A lot like Boondock Saints, but John Wick works alone

Rating: 9/10 (14 July 2015)

John Wick does exactly what it sets out to do, it entertains those of us who appreciate action-packed films. The storyline is simple, the cinematography is close to perfection, and the soundtrack matches seamlessly. John Wick is a man of few words and Keanu Reeves plays him so well that we get a thorough understanding of his character even though he remains silent for a majority of his scenes. To those who insist on complaining about the gratuitous violence in this movie, John Wick is about a Hit Man out for REVENGE. I can't imagine that the Mafia's "Boogeyman" would go about getting revenge by calling the cops or hiring a lawyer to sue the gang that took everything he loved from him?! To those who are complaining about the lack of realism, John Wick isn't based in reality, people as bad-ass as him don't exist in the real world, nor does a Secret Society of Assassins, so complaining that the movie should have explained the inner workings of the Continental is absurd. For those of us who were actually paying attention instead of pointing out all the "flaws" in the film, we don't need the inner workings of the Continental or its members explained to us because the premise was so glaringly obvious. To those who think that a legend like John should have been able to fend off the attack at the start of the film, I will admit that John Wick does get his ass kicked at the start of the film and yes, maybe a legend such as himself should have been able to defend himself, but you're all missing some very important points, he had no idea that the attack was coming, he was sleeping a minute before the attack, and he had been retired for more than 5 years. I doubt he was expecting an ambush when he was simply getting up to get his puppy some food. Expecting that his guard would still be up 5 years after he had retired would be unrealistic, not to mention, there wouldn't have been a movie at all if he had killed all the bad guys within the first 10 minutes of the film. The fact that he comes out of retirement to avenge the death of his puppy shows us exactly why he's so feared. To those who think that the Mob Boss's (Viggo) son Losef should have known who John Wick was, Wick had been retired for 5 years, which means that Losef would have still been a teen when Wick helped his father, which also means that they parted on good terms, so there was no reason for Viggo to fear John until Losef crossed him. Part of Wick's retirement likely included allowing him to keep a low profile, having him outed at every turn would have ruined any chance he had at a normal life and if John is the legend they all say he is, I doubt any of his old acquaintances wanted to be known as the person who prevented him from achieving happiness, need I remind you that he came out of retirement to avenge his puppy? Finally, to those who think it's unrealistic to expect that assassins can be loyal to each other, you missed the whole purpose of the Continental. Clearly, in the fictional world that is John Wick, Assassins live by a particular code that includes not killing your friends, which explains why Marcus was willing to protect John. Unlike, Ms. Perkins, John and Marcus live by the code and respect each other enough not to let money get in the way of their friendship or the rules. This point is illustrated clearly when Ms. Perkins' fate is sealed after she breaks the rules.