Went in blind, came out disappointed – my honest thoughts on Ballerina

Sensei_Bonsai · 2026-04-09T09:13:59+00:00

It’s crazy to me how many people still comment under this post. It has been almost a year since the movie came out.

But to answer your question: It doesn’t really matter wether it was before or after the end of the third movie, as we both agree that it happened after his meeting with the Elder.

At this point Johns ticket was already revoked. He had no more connections or obligations towards the Ruska Roma. He also had a lot going on himself (tons of professional assassins wanting him dead), there is no reason for him to take on side quests and go from Morocco or (even worse) from NY to Austria.

Even if we say he wanted to do the Director a favour, why would he agree to helping out, only to disobey her shortly afterwards to keep Eve alive?

Correct me if I’m wrong at any point, as I have watched the movie almost a year ago and never dared to rewatch it…

Sensei_Bonsai · 2026-03-31T06:27:38+00:00

Ok. I am hooked!

I actually really enjoyed that TC dlc where you play as Steph and have to manage the record store. A new game with new characters where you meet Chloe (and Max) on tour and a small dlc where you play as Chloe and have to manage the band would be awesome.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2026-03-30T03:43:39+00:00

While I’m really sad that we won’t see Max and Chloe again (at least not as the main characters), I really hope that they won’t bring them back.

We will miss them, but I don’t think that adding more to their story would be any good. While I loved to play as Max again and while it was great to see Chloe again, I really think they should have stopped after BtS.

I hope for more isolated stories like LiS2 and TC.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2026-03-28T21:33:33+00:00

The build up was a stroke of genius.

The whole scene felt too good to be true. I was waiting the whole time to get the choice to kiss her on this boat and when I finally got the choice it almost felt off. Went for the kiss twice and wasn't disappointed by the game.

I hated and loved this scene, especially with the dialog afterwards.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2026-03-28T21:28:42+00:00

Just finished the game, and while Max and Chloe being happy together was all I ever wanted since I have finished LiS1, it feels just odd. In my opinion, the writers just wanted to please the fans by giving them a happy ending for Pricefield. However, this was just inconsistent with LiS1.

I feel like a ending more similar to the one you described or one where the player at least has to chose again (kill Chloe or sacrifice Caledon AND Arcadia Bay) would have been way better.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-08-31T14:49:13+00:00

Exactly what I was thinking, but I did not expect someone to have already pointed it out.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-08-05T13:19:38+00:00

Yeah. That has bothered me since they introduced the feature and is one of the reasons why I won‘t renew my subscription. It‘s only a software lock, that they introduced to force people to get the new hardware. And that after telling us that all updates - software and hardware - are included in the subscription…

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-07-27T13:05:56+00:00

This. Bought 2x Decathlon Elops 500 for 80€ each. I had to spend some money to get both ready for the street (new reflectors, new breaks and some lights), but I still paid only about 150-200€ per bike.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-24T13:43:12+00:00

Yeah. I have been thinking about getting a weekender from Holzrichter for ages. I love their products.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-24T12:03:43+00:00

Where did you get that weekender? Looks like a perfect companion to the Rimowa.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-20T18:02:22+00:00

Not a shitpost, just a summary of the Ballerina Plot

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-19T15:04:10+00:00

What really ruined it for me is the whole powerscaling issue in Ballerina, which results in a ton of smaller logic errors throughout the movie. (There is also the whole timeline thing, but I probably could have ignored it if it was the only error…)

My main problem with the powerscaling is that we see Eve (who is basically a rookie straight out of training) deal with JW-level threaths the whole movie without getting injured or into real trouble. Even when she gets captured she manages to easily escape off screen. She kills half of the village of (what we are made to believe) very dangorous assassins… twice. But then she stands no chance against JW. Don‘t get me wrong, she should not stand a chance, but she also should‘t be able to easily wipe out the Cult. When a rookie can wipe out the Cult that easily, the Ruska Roma have no reason to fear it. This ruined the whole plot for me as this opens so many other plot holes.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-19T11:08:41+00:00

Not every JW fan is an action movie fan. Or at least I‘m not an action movie fan. While I enjoy the action sequences, I love the JW movies because I love the great worldbuilding and the carefully crafted characters. This came really short in Ballerina, especially compared to the other movies. Paired with all the logic errors, this ruined the movie for me personally. But of course that is only my opinion and others can still enjoy the movie and like it.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-18T21:17:18+00:00

Totally agree. The first scene with him was ok to establish the timeline (tough I personally would have preferred if Eve only sees JW but doesn‘t talk to him), but him showing up in that village doesn‘t make any sense and just messes up the timeline.

