‘The Old Guard’ Is a Perfect Sci-Fi Action Thriller For ‘John Wick’ Fans

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As a critic, I have to say the John Wick movies single-handedly brought genuinely cool action back to the big screen. What might have felt over-the-top or cheesy with ridiculously powerful heroes in older films now feels incredibly stylish, and Keanu Reeves is a huge part of that. Honestly, we wouldn’t be getting the intense, adrenaline-fueled rides like Sisu or Nobody if John Wick hadn’t paved the way. And the good news keeps coming – we’ve got three more John Wick films confirmed! While you’re waiting, if you’re looking for something similar to tide you over, The Old Guard is a solid choice.

The Old Guard is a straightforward superhero movie that’s easy to enjoy, even if you’re not familiar with the source material. Charlize Theron plays Andy, the leader of a team of immortal mercenaries who can quickly heal from any injury. The story kicks into high gear when a pharmaceutical CEO starts pursuing them, hoping to use their unique DNA for profit, leading to plenty of action and fight scenes.

‘The Old Guard’ Employs a Cocktail of Martial Arts Techniques, Including Gun-Fu

The John Wick series is celebrated for its diverse and intense fight choreography, featuring a high number of action sequences. It began with a unique style called ‘gun-fu,’ which combines gunplay with hand-to-hand combat, and has since expanded to include many other fighting methods. Similarly, The Old Guard relies on realistic, though heightened, combat skills rather than superpowers. Interestingly, the action in The Old Guard was created with help from the same talented team behind John Wick.

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood brought on Brycen Counts, a well-known stunt and fight coordinator from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to help with her latest film. She also hired Danny Hernandez, who works at 87eleven Action Design – a company created by stunt performers turned directors Chad Stahelski (famous for John Wick) and David Leitch (known for Deadpool).

I was so excited to hear Brycen talk about working on the movie! He mentioned being on the John Wick sets, and he really lit up when describing the martial arts – it sounded like a blast to film. He even explained the Kali technique they used, which I thought was one of the coolest parts of the whole movie!

As a fan, I’ve always been impressed by how seamlessly Kali, a traditional Filipino martial art, was integrated into the fight choreography. It really influenced the hand-to-hand combat, and it was fascinating to see how they treated the pistol almost like a Kali stick – using it for blocking and parrying, similar to the amazing action in the John Wick films.

John Prince-Bythewood couldn’t have asked for a better lead than Charlize Theron, who had already shown her action skills in Atomic Blonde. Brycen shared that Theron was eager to learn, so the team taught her various fighting styles, including historical European martial arts, aikido, and kendo. This expertise fits the character, as Andy is thousands of years old and would naturally have mastered many combat techniques.

‘The Old Guard’s Brilliance Stretches Beyond the Action


Netflix

As a movie buff, I recently read on The AV Club that Netflix’s The Old Guard was watched by around 78 million households. That’s a solid number, but it didn’t exactly explode in popularity. I wonder if the superhero label turned off viewers who usually go for different genres, because honestly, it’s a really good movie that I think everyone should check out. It’s been up for a bunch of awards – like the Critics’ Choice and Saturn Awards – and it’s so much more than just the awesome action scenes; it’s genuinely brilliant.

As a film buff, I have to say, the script is just fantastic. It’s got those classic villains – you know, the ones who wildly overestimate themselves, but somehow manage to pull off some genuinely surprising and bold moves. What really grabbed me, though, was the way the film’s tone shifted. One minute it’s a pure adrenaline rush, the next it’s incredibly emotional. And while a few of the characters aren’t exactly likable, the actors do an amazing job of making them feel complex and mysterious without resorting to cheap tricks to get your sympathy.

Charlize Theron is the biggest star in this film, but the entire cast delivers strong performances. Actors like Kiki Layne and Chiwetel Ejiofor are particularly good at drawing the audience in and making their characters feel real.

Choosing Gina Maria Prince-Bythewood, who hadn’t directed an action film before, seemed like a bold move. However, she surpasses many established action directors with her vibrant and unique style. While this film is more serious than her previous work, it’s just as beautifully made and emotionally powerful.

Spare some time to hang out with this old guard.




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2026-02-26 15:33