JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (Dragonlord's Review)

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Dragon, ill be surprised if you noticed this but if you did, that alone answers my question..

Is there a hip, 'cool' musical back drop, primarily with electric guitars that play at each beginning of a fight scene?

Cuz i dont know.a.fight is happening without a guitar outburst...

The music is similar to the first one and there's music during the fight scenes.

 

[dissolved]

My review for the first John Wick.

http://forums.sherdog.com/threads/john-wick-official-thread-dragonlords-review.2824801/

Not totally sure since things could change after second viewing but I think I like the first film a bit more because of the things I mentioned in the 4th paragraph in my John Wick 2 review.

Usually sequels having a hard time matching a great original, so I would imagine this would be the case here. If your 4th paragraph is the main negative, that doesn't sound too bad though.

I see you ranked both an 8/10. Cool, they must be quite comparable.

 

[The Clinch]

Peter Stormare?

Are him and Reeves as good in this together as they were in Constantine?

 

[monsterxmonster]

Oh man, I was nervous opening this thread up. I (unexpectedly) loved the first movie so much that I was terrified this one was going to suck. Glad to read otherwise.

 

[monsterxmonster]

Wait a minute... Serafinowicz is in this?

 

[erhnamdjinn]

yehey didnt know this already came out now I have a date movie with the wife instead of friggin 50 shades ughhh. Loved the first movie glad too know you like the sequel also.

 

[Strychnine]

I'm watching this one Tomorrow or Friday.

 

[TrueBias]

The music is similar to the first one and there's music during the fight scenes.

Ugh.

 

[One MMA Fan]

yehey didnt know this already came out now I have a date movie with the wife instead of friggin 50 shades ughhh. Loved the first movie glad too know you like the sequel also.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Peter Stormare?

Are him and Reeves as good in this together as they were in Constantine?

Not really a spoiler but I'll just put it in a spoiler box just in case.

Spoiler

Keanu and Peter Stormare together were fine. They only had a few seconds of screen time together.

 

[heavyarms21]

Update: February 8, 2017

Dragonlord's Review of JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (No Spoilers)

Bottom Line: Offers the same stylish gun-fu gunplay, gleefully brutal car carnage and lavish assassin underworld setting that made the first film so fun to watch.

John Wick: Chapter 2 doesn't waste time and opens immediately in the middle of a high-octane car chase scene. John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on a mission to retrieve his Mustang from the first film which is now in the possession of Russian mob boss Abram Tasarov (Peter Stormare). What follows is a series of incredible car stunts which culminates in a crazy action sequence that literally throws John out of the car.

It isn't long before John is approached by an old associate Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) who collects on
is a series of incredible car stunts which culminates in a crazy action sequence that literally throws John out of the car.

It isn't long before John is approached by an old associate Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) who collects on John's marker for one last job. John goes to Rome and squares off against some of the world's deadliest killers.

Chad Stahelski returns as the sole director for the sequel and even without his partner David Leitch, he doesn't seem to have lost a beat. There is a misstep though during the early fight scene when the camera focused on a wide shot of the action with little to no cuts. Though it's appreciated they're trying out something new, it didn't quite work well in this instance as the hand-to-hand combat seemed a little clunky. Thankfully it was just this one instance and everything was back to top form afterwards.

The first John Wick was a revenge film with righteous intentions and a surprisingly romantic undertone. In this sequel, John's motivation, aside from self-preservation, is less than noble which makes it a bit harder to fully root for his cause. John wrecks havoc against his enemies but it just lacks the same gusto the audience feel, not unlike the first film where you cheer when the deplorable villains get their comeuppance.

Keanu Reeves gives an exemplary action performance where his extensive tactical firearms and martial arts training paid off big time to transform him into a believable bad-ass action hero. His line delivery is still wooden though.

Two characters that are stood out the most in this sequel are Ares (Ruby Rose) and Cassian (Common). Ares is Santino's mute security enforcer. Ruby just has this compelling screen presence and has a great subdued chemistry with John. Common plays Cassian, an assassin seeking vengeance upon John. Cassian has a lot of great action showdown scenes with John including a very comical exchange in the subway station.

Reuniting with Keanu for the first time since the Matrix trilogy, Laurence Fishburne plays the Bowery King (sort of like the head of the hobo assassins guild). Though the reunion is amusing, Laurence's role was not that memorable, preferring to ham it up than playing it cool.

Returning for the sequel are fan-favorites Charon (Lance Reddick), Winston (Ian McShane) and Aurelio (John Leguizamo) who were all enjoyable here. Special mention to Peter Serafinowicz who was very entertaining as the refined arms dealer.

