My Reunion with John Wick
in Hollywood

A franchise is only as good as its sequel. That is what I've always believed about film franchises. The first movie will always be an outlier because it sets everything in motion. Whether it's good or bad doesn't matter. A franchise only flourishes if the sequel is better.

And that's exactly what John Wick: Chapter 2 did. The first John Wick was already good, and I enjoyed it plenty, but the sequel was way better. The story was more defined, the action was better choreographed, and Keanu Reeves gave a more thrilling performance.

You could tell he was in his element, and I'm about to say something controversial, but I think he was better here than in The Matrix. That's right, I said what I said! Keanu Reeves really came into his own in John Wick and gave a more masterful action performance here than in his most famous work.

I understand why many would disagree, but I compel you to see John Wick: Chapter 2 with more open eyes. Look at Reeves and how much more of a badass he is here than he was in The Matrix. I'm not saying the latter is an inferior performance, but the actor has much more confidence in the former.

I felt that confidence myself when I saw him at the movie's Hollywood premiere at ArcLight Hollywood on January 30, 2017. Though he was his serene, calm self, he stood much more firmly that night. He looked and felt secure, as if he already knew that the sequel was gonna be a hit.

In my experience, actors are usually jumpier and less calm when a sequel is about to be released. I've been to many such movie premieres myself, and I've seen firsthand how nervous they can get as they pose for the cameras and talk to the press. I actually like how human it makes them seem.

Keanu Reeves, however, was different. He looked unbothered that night, even with his long black hair and all the lights pointed right at him. He stood confidently, spoke clearly with the press, and happily engaged with us fans.

I asked him to sign my movie poster, and he did it without any hesitation. And when I shook his hand afterward, it felt warm and steady. He seemed so secure in himself that I had a feeling the movie was gonna be a hit.

Oh, and speaking of The Matrix, this sequel also reunited Reeves with Laurence Fishburne for the first time since The Matrix trilogy in the early 2000s. I didn't even care if it was stunt casting. I was excited to see them together again, and lo and behold, Fishburne ended up being one of the best parts of the film.

Fishburne, Common, and the director Chad Stahelski were the only other people I got autographs from that night. Though I wish I'd gotten more, I was more than satisfied that I managed to ask these people to sign my poster.