The Equalizer 3

Schade, dass der Film nicht so actionreich ist und dass die Vergeltung, die den Hauptschuft betrifft, formal nachlässig gemacht wurde. Das Charisma von Denzel Washington und die fantastische Stilisierung seiner Figur als Alpha-Mäzen der Gerechtigkeit seit dem Konflikt mit der italienischen Camorra boten ein größeres und längeres Massaker mit einer höheren Anzahl an Todesfällen. John Wick hat uns halt verwöhnt… The Equalizer 3 macht aber trotzdem auch in den ruhigen Passagen Spaß – dank der coolen Charaktere, der italienischen Atmosphäre und vor allem der zunehmenden Spannung vor der Konfrontation zwischen der brutalen lokalen Unterwelt und dem ultimativen amerikanischen Helden. Der Epilog ist dann unnötig pathetisch (Italien) und naiv (San Francisco). (06.09.2023)

Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington, and a great conclusion to a successful trilogy. The third part is not better than the first, but it surpasses the sequel and for me it is another great job on my favorite theme. Fuqua is right at home in this revenge mode, and while it's not a frantic action ride in the vein of John Wick and Extraction, it doesn't matter as The Equalizer benefits from a great main character, an attractive setting and compelling dialogue, making the film stand out above other revenge action genre flicks. Washington has charisma to spare, and the way he can play a likeable guy one moment and a cold and uncompromising assassin with a stare that gives you chills the next is amazing. This time we look at a quaint Italian town where Denzel is injured and getting used to the quiet idyllic life of the friendly locals, but the town is terrorized by the local Mafia and Denzel will have to take the law into his own hands. The film keeps a leisurely pace, but thanks to a great setting, likeable characters and engaging dialogue, it never gets boring and when it comes to the action, it's pleasantly brutal with effective kills. The best part is quite possibly the opening itself, which is very nicely brutal. I also enjoyed the two Italian brothers-villains, who got what they deserved. However, I was a bit disappointed with the finale itself, which felt rather rushed and the showdown with the bad guy wasn't as satisfying as the finale from the first film, but I can get over that. It's still quality entertainment that I enjoyed for 2 hours. PS: that jump-scare in the explosion with the cars was lethal! (11.09.2023)

It doesn't beat the originality and the villain of the first one, but it does beat the sterile and uninspired second one. The Equalizer thankfully didn't end up like, say, Taken, and with the third film, the duo Washington-Fuqua made a worthy finale, or let McCall age with honor and in the beautiful Amalfi setting. Last Chapter is surprisingly less action-packed than the previous installments and shapes the mix of the fragile family atmosphere of a small town that has its own specific spiritual charge vs. extreme violence and gore quite adequately, something Fuqua is unafraid of and knows how to handle pretty well. Nothing beats the opening scene, and no other passage even comes close, but as a whole the third Equalizer is watchable. Denzel is no longer an invincible killer, but a vulnerable older man, plagued by the demons of his past, and every now and then he kicks someone's ass and does what's right along the way through life. Exactly between 3-4. (09.10.2023)