Fans of the first film will not be disappointed with John Wick: Chapter 2. The sequel offers the same stylish gun-fu gunplay, beautifully brutal automotive action and more of the rich, opulent assassin underworld that made the original film such a success.

Rating: 8/10

Update: February 8, 2017

Dragonlord's Review of JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (No Spoilers)

Bottom Line: Offers the same stylish gun-fu gunplay, gleefully brutal car carnage and lavish assassin underworld setting that made the first film so fun to watch.

John Wick: Chapter 2 doesn't waste time and opens immediately in the middle of a high-octane car chase scene. John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on a mission to retrieve his Mustang from the first film which is now in the possession of Russian mob boss Abram Tasarov (Peter Stormare). What follows is a series of incredible car stunts which culminates in a crazy action sequence that literally throws John out of the car.

It isn't long before John is approached by an old associate Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) who collects on John's marker for one last job. John goes to Rome and squares off against some of the world's deadliest killers.

Chad Stahelski returns as the sole director for the sequel and even without his partner David Leitch, he doesn't seem to have lost a beat. There is a misstep though during the early fight scene when the camera focused on a wide shot of the action with little to no cuts. Though it's appreciated they're trying out something new, it didn't quite work well in this instance as the hand-to-hand combat seemed a little clunky. Thankfully it was just this one instance and everything was back to top form afterwards.

The first John Wick was a revenge film with righteous intentions and a surprisingly romantic undertone. In this sequel, John's motivation, aside from self-preservation, is less than noble which makes it a bit harder to fully root for his cause. John wrecks havoc against his enemies but it just lacks the same gusto the audience feel, not unlike the first film where you cheer when the deplorable villains get their comeuppance.

Keanu Reeves gives an exemplary action performance where his extensive tactical firearms and martial arts training paid off big time to transform him into a believable bad-ass action hero. His line delivery is still wooden though.

Two characters that are stood out the most in this sequel are Ares (Ruby Rose) and Cassian (Common). Ares is Santino's mute security enforcer. Ruby just has this compelling screen presence and has a great subdued chemistry with John. Common plays Cassian, an assassin seeking vengeance upon John. Cassian has a lot of great action showdown scenes with John including a very comical exchange in the subway station.

Reuniting with Keanu for the first time since the Matrix trilogy, Laurence Fishburne plays the Bowery King (sort of like the head of the hobo assassins guild). Though the reunion is amusing, Laurence's role was not that memorable, preferring to ham it up than playing it cool.

Returning for the sequel are fan-favorites Charon (Lance Reddick), Winston (Ian McShane) and Aurelio (John Leguizamo) who were all enjoyable here. Special mention to Peter Serafinowicz who was very entertaining as the refined arms dealer.

Fans of the first film will not be disappointed with John Wick: Chapter 2. The sequel offers the same stylish gun-fu gunplay, beautifully brutal automotive action and more of the rich, opulent assassin underworld that made the original film such a success.

Rating: 8/10

Hell Yes definitely seeing this , this weekend. Took a mini break from the Movies recently

 

[method115]

Nice looking forward to this one. I think I'll rewatch the first one as well.

 

[Mondo Freaks]

Great! Loved the first one and excited about this one.

 

[Corona]

Stoked for this, thanks for the review DL.

 

[MMA since 1993]

Oh snap,an 8/10 from the Dragon!

I'm definitely watching this one this weekend

Any after credits scene?

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

Oh snap,an 8/10 from the Dragon!

I'm definitely watching this one this weekend

Any after credits scene?

I did not stick around at the very end.

 

[LATEXXX COMMANDO]

9.4 on IMDB with close to 3,000 votes and 97% on RT!?

Wow...

 

[Nonsense]

I literally can't remember the last time I was this excited for a movie. I am GIDDY excited. Opening night tix purchased. My daughter is at a sleepover. I am so so so so pumped.

 

[Nonsense]

@Dragonlordxxxxx John Wick is my favourite movie ever. It is my number one. I remember my hubby and I were gonna go to a movie and we were like, meh, nothing that we really want to see one, I guess we'll go see John Wick. And then I smiled this shit eating smile the whole movie long. I have watched it probably ten times. Maybe 15.

 

[Dragonlordxxxxx]

@Dragonlordxxxxx John Wick is my favourite movie ever. It is my number one. I remember my hubby and I were gonna go to a movie and we were like, meh, nothing that we really want to see one, I guess we'll go see John Wick. And then I smiled this shit eating smile the whole movie long. I have watched it probably ten times. Maybe 15.

You will not be disappointed with the sequel. It's bigger and more action-packed than the first. And I sincerely hope you have the same great movie experience with this one as you did with the first.