LEWM: "JOHN WICK" ESL LESSON

 

ARCENAL STUDIOS presents LEARNING ENGLISH WITH MOVIES: JOHN WICK - a video lesson for ESL students who would like to improve their English skills by using MOVIES as the main topic.

 

 

JOHN WICK

 

John Wick is a 2014 action thriller starring Keanu Reeves as the title character. It was directed by Chad Stahelski, in his directorial debut.

 

The film was co directed by David Leitch, who would later direct ‘Atomic Blonde’, ‘Deadpool 2’ and ‘Hobbs and Shaw’. Stahelski and Leitch had worked together as stunt coordinators and stuntmen. In fact, they had previously worked with Keanu Reeves as stunt doubles in the MATRIX TRILOGY films.

 

A STUNT is an unusual or difficult feat requiring great skill or daring especially one performed for a film or TV show.

 

A STUNTMAN is a man or woman responsible for performing dangerous stunts that could harm or injure the principal actors.

 

Many credit JOHN WICK’s incredible action sequences to the directors’ experience with dangerous stunts.

 

Keanu Reeves also prepared extensively in order to perform many of the stunts in the film himself. In fact, he trained for months on several martial arts, firearm techniques and extreme driving in order to prepare for the ‘jaw dropping’ action sequences.

 

JAW DROPPING means something so amazing that it literally makes you open your mouth and drop your jaw in disbelief.

 

The film used fight choreographers and "gun fu" techniques from Hong Kong action cinema.

 

“GUN FU” is a term used in film to describe heavily and carefully choreographed gun play resulting on beautiful, yet unrealistic shootouts.

 

The best examples of GUN FU can be seen in Hong Kong action films; especially by directors such as JOHN WOO. Films such as THE KILLER and HARD BOILED have been credited as a huge influences on the film.

 

The film was a commercial and financial success, spawning 2 more sequels. John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick 3: Parabellum. A fourth John Wick film is currently in the works and is scheduled for release in 2022.

 

To SPAWN means to cause (something) to develop or begin.

 

The film centers on a retired professional HIT MAN named John Wick, who after the death of his wife from a terminal illness, decides to adopt a puppy from her.

 

A HITMAN is an assassin for hire, usually paid by a criminal or political organization.

 

A HIT, in this context, is an informal way of saying assassination.

 

The puppy helps him cope with the loss of his wife as he slowly tries to get his life back together.  They develop a special bond that allows him to heal emotionally since the puppy is the only thing left of his former life with his wife. He also finds comfort in his car, a Ford Mustang  Mach 1.

 

To COPE means to deal with a difficult situation.

 

One day, a group of thugs see John Wick at a gas station and one of them is so impressed by his car that he offers to buy it. However, John Wick refuses the offer, much to the thug’s dismay and drives away.

 

A THUG is a violent person, especially a criminal.

 

DISMAY means consternation and distress, typically that caused by something unexpected.

 

In this context, the thug is disappointed and surprised by John’s refusal.

 

That night, the thugs break into his house to steal his car. In the process, they beat up John Wick and kill his puppy.

 

To BEAT UP means to assault and injure someone by hitting, kicking, or punching them repeatedly.

 

In the movie, John Wick is badly beaten by the thugs, but manages to survive. Iosef, the Russian thug, takes the stolen car to a car shop ran by Aurelio, played by John Leguizamo.

 

Aurelio identifies John Wick’s car and tells Iosef’s father, Viggo, the head of a Russian mafia what happened.

 

Viggo, who had hired John Wick in the past, refers to him as the “Baba Yaga”, a feared supernatural spirit in Russian culture.

 

Well aware of John Wick’s reputation and fearing retaliation, Viggo offers a bounty on John Wick’s head.

 

A BOUNTY is a sum paid for killing or capturing a person or animal.

 

The most deadly assassins are sent to kill John Wick, who then uses all his amazing deadly skills to the test in order to not only stay alive but also seek revenge over the death of his puppy.

 

In his quest for revenge he would be assisted by Winston, the manager of the Continental Hotel, a safe haven for deadly assassins like John Wick.

 

A HAVEN is a place of safety or refuge.

 

The Continental Hotel is a safe haven for assassins because one of their rules is not to kill anyone on the premises.

 

In this context, the PREMISES are the building or place of business.

 

By the end of the film, John Wick manages to get his revenge but as a result, a bounty on his head draws every assassin in the city to go after him.

 

In the sequel JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2, the story continues right from the moment the first film ends.