Extraction recently landed on Netflix and after watching the film, I was wondering whether it’s a better action movie than the John Wick films.
Extraction was directed by Sam Hargrave who’s worked as a stunt coordinator on movies such as Avengers: Endgame and Captain America: Civil War.
He’s directing movies now, and his first film, Extraction, has some genuinely incredible action sequences.
There’s a particular eleven-minute-long sequence in Extraction which could very well be one of the best action set pieces I’ve seen in a long time.
Whilst watching the movie, I was thinking, “Could this be the best action set piece I’ve ever seen?”
Before watching Extraction, I would have put down the likes of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum as one of the best action movies I’ve seen in a while.
There’s also the likes of Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Mad Max: Fury Road which would be part of the top five best action movies ever made.
Could Extraction really be a better action movie than John Wick?
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum – Credit: Lionsgate
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I would argue that the action set sequence I mentioned from Extraction could very well go down as one of the best action set sequences I’ve ever seen.
However, I wouldn’t put Extraction in the top ten best action movies ever made.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum on the other hand, would be in my top ten best action movies ever made.
One of the main reasons why Extraction wouldn’t quite make it is because the movie as a whole is a bit mediocre.
It’s enjoyable if you’re into action movies, but there’s not much else in the film to put it on the same level as Fallout and Mad Max: Fury Road.
Those movies have pretty much everything you want from an action movie.
Incredible action set pieces, brilliant cinematography and they’re just wonderfully gripping.
Who would win in a fight: Tyler Rake or John Wick?
Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake in Extraction – Credit: Netflix
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There were moments in Extraction when I felt the movie felt a bit flat.
However, then I started wondering who would win in a fight between Chris Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake and Keanu Reeves’ John Wick.
Honestly, it would be a really interesting fight to watch.
They’re both incredibly skilled with guns, weapons and at hand-to-hand combat.
The two action movie characters are also very good at improvising, which is key to being a good fighter.
They’re not just good a shooting people, they’re also good at killing people without the use of a gun.
In both movies, they have to come up with ways of nullifying their opponents by using whatever they have close at hand.
However, I do feel that John Wick would just edge it, mainly due to the fact that he’s basically indestructible.
There are also question marks over whether Tyler Rake survived his movie. (Check out the article I wrote on that particular aspect for the movie).
Which movie has the better action scenes?
Chris Hemsworth’s Extraction movie on Netflix is already a huge hit – Credit: Netflix
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As far as comparing the action sequences in Extraction to the ones in the John Wick movies, I think John Wick also edges it.
First off, there have been more John Wick movies. This means they’ve been able to explore a bit more in those films.
I also think that the John Wick movies’ director, Chad Stahelski (also a former stunt man) is more experienced at making movies.
This is Hargrave’s first ever film, and it’s a very good effort.
However, Stahelski has been honing his craft for a little while longer. He’s almost single-handedly reinvented the action movie genre.
Hargrave has talked about how he was inspired by his John Wick movies. You can definitely see that in Extraction.
The elven-minute-long action set piece I mentioned earlier feels like it could have been in a John Wick movie.
What do you make of this article?
Do you think Extraction is a better action movie than the John Wick films?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Extraction to me was much more believable on the whole than John Wick, and was much more entertaining as an action movie. First of all, we all know that Keanu Reeves can’t act. He may have logged a lot of time on the range and studying hand-to-hand combat, but Hemsworth CAN act, and is not only a badass but is very likeable. You feel for his character, and the pain he is going through internally. Wick tries to pull this off too, but the whole dog thing was just crap. When it comes down to it, the action sequences in John Wick were very obviously choreographed and robotic, where Extraction has a natural rhythm to it. The long cuts and Hemsworth’s vulnerability to pain make it more intense and more believable. Extraction wins hands down. The Wick franchise was just another choreographed other-worldly action mess like The Matrix. We need more awesome action movies with REAL ACTORS in them like Extraction. I mean, come on–this is Thor we’re talking about!