Code 8: Partie II

Following the sequel to the first part of the 'Code 8' led by the Amell cousins (Robbie Amell and Stephen Amell) progresses the story of the previous film while also giving a new plot to look at.

While the overall dynamic and gist of the movie remains the same throughout, if you were a fan of the previous part, you may find this one a bit underwhelming or lackluster. With that being said, this movie is still worth a watch if you have some free time to kill. Towards the end the story does get a bit tense and the villain Sergeant 'King' Kingston while portrayed as your typical manipulative villain, was still enjoyable.

With that being said, this sequel doesn't build too much upon the already existing movie and doesn't bring anything brand new to the table. Overall it's an enjoyable movie with a decent plot, although the character writing could've been a bit better.

I enjoyed the first Code 8, and I was looking forward to getting more, but instead we get less. Less superpowers, less world building, less character work, less story, and it's all around less compelling. 5 years between the two movies, and they still didn't have a story worth telling.

This Code 8 sequel feels like a copy of too many other movies I've seen. Its biggest crime is that nothing about it is very interesting or entertaining. Some movies have a great idea that is executed poorly. This movie lets down right out of the gate with a poor idea. I'm having trouble thinking of a movie with characters more forgettable than this one. I could say that about the whole movie in general. In fact, as I write this, I can already sense the movie fading away in my mind.

They could have at least amped up the usage of superpowers to create exciting and visually cool action sequences. It's strange that a movie about people with superpowers does so little with superpowers. It's like making a movie about surfers but not showing much actual surfing. It could still work I guess, if it gets us invested in what's going on with the characters, but in this case, I simply didn't care. Everyone lacks personality and there's no chemistry between anyone.

You will have to watch the first Code 8 to understand the main characters and where Part II starts, but there is a several year gap in between movies. Part II is primarily a drama movie like the first, has more action, and explores corruption within the police.

Most of what I have to say is the same as in my review of the previous film: most of the movie explores a dystopian sci-fi world following the drama and struggle of a protagonist with super powers finding his place.

In terms of overall quality, Part II was equally as interesting and entertaining as the first (for good or for worse), and I would loosely recommend it to sci-fi fans.

How can a sci fi about people with powers be boring?? But here we are.

The first one was actually engaging, and aactually offered something different than the usual mutant power people. It was low budget, yet was able to craft a decent story with very good effects.

So what happened? It felt like this story had nothing in it. If felt very formulaic, no tension, no emotional investment...no...nothing. The characters were one-dimensional, there was no story, and EVERY SINGLE person is making the worst decision ever. Everyone just stares at the threat until it is too late, no one knows how to hide and I cannot really remember any one showing a real emotion....no one.

This is a hard pass. I can almost pick the movies that was written by AI, and this was one or them.

It has been about 4 years since Code 8 Part 1 came out, and now we have this potential going to waste.

Honestly, I like Part 1 better than Part 2. Part 2 was, and I hate to say this, disappointing... I was really hoping for more. At this point, the way Part 2 was made makes it feel more like a TV show episode than an actual movie. Code 8, in general, has a lot of potential to grow, but you really need to put in investment in this. Lastly, the Code 8 universe has the potential to be much more, and it possesses an impactful charm that draws you in, unlike other superpower-based movies or shows.