They Shouldn't Have Killed His Dog: The Complete Uncensored Ass-Kicking Oral History of John Wick, Gun Fu, and the New Age of Action

They Shouldn't Have Killed His Dog: The Complete Uncensored Ass-Kicking Oral History of John Wick, Gun Fu, and the New Age of Action

  • Downloads:1580
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-07-20 06:19:37
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Edward Gross
  • ISBN:1250278430
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

There have been iconic moments in the action movie genre over the years, but nothing has come close to matching the kinetic, balletic gun-fu of the John Wick films。

In They Shouldn’t Have Killed His Dog: The Complete Uncensored Ass-Kicking Oral History of John Wick, Gun-Fu and The New Age of Action, bestselling authors Mark A。 Altman and Edward Gross take you behind the scenes of a franchise that includes three films with more on the way, while exploring the action classics that led to John Wick as well as the films it inspired, like Atomic Blonde。 They bring you right into the middle of the action of the John Wick films, detailing how the seemingly impossible was achieved through exclusive interviews with the cast, writers, directors, producers, stuntmen, fight choreographers, cinematographers, studio executives, editors, critics, and more。 Together, they break down key action sequences while also providing a look back at the road the action genre has taken that led to John Wick, and a look at the character itself, an anti-hero who carries on the grand tradition of Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name, but with a twist — and a never-ending supply of ammo — while showcasing the enduring appeal of the action movie as well as John Wick’s unique reinvention of the genre。

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Reviews

Diane Hernandez

Every person who has watched a John Wick movie has thought They Shouldn’t Have Killed His Dog。 It is the last straw that pushes him down a path the bad guys are not going to enjoy。This book itself goes down two paths。 The first third is an almost scholarly look into the history of action films from 1903’s The Great Train Robbery forward。 Next, it looks at how the John Wick saga reached the screen and moves onto the soundstage of the movies to show us a backstage viewpoint。They Shouldn’t Have Kil Every person who has watched a John Wick movie has thought They Shouldn’t Have Killed His Dog。 It is the last straw that pushes him down a path the bad guys are not going to enjoy。This book itself goes down two paths。 The first third is an almost scholarly look into the history of action films from 1903’s The Great Train Robbery forward。 Next, it looks at how the John Wick saga reached the screen and moves onto the soundstage of the movies to show us a backstage viewpoint。They Shouldn’t Have Killed His Dog is a detailed and worshipful tribute to film making and the John Wick movies。 It is also a love letter to Keanu Reeves。 I think fans of any one of the three will love this book。 Though it is a bit scholarly at times, the pacing keeps the book from dragging。 The interviews of so many different film experts and people involved directly with the films provide a multi-faceted perspective。 4 stars!Thanks to St。 Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book。 。。。more

Martin Enidzhelyan

Are they offering free pencils attached to the book ?

Tiffany

I adore John Wick and the entire genre of gun-fu so it was a no-brainer to request this ARC。 I didn’t know what to expect of the book and was quite surprised。 The book contains all quotes from those directly affiliated with the John Wick movies。 I found the information so interesting。 It took a deep dive into the making of John Wick and the gun-fu genre。 There were so many tidbits of information I never knew, which just made me love the franchise even more。 I would definitely recommend this book I adore John Wick and the entire genre of gun-fu so it was a no-brainer to request this ARC。 I didn’t know what to expect of the book and was quite surprised。 The book contains all quotes from those directly affiliated with the John Wick movies。 I found the information so interesting。 It took a deep dive into the making of John Wick and the gun-fu genre。 There were so many tidbits of information I never knew, which just made me love the franchise even more。 I would definitely recommend this book if you are a John Wick fan like me。 Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy in return for an honest review。 。。。more

Suz Jay

This book is a comprehensive guide to all things JOHN WICK, from what influenced its creation, to movies that it in turn influenced, to the nitty gritty of making the movies themselves, and to the future of the franchise。The information comes directly from a variety of people who contributed to the movie and to movies like DIE HARD (influencer) and ATOMIC BLONDE (influenced)。 This is the book’s greatest strength as well as its greatest weakness, because it reads like all these people are in a ro This book is a comprehensive guide to all things JOHN WICK, from what influenced its creation, to movies that it in turn influenced, to the nitty gritty of making the movies themselves, and to the future of the franchise。The information comes directly from a variety of people who contributed to the movie and to movies like DIE HARD (influencer) and ATOMIC BLONDE (influenced)。 This is the book’s greatest strength as well as its greatest weakness, because it reads like all these people are in a room having a conversation, and like conversations there’s some meandering and repetition and tangents。 I found these at times fascinating and at other times a bit frustrating。 But, I feel that depending on the reader’s interests, they may be fascinated by some of the things that frustrated me and vice versa。 In this case, having a bit too much information was a good problem to have because of the nuggets which wowed me。 For example, the evolution of the original script, the way the cast and crew collaborated in making the films shine, and the honestly around what worked and what didn’t work as well。 For example, the discussion on why the ending of the third installment was not ideal and the way Mark Dacascos who played assassin and John Wick fanboy in the third installment helped shape his character。 It was cool to hear directly from the writers, directors, producers, editors, actors, etcetera。 I’m the rare individual who doesn’t mind spoilers, but I didn’t feel that the parts that spoke to the future of the franchise provided any plot secrets。 They did, however, make me excited for John Wick’s next adventure。 I appreciate how Keanu Reeves and Lionsgate championed the first film and how screenwriter Derek Kolstad not only conceptualized the character and world, he had a big hand in bringing them to life。 I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book。 All thoughts and opinions are my own。 Thanks to St。 Martin’s Press, an imprint of St。 Martin’s Publishing Group, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley。 。。。more

