5/10
a small nihilistic hostage film that makes a mockery of everything it touches
11 May 2023
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Warning: Spoilers
Average antivakser fan

Where the first film went on a city-wide spree with many locations and skits, the sequel self-isolated in a closet and spent the run-time on the antagonist's rant-time. The (new material) opening is kinda a strong scene, its irreverence is akin to Hatred and some parts of the Postal franchise. But then this dude who was a cynical sociopathic bank robber before, starts to vomit conservo**** stream of consciousness in a rather annoying way. It's like the compilation of alex jones screams but not entertaining and with actual (diegetic) harm instead of a cynical performance for profits.

Average looting enjoyer

Yet the second the antagonist is on the air with his unabomber manifesto he goes full-lib**** and demands to eat the rich and start the riots. He touches almost every topic from the agenda. He alludes to a lot of lib**** conspiracies but doesn't go into any of them directly. The dude gained a following of ultra-right nutters, who watch and support shootings, but he pushes an ultra-left message. What is this? His master plan for a false flag operation to own the libs and lower their support? Or is this a german guy not exactly understanding usa politics?

And when Boll filmed himself sitting there and saying, "oh, this manifesto (that i myself wrote) is so good!" i actually thought for a second that he is serious. But with him later talking about profits and ratings it seems that his characters is actually a satire of the media. Of all these news agencies craving more shootings and fresh meat, turning the psycho killers into pop-stars, and inspiring more narcissistic *mentally ill* to bear arms. Of all these true crime shows always talking about how the culprit is the main victim.

This film doesn't claim to have any stance, but then takes every stance, from the dictatorship of lincoln to obama not letting more immigrants in, from soros conspiracies to the lack of universal healthcare in usa.

There is a lot to think about in this movie. Not the "profound" truisms and political cliches, half of which are really self-evident. The main puzzler for your puzzler is what does the protagonist even talking about. What is happening in his insane head?

But outside the real-life politics, how is the movie itself? Not great, not terrible. The first entry is noticeably better. There isn't much happening here and everything between the (new material) intro sequence and the unabomber manifesto is really repetitive and small. It's just him sitting in the closet and talking at people in his head. The inserts of the real-life archival footage are fitting and support the (lack of a) point, but then there are also inserts from the first movie. And they are as self-congratulatory as the "iconic" watch_dogs hat. The noticeable ADR is rare but it also is taking you out of the film. Overall it's just tolerable.

We are the world, we are the children. We are the ones who make a brighter day, So let's start giving. There's a choice we're making. We're saving our own lives. It's true, we'll make a better day, Just you and me.

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