Oliver Stone: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is ‘disgusting beyond belief’ and more video game than movie

Oliver Stone addresses the ‘John Wick’ franchise as an Army veteran.

The Oscar winner “Born on the 4th of July” said Variety while receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Transylvania Film Festival, ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ is an example of movies becoming more like shooter video games.

“I saw ‘John Wick 4’ on the plane. Let’s talk volume. I think the movie is disgusting beyond belief. Disgusting,” Stone said. “I don’t know what people are thinking. Maybe I was watching ‘GI Joe’ when I was a kid. But (Keanu Reeves) kills, what, three, four hundred people in the fucking movie. And as a combat veteran, I have to tell you, none of them are believable. I realize it’s a movie, but it’s become more of a video game than a movie.”

Stone added, “He’s lost touch with reality. The audience maybe likes the video game. But I’m bored. How many cars can crash? How many stunts can you do? What is the difference between ‘Fast and Furious’ and some other movies? It’s just one thing after another. Whether it’s a superhuman Marvel character or just a human like John Wick, it makes no difference. It’s not believable.

However, the ‘John Wick’ films have been critically acclaimed for their stunt work and even changed the dialogue on the Academy Awards acknowledging stunt work. “John Wick: Chapter 4” director Chad Stahelski earlier this year criticized the Academy for never “really considering” including professional stunt performers in the awards ceremony. “No great stuntman or artist I know does it for accolades or statues. It doesn’t mean much to us. But it’s nice to be recognized by your peers. It’s time,” he said.