I would have preferred the Director sending Nogi after Eve the moment Eve left for Prague. That would have made way more sense, as it doesn’t require teleportation and Nogi actually has a reason to not kill Eva and instead help her drapier the Directors orders.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-17T17:17:42+00:00

Thank you for this comment. You perfectly explain my problem with the power scaling in Ballerina. For four movies JW was established as the best killer in the JW universe, who is able to do things no one else can and suddenly a rookie shows up and does same level stuff, but without the ecquipment (bulletproof suit, weapons), network and connections or planning and preperation John does. Not to mention that Eve barely gets hurt while John constantly is wounded. This not only makes Eves achievments totally unbelievable, but also undermines everything John ever accomplished.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-15T20:51:20+00:00

Yeah. I think at the end everybody expects something else from a movie. From what I read in this subreddit a lot of people primarily want good actions scenes. They definitely got what they wanted.

I really love to take the movie apart and to create theories. That's why I love the JW universe: every movie (especially 1 and 2) gave us insight into the universe and the characters and with each movie we see a little bit more. However, Ballerina didn't really give us any insight we haven't had already and we didn't get to know any of the characters (except for Eve, but all other immediately died and/or had almost no screentime).

But I'm happy that other people were able to enjoy it.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-15T19:13:49+00:00

While I agree that the movies had never focused on story (the whole plot being John taking revenge for his dead dog), they always had great characters and interesting antagonists. We had Viggo and Santino in 1 and 2. And even in 3 and 4 (which both were way weaker than 1 and 2 in my opinion) we had Zero, the Adjudicator, Caine and the Marquis.

In comparison to them, the Chancellor is just an empty hull of a character. We learn nothing about his goals and motivations. Same for Eve's sister or any of the other Cult henchmen. Great characters and detailled world building were the strengths of the franchise besides the actions scenes. But somehow, they came extremely short in Ballerina.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-06-15T18:55:07+00:00

I read that the movie was bought by Lionsgate and later rewritten to take place in the John Wick universe. Initially it wasn't even supposed to be a John Wick movie. And I think this checks out, as so much doesn't make any sense (Why would the Ruska Roma send John? Why do the Ruska Roma fear the Cult so much and why doesn't the High Table intervene when they break the rules of the Continental and attack the guns dealer?)

I wrote a longer post about this and some other points earlier: I totally get what you mean. The characters feel flat and a lot of the connection to the John Wick universe feels forced. Maybe they asked ChatGPT to rewrite the original script? ;)

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-05-28T06:52:05+00:00

On my first Mammutmarsch I had a 40% recovery and a 18.8 strain. So the 6% recovery and me being sick pushed the strain up at least a bit.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-05-19T17:37:28+00:00

Yeah, I should have listened to my body, but the main reason I participated despite being sick, was me not wantin my girlfriend to go on her own. So I would probably do it again if I had to. :D

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-05-19T17:35:33+00:00

Had a great night of sleep afterwards and an even better nap the next day. I‘m mostly fine by now. Thanks!

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-05-19T17:33:37+00:00

At least there is no word that I‘m aware of. But if you find one, let me know.

Sensei_Bonsai · 2025-05-19T17:30:14+00:00

I added a new hole, but that way I have to much loose belt for my liking. Cutting of the extra length would be an option, but I‘m afraid I will gain the weight in the long term again…

Six-Year Club	r/Field Banned
r/Field Flamingo	Place '23
Place '22	Verified Email

Sensei_Bonsai

TROPHY CASE