Code 8

Vertical Entertainment | Release Date: December 6, 2019

6.3	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 65 Ratings

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JLuis_001Dec 16, 2019

Its influences are predominantly visible but never problematic. The last thing this film could claim was originality but at least it tries to do things well and in these kind of circumstances is welcome.
The film made me remember the FoxIts influences are predominantly visible but never problematic. The last thing this film could claim was originality but at least it tries to do things well and in these kind of circumstances is welcome.
The film made me remember the Fox series Gifted. I mention it to give you a little idea of the tone, or watch the short film of the same name, which was actually pretty good.

Sometimes less is more and this film is a great example of that.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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Stream2BigScreeApr 18, 2020

Welcome back all you streamers, work-from-homers and friends! We hope you all are staying safe during this global pandemic. To help you stay indoors, we continue to review movies that may keep you entertained during this endless nightmare.Welcome back all you streamers, work-from-homers and friends! We hope you all are staying safe during this global pandemic. To help you stay indoors, we continue to review movies that may keep you entertained during this endless nightmare. This week I was able to watch, Code 8. This actually debuted on Netflix in December of 2019, but it just now got on my streaming radar.

Code 8 is about a young man, Conner Reed (Robbie Amell), with special abilities who is trying to make it in the world. This world commonly has people with "special" abilities that have to live in poverty, but Conner also struggles due to having an ailing mother with expensive medical treatments. We follow Conner as he tries to make money and falls into a lucrative criminal world led by Garrett (Stephen Amell, Green Arrow), who works for a drug lord (Greg Bryk). So let's get to the review

Does this story sound familiar? I mean come on man! The marginalized, powerful person has to scrape up resources to save their family. Another, we have powers, so lets rob something movie? Okay, you get what I'm saying. You've seen this movie before! The really bad part about this movie is that it's a mash-up of like 3 or 4 different movies that you've seen before. At the end of the movie, my wife and I looked at each other and said, "how did we get here?" Now, this disjointed storytelling could be the writing, the direction, or the editing. Most likely, it is all the above. I mean shoot they never even really explained the title of the movie. No single one of those elements was completely bad but the mixture of mediocre direction, writing and editing makes me think I know exactly what happened, I knew exactly what was going to happen and yet I'm still confused at what I was supposed to take away from all of it. It's quite underwhelming. In fact, they left it off as if there could be a second movie; and, for some reason, I have way more hope for that sequel than what I just watched.

Speaking of underwhelming, the acting was the most forgettable part of the movie. Green Arrow is always flat, but he didn't have to bring that to this movie too! John Mak, sorry Sung Kang, too was tragic. I actually enjoyed his character on Power, but he did nothing with the limited screen time he had. In fact, all of the characters did nothing interesting. It's the most frustrating part of the whole thing.

In fact, everything except for the action sequences in the movie was frustrating. The movie is saved by some cool display of powers and brutal violence. But even the powers were held in check. We've seen these same powers before in other Netflix shows and movies, and they were done much better elsewhere. Again, just frustrating.

Needless to say, Code 8 was unimpressive. The predictable and disjointed storyline leaves the viewer wanting more. But do we really want to waste another hour and half? Sure, why not – we’re all stuck at home. The fight scenes are pretty cool, but nothing to write home about. If I were bored, like I was, I’d suggest watching this movie. A handful of streaming popcorn is the height for this film because you might feel under duress by the end.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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Voodoo123Jan 18, 2020

Code 8 is an average movie with a predictable plot, very b - tv pilot vibe to it. Some interesting concepts in here but nothing surprising. Overall this movie has alot of heart and was an entertaining watch. Fun to watch the ammell brothersCode 8 is an average movie with a predictable plot, very b - tv pilot vibe to it. Some interesting concepts in here but nothing surprising. Overall this movie has alot of heart and was an entertaining watch. Fun to watch the ammell brothers acting together!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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TVJerryApr 24, 2020

Other than the sci-fi angle, this film's plot is totally trite: Innocent, well-meaning man gets embroiled in a drug deal to help save his ailing mother. What makes it unique is that some of the people in this future-ish world have specialOther than the sci-fi angle, this film's plot is totally trite: Innocent, well-meaning man gets embroiled in a drug deal to help save his ailing mother. What makes it unique is that some of the people in this future-ish world have special "powers" that, instead of making them heroes, relegates them to being persecuted (haven't they seen the X-Men movies?). Robbie Amell plays the central character with average leading man skills. His dilemma and the subsequent action is certainly not original or exceptional. If you're able to get past this, you'll be in for a very average crime drama with a very small quotient of special effects.… Expand