A satisfying 2nd Chapter

Rating: 8/10 (14 February 2017)

When I saw the first JOHN WICK film, I thought, "I want take another trip into this Universe and unlock some more of it's secrets".
I am pleased to report that JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 opens up that world in a welcome way, building on the previous film whilst simultaneously refreshing the audience about what in the first film delighted us so much.
If you don't know what the charm of the JOHN WICK films are, let me help you - action, interesting settings, Action, good characters, Action, interesting plot developments and Action, ACTION, ACTION!
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 delivers on all these fronts.
Let's start with the interesting settings. While the film brings you back into the secret assassins underworld (through the Commodore Hotel and the wonderfully mysterious and always interesting Lance Reddick as the Concierge), this film opens up the world to bring us into the Italian version of this place. While the great Ian McShane is the proprietor of the NYC version of the Commodore, Director Chad Stahelski trots out good ol' Franco Nero as the proprietor of the Italian Commodore and the underworld lying beneath. The audience also gets a hint that there are many of these "hotels" throughout the world and the assassins utilizing these services are bound by a code that is harsh to those that break it.
As far as interesting characters, any movie would be happy with the interesting characters that the aforementioned McShane, Nero and Reddick bring to the screen, but they are accompanied by John Leguizamo (repeating - albeit briefly - his auto repair maestro from the first film), Peter Stormare (as - what else - a mob boss), Giannia D'Antonio (as the leader of the Italian underground) and Lawrence Fishburne as "the Bowery King" (need I say more).
I haven't even mentioned the strong turns both Common and the up- and-coming Ruby Rose put forth as fellow assassins gunning (quite literally) for John Wick.
And, of course, there is good ol' Keanu Reeves as the titular character. Stoic, silent, short on words and long on action. This character fits him like a glove and Keanu flexes this glove over and over again in an enjoyable and winning performance that has the audience rooting for the underdog, anti-hero of this film.
But, make no mistake, the real star of this film is the many, many action scenes. Starting with an assault on a NYC "chop-shop" to a fight in the catacombs under Italy to the extremely interesting final battle set in an Art Museum that is showing an exhibit on mirrors (it's as trippy as it sounds), the action comes at you quickly and decisively and so very satisfyingly. There is so much of it, that there is a danger of becoming numb to it, but Director Stahelski (who also helmed the first JOHN WICK film) smartly pulls back in time to give the action time to settle in before revving it back up again.
This film, clearly, is the 2nd film of a trilogy. The opening scene starts right after the previous film ends and the film finishes with an ending that is greatly open-ended pointing to what one can expect from JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3. It will be interesting to revisit this film once the "trilogy" concludes to see if the events in this film are enhanced (or forgotten).
Go for the action, stay for the stunts, the characters, the settings, the costumes. It is a feast for the eyes and ears. It is VERY violent, so not for everyone, but that's okay with me, I was expecting it and was greatly rewarded.
Letter Grade A-
8 (out of 10) stars and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)