What I really loved was how many of these scenes took place at night with dazzlingly lit environments all around, and the music in every scene kicks as much *** as what you see on screen.
And again, I think if you look hard enough you will find enemies who have clear shots and choose not to take them because of plot armor, but you can forgive it enough if you're rewarded with a longer take or overall longer action sequence. Whether it is how he is attacked or how they fail to attack him at the right times, he goes at every foe like the bear in The Revenant with full adrenaline and no signs of slowing down no matter what he is hit by. I'm sure this has been true of previous films as well, but it is very apparent that John Wick should virtually die in every scene that he is in. Of course though, as I said, they really lean into it.
I caught myself smiling for minutes on end several times while watching it. The amount of stunt choreography that everybody had to synchronize to was rather incredible, and they continue to find more ways to entertain us with kills, kill types, use of weapons, locations, teamwork, etc. Combat scenes are not moments so much as they are entire acts. Chad Stahelski does not pull any punches (or engage the safety) at any time in this gun-fu epic.
