Somehow Surpasses The Original

Rating: 9/10 (22 May 2019)

John Wick Chapter 2 is the sequel to the surprising hit action movie John Wick. Most sequels are inferior, but this was one of the few sequels that was not only good, but to actually surpass the original in some ways. The story was more interesting, the action was even better (and that's saying something), and the stakes are even higher.
Keanu Reeves returns to play the title character and gives an equally great performance as the first. What elevates this film higher than the first is that it further elaborates on the world and culture John and the people around him live in and the code they operate by, and it's fascinating. The action is also faster and more thrilling, and there are more action scenes here.
The film also introduces some new characters. The best one being Lawrence Fishburne's character. While he's not in the movie for very long, his presence was a very welcome addition. I hope we see more of him in Chapter 3.
If there was a weak point in this film it would be the villain. He has a strong introduction, but afterwards failed to impress me. He has a history with John Wick that's never fully elaborated on (maybe in Chapter 3). I just found him very bland and boring. The villain in the first movie was not amazing either, but he was definitely more memorable.
His female underling named Ruby Rose was more interesting and imposing than he was. I'm not sure if that name is a nod to RWBY or just a strange coincidence (most likely the latter). She's because not only does she kick ass but has a unique gimmick in that she's mute so she speaks via sign language.
Overall, John Wick Chapter 2 is one of the best action films to come out since...the first John Wick. Both movies are the best action films to come out in a long time and should definitely be seen if you're a fan of the genre. If I had to choose which one is superior I would probably still have to go with the first film. While this movie does improve on elements from John Wick, the first film had a better villain and it was a self-contained piece with a definitive end, while this is clearly setup for the next one, even though I like the setup.