Ballerina – REVIEW

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In a sequence of four progressively popular movies, it’s no surprise that we now have the first spin-off film featuring the female assassin, Eve (Ana de Armas), who is also a ballet dancer in this story. This movie also delves into her origin, where as a child, she was drawn into a life of brutal killings under the guidance of a secret society led by the Chancellor, a ruthless and unfeeling figure, seemingly unaffected by the destruction caused by his decisions with lethal outcomes. Interestingly, it’s not Rebecca Reeves impersonating Richard II, but Gabriel Byrne who orchestrates a team storming through a house, seeking Eve’s father. However, he manages to repel them while attempting to safeguard his daughter.

Winston Scott (played by Ian McShane) is no longer part of any family, instead being raised under the care of an enigmatic figure with an indistinct Eastern European accent, referred to as The Director (portrayed by Angelica Huston, who bears a striking resemblance to her character in The Witches). This woman oversees Ruska Roma, a unique ballet school that places equal emphasis on deadly combat skills and elegant pirouettes. Ink-marked at 12 years old, she’s since become a formidable weapon, taking on missions. However, her true desire is to avenge her father’s death, leading her to a snowy village where an army of the Chancellor’s assassins pursue her in much the same way one might react if they discovered Meghan Markle was house hunting in the area.

In this rephrased version:

Len Wiseman, director of Die Hard 4, steers a chaotic action spectacle that, despite being underrated, showcases some of cinema’s most impressive car stunts – like the police car versus helicopter scene. The influence of John Wick’s director and former stuntman, Chad Stahelski, is evident in the film’s dynamic action sequences, which incorporate a wide range of objects from kitchen utensils to ice skates, samurai swords, and even culminate in an epic flame thrower versus flame thrower showdown. While Ballerina takes some time to gain momentum, when it does, it does so gracefully. Sitting between John Wick 3 and 4, the film also features a cameo by Keanu Reeves, but Ballerina predominantly belongs to Ana de Armas, demonstrating that her role in No Time to Die was no fluke. The film significantly escalates the action, leaving viewers craving more after four John Wick films and this spin-off. When someone asks, ‘Don’t you think we’ve had enough?’ the answer is a resounding ‘No.’

Here’s the Ballerina trailer…….

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2025-06-05 19:23