The Wick Burns Brighter

Rating: 9/10 (20 February 2017)

If you saw the first John Wick, then buckle up, because you are about to be in for a ride. This movie improves on the first in almost every way and was a visual spectacle.
Chapter 2 picks up right after the first movie ended with John having to deal with the unfinished business of his car. There is an unnecessary exposition about who John Wick is by the leader of the Russian gang that would only benefit those who are walking into this sequel blind but it is given by a man who was perfectly fit to be a Russian mob boss and who my brother actually thought should have played the boss in the first movie.
After that the movie goes completely into high gear with action around every corner, insane kills, lots of blood, and great cinematography. John and the viewer are thrust into the underworld we so briefly glimpsed in the first movie as he has to deal with some skeletons from his past and create a swath of skeletons in his wake. This movie will make you reconsider Mr. Wick on your totem pole of bad ass hit men and assassins. Every kill is so beautiful and insane and we are even treated to how the legend of him killing multiple people with a pencil came to be. As well as that, the kills are very realistic and blood. Many times I found myself laughing and clapping because of how insane and real they were.
Keanu Reeves is fantastic as the main character with is very slim dialogue but each word has power. You know John Wick is a kick ass guy when he can just say "Sure" in sign language and make it look cool. Common and Ruby Rose both stood out as great assassins to go up against John. As usual, the background and depth put into this underworld and society of assassins with their coins and hotels was flesh out and so interesting. There is a particular scene in Rome where John is sampling wine, er guns, and also getting a suit tailored that is priceless.
Despite a few missteps in dialogue and a gratuitous if arguably unnecessary cameo from Laurence Fishburne who is there mainly to give some winks and comedy to the camera, this movie is fantastic and heart pumping. Without a doubt one of the best action movies we will see this year and by the time you are finished you will want a Chapter 3, which is saying a lot in this day and age of unwanted and unneeded sequels.
The Wick burns brightly in this beautiful and well made sequel. I highly recommend this movie, especially to those who saw the first movie or who are looking for a great action movie. I would not recommend this movie to my worst enemy, because they don't deserve to see it. I also would not recommend this movie to my mom cause there is a lot of blood.