Ballerina

Ballerina is at its impressive best when the bodies are dropping. Rather than follow the well-established rulebook of the John Wick universe, one of the best decisions director Len Wiseman makes is to just have fun with it. The best example comes when Eve goes to a weapons sommelier — a Wick staple — but her meeting gets violently interrupted mid-demonstration in a fight that sees her lob grenades at her attackers. It’s a brilliant subversion of expectations, and a potent example of Eve’s resourcefulness. Indeed, there is a pleasingly rich amount of variety in Ballerina’s action — from flamethrowers to katana swords to ice skates. If there’s a big gun or a sharp object in Eve’s vicinity, chances are it’ll be put to use in short order. Each encounter has that familiar slick Wick choreography that makes it feel like everyone is one wrong move away from getting seriously hurt. That de Armas is doing many of the stunts herself makes proceedings more visceral and compelling, so much so that we don’t miss the presence of Keanu Reeves’ boogeyman.