John Wick: Chapter Two: Burns the Candle at Both Ends

If you are looking for a change-of-pace from your "Mindfulness" meditations, you may want to consider this non-stop action movie!  This film begins right after the first one ("John Wick" - 2014) left off.  John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has "retired"  from his profession as a peerless assassin and is living a secluded life, except for the company of his pitbull.  He is still grieving the loss of his wife, Helen (Bridget Moynahan). One evening, Santino D'Antonio (Ricardo Scamarcio) pays him a visit.  Santino insists that John come out of retirement in order to kill his sister, who has a seat at the "High Table," an international organized crime group.  He wants to fill her then-vacant seat in order to enhance his power.  John refuses, claiming he "isn't the same man anymore."  However, Santino has John's "blood-oath" marker, so John has no choice but to accept the mission.  Unfortunately for John, Santino's sister is very well-protected.  Even if he kills her, then just about every "hit-man" in the world will be coming after him. Although beyond violent (at least 150 killings and probably even more), this fun, suspenseful movie has a couple of great car chases as well as many hand-to-hand, knife, and gun fights.  The plot is decent and Keanu Reeves is great in the role, with just the right amounts of rage, vulnerability, and even compassion.  The film also has some dark humor for comic relief.  I enjoyed it so much - as did my son, Noah (17) - that we are going to rent the original film soon.