When it comes to the world of film, few things
are more enjoyable than a surprisingly good movie. Going into the theater
expecting to see something awful and walking out truly enjoying a movie is one
of my favorite things in the world. And few movies in the past few years were
more surprising than "John Wick." Released in 2014, "John
Wick" was an action thriller movie starring Keanu Reeves. The plot was simple;
a former hitman seeks revenge on the people responsible for stealing his car
and killing his dog. When I walked into the auditorium to watch "John Wick,"
I was expecting another run-of-the-mill "Taken" wannabe that we've
seen so often this past decade. What I got was an exceptional action movie
built around an interesting world where Reeves shines. A few months after
its release, a sequel was announced. So for more than two years, fans of
"John Wick" have been waiting patiently for the follow-up; finally we
get "John Wick: Chapter 2." And much like its predecessor, it's a damn
fine action film.
John Wick was once the most dangerous hitman in the world, and was dubbed
the Boogeyman; but after meeting the love of his life he retires from the game,
only to come back after some gangsters kill his dog and steal his car. After his
short return, he attempts to retire again; but after an old colleague comes by
to cash in on a favor, Wick must come out of retirement once again or be killed
for denying the favor. And like before, chaos and carnage follows Wick wherever
he goes.
"John Wick" was a surprisingly great movie, and one of the best
we've seen from the action genre in years; and despite its issues, "John
Wick: Chapter 2" is a bigger, better version of its predecessor. First
off, I've got to give it to Keanu Reeves. He is the perfect actor for the title
role. While Reeves isn't the best actor in the world, his mannerisms and
movements translate perfectly to a tactical hitman style character like Wick.
Like the previous movie, this is a phenomenal action flick. The action
sequences are exceptional, with lots of close quarter’s combat that is a joy to
watch. The choreography shines in every scene, especially in the up close fight
scenes. This is a brutal, exciting film that never loses your interest and is
always entertaining. The action is certainly helped by the well shot
cinematography that never loses the viewers. One thing that really impressed me
from the first film was the universe it took place in. There's so much going on
with underworld assassination groups, international crime organizations, and so
much more. It almost feels like a comic book universe at times. "Chapter
2" continues to build up this fascinating world, revealing it one step at
a time while keeping you in the dark. This is due to improved writing over the
first movie. While the overall plot isn't anything to write home about, and the
dialog can get cheesy at times, "John Wick: Chapter 2" is a better
written movie than "John Wick." Despite a few flaws, I loved this
movie. It is an action thrill ride that never ceases to entertain or intrigue.
This movie is how you do a sequel, keep what was great and address the problems. It
has been confirmed that "John Wick: Chapter 3" is in development (be
it a few years out) and I'm glad to hear it. This has become the next great
action franchise; and all in all, I think "John Wick: Chapter 2" is
one of the best action movies we've seen in years.
Pros: Keanu Reeves is the perfect John Wick, fantastic action sequences with great choreography, well shot cinematography, fascinating world building, exceptional entertainment, brutal and exciting, improved writing over predecessor.
Cons: Plot isn't anything to write home about, dialog can be pretty cheesy.4/5 Stars
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