Covil de Ladrões 2

Den of Thieves: Pantera follows up Den of Thieves from 2018 but is not in the same league. It feels formulaic all the way though and a little forced. Not an awful movie but below the standard set by the original.

Gerard Butler returns and looks even less in shape with every passing movie, and this one seems to deal with this fact by giving his character food to shout past in almost every scene which gets a tad annoying.

This time the action takes place mainly in Nice, France with an attempt to steal diamonds. Set pieces are adequate but as mentioned the acting feels a little forced and the whole movie is not as satisfying as the original and the runtime too long.

Worth a watch and under another title would have been adequate but not of the same quality as the first movie unfortunately.

This film isn't nearly as action packed as the first. Most of the movie is dialogue, and there's very little action that's reserved for the end of the film. But the story helps add to the story of the first film. There's a fun relationship between Nick and Donnie that helps this film stand on its own, and there's arguably more humor this time around. Both films have a lot to offer, just in different ways.

There are some confusing story elements this time around, interesting characters are introduced that don't seem to contribute to the story at all, and the climax you keep waiting for never comes. This movie is all about story, but it doesn't need as much action to still be entertaining.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera is an entertaining sequel that captures the essence of a high-stakes heist with a Grand Theft Auto mission feel. While it doesn't surpass its predecessor, it delivers solid action and suspense, keeping you on the edge of your seat. However, a few missteps in pacing and scope prevent it from reaching its full potential.

What I Liked 1. The Heist Execution: The film's innovative, detailed approach to planning and executing the heist was highlighted, offering nail-biting tension during the climax.

2. Action Sequences: The gunfights and tactical moves were not just well-executed, they were pulse-pounding, keeping the adrenaline high and the audience fully engaged.

3. Character Dynamics: Gerard Butler's cop character dipping into criminal waters added an intriguing dynamic, making the story more than just a heist. From the beginning, Oshea's character growth and commitment to his skills keep you invested in the characters.

What I Didn't Like 1. Overextended Scale: The international setting felt unnecessarily grand, losing the first film's intimate, gritty charm.

2. Pacing Issues: The first half dragged significantly, making the 2-hour 20-minute runtime feel bloated.

3. Predictable Twist: While the ending twist added intrigue, it was telegraphed too early, diminishing its impact.

Final Thoughts

If you enjoyed the first Den of Thieves, you'll likely appreciate this sequel for its thrilling heist and action-packed moments, but temper expectations. The film trades its predecessor's smaller, sharper focus for a grander yet less cohesive narrative.

Recommendation: Watch it if you're in the mood for a fun, action-heavy heist movie. It's not groundbreaking, but it's worth a trip to the theater .

Rating: 3.5/5 or 7/10 or B-: An enjoyable sequel.

Slap a different name or main characters on it and it's a passable action hiest movie, trying to call it a sequel to Den of Thieves is just disrespectful to the first one.

The first crew were tight, controlled, and meant business. In this one we have only Donnie and Nick and some generic stand ins who we don't know or get to know, so we don't care for them at all.

The action scenes in part 1 were phenomenal and well shot and acted. In this one they were sloppy and felt forced. Especially at the end of the car chase, truly after an all night drive to escape and THAT'S where they meet up with what's his face.... sure, that wasn't immensely convenient...

The heist itself wasn't terrible, it felt real enough with a few minor issues.

A staffing of 6 or so guards for the world diamond exchange.... 2 guys to clear the whole building???? They didn't even have radios when clearing ffs.

During the escape chase, the entire city of Nice is practicially empty because.... just because.

Ad placement takes on a whole new level of idiocy in most newer movies, this time Porsche (Volkswagen group) and Audi were the focus.

The ending also not very convincing, Nick does what he does and then just passes on this info that isn't even helpful... "sit back left" not a single shot fired and "back left" isn't actually a seat position, rear passenger or driver side is. Back left depends on your orientation.

Had anyone else delivered the info though it would've made more sense.

Story ~ 6 ⭐ Unfortunately, the story was not fully developed. It felt lackluster. Just, maaaah. It had all the ingredients of an acceptable script, but it lacked high stakes. There was not nearly enough pressure put on the two leads. It had a great hook at the beginning, but then it dragged on trying to build character or story or ... so there it is, it just tried and never succeeded at being special. There is one scene where the film focuses on backstory and character. Just one, all jammed into one. It's noticeable.

Acting ~ 6 ⭐ Gerard is a long way off from Sparta here. His performance wasn't moving; it lacked emotion and nuance. The 2nd lead, O'Shea Jackson Jr., well how can I put this nicely ... was not as good as Gerard. There was no chemistry between the leads. It just was not there. They tried to add a romance sub-plot but that failed too. Enough said.

Cinematography ~ 8 ⭐ The cinematography was saved by the sweeping drone shots and the chase scene. It was good but not great. I think I'm being generous here. The landscape where this film was shot is breathtaking. They were smart to spend a lot of money on drone work. It's a pretty film, but nothing spectacular.

Some Commentary I was excited to see this movie, mainly because of the trailer-it's got a killer trailer. While in the theater, I kept hope, saying to myself, okay now it is going to ramp up and change for the better, but it plateaued and never did. The gravy never thickened.

There's a formula in Hollywood that big studios use. It goes something like (Name Actors + cool stunts + marketing = box office). There are of course numbers and multiples attached to this equation. This movie felt like it was plugged into the equation and shown to be profitable, then green-lit.

My Advice Wait and see it on Prime Video. It's still fun, but not theater fun. Or, go watch it and let me know in the comments if you agree or disagree. Until next time.