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Keanu Reeves experienced a resurgence in his acting career through the “John Wick” movie series, which is filled with excessive, high-octane violence featuring gun-fu and an array of action sequences involving weapons. In this franchise, Reeves portrays the main character, John Wick, a retired assassin who works for the High Table. After breaking one of their strict rules, he becomes the target of his former employers in the series. By the fourth installment, “John Wick: Chapter 4,” the format had evolved into a style reminiscent of Buster Keaton’s action sequences, leading some to question the realism depicted in the film.

In a new take, we can say that Reeves put in great effort to execute numerous choreographed fight sequences personally and honed his skills to carry out the moves effectively. This was further facilitated by director Chad Stahelski, a former stuntman, who has an understanding of what is feasible for these films’ large-scale action scenes, making it a captivating cinematic journey. Now, a retired Navy SEAL is set to analyze John Wick: Chapter 4 and assess the film’s accuracy in portraying its fight scenes.

Navy SEAL Expert Calls John Wick 4 Exciting But Inaccurate

DJ Shipley Served 17 Years In The Military

As a film enthusiast with a background as a former Navy SEAL serving for 17 years, I bring a unique perspective to analyzing action movies, having mastered various combat techniques during my military career. Recently, I shared my insights on diverse action flicks such as “The Beekeeper,” “Sicario: Day of the Soldado,” “Nobody,” and “John Wick: Chapter 4” (and others) in a video discussion. In this analysis, I distinguished between what is grounded in reality and what can be attributed to movie magic in these films’ fight scenes.

Instead of being fascinated by discussing the massive stair battle scene from John Wick that took place in Paris, he was more focused on analyzing the close-quarter fight sequences. As a professional who specializes in knowledge transfer for tactical training companies, Shipley has a deep understanding of what works and doesn’t work in actual combat situations. In the fourth installment of John Wick, he examines the scene set in the room filled with mirrors.

As a cinephile, let me tell you, nothing is more daunting than charging headlong into a room packed with twelve adversaries. The best strategy, in my opinion, is to dash along the longest wall upon entering, make a right turn, and stay close to one of them throughout, using their shoulder as a shield. You see, I can perform attack-reload moves, ensuring I don’t fire away an empty magazine. Instead, I’m swiftly moving from one cover point to another – slide, lock, reload, drop, insert a fresh mag, and get back in the action. It’s all done with just one hand.
He swiftly stabs the man with the knife, performs a John Wick-like move, disables the safety locks on a new door, all while acting as if the massive ninja-like figure lurking behind him won’t interfere. The problem is, even with a bulletproof suit, if I fire a 9mm at you, it will still send you tumbling to the ground.
As a film enthusiast, I must admit that in this particular scene, John doesn’t seem to be following traditional shooting techniques. He casually dons his coat and obscures his face before letting off rounds without a clear target or sight alignment. It appears he’s more focused on getting bullets flying rather than hitting anything specific. This reckless approach might seem haphazard, but it seems to be John’s preferred style in the midst of our relentless foes, who lurk within the confines of apartment buildings. In a fight against assassins with limited ammunition, one can hardly afford to ‘wing it.’ Yet, somehow, John makes it work.

What This Means For John Wick

John Wick Was Never Meant To Be Realistic

Everything the ex-Navy SEAL stated holds truth, and many of the actions John Wick performs in his movies are implausible in reality. In fact, it’s probable that John Wick would have met his end in his first movie on more than one occasion, regardless of any bulletproof attire he might wear. Yet, that is not the essence of the John Wick series. Upon examining statements made by director Chad Stahelski, it’s evident that he draws inspiration from classic silent comedy films just as much as action movies.

According to Shipley, the elements in John Wick: Chapter 4 are designed to be implausible, such as bulletproof garments and shooting without aim yet hitting targets. He acknowledges that the appeal lies in watching John Wick battle villains, getting battered and bruised, but always emerging victorious. Essentially, John Wick is a film that people watch to savor the violence, and Shipley understands that while these fights aren’t grounded in reality, that’s not what makes the Keanu Reeves series so beloved.

2025-05-29 22:19

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