"Chapter Two" Lacks the Passion of Its Predecesor

Rating: 7/10 (7 June 2017)

"John Wick: Chapter Two" is everything you probably loved about the first installment. Lots of fast-paced, bloody, and violent action mixed with Keanu Reeves stoic, yet intense, acting. I really wanted to like this one as much as the first one, but it came up just a bit short. Not in heart-pounding action sequences, but in story. You have to admit, much like the "Taken" franchise, it's tough to duplicate a strong story-line which made the first one more than just an action movie. In the first "John Wick", the reason and rationale for his break from retirement was clear and felt in every scene. But Chapter Two doesn't carry that same passion. The biggest let down, for me, was the ending (or lack there of). To find out Chapter Two is just the set up for Chapter Three left me feeling duped. Will I see the third installment? Most definitely! I just wish the story could have stood on its own (like the first one). All in all, I still recommend it for the die- hard Keanu action flick fans. And it's still one of the better action sequels I've seen.