A high-octane masterpiece of an action flick

Rating: 8/10 (10 March 2017)

It is an unwritten rule that in 8 out of 10 cases the following sequel to a successful movie can be a very risky business.
In truth, most of the times the sequels are not living to the expectations not only of its creators but which is worse, they disappoint the fans.
Here I am to remind you that luckily for us, the fans every rule has an exception.
"John Wick: Chapter 2" (2017) is a brilliant exception which not only lives to its high expectations but it arguably exceeds them.
Shortly after its release, the stylish Noe-noir flick received an average rating of 8.2/10 on IMDb and a score of 90% from 168 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Let's see who is responsible for that immense success
Cast and Crew:
The movie is again directed by the debut ant Chad Stahelski who is a professional stuntman and this is only his second director's credit.
It is a curious fact that the talented director with a kickboxing background was one of Keanu Reeves' stunt doubles in The Matrix trilogy.
The star-packed cast includes Riccardo Scamarccio in the role of the villainous Santino D'Antonio and again Ian McShane as the Hotel manager Winston.
The gorgeous Ruby Rose ("Orange is the new black", "XXX: Return of Xander Cage") and the rapper turned actor Common are strikingly convincing as the professional assassins Ares and Cassian.
Peter Stormare as a Russian gangster, Lance Reddick as the Hotel receptionist, John Leguizamo and the living legend Franko Nero have also small but remarkable appearances in the film.
A pleasant surprise is Laurence Fishburne in the role of the powerful underground boss Bowery King who has an important part in John Wick's revengeful actions.
The writers of the movie didn't hesitate to make reference to "The Matrix" by giving both characters some lines similar to the ones in the masterpiece directed by the Wachowski brothers.
For instance, John Wick says to the Bowery King "I guess that you have a choice". If that doesn't ring a bell, then you will need to refresh your memory and watch again the dialogue between Neo and Morpheus.
This is a great action movie because:
The heart-pounding action starts with an insane car chase scene from the first second of the flick and it barely stops at the very end of the film.
I was totally blown away by the masterfully choreographed fight scenes and by the intensity of the plot.
It grabs you, it puts you right on the edge of your seat and then squeezes you only to leave you breathless and wanting for more.
Keanu Reeves trained Jiu Jitsu for four months to prepare for his role and he executes 90% of his stunts. The effect is visible-the character fits him perfectly.
The 53 years old actor is in great shape and shows spectacular weaponry and fighting skills.
His on-screen feud with Common (Cassian) leads to some stunning one on one fights between both characters. Be sure that you'll have some sweat drops on your forehead!
The cast is awesome and all the actors have done an impressive job, deserving applause for their genuine personifications.
Ian McShane, Riccardo Scamarccio and even Peter Stormare and Franko Nero, although their short presence as a Russian mobster and Italian Hotel owner, they all made memorable performances.
Also, it was great to see Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne acting together, the last time being 14 years ago in "The Matrix".
What makes "John Wick: Chapter 2" so enjoyable is not just the action. It is the whole haunting world of the professional assassins, all wearing expensive suits, which is represented in the movie.
The audience receives an alluring view towards the underground criminal world.
The viewer is entirely moved by the hit men's secret society, driven by a strict code of conduct and honor.
It is interesting to explore their hidden gathering places that are mostly fancy hotels in New York and Rome; the way they conduct their "business" by operating with terms like "contracts", "markers" and "deals".
The film is visually stunning, the action taking place in some spectacular venues in Rome and New York.
The special effects are present but almost invisible, making the whole feeling of the movie even more realistic.
The dialogue is minimalist and symbolical and the camera work is masterful.
There are several mind-blowing shooting scenes, taking place in the underground catacombs in Rome, where John infiltrates the celebratory party of Gianna- Santino's sister.
The other thing that grabbed my attention was the great soundtrack of the movie which perfectly fits the dark, intense atmosphere.
The OST composed mainly by Tyler Bates, Joel J. Richard, and DJ Ciscandra Nostalghia is a mixture of dance, house and explosive techno that electrifies the motion picture even more.
The breathtaking ending of the movie is opened, leaving us impatiently expecting the third, conclusive chapter of the trilogy.
John Wick 2 Movie Review in a Nutshell:
The second chapter of John Wick is a high-octane, adrenaline pounding roller coaster.
The stylish Noe-noir action flick maybe reminds a little bit of "Crank" (2006) with Jason Statham but it highly exceeds it in every aspect.
It is far better than the previous part from 2014 and with this ongoing upward trend, I can hardly imagine what the third part would be.
"John Wick: Chapter 2" has all it needs to deliver great fun and spectacular action-packed experience.
With some slight flaws, this is arguably one of the best action movies in the past decade. A must see!
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