The Movies of John

Let’s take a playful ride through the stages of life , Keanu Reeves style, but we’re leaving The Matrix aside for this one (Neo’s his own whole fractal cycle).

Instead, we’re looking at the evolution of the Johns: Keanu’s characters who each reflect a different phase of growth, self-awareness, the anti-heroIn the great stories of myth, literature, and even our own lives, the figure of the anti-hero appears like a More, and the push-pull between who we are and who we’re becoming.

Stage 1: The Young Idealist – Point Break (Johnny Utah)
Here’s John young, at peak physicality, riding the waves of youth and idealism. The world feels wide open, but inside, there’s already a tension between loyalty to friends and loyalty to duty. It’s the classic early phase of life where you want it all. The thrill and the mission, and you haven’t yet realized you may have to choose.

Stage 2: The Overloaded Professional – Johnny Mnemonic
Fast forward, and John has become sharp, savvy, wired-in. Maybe too much. With a brain implant stuffed beyond capacity, he’s the symbol of midlife hustle: too many deals, too much data, and the creeping dread that all this overload might just blow your head apart. It’s the moment when “success” starts to feel like a trap. When you realize there is such a thing as too much information.

Stage 3: The Wounded Seeker – John Wick
Now we meet John who’s trying to leave the game behind and have a ‘normal’ life. Aching for peace after a lifetime of violence he assumes the persona of a regular guy. But grief pulls him back, and suddenly the old trainings surge to the surface. Here’s the reckoning: when you realize you can’t just cover up childhood training and reactions. The Monkey Man inside, the primal, trained self , will do his work when the mask falls.

Stage 4: The Mystic Warrior – Constantine (John Constantine)
Finally, we arrive at the phase where John knows both the seen and unseen worlds. He’s battle-hardened, but he’s also spiritually awake. Constantine holds knowledge of heaven and hell, light and dark, and must navigate the ultimate balancing act. This is the archetype of the mystic: someone who’s been through the fire and now walks between realms, wielding wisdom earned at great cost. When you realize that life and death, good and evil, up and down are just degrees of perception.

Through these Johns, we see life of the anti-heroIn the great stories of myth, literature, and even our own lives, the figure of the anti-hero appears like a More as a layered journey. From the spark of youth to the burden of experience, the pull of the past, and the hard-won integration of all.
Growth isn’t linear, and self-awareness comes in cycles.

Shakespeare said “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” Keanu Reeves plays well on stage.

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