John Wick: Chapter 2

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. (02/25/2017)

I really liked the first film despite its flaws. All I can say about the second installment is that I really liked it despite its flaws. I don't even feel like dissecting the film too much, it's simply a well-made action movie. I’ve got to give props to the sound engineer for making me enjoy every gunfight. In addition to the excellent Ian McShane, there was a point in the film where I wasn’t sure what was real and what was the Matrix, so kudos to the creators for that. (08/21/2017)

Something wicked this way comes! They had a dog in the first one, and artistic ambitions in part two. And they look deadly serious during it ... and I'm buying it this time. Proof that headshots belong to galleries and newer Bond films may be outdated, but with their emphasis on increasingly daring sets, they also influence films you wouldn't expect at all. At the same time, Stahelski is learning to be a director and plays even more with the timing of the action, which, unlike many of my colleagues, I consider significantly better than in the first film (I don't even know the last time I smiled so stupidly during the arming scene). Wick grabbed exactly what I enjoyed most in number one - the strange mythology of the brotherhood of assassins - and adds other interesting fragments. The main ingredient, in addition to the flashy visuals, the crazy pompous scenography and the fantastic choreography, is, of course, Keanu. He goes against the fashion of muscular fighters and kills with the same, and still penetrating gaze. Reeves returns to the elite through a door no one expected three years ago. And I can't help but say that I'm just looking forward to the third movie in the style of "him vs the world". A very, very nice surprise, which played an even better game with the same characters. (02/17/2017)

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. (05/15/2017)

Poetry in motion. John Wick is a delightfully straightforward action movie that is constantly surprising and incredibly stylish with every shot. It is a film of movement that should theoretically satisfy fans of Buster Keaton, Akira Kurosawa, Sergio Leone, John Woo and video games. The comic-bookishly exaggerated world with a taciturn western hero (who, however, is skilled at expressing himself with a pen) makes more sense than in the first film thanks to the elaboration of the mythology, but a halting rhythm is the price paid for the second instalment’s longer runtime. The wheels come off the film for a moment after Laurence Fishburne, the king of New York vagabonds, appears (too late) on the scene (I believe he will be better utilised in the sequel) and just needlessly burns minutes towards the end (the return “home”). Though the first John Wick wasn’t so long that it would start repeating itself, and I will watch it again with greater enthusiasm, but from now on I will be happy to use the second instalment of John Wick, alongside Sherlock Jr., as a prime example of the fact that action doesn’t have to be created only through editing, but also through movement in thoughtfully composed shots. Who would have said a few years ago that the most respect-worthy action hero of the 21st century, whom you believe has a love for a nameless dog, distinctive taste in clothes, an understanding of intelligent modern art (you never know when a properly adjusted mirror might save your life) and the ability to shoot up the entire Camorra without batting an eye, would be Keanu Reeves in his fifties? 80% (02/23/2017)