A Cool, Clever and Cracking Sequel

Rating: 8/10 (9 April 2017)

John Wick is regarded as the Boogeyman by all villains (that pencil..) and yet, when we see him in action, he's not some lean, muscled, high-kicking Judo master with humming bird movement.
He's a man of focus and pure willpower, both of which are so cleverly and subtly displayed on the screen - more so in this cracking sequel.
He can't run like the wind, but he can shoot straight enough to disable then dispatch at close quarters while his radar is pinging nineteen to the dozen for the next target.
Keanu Reeves beautifully balances the gritty and frenetic fight/shoot sequences with a slight sluggishness properly belying his real age (52). When he plans in advance, you can't help but grin in empathetic revenge.
Chapter Two runs easily on from the first burst, and develops John Wick's character further in a logical way. No spoilers here, but the ending will have you not wanting, but simply knowing there is more to come.
In short - if you liked or loved John Wick, then you're in for a treat.
This is an uber-cool (check out the analogue-to-mobile phone network!), logical and well-made sequel, and a welcome return to the screen for Reeves. He won't win Oscars, but he's winning fans back Big Time.
FOOTNOTE:
Probably the greatest anti-hero of modern popular literature is Jack Reacher.
Cruise's attempt to bring that great protagonist to the screen in 2012 was somewhat egotistical - given he's almost a foot shorter, far more charming and easier on the eye than the big, ugly yet somehow attractive character so often alluded to in Lee Child's 21 novels. Still, the movie did OK.
Last year's sequel however was excruciatingly bad, and a perfect example of Hollywood's incessant focus on the viewers' pockets, rather than their desires.
Cue, in 2014, a new anti-hero. John Wick isn't based on any book, comic, or otherwise. Rather, he's an original screenplay by one Derek Kolstad - until then a comparatively unknown screenwriter.
Combined with Chad Stahelski (stunt double for Keanu in the Matrix series) and his solid, focused direction, we've been brought us a new guy to look up to.