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All thanks to stunt coordinators and performers David Leitch and Chad Stahelski (founders of action outfit, 87Eleven), Reeves has final...

All thanks to stunt coordinators and performers David Leitch and Chad Stahelski (founders of action outfit, 87Eleven), Reeves has finally found a character that redefined his flagging career. Forgive his almost soulless appearance in 47 Ronin, you want a badass Keanu Reeves action vehicle, you have it in John Wick. The script by the little known Derek Kolstad reeks of minimalism. It's purely a lazy action movie, one that frankly never pushes beyond the boundary. Yet somehow it works under the hands of Leitch and Stahelski and the casting of our leading man.

With hardly a lull, Keanu Reeves plays a mysterious ex-assassin, a man so powerful at his craft that people jitters at the mere mention of his name. However, Wick decides to retire after his wife fell sick and after the death of his beloved partner, devoted his time to care for his pet dog – the last gift given by his late wife. Unfortunately, the son of a Russian mobster, Iosef (Alfie Allen) punctuates Wick's quiet life after he took a fancy to Wick's Ford Mustang. Isoef ambushed Wick at his home in the middle of the night, took his muscle car and gasp killed his dog. The ruthless act trigger the anger back in Wick and what follows is the ultimate revenge against those who are hired to stop him from killing Iosef and the target himself.

Besides the laugh- out-loud sardonic humour, the world of thugs, assassins in John Wick is much more than mere clichéd tough Russian mobsters, a promising setup for more sequels to come. Killers stayed in a luxurious hotel and they trade using only gold coins. A specialized crew is hired to clean up crime scenes and disposing the bodies. There are rules to abide with and everyone in this world comes with a price.

Reeves literally emulates cool in this movie and does it with such confidence, that we don't even doubt the character...even when he kills countless bad guys with extreme force in some utterly ridiculous and implausible situations. We don't doubt it for a minute. This is EXACTLY what you want out of an action movie. It is briskly paced, brilliantly shot and meticulously choreographed and keeps you wanting more and more. The supporting cast filled with the likes of Michael Nyqvist, John Legiuzamo, Ian McShane, and Willen Dafoe also keeps this movie very interesting.

Overall, John Wick is slick, violent fun that turns into a remarkable, surprising movie that will catch you off guard. It is THAT good. I highly recommend this movie to action buffs especially but I'm sure those who just like a good movie will love it as well.

Minus one member after the departure of Gwil Sainsbury in January of this year, alt-J have followed their Mercury Award winning albu...

Minus one member after the departure of Gwil Sainsbury in January of this year, alt-J have followed their Mercury Award winning album An Awesome Wave with more of the same gentle, formulaic sound that is not a big step away from their first album, and nor has it needed to be. This is partly because most of the songs were written whilst bassist Sainsbury was still a member with the exception of the first single ‘Hunger Of The Pine.’

Their first album was positively received by critics and listeners, leaving fans with high expectations for their new album. “This is All Yours” did not fail to capture the experimental art essence of the band. Alt-J tests new sounds and techniques such as using a track sampling of Miley Cyrus’ “4×4” in the evocative “Hunger of the Pine” track and the staggering vocals on the lovely “Warm Foothills” track. The use of traditional instruments such as flutes, bells, and orchestral strings alongside synthesizers and bold percussion is prominent in the album. Alt-J still used the magical fluidity of Newman’s voice and the creative genius behind the band in this new venture.

Listening through the album the first time, I felt the same awe as I did with their first album. As I went back to listen through the album again, I began to fall in love with the ethereal quality of it. Starting off with “Intro,” alt-J gives a representation of what’s to come in the album: strong synthesizers, layered vocals, solid percussion, and twinkling guitar riffs. The album takes us through a tortuous path from the divine to the heavy that remain sardonic and mystical. There were many memorable songs on this album that harken back to their roots yet remain new. Each track presents this light yet primal quality about it through a labyrinth of sounds.

“Left Hand Free” follows as another single on the album, and this track is arguably where the album lets down in comparison. Supposedly, this track is meant to be a joke about how they were recommended to make music that would be popular on the radio. It’s meant to have a pop rock sound, but alt-J isn’t a generic pop-indie rock band. It feels out of place next to the mesmerizing “Every Other Freckle” and the pan-flute instrumental “Garden of England.” It’s not a terrible song, but it is not cohesive to the rest of the album.

“This is All Yours” is a hauntingly beautiful album that may not be as perfect as “An Awesome Wave” was, but comes so close. Some tracks like “Left Hand Free” may make the album feel disjointed, but it does not take off from the amazing experience of the album. Alt-J took their distinctive sound and tinkered with various elements that was eerily familiar yet disorienting and innovative.