Page 40 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 150

40 Issue #150 July 2025 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

Eve of Destruction

By Nikolai Adams

his is not the first time this is
Tbeing said here. . . but there is
no denying that the James Bond
franchise, which is one of my
favourites, has been outplayed by
other action franchises over the past
few decades. With No Time To Die
(2021), a glorious door opened wide
with Ana De Armas. . . after a twelve
minute cameo from the actress as
Paloma got the fandom going crazy
– a perfect avenue for a female
spinoff as fans were clamoring for
more. Outmaneuvered once again,
it was not the Bond producers that
speedily green lit a new production,
but one of their main rivals who Photo Submitted
signed the actress up for an action
saga with: From the World of John
Wick: Ballerina (2025), directed
by Len Wiseman and co-written by Chapter 4). Providing a bird’s eye Of course, without giving too much always, the cinematography is
action guru scribe Derek Kolstad view of how the female fighters train away, Eve, perhaps named after a sharp, the acting is edge of your
(who has been involved with the and prepare for a world of violent certain apple eater, breaks a long seat adrenaline pumping, and the
first three John Wick’s, as well as the espionage (not surprisingly, some of peace between rival factions, this all overall product looks slickly stylish
sole penman of Nobody). The other them don’t make it), this enlivens the leading to a European village where thanks to the long and focused takes
writing credit goes to Shay Hatten past narratives while opening up the the hills will be alive. . . though not in showing the commitment of its all-
(who helped with parts three and present and future for new avenues. a sing-song way – that is, unless the in actors (with De Armas following
four of Wick). sound of music is endless weaponry in Reeves’ footsteps by training
Along the way, she’ll not only train going off.
Following in the tradition of many extensively so she could do most of
and fight hard, but bump into some
of the sequels, Ballerina will of course recognizable faces too – including Though arguably ever more her own stunts).
focus heavily on the action, but also outlandish and preposterous, most
the Baba Yaga himself, John Wick Perhaps a bit slow at the start for
opens up the very structured world of (Keanu Reeves), the slick voiced fans of the franchise wouldn’t have some (suffering a touch of what the
these gangs and solo assassins that Continental owner Winston (Ian it any other way. You sometimes most recent Mission: Impossible
are hidden in plain sight. After getting wonder when they are going to run
McShane), trusted manager Charon film dealt with), once the setup and
the story started with a mysterious out of creative ways to do fight storyline hits its footing, Ballerina
man named The Chancellor (Gabriel (Lance Reddick – in his second last scenes. . . two of the stand outs this
screen appearance after sadly passing time round feature the most clever doesn’t slow down. So, see what’s
Byrne – Excalibur; the remake of en pointe in this bountiful action
Assault on Precinct 13), a young Eve away in 2023), as well as a few new usage of grenades through a multi-
(Ana De Armas – Knives Out) finds unknowns – most notably Daniel room arms complex you’ll ever see, extravaganza where the Bond with
herself at the ballerina school run Pine (Norman Reedus – Boondock and a modernized flamethrower Wick becomes ever closer and further
by The Director (Anjelica Huston) Saints; The Walking Dead) – who battle for the ages (clearly trying to at the same time – if nothing else, it
that was seen in Chapter 3 (this is cloistered inside the Prague outdo the ‘dragon’s breath’ shotgun is most certainly an interesting time
movie is set between that one and Continental looking for safety. scene from the 2023 outing). Like in the action genre!