Code 8 Part II (2024)

Way to ruin a good movie.

Instead of Nia we now have a traumatized and expressionless kid. Instead of guardians we have dogs. Instead of crooks we have cops - though they always were crooks too weren't they? And our key characters from the first movie are back, replaying their roles in a similar manner, though going through all the rungs of trust required to get there, again.

Conner in particular lost quite a bit of time...

It's a story of sacrifice, more so than crime. But the sacrifice feels lesser than it did with the first one. It's the same old same old, though now with more slowmo and focus on the electric, and yet they still don't manage to make it look all that great. It still felt more intense in the first.

I wonder if the robotic dogs are actual robot dogs though. Boston Dynamics, possibly?

The camouflage dude was a cool addition too. The scene where he hides behind the crates, before the police discover him: Very well done.

It's not a bad movie entirely, but it's definitely a repeat, and also lackluster compared to the first.

I was kinda hyped to see there was another - and potentially all the more relevant to present day - sequel this very year. I shouldn't have been. I might have liked this way better without the hype.

What I like least though is probably how Conner ended up going through a so unnecessary five years of punishment after the previous one, and yet didn't end up better for it. He seems weaker; dumber; defeated...

And Garett has become almost a replacement for the main role, more than a potential redemption.

Kinda. You'll see if you see it.

I would've liked this to be... different.

And more.

 rated 3.5/5: not bad at all