Criminal Squad: Pantera

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.

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.

DOT2: Pantera is a good slow burn heist film bringing the bromance or love hate relationship between our two main characters as Butler is licking the wounds from the first film inflicted by Jackson.

The nice thing about Pantera is that it takes us the Mediterranean setting as the stakes go big with the Diamond Heist (inspired by the 2003 Antwerp true event) in Nice, France with the wrong move of stealing from the Italian Mafia.

The film does start with a heart pounding opening sequence and ends with a exciting car chase BUT the rest of the film is all talk and planning the heist.

Evin Ahmad and Nazmiye Oral both shine in their respective roles.

Nice twist to leave the doors open for DOT: 3.

Well I just got out the theatre and let me say this:

Whereas the first movie was very gritty, dark, violent, this movie is very colorful, tacky and sassy.

Kind of dissapointing sequel if you compare it to the first. I guess it's a solid Sunday movie if you're bored and want to watch something. The first movie gave me a vibe similar to HEAT. This is like they tried to aim for the Italian Job. Wish they would've stuck with the Formula of the first movie. It worked. Don't know why they tried to change it so drastically and do a 180. The characters are not interesting at all and you don't really get invested like you did in the first part. Butler and Jackson's characters don't feel like the same guys from the first movie either. Could've been better. It's a ok-ish sequel.

After watching the original, I eagerly expected to see more of what I enjoyed: characters with some depth that have chemistry, equal screen time with the heroes and villains, dialogue that pops with energy, story beats that feel authentic: Ultimately, a fun heist movie. A warm homemade meal.

What I got was the Tuesday cafeteria special: a scoop of leftover mashed potatoes, and it landed right in the lima beans. It's food, but I didn't love eating it.

Credit where it's due, Den 2 is shot well and sounds great. Better than the first. Some nifty heist hijinks were clever.

But the lazy writing, plot conveniences, flat characters, meaningless subplots, insufferable music score (near the end), and shoddy pacing sully much of the positives.

The first Den displayed constant tension as the cops brushed shoulders with the crooks in everyday situations, suspicion ever present. Here, there's hardly any friction, and when it's there, it's contrived.

And at the end of the day, I'd rather watch Ghost Protocol or Italian Job than a shallow, underwhelming imitation.