Directed by:
Chad StahelskiScreenplay:
Derek KolstadCinematography:
Dan LaustsenCast:
Keanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane, Ruby Rose, Common, Claudia Gerini, Lance Reddick, Laurence Fishburne, Tobias Segal, John Leguizamo (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
In this next chapter following the 2014 hit, legendary hitman John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins' guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world's deadliest killers. (Lionsgate US)
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Reviews (13)
Disappointment. Not big, but disappointment nonetheless. John Wick 2 is still way ahead of other action movies, but in the fights and the shootouts, it sometimes runs out of breath and starts to repeat itself a little. Fortunately, the lead is so great that it doesn't matter that much. The bigger problem is with the story, which is taken deadly seriously this time, lacking the lightness and wit of the first one, and, above all, going in a direction that I personally don't consider to be completely fortunate. While John Wick used to be a myth, a legend, and a specter whose name terrified every mafia member, now he is just one of many assassins who lost their uniqueness somewhere between the first and second film. The myth is gone. Moreover, the film thoughtlessly divulges all the secrets of the world of assassins, which was previously so attractive precisely because it kept those secrets. Quite a shame. John Wick 2 is an above-average action movie that unfortunately comes with a boring story that somewhat loses itself. Oh, and also with a rather weak lineup of antagonists. Sorry, but next time I want more. Although maybe I'll prefer to wait less.
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At first, the second John Wick is pretty much the same as the first, but that's not a bad thing, and as time goes on (especially during the riveting part set in Italy) it becomes clear that this film really is bigger and in some ways even more imaginative than its older brother. I really liked the more elaborate world of all the killers, the big hunt for John Wick and the mirror finale that reminded me of The Man with the Golden Gun. I believed in Keanu Reeves with everything, and his castmates (the charmingly badass Ruby Rose) certainly didn't get put to shame. I'd quite like it if Chad Stahelski did a Bond movie in the future, because he's as good at action scenes as he is at non-action ones, and the result would definitely be interesting.
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Had the best scene been at the end and not in the first half, John Wick 2 would have been the best action movie ever, at
least for me (to this day, that title belongs to Face/Off). The set design, editing and camerawork capturing all of the
events in Rome are the pinnacle of the genre, overshadowing the best of John Woo. The visual elegance of the original
film universe and its dark and gritty tone. The disarming cadence of luxuriously edited and properly brutal action. Dignity
and detailed portrayals of all characters. Fatal, neo-noir Keanu Reeves, who seems impossible to dislike, both as an actor and as
a person. This movie was a perfect fit for me; I enjoyed every sequence of shots, whereas in other action thrillers, I
barely get to enjoy the climax. A rare treat I will be watching on repeat.
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The first one was fine, but Stahelski was too much of a stuntman and some elementary elements were missing. The sequel is better, masculine, palpably raw and hard, at the same time filmed for a relative pittance and yet stylish, like a TV commercial for a new model of Mercedes-Benz. The scenes in Italy or in the glass maze speak for themselves. It also works as a full-fledged action film whose mythology is a level up from the first installment, the plot is more layered and the shootouts even juicier, and the action itself is an element that is brought to perfection. Rarely will you see such combos, so much shooting, and most importantly, such incredibly clear, and manly powerfully filmed fight scenes, many of them without editing or camera movement. So it's clear that Keanu Reeves worked his ass off, but more importantly, he's living it and loving it. The cast is almost unquestionably evenly distributed, with great cameos by Franco Nero, Peter Stormare and Laurence Fishburn, and a brilliant Common in the role of a tough bodyguard. In general, the fights between Reeves and Common are some of the best ever filmed, only The Raid can compete. If it continues to build up like this, we have a lot to look forward to in the third chapter.
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What is the second Raid movie compared to the first movie, is the first chapter of John Wick compared to the first one, let´s put it this way, creators learned from their own mistakes. We have not had the opportunity to watch something like this in Czech cinemas for a long time, something with such a clear, diverse (the monotony of action of the first movie is long gone) and above all an imaginative composition, aesthetics and choreography of true contact action scenes. And if, in addition, the "obligatory plot frame as a makeweight" is not really a make weight, then what more to ask for an uncompromising straightforward action from the old school? Perhaps just an imaginary icing on the cake in the form of graduating of the memorable final shootout in the gallery also of the equally memorable one-on-one duel, third round of "Wick vs. Cassian" would call for it.
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