The Equalizer 2

Die erste halbe Stunde mit der Vorstellung der Figuren ist schablonenmäßig. Der folgende Start sieht solide aus und wenn die Karten aufgedeckt werden, wirkt der Film vielversprechend. Der Schauplatz am Ende hat eine prima Atmosphäre, die hohen Erwartungen einer Katharsis-Vergeltung werden jedoch nicht erfüllt. Der interessante Schuft und alle seine Gliedmaßen sollten mehr Raum bekommen, eine individuelle Dimension. Anstatt des überflüssigen 30-minütigen Anfangs. Dann wäre es ein Knaller und es würde mich auch nicht stören, dass der Grund für den Eingriff in Brüssel, mit dem alles angefangen hat, nicht erklärt wurde. (21.09.2018)

As the first movie was a nice chillout before going to bed, I thought to myself that the second one wouldn’t be much worse. And it wasn’t. It was nothing that would offend anyone. A bit of a techno-thriller, the type that Tony Scott used to make years ago, and now Antoine Fuqua picked up the baton. (25.04.2019)

Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington together again. The first part is very high among my favourite films, so the sequel had a hard time in many ways and of course it doesn't have the same quality as the first one, but it is still a decent old-school action thriller. Denzel is still the same, he's hardly aged, he's still fit, his acting is impeccable and his quirky antics are some of the best to be found here. The action is surprisingly less, apart from the smaller short disposals there is only the big final set-piece where the setting is well chosen. The pace is slower, but the film doesn't get boring, it passes quickly, the side lines are interesting and it is nicely suspenseful at times. What sucks is that there is not much R-rated action, the villain Marton Csokas from the first film is unbeatable and it annoyed me that the train scene in the trailer was cut from the film. All in all, a minor disappointment, but I certainly don't regret going to the cinema. P.S. I'm glad to see Pedro Pascal getting more and more screen time after Narcos (Kingsman and here), and the future looks promising as well. 75%. (17.08.2018)

Denzel Washington brings exactly what you'd expect from a movie with Equalizer 2. Still the same well-acted and interesting hero, tough guy action and a slightly simpler script. But the main story doesn't drag as much as last time and even the villain is weaker, but it's still enough for an above average old-school thriller. (15.08.2018)

Exactly what you’d expect from the sequel of a film that relies almost entirely on the main character and cool, flashy direction with elements for effect. Paradoxically, Equalizer 2 feels like there is more of everything, more supporting characters, more Washington speaking into the soul, a better understanding of the main character and his history. Fuqua still manages cool moments and solid action, but the main villain fails, classic plot twist included. The action was better in in the first film, as more was not expected it, so there was no need to experiment with the story. The blustery ending is interestingly shot, but with poor tension, it makes you miss the supermarket scene of the first film. And, unfortunately, the fact that Melissa Leo (a woman) in a supporting role has the best fight in the whole film is also quite tragic. (23.08.2018)