Release Date: February 10, 2017.
Production company: Lionsgate
Duration: 122 mins
Budget: $40m
Box-Office: $166.8m
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishbourne, Ian McShane, etc.
Rinzy’s Rating: 4.5/5
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Remember how I ended the review for John Wick and said he rode into the sunset? Well, the second installment in this franchise proved me wrong. The first part was such a success that a sequel has been released, and another on the way.
The second installment (rightly titled, Chapter 2) adds more flesh to the mythology of John Wick
John thought he was free to go back to his hiding spot, but he thought wrong. Italian crime lord, Santino D’Antonio, comes to him demanded the payment of a Marker owed him. It’s revealed that when John set out to retire and marry Helen, Santino’s help made the impossible task possible after John swore to a Marker. A Marker is an oath tied by blood to a medallion. John refused, claiming he was out. Hurt, Santino responded by blowing up John’s house.
John goes to visit Winston at the Continental Ground in New York for advice. Winston says something very important. He claimed there are two unbreakable laws:
- No killing on continental grounds
- All markers must be honoured
He adviced John honours the Marker and execute whatever revenge fantasy he has for Santino later. John agrees.
D’Antonio’s request’s for John to kill his sister, Gianna D’Antonio so that he can claim her seat at the High Table, a council of high level crime lords. By the time John meets up with Gianna in Rome it is revealed they’re acquaintances. He let’s her take her life before putting a bullet in her head. He incurs the wrath of Gianna’s bodyguard, Cassian, who pursues him to up lengths until they crash into another Continental Ground. Santino betrayed John by sending his goons on him once the Marker was completed. Worse was the bounty of $7m put on John’s head by Santino under the guide of avenging his sister. All the assassins that came for him including Cassien are unsuccessful.
John makes an alliance with the Bowery King, which gives us a reunion between Keanu Reeves and Lawrence Fisburn (Matrix duo).
Santino evades John long enough to seek shelter at Winston’s Continental Ground. Santino taunts John with a possible fact that he could stay at the hotel for as long as their indefinite menu runs. John shoots him point blank and drops his gun on the table, replying Winston’s question with, “I’m done.”
For breaking one of the unbreakable rules, Winston punishes John (painfully) by excommunucating him. For old time sake, he gives him an hour headstart before signalling every assassin of the underworld to go after him. John responds, “I’ll kill them all.”
Rinzy Reviews 