John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (Summit, 5.17) “is a case of bigger but not better,” says a regional film critic pally. “The first Wick was a pleasant surprise. The second one (’17) was fine **, but didn’t really improve on the first.

“Now we have the third, which is so over-the-top it’s actually exhausting. Fight scene after fight scene, some truly gross-out moments (a sword rammed into a bad guy’s eye, heads exploding, etc.), and a body count that’s through the roof (must be something like 200 deaths).”

HE thought: John Wick: 200 Deaths isn’t a bad title.

“The film definitely has a sense of humor, and the sf-like elements (everything regarding the super criminal organization The Table) are fun, but overall the film, while entertaining, is also cringe-worthy. While watching it I couldn’t help thinking that if the action weren’t so obviously preposterous, John Wick 3 would deserve an NC-17 rating. And maybe it still does.

“Maybe the R rating points out, once again, how the MPAA goes soft on violence and hard on sex. All I know is, I wouldn’t want any kid of mine to see this film.”

** In HE’s humble opinion John Wick, Chapter 2 was not fine.