Is the New TV Show "The Continental," a John Wick Prequel, Any Good?
Can the world of an almost magical criminal underworld, with a hotel as the main star, survive without John Wick?
I love the John Wick films.
The story, the drama, the emotions, the scenery… No? Okay, let me try that again. I love the John Wick films, the stunning fight choreography, the always perfect Keanu Reaves, and the satisfaction of taking revenge for the killing of his puppy. Happy? Well, yes, yes, I was. Very much so.
The first film felt so unbelievably right and warm and fuzzy, as Mr. Wick murdered dozens of people in every scene. Justice of the highest order, indeed. They had it coming!
Then, parts two, three, and four happened. Each with less and less story, more world-building, and even more fighting. Yup, it’s like watching some good old kung fu movie from decades ago. I loved those. Did you? I also missed them, as there hasn’t been anything with the same type of martial arts demonstration that would make a kid want to practice the moves on his friends. Ah, the homemade nunchucks and the bruises they left on my ribs. Good times.
Yes, big boys and small girls have been kicking ass on screen, but it was, for the most part, all fake and obviously so. CGI, ridiculous antics, and impossible choreographies made for a fun watch, but I mostly found myself grinding my teeth.
I like the moves in the John Wick films. They make sense (unlike jumping spinning kicks in close corter fighting over the goddamn kitchen table) and look properly rehearsed, as I know they were. Keanu has done his training for the role.
OMG, are you saying John Wicks’s fighting is realistic?
Am, no, but it is a beautiful show of Aikido and armed close courter hand-to-hand wizardry with a twist. That twist is bulletproof suits that look like designer pieces you would swing on for your wedding. In the world of John Wick, they are basically walking, talking tanks, and everybody forgets to shoot them in the head. They have to pull the story forward somehow.
Speaking of the world of John Wick — now that is a star and a story on its own.
A criminal underworld with rules, support structures, specialized currencies, and a string of hotels spanning the globe, where they can rest and hide but can’t do business. The business being killing each other. A safe haven for the murdering elite and their henchmen, where they only have to answer to some higher entity known as “the High Table.”
It is so well made, refined, and stylized that one almost wishes it were true. But you know, for the good guys or something. What are we left with if we keep the same elements of the recipe and leave out John Wick? That is the question, isn’t it?
I’m trying to say more about the story, but I can’t be bothered. I don’t care, and you probably won’t either.
Can this spin-off, prequel, or however you want to call it, stand on its own with entirely new faces?
I think it can. There is enough meat on that stick to continue milking it for some time yet.
So, where does this leave “The Continental: From the World of John Wick?”
As I write this, I have only seen the first episode. Enough to pique my interest but not enough to blow my mind. It is set in the 70s and, as it was apparently a time of music, it is dominated by good tunes. I’m serious. I would watch it for the music alone. Well done on that front!
We follow the life of Winston, the Continentals president from John Wicks’s time before he made a name for himself, played by Colin Woodell. He appears to be an elegant conman, stealing money from the rich in London, whose badass brother drags him back over the pond into the grips of his former kingpin.
There are some side characters whose names I had already forgotten, so they probably aren’t worth mentioning — yet, apart from Cormac, the hotel owner, played by Mel Gibson. I love me some Mel in that charming grey beard of his and the devilish eyes.
I’m trying to say more about the story, but I can’t be bothered. I don’t care, and you probably won’t either. Bad guys, kids from the street, sexy ladies, muscle cars, resentment, and revenge. That should sum it up nicely, and about 50% of all action movies out there. The story is not the point here, nor is the drama, even if it is periodically themed.
I hate plot spoilers and revealing the whole freaking plot in trailers, so I will say this about the story, as it has been set up: “A guy steals something precious from a dangerous criminal overlord, who is now in trouble, and is hunting the man’s brother to retrieve that stolen artifact.” And action!
But, Sir - were there any action scenes worth mentioning?
There were, and some tribute was given to John Wicks's moves, as Franky, the main protagonist's brother, disposes of an army of baddies while making his escape from a daring heist. It was cute, but it doesn’t look like this spin-off will be focusing on that. To say more would be a — you guessed it, spoiler.
I’ll watch The Continental for the action, the music, and delving deeper into that fascinating world of the criminal underground. I miss Keanu, and I’m not sure Colin Woodell will fill those mighty shoes despite his elegance and careless demeanor. The Continental is no John Wick! But I’m willing to give it a shot, and if you liked the John Wick movies, you probably should, too. Just keep your expectations low.
Trailer:
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6486762/
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