John Wick is a 2014 American action thriller film directed by Chad Stahelski and written by Derek Kolstad. The film stars Keanu Reeves (pictured) as John Wick, a retired hitman who seeks revenge against the men who killed his dog, a final gift from his deceased wife. It also stars Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Willem Dafoe. Principal photography began in October 2013, on a $20 million to $30 million budget, and concluded in December. Stahelski and Leitch focused on long, highly choreographed single takes to convey action. Following a successful marketing campaign, John Wick, which was released on October 24, 2014, became a modest success, grossing $86 million worldwide. It received applause for its style and its action sequences. John Wick is seen as having revitalized the action genre and began a successful franchise that includes four other films, a prequel television series, as well as video games and comic books.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wick_%28film%29

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1814:

Peninsular War: In the south of France, Spanish, British and Portuguese soldiers under the command of the Marquess of Wellington defeated French soldiers in the Battle of Orthez, causing the French to retreat east. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Orthez

1988:

The Armenian community of Sumgait in Azerbaijan was the target of a violent pogrom (memorial pictured). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumgait_pogrom

1996:

The multimedia franchise Pokémon was launched with the release of the video games Pocket Monsters Red and Green. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon_Red,_Blue,_and_Yellow

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

101: (Canada, US, alone or postpositive, chiefly humorous) Of a fact, subject, etc.: basic, beginner-level, elementary. [...] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/101

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

It has always seemed strange to me … The things we admire in men, kindness and generosity, openness, honesty, understanding and feeling are the concomitants of failure in our system. And those traits we detest, sharpness, greed, acquisitiveness, meanness, egotism and self-interest are the traits of success.   --John Steinbeck https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck