Brilliant action film

Rating: 8/10 (4 May 2015)

John Wick accomplishes everything that it sets out to. It is an action film at the very core, and does not muddy the waters with the addition of pointless subplots or heavy, complicated storytelling.
The plot is very simple; revenge. That's really all you need to know to be able to appreciate this film. If they edited out the first ten minutes of exposition, it would not take away from the remainder.
Some people, when reviewing John Wick, are comparing it to all the wrong films. This is not an epic drama or high fantasy set in a wondrous world. John Wick is simple, down to earth, action movie.
The cinematography is outstanding. You can really tell that each shot has been framed exactly. The acting, admittedly, could have been better. Keanu Reeves appears to be playing Keanu Reeves. But that's what he does best, and that's what the character of John Wick requires. As a side note, Willem Dafoe puts in a solid supporting performance.
Now the action is something that I have not seen in an action movie for a very long time, and it had me exhilarated. John Wick has about him an air of cool, calm professionalism whenever he is 'working'. This makes the moments when he comes unravelled and boils over that much more compelling. Suspension of disbelief is required when you actually watch John Wick fighting, but this is something that you will do eagerly; the fights are extremely well choreographed and very fluid. There are very few neck-breakingly quick cuts that are now all too popular in action scenes.
The gun play is awesome to watch. John Wick very rarely misses a shot, and he doesn't leave the big bads alive to come back and get him (the only time he does leave an enemy alive is due to rules outside of his control, and killing would leave him in a worse position than leaving her alive). He is ruthless and efficient.
In summary, do not judge John Wick by any other standards than those which it claims to uphold. As an action film, it has exceeded.