...
Yeah, it's pretty much exactly what I remembered: an overlong, self-indulgent, nonsensical mess. With proper editing, it would probably lose at least 50% of its runtime. Even the highway chase scene, which I remembered as the best part of it, was at least twice as long as it should've been to carry any real emotional/narrative weight.
it's so bizarre, given how well-constructed the first movie is; there isn't a single wasted scene, and arguably not even a wasted moment. Everything that happens is either foreshadowing or followthrough, whether for characters, themes, or plot. The fight scenes all matter. Each one has some kind of internal narrative going on. The characters are all likeable or interesting or necessary for the story to function.
None of that is true for the sequel. I wanted to like it. I wanted it to prove my memories wrong. Didn't happen. :(
We'll be watching the third movie next week. Not hopeful it'll redeem itself. :P