Humanity Hallows Issue 5 Out Now
Pick up your copy on campus or read online
By Jordan Murphy
When I watched John Wick back in 2014, I didn’t know what I was letting myself in for. It sounded like a typical action flick where a one-man army takes down a well-armed militia. I persisted and it turned out to be not only the best film of 2014, but one of the best action films period. With its stylised action, ‘gun-fu,’ and KEANU, John Wick delivered in a big way. So how does John Wick: Chapter 2 fair?
It gives me great pleasure to say that John Wick: Chapter 2, directed by Chad Stahelski, is on par with the original. Picking up from where the original left off, the film once again stars Keanu Reeves as the moody hit-man who is out for blood when certain circumstances force John back into the fold.
It’s hard for any film to match the original, but this film delivers. The action is as stylish as the first, with scenes rivaling the famous nightclub sequence. As well as this, the lore and universe created in the first film is expanded even more.
It must be said, however, that Keanu Reeves is not a very good actor and he’s no different in this film. Most of his scenes feel wooden and forced, and with such impeccable performances around him it really shows. But saying that, I couldn’t see anybody else playing the role as well as Reeves does. This comes down to the way he dedicates himself to the action sequences; often he performs his own stunts and this adds a certain authenticity.
John Wick 2 doesn’t hold back any punches when it comes to violence; it’s much gorier than the first, the director gets more ‘creative’ and in turn I found myself wincing as the bodies dropped. Much like in the first film, John Wick is a machine; he doesn’t stop till either he or his targets are dead. It’s incredible how John Wick is still portrayed as the underdog, again going alone against a small militia with countless expendables. However, in many scenes the coin is flipped.
This is an incredibly fun movie to watch. The cinematography is sublime with scenes feeding off each other and, apart from a slow first hour, there is no rest between fights. This could have been a potential negative but the film is shot is such a stylish way that the none-relenting action just flies by.
When John Wick was first released in 2014, it took audiences by surprise and in turn was highly regarded as one of the best action films of the modern era. John Wick: Chapter 2 is no different, everything about this film feels as good as the first. Though it could be a case of ‘been there, done that,’ the stylish action keeps it from feeling stale. Possibly one of the best action films of modern times.
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