2/20/2017, John Wick: Chapter 2 review.
Keanu Reeves returns as the super bad ass assassin, John Wick, in John Wick: Chapter 2. To breifly summarize the original film, Wick is a retired hitman extrodirane who reluctantly returns to his former murderous ways after injustice has been wrecked upon him… and his dog… and his car. The film makers do an excellent and expeditious job of bringing newcomers to the blossoming franchise on board quickly. There is a short title sequence and we are promptly brought into the first act of the film.
There are plenty of substantial reasons that John Wick: Chapter 2 is a great action film.
Bad guys wear black. When Wick assumes his morally depraved killing self, he dons head to toe black suits. It would make the Grim Reaper himself jealous. However, what makes Wick so great, is that his character is still vulnerable. During the wild action sequences he is shot, stabbed, karate chopped, and heartbroken at times. One of the flaws of the film (minor though it may be), is we’ve created a character that is so powerful and likable, no villain ever comes close to threatening him. We already know from the movie’s title, that this is only the second chapter. Therefor whatever the villains throw at him, we know he will survive. The only viable threat Wick faces in the entire movie is one of his old acquaintecs, Cassian, portrayed by Common. It’s hard to find an actor that can equal Reeves prowess on screen and the main antagonist leaves a lot to be desired.
Minimal CGI. Not since the original Matrix has it been so exciting to see Reeves going fist to fist in beautifully choreographed fight sequences. By the end of the John Wick: Chapter 2, it’s mostly guns-a-blazin’, but as the story unfolds there is plenty of hand to hand combat. Reeves really shines here. The use of practical effects unquestionably ‘packs a punch‘ to get a little puny on it. It isn’t limited just to fight scenes however. There are some spectacular muscle car driving sequences as well. I literally yelled, “Yeah” when Wick comes bounding out of a warehouse in slow motion in his thoroughbred of automobile. Take that Prius.
A No-nonsense OST. There was not one bullshit pseudo-hip fucking remake of a pop or jazz tune in this movie. As action movies have been plagued with this trend as of late (… I’m looking at you Marvel and Robocop...) I was fearful John Wick: Chapter 2 would fall victim to this fad. Although they got dangerously close with the Italian party scene, they used restraint and came through the other side clean. The music gives this hard driving action film it’s soul and doesn’t disappoint.
The dramatic pause. One of Wick’s characteristics is use of silence, often opting to say nothing at all instead of vomiting useless dialogue. He is a man of action in the truest sense. Nothing highlights a tremendous explosion like a deafening silence immediately proceeding it. There are several key moments in the film which use this pause to intensify the deeds that follow. The aftermath adds a extra ‘UHMPPH!’ to punctuate the moment(s).