AlthoughFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerinahasn’t hit theaters yet, fans of theJohn Wickfranchise can watch another action movie with the same name right now. 2023’sBallerinahas nothing to do with theJohn Wickfranchise, but the Korean revenge thriller could still appeal to its fans. Ever since the firstJohn Wickmovie in 2014, there have been scores of imitators trying to replicate the same punchy style of action. Only a few of theseJohn Wickclonesare actually worth watching, and even fewer stack up to the scintillating power of the original.
John Wick’sBallerinahas been in the works for some time, and it’s just one of several spinoffs which are planned for the future. With Keanu Reeves reprising his role alongside Ana de Armas, there will at least be some continuity with the four main movies that the franchise has delivered so far. The story ties into the Ruska Roma, a shadowy criminal syndicate which shares a deep connection with John. By pure coincidence, an underrated Netflix thriller from 2023 shares the same name, as well as some story details and a love of dynamic fight scenes.
2023’s Ballerina Is Streaming On Netflix - What The Movie Is About
Ballerina Follows A Mysterious Woman On A Quest For Revenge
Ballerinastars Jeon Jong-seo as Ok-ju, a former bodyguard with a mysterious past who seeks revenge after her best friend is blackmailed by a criminal organization. The friend - who it’s implied might also be Ok-ju’s lover - is the titular ballerina, until her life is cut short. Her dying wish is for Ok-ju to get revenge on those who destroyed her life, but Ok-ju soon stumbles onto an even broader criminal conspiracy, and she plots to topple the entire system.Her combat skills go far beyond what a normal bodyguard would be capable of, suggesting that she could really have experience as an assassin.
In some ways,Ballerinais a standard revenge thriller, cashing in on the action genre trend of badass women enacting violent justice. However, this doesn’t make it any less entertaining, andit’s the execution that really makesBallerinaworth watching. Its fight scenes are wonderfully choreographed, but they’re also shot in consistently surprising ways, using a combination of overhead shots, close-up action and sharp camera movements to create a vibrant but aesthetically clean style. The worldbuilding and the story are also commendable, and they help to elevateBallerina’s ordinary elements.
How 2023’s Ballerina Compares To John Wick’s Ballerina
There Are A Few Similarities Between The Two Movies
It’s impossible to get a full picture ofFrom the World of John Wick: Ballerinauntil it’s released, but the trailer reveals a few details which are similar to 2023’sBallerina.Of course, the now-iconicJohn Wickstyle of fighting is one thing that the movies share, although 2023’sBallerinaisn’t a direct copy. Both movies feature young women with incredible fighting skills, and the trailer forBallerinashows Ana de Armas both using guns and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.The neon-soaked aesthetic which has colored theJohn Wickfranchise is also a feature of bothBallerinamovies.
LikeJohn Wick,theBallerinaspinoff also appears to be a revenge story, as de Armas' Eve tries to take down the people who killed her family. Of course, this echoes Ok-ju’s revenge mission in 2023’sBallerina,although it was her friend who took her own life, rather than her family being murdered.One key difference between the two movies is that Ok-ju isn’t a ballerina at all, while Eve is part of the Ruska Roma, who train assassins using their dance academy as cover. It seems as though this will allowBallerinato have elements of dance in its fight scenes, just like the 2023 movie.
The parallels between the twoBallerinamovies only go so far, since theJohn Wickversion has a considerably higher budget, which means bigger international stars and probably more action. However, this makes 2023’sBallerinaa perfect appetizer for fans of theJohn Wickfranchise.Ballerinaends with Ok-ju setting out on a new mission to liberate the other women being blackmailed by the syndicate, having taken on the mantle of “TheBallerina”. Whether a sequel comes to pass or not,2023’sBallerinais a perfect companion piece to the newest entry in theJohn Wickfranchise.
