Builds on the original really well and becomes almost a character tragedy

Rating: 8/10 (11 February 2017)

John Wick 2 picks up right where the first one left off; he steals his car back in a really good opening chase scene. This is a good way to connect the two films together, but from here on out the story takes a much different turn. Basically, in order to "get out" the first time to be with his wife, John Wick made an oath with a "marker" that puts him in debt with a very powerful man in the crime world. And now it's time to repay that debt. So we have John Wick, against his will and better judgment, going back in again.
First of all, of course the action is good. Was anyone expecting less? The gunplay, hand- to-hand choreography, everything is done in beautiful steady cam. Also, shout-out to the cinematographer, the use of color in the film is fantastic. Lots of neon pinks and blues.
What I really want to praise the film for, though, is how the plot works with the world building so well. We have a much more complex plot than the original here, involving intrigue, power plays, bounties, things of the like. And throughout the movie uses this as a way to introduce more lore to this universe where everyone seems to be part of the connected web of crime. There is a "high council" which plays a background role in the film(and I expect they will be a much bigger deal in the third one). The rules of the Continental hotel are played with a bit more, and we see an entire network of assassins later in the film. All this adds layers to the John Wick universe and it's really great how they use the plot to do that.
The characters are all good and the movie is well-acted. Keanu Reeves is good for this role, where he has minimal dialogue and his emoting his restrained. This is a man who is basically empty inside at this point. Common and Laurence Fishburne's characters also really stood out to me; Common and Keanu have two extended fight scenes with really appropriately balanced intensity and humor. Laurence Fishburne isn't in the movie much but he was really fun to watch.
Everyone is praising the surface-level stuff this film offers up and I can't blame them. But I just want to point out that this film is basically a tragedy. It ends with John Wick homeless, unable to return to the hotel, running from basically everyone in New York who wants to kill him for 14 million dollars. Throughout the film, you get the sense that John doesn't want to be here,killing people, and the use of reflection shots throughout the film really punctuates the theme of past choices. It's depressingly ironic that the "marker" John Wick used to get out the first time is the very thing that brings him back in, for possibly the rest of his life. The final action scene is entirely set in an art exhibit called "Reflection of the Soul" which is basically a Hall of Mirrors. This makes for an interesting action sequence but also for a very interesting thematic moment. John Wick is actually a very tragic character. I really hope he gets the redemption he deserves in the third movie.
The flaws I have are basically that the action is a little too repetitive at times, and that the assassin girl who speaks in sign language, who is built up throughout the film, gets taken out in about forty seconds. After seeing Common hold is own against Wick for two whole fights, this was disappointing.
Did I mention that the dog in this film is a REALLY good boy???