John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum

You can read our full thoughts on John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum in our review of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray HERE.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

Lionsgate Home Entertainment brings John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum to Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack with a flyer for a Digital HD Copy. The Region A locked, BD50 disc is joined by a DVD-9 copy of the movie and housed inside a blue, eco-elite case with a glossy slipcover. After several skippable trailers, viewers are taken to a menu screen with music.

The third chapter of our favorite assassin's killing spree finds an escape route via Blu-ray thanks to the help of an often stunningly gorgeous, near-reference 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 encode. 

Amid the graphic violence and hand-to-hand brutality, the freshly-minted transfer is shocking teeming with near-cartoonish life, boasting a wide array of spirited colors in every scene. The on-screen carnage is continuously awash sumptuous primaries, especially the blues bathing the nights and interior sequences glowing a lively teal while the reds and greens of the neon lights animate the city streets as if ripped directly from a comic book. At the same time, the overall palette lavishes the screen with a magnificent, richly-saturated array of secondary hues, showering many moments with warm golden yellows and deep fiery oranges. The best demo-worthy sequence is when the ninjas raid the Ruska Roma ballet house. 

Presented in a 2.40:1 aspect ratio, the photography of Dan Laustsen feels lightly restrained for creating a darker, somber atmosphere, but contrast is nonetheless pitch-perfect while delivering brilliantly crisp whites. However, some of the hottest spots and highlights glow so intensely that they tend to bloom every so slightly, just enough to wash the very finest of details. Still, it's nothing too egregious to ruin the picture quality. Meanwhile, black levels are true and full-bodied, showering the image with deep, inky-rich shadows and displaying strong visibility within the darkest corners. 

The presentation also showcases razor-sharp clarity and definition throughout. Granted, there are a few softer moments sprinkled here and there, mostly related to the cinematography and capturing some of the high-speed action mixed with CGI. Nevertheless, viewers can admire the distinct architectural features of the Continental, the minute imperfections of the Casablanca buildings and the griminess of the Bowery King's lair. We can also plainly make out every detail in the coins, clothes and the intricate design of the Elder's tapestry haven. Facial complexions appear healthy and reveal every wrinkle, pore and negligible blemish with lifelike textures. (Video Rating: 94/100)

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum debuts on Blu-ray with the same demo-worthy Dolby Atmos soundtrack as its Ultra HD counterpart. For a more in-depth take on the audio quality, you can read our review of the 4K Ultra HD HERE. (Dolby Atmos Audio Rating: 96/100)

• Parabellum: Legacy of The High Table (HD, 11 min): Short EPK-like piece made up of cast & crew interviews discussing the plot, characters and aspirations mixed with BTS footage. 
• Excommunicado (HD, 10 min): More interviews focused on John Wick's banishment.
• Check Your Sights (HD, 10 min): Looks at the work that went into the fight and stunt choreography.
• Continental in the Desert (HD, 10 min): Discussion on the exotic Moroccon locations. 
• Shot by Shot (HD, 9 min): Informative chat on editing action sequences. 
• Dog Fu (HD, 8 min): Interviews on the shootout sequences with Sofia's dogs. 
• Bikes, Blades, Bridges, and Bits (HD, 7 min): Just as the title implies, made from various BTS footage and interviews.
• House of Transparency (HD, 7 min): On the production design of Winston glass office. 
• Behind the Scenes of John Wick Hex (HD, 7 min): Closer look at the video game. 
• Saddle up Wick (HD, 5 min): A closer look at the horse action sequence. 
• Trailers (HD). 

Chad Stahelski's John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is a true gem and rarity in cinema by delivering the same level of quality and action-packed excitement as its predecessors. Expanding on the mythology of the former assassin and the criminal underworld from which he keeps trying to escape, the third entry is also a brilliantly crafted tale on redemption wrapped in stunning visuals, white-knuckle action thrills and cringe-inducing fight choreography. Our favorite antihero's search for redemption crashes and burns on Blu-ray with a near reference-quality HD video presentation and accompanied by a demo-worthy Dolby Atmos soundtrack. With a passable set of bonuses, the overall package is highly recommended.