In recent years, cinematic chains have turned into integrated worlds, from which subsequent and previous stories are branched, in addition to side tales that deepen the audience’s experience or have a previous success. Among a wave of works that seem to be purely commercial, attempts are sometimes appearing attempts to stop, as they offer a real addition to her narrative world.
Among these attempts, “Ballerina”, the latest extension of the famous action world “John Wake” (John Wick), whose imprint has established through 4 films that redefine cinematic battles. The film, directed by Lin Wizmann and written by Hatin tea, starring Anna de Armas and Keano Reeves, is seeking to present a new story within this world, mixing deadly elegance and kinetic excitement.
The world of “Balirina” and a difference from all action films
The movie “Balirina” is classified as “Interquel”, as it takes place within the same world for the “John Week” series, but in a period of time between the third and fourth parts, which gives it a relatively independent independence while maintaining its interconnection in the original series.
The story revolves around a new character, Yves Makkar, who is later known as the “Palmerina”, and plays the role of Anna de Armas. We initially see her a child who escaped with her father from a mysterious gang, later succeeding in killing him, before he saved her and Annon (Ian McChen) and takes her to the Roma gang Rome; It is a mysterious organization that combines ballet training with martial arts, to create murdered girls working as elitist guards for those who have money and power.
As expected, Eve grows up and endures the intention of revenge for her father, but she does not even know the identity of his killer. During one of her duties, she recognizes that they belong to a obsessed group whose members reside in an unknown location. A peace treaty between the group and the Roma gang is found, so if they attack them, it will lose the protection of the gang, which it considers as a family.
The “John Week” cinematic world is distinguished from traditional action films that it does not strictly present a conflict between good and evil, as there are no ordinary personalities, but wars between different groups of very professional killers. However, the series has its own moral link: for example, John Wake (Keano Reeves) a long criminal history, but the audience identifies with him because he defends his existence and life against the killers who eliminated his dog that his deceased wife left for. The audience sympathizes with Yves even as she slaughtered her enemies in cold blood. These enemies are aggressors trying to kill or kidnap their clients, or they are the killers of her father who deserve to be exterminated from their father’s ball.
In addition to this different moral balance, the criminal “John Week” world has a distinctive structure, as it is not just gangs fighting and interferes in the areas of influence each other, but rather it is very similar to families that have their own rules, which members owe to them with complete loyalty, and they are subject to their laws, even very strict ones.
Roma Rome appeared before in “John Week” films, and it was so much that she gave her a greater chance in “Ballerina”, as she is the family that embraces the young Eve, gains her skills, works to refine her nature, and tries to protect her even from her revenge nature.
No guests of honor but active personalities
The extensive chains films were dominated by the emergence of previous films as guests of honor in short scenes, to play the nostalgia for these films, which is a tradition devoted by Marvel films and followed by many of the following films. However, “Balirina” decided to deviate from this tradition in a way that explains the extent of respect for the filmmakers of this cinematic world, and their respect for their viewers.
The spectators expected the star Keano Reeves to appear in a snapshot or two at the end of the movie, with famous characters from the series such as Winston and Sharon (Lance Redic). However, here they were the main parts of the plot, befitting with the characters to which it was excellent in the series.
Winston Eve takes under his wing, as he does with many of the characters he considers “Sharifa” in this criminal world, while Eve looks forward to John Wake, like the highest, he managed to defeat different criminal families with his intelligence and his fighting combat capabilities in it. The film makers near the end added another chapter to John Wake’s character in harmony with the film’s events smoothly.
However, the most important lovers of “John Wake” films in the movie “Balirina” is action scenes, which are one of the most prominent advantages of the original series. Here, the filmmakers did not disappoint their hopes, despite the relatively long boot at the beginning of the movie, after which there were very distinctive motor sequences, whether in terms of photography, the exploitation of lighting and decorations, or the design of the fighting scenes themselves. Indeed, the film gave these sequences more bloody than in the usual “John Week” films.
On the other hand, since the first action scenes, the physical effort made by actress Anna de Armas has made, and lengthy training to enhance her ability to present these shots in an excellent way. Rather, the film makers used the heroine, and according to the film’s plot, a ballet dancer, which made action sequences very similar to graceful and impressive bloody reviews.
The “John Week” series deserves to be extended, as it gives its fans what they aspire to every time, and “Ballerina” is not different from the other series films in that, to become one of the best action films for the year 2025 so far.