Miya (ugly crying thanks to the Duffer Brothers)

Perfect fun for John Wick fans and action film fans。 I mean they really shouldn't have killed his dog。 You just don't do that。 John Wick films are pretty epic honestly。 I got a little lost in the second half, but I definitely could see how bigger fans would keep flipping pages and love it! Action fans/John Wick fans this book is totally for you。 Perfect fun for John Wick fans and action film fans。 I mean they really shouldn't have killed his dog。 You just don't do that。 John Wick films are pretty epic honestly。 I got a little lost in the second half, but I definitely could see how bigger fans would keep flipping pages and love it! Action fans/John Wick fans this book is totally for you。 。。。more

Kyle Erickson

This book was fine。 The first third is actually about the oral history of action movies, and there is an entire chapter about Atomic Blonde near the end, and I think these were just filling page count。 But the core of the book was interesting, even if it didn't hit all the spots I would have preferred。 I would recommend this to die hard action film fans, John Wick fans, or Keanu fans, but that's about it。 Side note, everyone in this book has a lot of nice things to say about Keanu Reeves, as you This book was fine。 The first third is actually about the oral history of action movies, and there is an entire chapter about Atomic Blonde near the end, and I think these were just filling page count。 But the core of the book was interesting, even if it didn't hit all the spots I would have preferred。 I would recommend this to die hard action film fans, John Wick fans, or Keanu fans, but that's about it。 Side note, everyone in this book has a lot of nice things to say about Keanu Reeves, as you'd expect。 。。。more

Dan

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St。 Martn's Press for an advanced copy of this film history and commentary。Creating in Hollywood can be difficult。 A screenwriter has a great idea, but he producer with the money wants to take it in another direction。 A director has a vision for a film, but a studio has notes。 The studio can also make a movie impossible to seen, either because of spite, indifference or that wonderful thing all corporations share incompetence。 However sometimes the st My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St。 Martn's Press for an advanced copy of this film history and commentary。Creating in Hollywood can be difficult。 A screenwriter has a great idea, but he producer with the money wants to take it in another direction。 A director has a vision for a film, but a studio has notes。 The studio can also make a movie impossible to seen, either because of spite, indifference or that wonderful thing all corporations share incompetence。 However sometimes the stars align, the moon is right and things start to work in a collaborative, not combative way。 A pair of directors working with their own stunt crew have a vision and a want to make a career, a producer needs a hit to prove he can play with the A-listers, a screenwriter has a good idea with a Hollywood icon liking it。 A hungry group of people making art, and the magic is there。 Oral Historians and longtime Hollywood reporters and writers Edward Gross & Mark A。 Altman have written the ultimate guide on a movie that no knew was coming and has rewritten action movie vocabulary for the the foreseeable future in They Shouldn't Have Killed His Dog: The Complete Uncensored Ass-Kicking Oral History of John Wick, Gun Fu, and the New Age of Action。 A book that goes everywhere discussing the film, its influences, and its influence on future film making。 The book begins with a history of action films and movies that can be construed as action films starting in the silent era and moving up to Die Hard and its influence and Cannon Films。 This section alone is worth the book as the authors take the time to dissect what worked, what didn't and what influenced the creation of the John Wick mythos。 From there we meet the directors, fight people and a producer who all need a hit movie, to show who they are and to advance their careers。 Along comes a screenwriter with two credits, both direct-to-video movies with a new take on revenge。 A star takes notice and suddenly a film franchise is born。 All the birthing pains and watching the movie grow to being on the screen are covered, both good and bad。 All three movies are covered, including hints for the fourth and fifth。 The authors do their usual outstanding jobs in writing and being able to bring all of this information together and make it not only readable, but easy to follow along。 At no point does the story lag, or get to film technical。 There are a lot of interviews, but the people interviewed are always identified, always clear on what is being discussed, and very forthcoming about what worked, and what didn't。 Outsiders are included, for story commentary of historical and film commentary, and they too are quite clear and insightful。 I wish there was a little bit more about the sound and the music, but I am a nerd about that, and still loved the book anyway。 Plus there is some facts and making of information on Atomic Blonde, and what the future of action films might be post- John Wick。Recommended for fans of the film or for fans of the genre in general。 There is a tremendous amount of information in here about a variety of film subjects。 Just an amazing amount of work, done very well。 For fans of Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner by Paul M。 Sammon, The Making of Dune by Ed Naha and the Final Cut: Art, Money and Ego in the Making of Heaven's Gate by Steven Bach。 。。。more

KayDee Osmon

This was a very informative book but it wasn't what I was expecting。 Not my cup of tea。 This was a very informative book but it wasn't what I was expecting。 Not my cup of tea。 。。。more

Horace Derwent

the face on the coverart is not just john wick, it's keanu reeves too, and i fucking love it the face on the coverart is not just john wick, it's keanu reeves too, and i fucking love it 。。。more