I was on a WhatsApp chat group with some school friends talking movies when the film John Wick came up. At that time I had never heard about the movie but I was encouraged to see it by their claims that it is “one of the best shoot-em up action movies ever”. I would have to be the judge of that.
So I watched it and I was like “ermagerd this is one of the best shoot-em up action movies ever!” When I read that a sequel was being made I got exited, and when I saw the recent trailer I got really excited.
For this post I will be doing a brief review of the first film (SPOILER ALERT there) and then a look at the sequel trailer. Let’s get to it:
John Wick (2014)
Back in the 90s the terms “Keanu Reeves” and “action movie” together would be enough to get movie fans giddy. This is the guy from films like Point Break, Speed and the freaking Matrix. But since the original Matrix (the sequels are ignored on purpose) and despite some martial arts films we have not seen old Keanu in a great action flick. That is, until 2014’s John Wick.
In the film Reeves plays the eponymous retired assassin who recently lost his wife to an unspecified illness. All he has left of her is a puppy named Daisy. He runs afoul of some Russian gangsters who follow him home, knock him out, steal his car and kill his puppy. Big mistake.
Wick goes on a bloody rampage to avenge his puppy and takes out a ship load of Russian gangsters in some of the most beautiful, spectacular, heart pumping action packed scenes ever to be put to film. This breath taking ballet of bullets is anchored by Reeves’ steely and stoic performance. You really believe he can take out 20 guys with one gun and some very slick moves.
The film is directed by stunt actors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch and their love for martial arts flicks, anime and Hong Kong “gun fu” is evident. The pacing of the movie is apt, giving you enough time to catch your breath before the next breathtaking gun fight. The plot is simple and uncluttered with the only addition, and a welcome one at that, the cool hidden world of international assassins. This superb action film was begging for a sequel and I am glad to know it is getting one.
Rating: John Wick gets 3.75/4 beautiful bullet ballets.
Here’s a trailer for the first film to whet your appetites for the second:
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
Reeves, Stahelski and Leitch return for the sequel John Wick: Chapter 2 so it is good to know that the band is back together. I was initially hoping for a prequel to find out how Wick became a legendary assassin but we will hopefully learn that in a future installment.
In the new film John heads to Rome to battle a former associate attempting a take over of the shadowy international assassins’ guild. We see him going up against rapper/actor Common, who plays head of security for a female crime lord, the lovely adrogynous Ruby Rose, who plays assassin Ares, and also chatting with Laurence Fishburne who plays a character called The Bowler King and who I really hope kills people with bowling balls.
Reeves’ Wick is as stoic and one liner spouting as ever, the stylish cinematography is back and we get some glimpses of brilliant gun play. If this film is as good as the original it will be fantastic. If this film – dare I say it – surpasses the original then it might just blow my movie loving mind.
John Wick: Chapter 2 drops February 10, 2017. You can check out the trailer below:
So what do you think of the John Wick: Chapter 2 trailer? Feel free to comment below.
For more sweet gun action you can check out my review of action sci fi Equilibrium here and for more action revenge flicks you can check out my review of Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2 here. And for more action packed movie reviews you can follow me on Twitter @suprememango012 for updates and other cool stuff.
Julien is outie like a navel. l8rs
2 Comments