Sequels are usually disappointing but ‘John Wick: Chapter Two’ is a refreshing exception. It’s brutally violent but the fight scenes will remind you of a well-choreographed kung fu movie. The beautifully shot scenes transcend the genre into an art form. Keanu Reeves is back as the assassin that just can’t seem to stay retired. It proves that this 52-year-old actor is one of the best action movie stars in Hollywood today. The fights are structured like modern ballet moves. They are mesmerizing to watch as our hero annihilates armies of bad guys with stealth and precision. Don’t worry, nobody messes with Wick’s new dog in the sequel. ‘John Wick: Chapter Two’ delivers the goods for audiences craving action.
Not missing a beat, the opening sequence is extraordinary. After avenging the death of his puppy in the first installment, Wick wants to get his ’69 Mustang back from the Russian mob. Crime boss Abram (Peter Stormare) nervously sits behind a desk telling his henchman about the myth of Wick, “I can assure you, if nothing else, the stories have been watered down.” He knows full well about the legend that killed his brother for messing with him. It’s a comical scene as the bullets and bone-cracking get closer to his office. There is really nothing that can stop this killing machine and the Russian gangster knows it. Once Wick recovers the nearly totaled car, his buddy Aurelio (John Leguizamo) jokingly tells him it’s fixable around Christmas time.
Can people just leave this guy alone? Wick just wants to retire in peace but no such luck. When Italian mobster Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) turns up at his doorstep, there is a marker involved that forces him to pay off a debt. Before you know it, Wick is off to Rome and reluctantly goes back into Assassin mode. It’s a lot of fun watching him prepare for his assignment. Wick has impeccable taste as he gets fitted in Italian suits with bullet proof under armor and fortifies himself with an impressive arsenal of firearms. Before you know it, Wick is mowing down an entire crime syndicate with a gorgeously shot castle as the backdrop. He stabs, shoots and snaps bones like a true professional. Once he runs out of ammo with his pistol, he grabs another weapon more menacing than the next. As the unflinching camera shows the rising body count, you are right there rooting for him every step of the way.
One of the reasons that the fight scenes appear so familiar is attributed to the director. Chad Stahelski used to be a stuntman and coordinator for such films as ‘The Matrix,’ ‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Live Free or Die Hard.’ In other words, the man knows how to make an action sequence entertaining. The lush cinematography by Dan Laustsen gives the scenes a dramatic look. Stahelski was the stunt double for Reeve’s on ‘The Matrix.’ For ‘John Wick: Chapter 2,’ it’s evident that Reeves does his own fighting. It adds to the authenticity without resorting to CGI. The villains are equally compelling. He seems to meet his match in an adversary named Cassian played by rapper Common. One standout scene shows the two taking potshots at each other in a crowded terminal. There is also a femme fatale named Ares (Ruby Rose) that never utters a word but communicates through sign language. Another excellent casting choice is Reeve’s old mentor from ‘The Matrix’ Laurence Fishburne as the king of the street people.
This is one of the best shoot ‘em up movies in years. This sequel expands on the mythic folklore of the original. This is a purist action film to the nth degree. On top of that no animals were harmed in the making of the film. Keanu Reeves is back and better than ever in ‘John Wick: Chapter 2.’
