Murdering people over a dog part is still plausible. But the secret assassin organization where they pay for services using secret gold coins and talk about guns like fine wine, that was just a bit over the top.

Well…

The first movie feels like it could take place in the real world. That society as we know it exists, drug cartels and mafias and all, and the organized criminals have worked out a deal with a hotel owner. When a gun fight erupts in a night club, everyone screams and runs away.

The second movie blows that all up; everyone is a secret underground hitman pretending to be a normal civilian, the hotel owner is a quasi-religious figurehead who only fears the Truly Evil Council, and when a gun fight erupts at a concert, everyone cheers.

They came up with a cool setting and then shoved it straight up its own ass.

We were talking about the action scenes being believable.

I saw this movie in theaters with no expectations, and I’ve seen a lot of action movies in theaters. There was a palpable shift in that moment, a few people audibly gasped, and then we were all on board.

He doesn’t kill anyone that doesn’t have it coming, most of them many times over. He lets the bouncer go, makes peace with Viggo’s brother, lets Cassian live, and honestly seems to just want to live in peace after he sends a bunch of souls for judgement. It’s like Creasy in Man on Fire; forgiveness is between them and God, it’s up to him to arrange the introduction.

He got beat to within an inch of his life in his own house after making a deal never to be bothered again.