John Wick's Mysterious Desert Ordeal Leaves Survival Experts Astonished

Summary

Les Stroud, a survival expert, deems John Wick: Chapter 3's depiction of traversing a desert as "silly" and not aligned with his own practical approach to navigating such unforgiving landscapes.

Walking in sand dunes is challenging, akin to navigating through peculiar snow where progress feels like a constant regression. Stroud recommends seeking the easiest route and suggests avoiding reaching the highest point.

Highlighting the enchanting allure of desert landscapes after sundown, Stroud proposes that traversing the desert at night is feasible with only the illuminating glow of the stars. He rates the movie clip poorly, giving it a score of 3 out of 10 for its lack of realism.

Survival expert Les Stroud is perplexed by a desert scene from John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. The third installment in Keanu Reeves' thrilling series, released in 2019, featured even more extraordinary stunts and expanded the already deep world of the franchise. With a worldwide box office gross of $327 million, it became the most successful film in the series until it was surpassed by John Wick: Chapter 4 in 2023, earning $436 million.

It remains uncertain whether Reeves will return for John Wick 5. However, in the meantime, a survival expert has analyzed John Wick: Chapter 3, with a particular focus on assessing the realism of the movie. The expert found a scene in which Wick faints while attempting to cross the desert to be severely lacking in authenticity. In a video for Insider, Les Stroud, also known as "Survivorman," dissected the moment and criticized the film for its "silly" portrayal of the effects of succumbing to the elements. To hear Stroud's comments, watch the video clip below (around 2:02).

Traversing the desert by aimlessly climbing sand dunes and descending along their ridges is not my preferred method of travel. These dunes can be as colossal as apartment complexes or city towers, making it a challenging feat.

Walking in sand dunes is no easy task; it feels like navigating through peculiar snow. Every step taken forward results in an inevitable slide backward. The key to successfully crossing these dunes lies in finding the path of least resistance, which may not always involve reaching the summit.

Most wilderness areas, whether it's the ocean or a desert, have a captivating beauty. The vastness of the star-filled sky is particularly enchanting and more awe-inspiring than one might expect. In fact, you can navigate through a desert at night without the moon's assistance, relying solely on the brilliance of the stars. However, if you prefer some daylight, early morning is the optimal time to explore, as the temperature becomes unbearable as the day progresses.

Contrary to what we often see in movies, walking on sand dunes is not as challenging as it may seem. Tripping and stumbling are exaggerated Hollywood portrayals. Even if you do happen to stumble, you don't simply roll down the dune uncontrollably. If you wish, you can turn it into a recreational activity and enjoy the experience. However, succumbing to such mishaps is unlikely. Overall, I would rate this clip a 3 out of 10 for its silly and unrealistic depiction.

John Wick 3 Made the Character Superhuman (Unless He Was Crossing The Desert)

In the original movie, John Wick presented Reeves' character as an assassin with an uncanny ability to survive, earning him the eerie moniker Baba Yaga. As the series progressed to its third installment, his extraordinary capabilities were taken to the extreme, reaching the point where he appeared nearly invincible, resembling a literal indestructible superhero.

Although Wick appeared to be invincible to other humans, even when they shot countless bullets at him, the aforementioned scene proved that he was not completely indestructible. By reminding the audience that Wick is a human and not an immortal being, it added vulnerability to his character and heightened the movie's dramatic tension. It was also crucial to showcase Wick's arduous journey and hardships in his quest to find The Elder and have his excommunicado status lifted.

While Wick's expedition in the desert and physical challenges were integral to the storyline, the film did include some exaggerated Hollywood elements, which were primarily intended for visual and dramatic impact rather than realism. It is understood that John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum was not striving for realism, considering the stylized and exaggerated nature of the action within the series.

Source: Insider/YouTube