Code 8: Partie II

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.

People are complaining about how long it took, but I think they are forgetting that this was an Indiegogo funded movie that had COVID interfere.

The Amells thought up this movie as a brainchild and it was regular people like us who paid to have it made. It's not going to have all of the parts of a regular Hollywood movie, but considering that - it's super impressive. The effects were awesome. I don't think they will be winning any awards for story writing anytime soon, but it was still an interesting plot that held my interest and even went a few different directions than expected.

If we want movies made for the people, we have to consider the background. This wasn't some art student's crazy idea. It's good entertainment and an enjoyable watch that is worthwhile. Plus, seeing the Amells star in a movie together is totally worth it.

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.

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.

I had really liked Part 1, especially after waiting 3 long years for it after the Amell cousins dropped their short. I was really hoping with this one they would keep building on this original world they created, adding some more layers of complexity to it. Alas, they went the easy route and just did "more of the same" but with even less substance. It's basically one long chase with characters that are not explored at all; basically a waste of great potential. It is still fairly entertaining as a whole so I disagree with the really bad reviews that call it boring, but it's definitely not as good as the first one.