Many people only view the John Wick series as blockbusters, without actually acknowledging the art elements within it. Here I am, to show you what I have discovered after a John Wick series marathon last week.
Set Decorations
This is the most obvious kind of art element in the movies. Almost every scene was apparently designed and decorated delicately, from John Wick’s cozy house to Marcus’s house, from Gianna D’Antonio’s celebration party to the Bethesda Terrace in the Central Park to the Ruska Roma theatre, and my favorite one is the Continental Hotel (the one in New York). The Hotel combines glamorous and elegance, and contrasts its status (a neutral zone for criminals) with its appearance. We could see its beauty inside out, the doorsteps, lobbies, hallways, the safe room (or armory) where Winston hides, the Glass House, the delicate art of decoration shines power, violence and elegance everywhere.
Apart from locations, the props were finely made as well. We could see there are images and phrases on each side of each gold coin and marker, and the marker has a small needle on the top to let the debtor and debtee make bloody thumbprints by pressing it with their thumb.
Actions
From Chapter 1 to Chapter 3, there were gradually more actions and fighting scenes and less verbal interactions. The art of constant fighting scenes with smooth actions and without unnecessary plots makes the movies look like an action crime video game, the whole movies were so surreal that we, the audience, were like the players of the video games and got the opponents all killed.
Themes
The JW series is filled with themes like order, fealty and consequences, such as no business can be conducted on the Hotel premises, the marker must be honored and one must not kill the holder of the marker, no man is above the High Table, etc. The art of even outlaws is bounded by the rules of the criminal community and nature is contradictory yet fascinating.
World View
The JW universe has its own games and rules, despite the ones mentioned above, there are different services provided within the criminal community. There are underground doctors who helped John Wick stitch up his wounds while the order of excommnicado is coming to in effect, weapons and ammunition supply, tailors, and even cleaning service that cleans up messy bodies and scenes for criminals. There is also an Accounts Payable Department to place orders for contracts (warrants for criminals to kill someone) and other instructions (excommunicado for a member, deconsecrating a building, etc). The art of creating a world that looks like ours yet so different (e.g. almost every person JW passed by are killers) captivates the audience.
With the upcoming Chapter 4 being scheduled to be released in 2022 for the time being (there could be a delay considering the pandemic), let us look forward to more artistic elements throughout the movie and the JW universe.
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