I think I would pass on the chance to take out John Wick...

Rating: 9/10 (13 February 2017)

I did not see the first John Wick until well after it had come out. The trailer just did not do it justice and I was unable to discern what it was about as it almost seemed a sequel to something. However, I would get around to seeing it when quite a number of people told me it was a really good action/revenge film. So, this time around, I was not going to miss my chance to go see the film on the big screen and I am happy to report it is a very cool action film and almost as good as the first. Not quite, mind you, as I do think a lot of the emotional impact from the first is gone, but on the plus side here, you get to delve deeper into this world of crime bosses and assassins that was established in the first film. So as I said it is almost as good as the first, just not quite there. More characters are introduced and there are a number from the first film that make their return to this one as well. The action is frequent and often as you get thrust right into the chaos of Wick's world and through you get to see a number of shootouts, fist fights, knife fights and pencil fights! So yeah, you could say that John Wick is back!
The story has John Wick picking up his car to finish up the business he had in the first film. Afterwards, he has officially retired and seems like he will be content living alone with his dog. Unfortunately, peace does not seem to be in his cards as a crime boss named Santino needs Wick to do a job for him. Wick wants to refuse; however, Santino did Wick a favor and now Wick owes him a marker. If he refuses he is dead, if kills Santino he is dead and if he runs he is dead. So he takes on the job after Santino destroys Wick's home to motivate him and Wick is on the job which is to kill Santino's sister! Things kick complicated and soon a lot of assassins are out to kill John Wick and there seems to be little he can do to get out of the predicament other than kill everyone!
I like Keanu Reeves, I find him to be an enjoyable actor. I know a lot of people do not care for him, but I like his work. I, myself, cannot stomach Mark Wahlberg so each person has their own tastes. I like that they brought back Ian McShane as his character is very interesting and I like the whole world that they set up in these films. It almost seems like these characters are part of some established world, like a series of graphic novels or something they way that the two films have played out. There is definitely an opening for a third film and I hope it gets made as if it does not, we fans of the two films will really be kept hanging!
So, yes, this film was very enjoyable. I think the first one had the more emotional impact as we got to see a terrible thing done to him and him returning to his deadly past, but this one kind of shows you how his job probably was before he decide to settle down and get married. Almost an equal trade off. The movie is definitely a sequel and feels like it is in the flow of the first film. There have been a few sequels in the past that have kind of felt off. A couple of examples I can think of off the top of my head is the two Ghost Rider films, though the second film did not feel off so much as it was like a completely different world all together and the two Thor films. This one had plenty of action and featured a lot of bloodshed. It did do some computer blood, which I wish they did not do as practical effects as far as blood goes looks a lot better. Did not look bad, but you can tell it was computer generated. Overall, though, my complaints are few and far between while my praise is early and often. I also know that if I was an assassin in this world and I saw John Wick as the hit, I would text back, "No amount of money is enough!"