This thing's got bite. Nice change of pace.

Rating: 7/10 (23 March 2015)

Keanu Reeves isn't the guy that seems suited for your usual revenge flick, but he works fairy well for "John Wick". There's an inherent detachment to Reeves for a good portion of the film, but he's also got that quiet brooding that roils beneath the surface.
Probably the best thing about this movie are the action scenes, which aren't cut to shreds. They're well-staged and have a nice fluid brutality to them. Simple but effective.
What was also really nice was the clearly defined (under)world with its coded language, currency ad protocols. It harked back to "Payback" and the mob-as-corporate-culture. Also, Wick had modern dress and domestic appointments (probably due to his departed wife), but he's using an old touchtone phone and getting around in circa '79s cars. Little touches that add character.
It's great news that they're planning a sequel. They've already built the world, and I'm in for more.