John Wick: Chapter 2 begins soon after the first film. It is revealed that when he was able to retire as a professional killer he had to provide a "Marker", a sort of promise to do any one thing for the person he gave it to. Unfortunately, this means that John is unable to settle down and returns back into the killing world. While the first film gave a personal and justifiable motivation for John's killing spree, it just doesn't feel the same in Chapter 2. The sequel doubles down on the violence, with blood spattering and even kills with the much mentioned pencil, but at no point do you feel the same feeling that John is righteous in his quest for revenge. Nevertheless, there is still a really good reason for John's rampage (i.e. the big bad has sent people out to kill him). It takes a long while before the action truly starts, which can feel dragged out especially compared to the original. John's character remain charismatic and it is always interesting to see how the underworld works with its connections. Overall, John Wick: Chapter 2 may not top the original with its plot, but we still get plenty more of the same kind of fist fights and gun fights that makes it very watchable.