John Wick (2014)

The film breathes exhilarating life into a tired revenge premise through dazzling action choreography and a strong anti-hero performance from Keanu Reeves. The directors, veteran stuntmen, deliver confident, well-choreographed fight scenes without shaky-cam or excessive editing.

Keanu Reeves successfully reinvents himself as a former assassin in this lovingly nostalgic shoot-em-up from stunt pros turned directors. It is an enthusiastically violent slice of escapism devoted to old-school practical action techniques.

The critic praises the film's nonstop action sequences and Reeves' return to form in a kinetic revenge thriller. They single out the directors' skillful framing of fight scenes for praise.

The critic praises the inventive, precise gunplay and choreography in the action sequences, noting the film's self-aware humor and Reeves' strong performance. The thin plot serves mainly to deliver stylish violence.

Keanu Reeves delivers his best performance in years in this slick redemption-based actioner. The directors stage the fight scenes with respect for their performers and give the sequences breathing room.

The sleek revenge tale jabs above its weight class with Keanu Reeves' physicality and a mix of humor and expertly choreographed hyper-violence. It's a B movie made with A-student love for the thrill of bodies in brutal motion.

The critic calls it a slick, propulsive and ridiculous crime picture with confidence and élan that twists genre conventions to exhilarating effect. They single out the fierce clarity of the action choreography by debut directors Stahelski and Leitch and the refreshing world-building around a hotel for contract killers.

The review highlights the film's beautiful, stylized violence and Reeves' mythic presence, praising its aesthetic ambitions over moral ones and singling out the fluid action choreography.

The review highlights the well-choreographed action and the film's graphic novel-like world, commending Reeves' fitting role while noting it feels like a stuntman's showcase with some ridiculousness.

The crafty revenge thriller delivers with style and wit, making the execution of a familiar story near flawless despite limited substance. Director Chad Stahelski proves an elegant choreographer of fluid, coherent fight scenes.

Reeves reminds viewers what a compelling action star he can be while the director makes a remarkably satisfying debut with clean, efficient action. The material is generic but delivered with suave elegance and spectacular set pieces.

The critic notes the film's competent B-movie action but criticizes its lack of ambition and substance, praising the clear action framing while complaining about repetitive elements and thin themes.

The cleanly designed shoot-em-up sequences are manna for action fans, but the revenge plotting is deeply dopey. The co-directors have designed the movie with an eye for impact and elegant sparseness.

The critic praises the film's unique crime underworld and grounded, intense action choreography in long takes, while noting some conventional plot conveniences as minor flaws. It's an inventive action movie.

The critic calls the film a violent, stylish B-movie that stands out for its old-school action approach with long takes and choreography rather than quick cuts. It is ludicrous yet ludicrously entertaining despite a thin premise.

The critic praises the clean, efficient action choreography and the intriguing criminal underworld with its rules and codes, but faults the half-hearted storytelling, lack of memorable action moments, and the film's safe, mechanical approach to revenge.

The critic praises Keanu Reeves' return to action form but expresses uncertainty about the rest of the film overall. It may appeal strongly to fans of the star and the genre.