When John Wick came out in 2014, it became the sleeper hit of the year. A bare bones revenge story laced with neo-noir gorgeousness in its shots of the New York City skyline, almost balletic combat and gunfight scenes, car chases and guitar based background music, it was praised for its realistic action and the obvious dedication for gun training and physical capabilities that showed through as Keanu Reeves played the titular John Wick, a former mob hitman who, at the outset, is mourning the loss of his wife, and finds solace in his gorgeous 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429, and a dog named Daisy, a gift that his wife had willed to him in the event of her death.
Chapter Two released on Valentine's Day this year, and despite the length of time that has transpired since, it can still be caught in theaters.
Short story short - One of his former employers' insolent son, as pictured here in the hoodie, steals his car and kills his dog because John replies that his car isn't for sale. John Wick is reluctantly thrown back in the fold, and the next hour or so details his bloody journey as he is locked on a course of dishing out destruction to the entire cartel that the father is in charge of. There are hints of a larger universe, and that shady sub-world of assassins, rules and codes is explored in the equally brilliant sequel, John Wick: Chapter Two.
From the title itself, which is smartly done with no frills, the movie promises more of the same, while expanding upon its premise. Every frame, every second, is done with polish. Though the opening action sequence involving the Mustang is kind of outlandish for John Wick's style, it is still brilliant and interesting.
The movie definitely goes global and extends in scope, as featured locations include Rome and New York. At the tender young age of 50, Keanu Reeves doesn't look a day above 30 as he wear suits, drives muscle cars, shoots a myriad amount of guns, stabs, punches and kicks and basically blitzes his way through ninety minutes of solid action, the type that is rarely seen on the screen anymore. Trying to describe the sheer kinetic energy that slowly leads to a simmering explosive finale, with healthy bits of deadpan humor thrown in to break the killing machine monotony every now and then is an exercise in futility because words truly fall short. If a picture is a thousand words. John Wick: Chapter 2 is a grand oral tradition and a lesson in choreographing violent action with the grace of a ballet. Think Swan Lake meets The Matrix. That particular description is a bit of an inside joke, because Keanu Reeves' second most famous role is The Matrix Trilogy.
Rating: 5/5 arbitrary units of movie awesomeness.
Too long; Didn't read:
Keanu Reeves is a badass: Chapter Two.
