John Wick 1 is incredibly overrated here.. It doesn't have half the creativity in the action scenes that JW 2 and 3 have
Sure, 2 and 3 have more varied/creative set-pieces. Escalation is the nature of sequels.
Not being as creative as the sequels doesn't diminish Wick 1 in any way, because John Wick easily the best-paced and most narratively-effective of the three.
What I've come to really appreciate in action movies, as much as clarity and choreography, is a sense of purposeful momentum. Where the story and action are interwoven rather than the spectacle being gratuitous. John Wick 1 absolutely excels at this. Every set-piece is the exclamation point at the end of masterful build-up. Each one drives the plot forward or reveals new facets of John or expands the world. Every action scene tells us something new and none overstay their welcome. Each is different in their own way
Also, the drama in the first act is legitimately effective, which makes the action that much more compelling. The first movie is like an onion, each act revealing new layers. Oh, poor guy just lost his wife, gets a cute dog. Oh, he can speak Russian, huh. Asshole gangster kills the dog. Oh, he's a famous assassin. Oh, there's a whole assassin underground with their own rules. And so on
Chapter 2 is actually my favorite of the three, due to the expanded universe and grander scope, but the first John Wick is praised so much for a lot of reason and it's not just because its action scenes are so great.