Keanu Reeves is back in his best role since The Matrix

Rating: 10/10 (1 May 2019)

Set days after the events of the first film John Wick is once again drawn back into his former lifestyle when he refuses to honour a 'blood oath' from years ago, and Santino D'Antonio, the Italian crime lord who holds the 'marker', destroys his home.
One of the main rules of the 'underworld' Wick was formerly a part of is that all markers must be honoured so he reluctantly meets with D'Antonio and agrees to the task, but even though he completes his assignment and honours the 'marker', D'Antonio betrays him and puts a $7 million contract out on Wick........
Big mistake!
This is again a spectacular action movie, well acted, directed and with more incredible stunt sequences.
In the first film, we get a glimpse of the organisation Wick was once a part of. In this film, we get to see more of 'The Continental Hotel', the headquarters for this assassins 'mob', and we learn more about the background politics of how it all works, and this is actually a fascinating part of the movie. Ian McShane is back as 'Winston' the owner and manager of the New York hotel and his role in this movie is much larger and far more developed.
I have to say, John Wick: Chapter 2 is brilliant.
The casting again is impeccable. I really believe that this role is Keanu Reeves' best role in any movie he has done. Riccardo Scamarcio is fabulously creepy as D'Antonio, Common is terrifically cold as a rival assassin and Laurence Fishburne plays a supporting role, and it's actually the first time Reeves and Fishburne are reunited since 'The Matrix movies'. The same directors who brought us the first film return and bring us another gripping, all-out action movie and the cinematography in this film is amazing. The fight scene choreography is outstanding, and you can really see Reeves in these sequences and know that he is doing 95% of all his own stunt work. The action-packed car chases and the fight scenes are so 'real', there are no spectacular 'super-hero' type stunts, no leaping from one plane to another, free falling with no parachute etc, they're just gritty and incredible heart-poundingly good.
If I had any niggles about this movie, it's probably the motivation. In the first film Wick's motivation was so clear, it was a very emotional reason behind why he went back into action, in this one though, he's almost forced, he isn't really given a choice, and what I find interesting about characters in movies is the choices they make, and when you have a character that is basically pushed into a situation, the emotional reason for him being there doesn't have the same impact. Also, I'm not a fan of Peter Serafinowicz and his performance in this was ridiculous.
That aside, I found this film had a more focused story than the first, and if you love amazing action, outstanding stunt work and an action film that is exciting and captivating from the start then you will love John Wick: Chapter 2