John Wick 2

A really great action picture has a choreographic finesse that lends it some grace and assurance rivaled only by musicals. It comes as no surprise that stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski helmed both the original John Wick picture in 2014 and its latest sequel - John Wick 2; these are films that comprehend the visual power of bodies in motion on a molecular level. While not precisely a ballet, one might argue that the pleasures afforded by action films of this caliber originate less from plots than from the thrill of witnessing grace-in-motion, albeit with AK-47s instead of tutus.

In terms of plot, the John Wick flicks purposely tread lightly. The first John Wick movie is a conventional retribution story in which the protagonist, a former assassin, avenges the death of his beloved dog Daisy.

What John Wick 2 lacks is comparable eloquence, but it successfully makes up for that lack with audacity: this time around, the main character, John Wick, is the target of a $7 million contract, causing a slew of former coworkers to pursue him in order to collect their money.

Year of Release: 2017

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%