The anticipated return of a famed boogeyman assassin to theaters earlier this year now debuts on ultra high-definition format to highlight every one of his 116 kills in the action-packed John Wick: Chapter 2 (Lionsgate Home Entertainment, rated R, 122 minutes, 2.40:1 aspect ratio, $42.99).
Director Chad Stahelski brings back his best buddy Keanu Reeves to deliver another performance about a broken man of few words but deadly actions as Mr. Wick finds himself caught up in an Italian Mafia purge.
Forced to come out of retirement and complete a mission from crime lord Santino D’Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) to assassinate his sister Gianna (Claudia Gerini), after the boss calls in a sacred marker, the assassin must not only complete his task but fight for his life after a bounty is put on his head by Santino.
The stunt work, vehicle acrobatics and gun play are first rate throughout as this killing machine literally uses close-quarter, Judo-style combat and headshots to eliminate dozens of foes in a matter of minutes.
When not attacking, Mr. Reeves is at his best when he plays off scene-munching performances by Ian McShane as the head of the Hotel Continental (a plush safehouse for assassins hotel); Common as Gianna’s bodyguard chief; and Laurence Fishburne as a New York underground crime boss with a fondness of pigeons, as well as showing off a neck scar delivered by Mr. Wick.
Best of all, no dogs, just rogues, die in Mr. Wick’s latest cinematic adventure that concludes with a tantalizing ending screaming for an even deadlier sequel.
4K UHD in action: A great-looking, ultra high-definition upscale transfer from the 2K source material really kicks in during all of the scenic locales that often play as death arenas for Mr. Wick’s brand of violence.
Viewers will marvel at the stark clarity of a room adorned with Greco-Roman god statuary in Rome’s Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art (Galleria Nazionale Arte Moderna) that eventually becomes blood splattered and littered with bodies.
Equally stunning is the detail of a painting of the Italian Civil War where a seated Mr. Wick learns of his mission.
Better yet, vivid nighttime views of the ruins of Italy’s Baths of Caracalla, lit up for an unusual concert, as well as the catacombs where another bloodbath takes place really benefit from high dynamic range enhancements.
Equally impressive is a close-quarter fight scene taking place in a museum exhibit filled with a funhouse’s worth of mirrors and multicolored lighting, reminiscent of Bruce Lee’s struggles at the end of “Enter the Dragon.”
Best extras: A more-than-welcomed optional commentary track offers thoughts from Mr. Reeves and the director. It’s probably the most I ever heard the actor speak about a film or actually speak.
It is not a non-stop discussion but still loaded with background on the production, often touching on the intricate stunt work, challenges on stunt driving, the fun of completing a flying drift car maneuver with a Ford Mustang Mach 1 and revealing when Mr. Reeves actually performed a stunt (he executed many).
The actor often interviews the director on specifics, comments on his appreciation of the filming process and even laughs on occasion, a rare event for Mr. Reeves.
Fans will also dive into over an hour of featurettes that look at the intricate fight choreography, weapons, vehicle destruction, stunt rehearsals, the life of an assassin, success of the first film, the relationship between director and Mr. Reeves, as well as an actual body count of Mr. Wick’s handiwork over the entire film (compressed into three-minute segment).
• Joseph Szadkowski can be reached at jszadkowski@washingtontimes.com.
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