John Wick

Yep. One of my bug bears with the translation for that bit is the swap of Baba Yaga to the Boogeyman, because that's one of the few Russian things I personally don't need translating. I've known of Baba Yaga for years, like.

Yeah Viggo says he's "the one you send to kill the fucking boogeyman" but other characters (namely Iosef and Kiril) seem to latch on his Red Baron as "The Boogeyman". As for the discrepancy between the fact Baba Yaga doesn't mean "boogeyman" (that'd be the word Booka) and instead refers to a specific character in Eastern European folklore, I always assumed it's because Americans don't really have an equivalent for a Baba Yaga Wicked Witch (which may also be a pun here given the character's named John Wick) character in folklore, so Viggo scrambled the translation with "the Boogeyman", the most analogous figure.

Also, while we're on Wickian philosophical musings: The film also has an interesting relationship with color. Wick is represented by shades of blue, while Viggo is represented by shades of red, while all the good things in Wick's life are represented by shades of gold.

Observe the Red Circle shoot-out. Every time Wick has the upper hand the light is blue, but whenever tables turn, the lights tend to be primarily red. In the beginning there's even a moment where a random mook of Viggo's is in red light saying "All clear" but the moment he steps into blue light Wick murders him, highlighting the color contrast. When Kiril grapples with Wick the light starts to blare red again, when Wick is tearing a bloody path through the Dance Floor the light is blue, so forth.

There's a recurring grey and black to hint death as well. The final battle with Viggo is almost devoid of color to highlight the impending doom that is about to arrive as is the Continental hotel to signify itss a goddamn assassin's guild and so it goes.

Well, Viggo says (paraphrasing):

• Viggo: "We called him Baba Yaga"
• Iosef: "The boogeyman?"
• Viggo: "Not the Boogeyman, the one you send to kill the fucking Boogeyman."

So he didn't misinterpret it, John's nickname is the Baba Yaga. Even though he's the one sent to kill Baba Yaga. Which is odd.

Personally (and this is speaking as someone familiar with Baba Yaga) I don't mind them translating it to Boogeyman. Baba Yaga is pretty obscure, and The Boogeyman fits really well in that "they're both stories told to kids to keep them from misbehaving because otherwise this monster will come for them."

So a viral site has been released. It's like a in-universe online magazine of the Continental, dealing with the Assassin lifestyle. In the January issue we have several things, but most importantly the magazine sheds light on:

• Common's character is called "Cassian" and he's the Consummate Professional fiercely loyal bodyguard of a female mobster Diana D'Antonnio. He's apparently both highly lethal and a fairly nice guy as long as you don't mess with his employer, in which case he will end you. He's apparently a excellent make-up artist and hair-dresser, as well as a expert on gin (in the "Professional Courtesy: Cassian" session). PS: Keeping up with the theological motifs, Cassian is a name associated with Christian saints: one who was stabbed to death by his own students due being a Christian, one who who was an ascetic monk known for his mystic writings who pioneered the Christian monasticism ideal, and St. Marcellus the Centurion a.k.a the Cassian, a martyed centurion soldier of the Empire.

• Aurelio retrieved and repaired John's Cool Car from the first movie and gave it back to John (in the "Getaway Car Showdown" article, which is actually written by Aurelio).

• In a minor tangent: The magazine seems to confirm John Wick's alias is "The Boogeyman" as well as "Baba Yaga".

The february issue will have part 2 of the John Wick interview and I'm going to guess a profile on some other of the movie's antagonists (Ares or the Bowler King, most likely).

Some pretty cool marketing.

edited 14th Jan '17 11:57:20 AM by Gaon

That is a really neat site.

Man, these films rival Mad Max: Fury Road in terms of how they worldbuild and use allusions without any length exposition, instead showing rather than telling.

Anybody seen the "supercut" summary of the first film from Lionsgate? It's cut to the 1812 Overture and absolutely brilliant.

I am so excited for the sequel.

I've read from someone that saw the advance screening that it's not as good as the first one and that it had less heart.

The first half is bad but the second half is great.

edited 19th Jan '17 11:14:15 PM by MadSkillz

Not surprising. Didn't feel like the first one had as much hype/advertising around it.

I can't find anywhere any opinions on people who saw the advanced screenings, so I'm hoping it's a isolated phenomena.

It's also not surprising, the first movie's charm is partly the strange little film it is (what with the quasi-supernatural hitman world and everyone being horrified of the main hero) and a lot of it is harder to replicate in a second film. Like the concept of everyone being utterly terrified of John Wick is harder to keep up without getting old, and the Assassin world isn't as exciting to see now that we are delving more into its depths.

That said, I have faith in Stahelski and Leitch.

Yeah, on principle alone I more or less cannot see how the sequel could be as good as the original. Not only was John Wick near-flawlessly executed, a lot of its charm came from its one-offness.

I don't think it's impossible to do a solid sequel though, I just think they need to follow the route of Alien and Aliens. Which means, being two completely different films with different methods and goals. First Alien is a slow-paced borderline Lovecraftian suspense, second is more of a action-packed military Heinlian-ish action-horror. They take different approaches to the subject, basically.

