Dark and brutal. I enjoyed everything about this third installment of Denzils portryal Robert MacCall. It’s stripped right back to the brutal efficiency of a highly trained killer. I hope there is more.

All these people claiming this movie doesn’t have enough “equalizing” have a fundamental misunderstanding of The Equalizer. Yes, Robert McCall can be a brutal killer, but he’s also a man on a mission to right wrongs. Whether that is because he is trying to make up for his past or it is his own personal morality isn’t important. In the first movie he’s a man that has seemingly given up and is ready for death, until he makes a small connection with a troubled girl and decides to make it right. The second movie expands on that as McCall has a taste for the mission and has begun expanding his reach into the community. A true friendly, neighborhood Equalizer, fighting the good fight. The third movie goes a bit deeper because while McCall is doing all of this work, it is still from the outside. He fights for the community but doesn’t seem to be a part of it. That is what is explored here, and the movie is all the better for it.

Denzel Washington is just killing it as Robert McCall. That man could read the phonebook and still be captivating, but here he's upping the ante with every fight scene. I didn't think it was possible, but the brutality level actually went up a notch, and I was all in for it! The pacing had its slow moments, sure, but it wasn't a buzzkill for me. It's like savoring a fine wine before you get to the fireworks; you appreciate the explosions even more when they come. Plus, the total running time felt just right, you know? Kept everything on an even keel. And let's talk about Dakota Fanning! Loved how her role wrapped up in this installment. It felt like the story threads finally wove together into this complete tapestry. Kinda gave me that "Aha! So that's where it was going!" moment, and I live for that in a trilogy. The cinematography? Spot-on. Very slick shots, it all pulled me deeper into McCall's world. And those fight scenes—they were few, yes, but, come on! It's like watching a dance, if that dance could incapacitate you in five seconds flat. So, yeah, I had an awesome time with this one. It's like the film grabbed me by the collar and didn't let go until the credits rolled. If this is how they're closing out the trilogy, then bravo! They stuck the landing, 100%

I enjoyed the first Equalizer movie with Denzel Washington, the second one a bit less. But neither of them really stuck in my memory. Perhaps that will change with the conclusion of this under-the-radar trilogy; it's quite good. The wheel isn't reinvented here, but Denzel remains a sympathetic leading man; the mood is atmospheric due to the beautiful scenery in Italy; and the villains are one-dimensional but effective. You shouldn't expect an action movie, though; it's more of a drama/thriller with some enjoyable spikes of violence. There is a bit of time for humor as well, and the "Man in Fire" reunion of Washington and Dakota Fanning also made me smile. All in all, "The Equalizer 3" is gripping as well as entertaining, and thus good enough for a fun evening at the movies.