerina music globe when her father, Javier, tells her to hide as they practice. She opens a secret door in the wall and looks through a slat to watch Javier. He fights with the assassins until they get the upper hand. They put Javier on his knees as the Chancellor enters. He is upset that Javier and his wife broke the rules and took Eve away. He gives Javier two options. First, Javier can end his life, and they will take Eve. Or Javier can shoot the Chancellor, and the assassins will kill Javier and Eve. As Javier puts the gun to his head, Eve cries out from behind the wall. Javier battles with the goons, and Eve notices one drop his weapon. When Eve sees that Javier is losing, she comes from her hiding place, grabs the gun, notices the X etched in the killer’s ankle, and shoots him. Javier and Eve make it out of their home alive, but Javier succumbs to his injuries.
Winston finds Eve and offers to take her to her family, the Ruska Roma. Eve meets the Director, and the Director sees Eve’s pain. She allows Eve to stay, but Eve must follow the rules and train. With the proper technique, Eve can conquer her pain. Twelve years later, Eve dances with bloody feet, spars, and shoots under the tutelage of Nogi. One day, Eve hears fellow ballerinas whispering about the Baba Yaga, and she runs to the hallway to catch a glimpse of the legend (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). She summons the courage to talk to him after he gets a brand to close his ticket. Eve asks John how to get out. He reminds her that the front door doesn’t have a lock. However, Eve corrects John’s assumption. She doesn’t want to get out of the Ruska Roma. She wants to get out of training and into killing. John looks into her eyes and sees she’s already there. John tells her to train harder, but warns her to get out while she still can.
Eve impresses the Director and gets her first assignment. She succeeds and becomes a full-fledged member of the family. After finishing her latest contract, Eve collects her bounty, gathers her knives from corpses, and calmly exits the club. She gets in her car and drives away, but an assassin slams into her vehicle. Eve battles the killer and spots the X etched into his wrist. She cuts off his hand and brings it to the Director. The Director tells Eve to forget the past because these assassins don’t follow the rules. She will cause chaos by seeking revenge.
Eve travels to the Continental and gives Charon her gold coin. However, she isn’t staying for the night. She wants to talk to Winston. Winston stands in awe of the woman before him. For the first time, someone tells Eve the truth. The assassins aren’t a tribe like the Ruska Roma. They are a cult. Unlike the families, they kill for money and sport. They can use the network because everyone fears them. Eve demands their location, but Winston doesn’t know where they are. He knows a member of the cult, Daniel Pine, is staying at another Continental. He gives Eve the location and warns her to keep business off the property. Eve is on a mission to kill the man who murdered her father, and she will go against the Ruska Roma to do it.
This movie epitomizes cinematic beauty while following the John Wick format (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). Eve is a sweet, unassuming girl spending time with Javier on the beach. Then, she loses the most significant entity in her life. Unlike John, this emotional wound festers for years. Then, one-liners, callbacks, and fights fill the plot. The combat scenes have magnificent choreography. However, the editing is too jittery. This choice hid the stunt doubles, but it becomes dizzying. Nonetheless, the enjoyable and unique battles play into Eve’s strengths. You won’t forget the flamethrower showdown. The film never sexualizes Eve. She doesn’t try to seduce anyone, sleep with anyone, or flirt to get out of a situation. She is an assassin with contracts to close. Her muted clothes are tactical. It’s refreshing to see a dangerous woman complete a mission without secondary nonsense. She isn’t quietly searching for love and trying to maintain a romantic relationship. She does her job and exits quietly. This installment can grow, but it needs the proper writers, costume and set designers, and choreography. This film is better in IMAX.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars
Fight like a girl – Nogi
This isn’t done til you’re dead – Eve
Fate is a very humbling thing – Chancellor
Can I be frank – Frank
Is he expecting you? – Chorn
Take your hand with you – Director
I’d like to be honest with you. Will that be all right? – Winston
It wasn’t just a puppy – John
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