Any time a trailer gets released for an up-and-coming action movie, I always get excited. It’s immediately put on my list of movies that I need to see. When I heard that they were making a sequel to John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, I was ecstatic. If you’re like me, and you’ve been waiting for the sequel since you saw the original, or you just want to go and see a movie with a lot of action and gunfire, or you’re looking for any movie to see that isn’t a part of the Fifty Shades franchise, John Wick: Chapter 2 is a great film to take the time to go and see on the big screen. Let me tell you why, and I promise, I’ll keep it spoiler-free:

The Fight Scenes: This goes without saying, but I’m still going to say it. Like any good action movie, like any well-done film revolving around a hitman, the John Wick saga delivered amazing fight scenes throughout the entirety of both the films. Reeves is just the right balance of dramatic and realistic as he fights he way through numerous people attempting to stop him in his tracks. It’s bloody, so if that’s not something you can handle I would keep that in mind. His tasks and fights range from, “This is strictly business,” to, “This is up-close and extremely personal.” One thought that was in my head while watching it all unfold was, “Wow. This guy must be immune to pain at this point,” because it seemed like nothing was capable of injuring him enough to stop him. Using everything from machine guns to pencils, he kills his way across the globe, from New York all the way to Rome.

Location, Location, Location: Like I mentioned, this film takes you away from home for a little while. Chapter 2 does a really good job of emphasizing just how far John Wick’s reputation travels. Both films build him up to be a legend in the assassin field, but the sequel really drives the point home. He walks into numerous shops and other locations all the way in Rome and is immediately recognized and people jump to assist him. (Well, for the most part. Like anyone who is good at what they do, there’s always going to be someone out to get you. He’s used to that by this point though.) Ever been to an Italian rave? Me neither. But you get to go to one while you’re traveling with John Wick. Not to mention, there's a shoot-out in a house of mirrors. You get to go everywhere from the seedy underground of New York City, to the catacombs of Italy, and Reeves is your personal guide.

No Dogs Were Harmed in This Story: Let me clarify, the filming of both John Wick films didn’t result in the injuring or maltreatment of any of our furry friends. However, the storyline of the first John Wick film starts with him being motivated to get back into the field of assassination after one of his enemies kills his dog. Extremely sad, but I have never been more sympathetic to a homicidal rampage than one that is inspired by the avenging of a beloved pet. Wick had my support from the get-go of the first film, a film which ended with him getting another four-legged companion. All throughout Chapter 2 I was so afraid that something was going to happen to his new pet. However, the end credits rolled and John Wick’s dog was still happily walking beside his owner. All was well.

Officer Jimmy: Officer Jimmy is a cop who made a brief appearance in the first John Wick film. Their relationship is a pretty great one, if you ask me. Since everyone and their mother knows who John Wick is and what he does, no one really asks him about it. Officer Jimmy is always the cop who shows up on the scene when authorities are called out to Wick’s house. Their verbal exchanges are a little shot of comic relief into such an action-packed and intense film. It was great to see him make another appearance in Chapter 2. It was a small thing, but for those who watched the first film it was even funnier to see him again in the second.

The All-Star Cast: Casting Reeves as your lead is a good start for any film saga. But John Wick: Chapter 2 had stars appearing all over the place. In this movie Reeves got to work with an old friend, Laurence Fishburne. Fishburne ends up playing an extremely important role, and if there is a third movie, I believe that we are going to be seeing him again. Along with Fishburne, Ruby Rose was also part of the Chapter 2 cast. Ruby Rose plays a kickass assassin and agent who is out to get Wick like her life depends on it. And, when dealing with someone like Wick, your life does depend on it. There are also cameos from John Leguizamo and of course Ian McShane, because how would a John Wick film work without the brains behind the operation?

The Characters: Again, this seems like it would go without saying. John Wick himself is a really great character, especially considering that so much about him is essentially a large question mark. But Chapter 2 did some really cool things with their characters. For one thing, there was more diversity in this film over all, and that is always nice to see. There was a little more gender and racial diversity in this film, which is a simple thing that goes a long way. But, the coolest thing (at least to me) in regards to the characters, was that John Wick: Chapter 2 had a character that communicated solely through sign language. Very few movies in general, let alone action films, have characters that communicate through the use of sign language. But the character played by Ruby Rose went the whole film communicating in sign language, and Reeves's character responded in kind, which I thought was also a nice touch as well.

I could go on and on about why John Wick: Chapter 2 is a film that you should take yourself to see, but eventually I would just be giving away the entire plot. It's a great action movie though, and you can appreciate it whether or not you saw the first film. For these reasons and many more, I would check your local movie times so you can go and see Keanu Reeves fight some more bad guys.