John Wick being its charming revenge movie, John Wick 2 should naturally flee from that as far as possible. Not killing his dog a second time is a good start. In my opinion, John Wick 2 should be framed not unlike a Samurai period epic movie, being about the clash of clans and lords and their minions, except in a world of assassins. Instead of being about revenge, it could center more on the honor of the assassin world, have every character be bound by a blood oath to someone or something. Have it all have a sort of tragic feel because all of them are so blindly bound by Honor Before Reason.

If the first movie explored revenge and the viciousness of the assassin world, I want a second to show its more civilized side. That should keep it as a different beast.

edited 20th Jan '17 2:34:56 PM by Gaon

I'd also be interested in seeing them explore more of the world without necessarily featuring John Wick himself. In my opinion, the underworld and its movers, shakers, and denizens caught in the middle could be a fascinating enough setting and you could tell all sorts of stories in it.

What I've heard is that the villain is weak but that the world-building of assassin world is great and the best part.

Also that the action gets really good in the second half.

edited 25th Jan '17 12:32:00 AM by MadSkillz

A prequel tv series is being considered.[1]

Starring Keanu Reeves in his most underpaid role yet, right?

And there goes the neighborhood.

(If anybody here ever ends up in charge or part of some large entertainment, television company/show-writing team, please know that I, random person on the internet of sound mind and body, do proclaim that I absolutely hate it when a film becomes a TV series, that prequels generally suck - Twelve Monkeys and The Hobbit excluded - and that most video games do not need to be adapted into movies nowadays)

edited 31st Jan '17 5:38:22 PM by Soble

I think Man of Tai Chi is probably his most underpaid role, since I'm pretty sure he spent money on that one.

Wait, you actually liked The Hobbit movies?!? I mean, more power to you but... not a common opinion.

edited 31st Jan '17 1:36:18 PM by Larkmarn

Reviews are coming in for Chapter 2. It's 95% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes currently.

edited 7th Feb '17 6:33:14 PM by higherbrainpattern

Keanu being 50 still blows my mind. He has aged phenomenally.

Hmm. I will save reading the reviews for the film until I have seen it.

Which will be as close to release date in the pictures (what old fart Scots like me call the cinema) as my Showcase Cinema Insider card will let me.

Who listens to Rotten Tomatoes anyway? Word of mouth and personal experience will always be superior.

Lots of people do? Rotten Tomatoes aggregates movie reviews from all over.

It's scores are a good indicator of overall movie quality IMO.

I don't think Rotten Tomatoes is the word of god, but you gotta realize Rotten Tomatoes effectively works as a more official form of "word of mouth". It's not uncommon for people in a rush, unfamiliar with the movies on the theater, to check RT to decide which movie to watch. If they see a giant 96% critical acclaim notice, that'll give them a good tip.

Also, the viral site released its second issue. This issue has part 2 of the John Wick interview, an article on what cocktails go best with which guns (done by the guy who says "Mr. Wick...do enjoy your party" in the trailers, who's apparently called The Master Sommelier), tips on suit maintenance and styling with Wick himself, personal profiles on Ares (Ruby Rose's mute assassin) and The Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne's character) and an article on the Continental.

Relevant info this issue brings:

• The John Wick interview has the interviewer ask him where his dog his. Wick just says "in a place no one can hurt him". Guess he learned.

• According to the Master Sommelier, several of the most distinguished members of the Continental are former IRA.

• Ares is Shrouded in Myth, but apparently she hails from Campania and may have worked for the Camorra Crime Syndicate. Has killed people across three continents, but is currently operating out of New York.

• Trademark Favorite Food comes up again. John Wick's Blanton's bourbon, Cassian's gin cocktails, Ares is Bocchino Riserva a highly fancy type of Champagne cocktail.

• John Wick has a new suit lined with ceramic disks which makes it almost bulletproof.

• The Continental spans five continents (so basically the entire globe) and has properties in most major cities. Among them are New York, Rome, London and Tokyo (which makes me imagine a John Wick anime).

• Their newest property is located in Mexico City.

• Winston says Ms. Perkins died "of an acute headache".

• The Bowery King is a giant question mark, but he's immensely powerful and has a vast network of spies. He's not a member of the Continental but bears heavy influence upon it. The profile cryptically mentions he has "a famous scar" on his neck.

edited 8th Feb '17 3:09:47 PM by Gaon

The guns and drinks section seems to have a few mistakes. The AK-12 section shows an M4, and the P 30 L section shows what appears to be a Glock with a custom slide.

Rotten Tomatoes being a gauge for word of mouth is a good description, an indication of entertainment value. It's the idea that the percentage point is a reflection of actual quality that becomes a problem, IE a movie with 85 has a better script than a 70, or is better directed, etc. By that logic the '09 Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness should have been up for best picture, and it's amusing that Star Trek Beyond got a significantly lower RT score but a large number of people call it the better movie of all three.

In this specific case, John Wick has a rudimentary script but well focused direction, characters and expert stunt work. And the truth is that without the budget to show crowd pleasing space battles and superhero fights, a small action movie with a 90's RT score make it a more impressive thing.