MOVIE OF THE WEEK #2 (2/10/17): JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2
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| "This is mine. This is my gun. Watch me pop shots sideways as the body count increases and ... Cut!" The titular character (Keanu Reeves) heads into battle in a scene from JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2. Credit: Niko Tavernise © 2017 Lionsgate Publicity. |
KEY CAST MEMBERS: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, Laurence Fishburne, Claudia Gerini and Common
WRITER(S): Derek Kolstad
DIRECTOR(S): Chad Stahelski
DIRECTOR(S): Chad Stahelski
WEB SITE: http://www.johnwick.movie/
HERE'S THE STORY: Professional hitman John Wick just wants to stay retired. But, as anyone familiar with the first film can tell you, that hasn't exactly worked out so well for John after having Russian mobsters break into his home to steal his beloved Mustang and kill the dog his dying wife left him. But he extracted revenge on all of them, so now, John is just looking forward to starting over with a new unnamed canine companion as soon as he gets his beloved Mustang back.
Unfortunately, once Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) comes knocking, John finds his peace short-lived. Again. For Santino has an item – a blood marker – that entitles John to honor a request ... Even if that request is to kill Santino's sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini). You see, Gianna has a seat on the board of the mysterious crime syndicate known as the High Table and Santino wants it and isn't willing to wait for her to give it to him (or get his hands dirty taking it himself). Thus, despite John's utter refusal to honor the oath he swore as a member of The Continental –
*SIDE NOTE: For those unfamiliar, The Continental is the hotel chain run by Winston (Ian McShane) where criminals from all over the world can lounge in between business dealings – as long as they don't conduct any official business AT The Continental. Ok, back to the review ...
Thus, once Santino forces John's hand in the most extreme way possible, Wick goes out to honor the dishonorable request ... But once he comes to realize he's got a bunch of killers on his tail, the body count is about to start piling up. Steadily.
HERE'S THE STORY: Professional hitman John Wick just wants to stay retired. But, as anyone familiar with the first film can tell you, that hasn't exactly worked out so well for John after having Russian mobsters break into his home to steal his beloved Mustang and kill the dog his dying wife left him. But he extracted revenge on all of them, so now, John is just looking forward to starting over with a new unnamed canine companion as soon as he gets his beloved Mustang back.
Unfortunately, once Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) comes knocking, John finds his peace short-lived. Again. For Santino has an item – a blood marker – that entitles John to honor a request ... Even if that request is to kill Santino's sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini). You see, Gianna has a seat on the board of the mysterious crime syndicate known as the High Table and Santino wants it and isn't willing to wait for her to give it to him (or get his hands dirty taking it himself). Thus, despite John's utter refusal to honor the oath he swore as a member of The Continental –
*SIDE NOTE: For those unfamiliar, The Continental is the hotel chain run by Winston (Ian McShane) where criminals from all over the world can lounge in between business dealings – as long as they don't conduct any official business AT The Continental. Ok, back to the review ...
Thus, once Santino forces John's hand in the most extreme way possible, Wick goes out to honor the dishonorable request ... But once he comes to realize he's got a bunch of killers on his tail, the body count is about to start piling up. Steadily.
WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? People who liked the first John Wick film; Keanu Reeves fans; martial arts fans; people who enjoy films with understated comedic moments; those who like films that are best described as live-action video games
WHO WON'T (OR SHOULDN'T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? Anyone who hates gratuitous violence, either with guns and knives or kicks and punches; those who find the extended fight sequences a bit overdone; anyone who finds the film to be one big video game; people who will find the whole film's concept a bit too overtop even by action movie standards
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A live action video game that actually isn't based on one, John Wick Chapter 2 is a film saved by its star's presence and commitment in a world that would otherwise seem too outrageous for its own good.
There's a very simple formula Hollywood has followed for eons when it comes to sequels: Whatever the audience enjoyed about the first one, just do it twice as much in the second. Therefore, the Call of Duty/Grand Theft Auto V-level of gunplay on display in Chapter 2 should come at no surprise. (he fact that henchman no. 20 would step in to get shot in the head after watching the first 19 meet the same fate is surprising, however, since that move is STRAIGHT out of a video game playbook.)
Luckily Reeves is more than up to the task of salvaging his way through the otherwise super over-the-top nature of the story. You understand and appreciate Wick as a man thrust into an impossible situation (despite the fact his character must have killed dozens if not hundreds if not THOUSANDS before attempting to leave it all behind for his late wife), yet, at the same time, you have to embrace the severity and absolute unforgiving nature in which he goes about his business. In a world where apparently any and everyone might be out to kill you, Wick stands out as a man simply trying to make things as right as he can in world where "right" is a very relative term.
Other than that, there's really not too much to say about Chapter 2 save for the fact if you get bored watching hand-to-hand combat and people getting shot, you're likely going to find large portions of the film a little dull in parts. Sure, there is dialogue in between the killing, but the carnage is by far and large the star of the show. This all about one vs. many and fans of movies where the protagonist kicks many people's asses will be all in for Chapter 2.
Now as far as Chapter 3 goes, that will remain to be seen.
SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? A live action video game that actually isn't based on one, John Wick Chapter 2 is a film saved by its star's presence and commitment in a world that would otherwise seem too outrageous for its own good.
There's a very simple formula Hollywood has followed for eons when it comes to sequels: Whatever the audience enjoyed about the first one, just do it twice as much in the second. Therefore, the Call of Duty/Grand Theft Auto V-level of gunplay on display in Chapter 2 should come at no surprise. (he fact that henchman no. 20 would step in to get shot in the head after watching the first 19 meet the same fate is surprising, however, since that move is STRAIGHT out of a video game playbook.)
Luckily Reeves is more than up to the task of salvaging his way through the otherwise super over-the-top nature of the story. You understand and appreciate Wick as a man thrust into an impossible situation (despite the fact his character must have killed dozens if not hundreds if not THOUSANDS before attempting to leave it all behind for his late wife), yet, at the same time, you have to embrace the severity and absolute unforgiving nature in which he goes about his business. In a world where apparently any and everyone might be out to kill you, Wick stands out as a man simply trying to make things as right as he can in world where "right" is a very relative term.
Other than that, there's really not too much to say about Chapter 2 save for the fact if you get bored watching hand-to-hand combat and people getting shot, you're likely going to find large portions of the film a little dull in parts. Sure, there is dialogue in between the killing, but the carnage is by far and large the star of the show. This all about one vs. many and fans of movies where the protagonist kicks many people's asses will be all in for Chapter 2.
Now as far as Chapter 3 goes, that will remain to be seen.
OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
Click popcornflix movies This is the best sequel Keanu Reeves has ever been a part of, or will ever be a part of. Yes, I know that The Matrix sequels were the only time he actually revisited a franchise, but at this point in his career, I can't see him starting up another franchise like this.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wick was a blast to see on the big screen, but that's honestly just an appetizer.
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