David Leitch co-directed John Wick before directing Atomic Blonde, and based on the trailers that were released there was a definite comparison in terms of the action scenes.
I love John Wick, it's action scenes are superb and the quality of the film overall is excellent. However, if John Wick is a perfect solo violin performance, Atomic Blonde is that solo violin with a perfect concerto on top.
Seriously, aside from the obviously great action scenes, which just goes to show how it's done in terms of quality over cheap thrills, Atomic Blonde improves the one thing that holds John Wick back: its plot.
Let's face it: for all of John Wick's technical greatness, the plot was a little shallow at times. Not so for Atomic Blonde, which populates the screen with rich and layered characters even beyond Charlize Theron and James McAvoy's awesome performances. I would single out Sofia Boutella, who if you were let down by her turn as the latest Mummy, will be genuinely surprised at how compelling she can be as an actress.
The plot, in short, revolves around spy craft in Cold War Berlin, with the events framed in the week before the Berlin Wall was opened. A crucial bit of information has fallen into unwanted hands, information that would be devastating if it got out, and Theron's character Lorraine is sent in to retrieve it by any means necessary.
However, not all is as it seems, and that is as far as this summary will go, because the previews for Atomic Blonde gave very little indication as to what direction the plot would go, instead banking on the awesome action scenes. I'll admit, I went into this expecting somewhat shallow plot but great action, and I was better off for it and you will be too.
Seriously, AVOID SPOILERS before seeing this film, you will be rewarded.
If there are any faults to this film, I would have to point to the soundtrack, for while it is a great collection of '80s era songs, it almost goes into Suicide Squad-levels of overboard, at one point a new song is played every couple of minutes. Most of the times it worked, but it toed the line in spots.
Nevertheless, in the category of movies that blew my mind, just for surpassed expectations, this film rockets to the top of the list.
I love John Wick, it's action scenes are superb and the quality of the film overall is excellent. However, if John Wick is a perfect solo violin performance, Atomic Blonde is that solo violin with a perfect concerto on top.
Seriously, aside from the obviously great action scenes, which just goes to show how it's done in terms of quality over cheap thrills, Atomic Blonde improves the one thing that holds John Wick back: its plot.
Let's face it: for all of John Wick's technical greatness, the plot was a little shallow at times. Not so for Atomic Blonde, which populates the screen with rich and layered characters even beyond Charlize Theron and James McAvoy's awesome performances. I would single out Sofia Boutella, who if you were let down by her turn as the latest Mummy, will be genuinely surprised at how compelling she can be as an actress.
The plot, in short, revolves around spy craft in Cold War Berlin, with the events framed in the week before the Berlin Wall was opened. A crucial bit of information has fallen into unwanted hands, information that would be devastating if it got out, and Theron's character Lorraine is sent in to retrieve it by any means necessary.
However, not all is as it seems, and that is as far as this summary will go, because the previews for Atomic Blonde gave very little indication as to what direction the plot would go, instead banking on the awesome action scenes. I'll admit, I went into this expecting somewhat shallow plot but great action, and I was better off for it and you will be too.
Seriously, AVOID SPOILERS before seeing this film, you will be rewarded.
If there are any faults to this film, I would have to point to the soundtrack, for while it is a great collection of '80s era songs, it almost goes into Suicide Squad-levels of overboard, at one point a new song is played every couple of minutes. Most of the times it worked, but it toed the line in spots.
Nevertheless, in the category of movies that blew my mind, just for surpassed expectations, this film rockets to the top of the list.