Código: Imperador

This is a very well-crafted story about a shady operative who comes to have doubts about what he is doing. The acting and script are top knotch, and the pace and timing of the plot are measured enough so you can grasp all the complexity of the overlapping storylines while also keeping your attention, not to mention keeping you guessing. The only off note concerns the operation in Panama, which was an unnecessary distraction. Missing are the excessive blood and explosions which seem to be required in all "action" films these days, and that added a star to my rating. A film that does not insult your intelligence.

Netflix writes (on TV - not on computer, the texts differ) In this fast-paced spy thriller.... Hmm..., I could undo the seatbelt, however, because "fast-paced", now not so for me. Nevertheless, the cast does its job well, a very sympathetic Alexandra Masangkay, as a Filipino worker, Luis Tosar, I see since "The Minions of Midas" quite like and Arón Piper you know together with Georgina Amorós from "Élite".

The story is quite solid, quieter than expected but with several plot lines and leads the one or the other viewer sometimes on the slippery slope.

Basically, the agent Luis Tosar is in the foreground here with the moral question of how far he is willing to go. He manages to embody warm-heartedness and brutality in one person and until the end you don't know where the development with him is going.

Action should not be expected from this, but those who want to get involved in various machinations of the secret service and their consequences would have an alternative to the usual agent films with this film.

------------ Conclusion: Quite good - can be done.

A master builder tear down an empire from top to bottom in this delightful spy thriller. Thorough precise work by Luis Tosar brings a veteran presence to the movie. This is the kind of thriller that does work without the the common fire works and car chases. It's a rarity to come across a plot with true cinematic value. Code name Emperor's main character Juan is the kind of whistleblowers our world need. In a world where men and women made into puppets using data or the secrets Juan's character finds empathy and that emotions are carefully performed. The societal and political commentary is excellent. Code Name Emperor in these regards is an excellent movie.

It's not usually how spy movies are treated. This one takes a different tack in exploring the subject of political blackmail and manipulation by means of electronic surveillance. It's an engaging story without any dull moment as pacing is just right.

Luis Tosar is his usual great self as a talented actor. What might be surprising is casting an otherwise unknown actress with Filipino descent. And she acquits herself admirably. May this vehicle help Alexandra Masangkay's film career. The producers might have included her for the sake of inclusivity but they did not err in their choice or gambit, if you like.

This is a thoughtful film. Don't expect a surfeit of action sequences ala James Bond or Jason Bourne. But it drives home an important point: the things men do to exploit the weakness of others for their nefarious ends.

Código Emperador succeeds in creating an interesting spy plot, but fails to generate tension, deviating a few times from the main story to deal with side missions that do not add to the plot.

Juan is an intelligence agent, a detective, as he puts it, but, at least to me, it is not clear if he is an official agent of Spanish Intelligence or if he is a private detective who ends up working for Intelligence. The fact is that Juan is an expert in espionage for a corrupt organization and ends up getting too involved in a case.

The premise is the classic story of the spy who lets his human side surface. His work begins to flog him morally, which leads him to accept risks he once avoided. And of course, this doesn't go unnoticed.

Some minor plots are only for character building. These are acceptable plots, but they deviate from the focus of the two main plots, stories A and B, that make up the film.

The outcome ends up disappointing for its brevity. Many holes remain open, instigating a possible sequel; but with the film's success, it looks like Code Emperador will be a one-time entry.