I’ve seen John Wick, I had to see Ballerina. Not only that. Watch and rewatch all the movies that came before it, but in the proper storyline order. My only regret is that my week wasn’t freer for it (I was in between trips, meetings, and parties). But maybe next time there is a remarkable marathon to be had, I’ll be fully prepared to fully devote to it.
I was immediately sooo into the ballerina theme for this, paralleling assassin work. To those who don’t know any better, ballet could seem like the most gentle and delicate art in existence. However, the crude reality is that it is one of the most demanding sports (yes, I consider dance a sport). It requires insane discipline, commitment, devotion, and sacrifice. Along with developing all the skills that go with it and training your body to carry and withstand their application. It is quite a fitting comparison.
I particularly appreciate the merciless training grounds that raise and push them to their potential. Harsh? Yeah. Rough? Yeah. Vicious? Yeah. They signed up for outstanding and exceptional results, so don’t expect any less to get there. How else would they be forged and sharpened into invincible fighters? I wouldn’t mind somebody actively yelling at me to get it together and done if it actually led me to that, to surpass myself and become unstoppable. And in any case, it is all paired with guidance, strategy, and encouragement toward an unbeatable version of yourself. So you cannot claim that it is psychological abuse meant to break you down. Whether or not somebody can handle it, that’s another matter.
“You want to win? CHANGE. THE. TERMS.” They went there. They dared to bring it up. This could mean so much, though. From switching up your own self-imposed rules that are holding you back to dismissing or bypassing those placed upon you that sabotage you to all-around operating outside of the established systems or even replacing them with alternate ones. It tracks. When you’re set up to fail, that’s what you oughta do.
I could also appreciate that it was realistic about the lacks and limitations that one might have. It might be tempting to indulge in fantasy, to somehow be magically more powerful than everything and everyone, while making no sense on how that could be. But in this story, there’s a touch of realism that, rather than discourage from trying, promotes pragmatism to acknowledge what is and isn’t in your favor, and making the most of it.
Add to that, I was happy to see that, albeit clearly tough, this ballerina could also be a softie. I know, I know, not something to strive for when your life’s at stake, but it adds dimension to her character. Maybe even extra toughness. Paradoxical? Nah. Sometimes you draw strength and more from seemingly unlikely places. And as much as I could welcome a more all-around rock-hard person, I welcome this complexity that makes me wonder.
Yet, speaking of being soft. I can notice how she, at times, goes easy on others, making it more difficult for herself. And it makes me mixed. On one hand, I am frustrated on her behalf. On the other hand, I understand the reluctance. But at least, once all the true colors (or lack thereof) are shown, decisiveness comes.
The scene about her upbringing got me thinking about how, whether we like it or not, and whether we choose it or not, we might go down paths we can never truly return from. Just as you can’t unsee what you’ve seen, you can’t unbecome what you’ve become. And I guess we could lament that or embrace it.
Maybe there was symbolism involved, as well. Because I saw her fighting with fire, but also with water. And I don’t know about you but, to me, that’s majestic and glorious.
People were relieved, going about how it wasn’t so that she could simply come in and take down THE JOHN WICK and, not gonna lie, I’m relieved she didn’t too. But I sincerely don’t see her as lesser than him, pfft. I’d say she’d beat his butt so bad under different circumstances, on a different domain. She comes across as more agile, more flexible, more charismatic, and so on, than him. Betcha there are scenarios where that combo would put him to shame. Regardless, loved to see them ‘working together’ instead.
