Movies and The Internet--THE NET 2.0

Neat--I've made it far enough that I can review sequels to previous internet-based movies. I am actually quite excited to see how they update the classic 1995 THE NET, with this straight-to-video sequel starring absolutely no-one. (Although one of the ladies was in FINAL DESTINATION 2.) Anyway, let's check out THE NET 2.0.

Beginning with a mildly interesting chase scene, THE NET 2.0 introduces us to our protagonist, Hope Cassidy. She is on the run from the police in some foreign city, and there are multiple freeze frames to provide character backstory. Actually, there is far too much slow-motion in the movie, I suspect to drag out the running time to make it feature-length. Most of the movie takes place in flashbacks, and it isn't afraid to employ every plot development attempt to make you forget that you are watching essentially the same story as the first movie. Woman has computer job, someone steals her identity, she has to fight to prove that she is herself, blah blah blah. That's it...let's look at some photos:

Here's that freeze-frame I was talking about. Run, Hope run! You are the only HOPE in this movie.

We know she is good at her job, 'cause she is able to make windows like this appear on her laptop.

Hope flies to Turkey to accept a high-paying job, and the flight attendant is so nice, she just gives her this bracelet! At first they make you think it is going to be like that bad voodoo charm Greg Brady picked up when The Brady Bunch went to Hawaii, but it is totally way cooler! We later find out it is actually a GPS tracking device. How thoughtful of that lady.

You'd expect this sequel to have newer and neater gadgets, and they sort of deliver, as with this tablet PC.

However, most of the time Hope is just running and will sometimes check her email. Hmm, I wonder why there is so much Microsoft product placement in this movie? Also, I can't get www.danemidnight.com to load!

I never knew translating to Turkish could be so easy. Time to recycle that old Turkish-English dictionary.

OMG, doesn't it look like that thing just exploded out of her belly?! Actually, Hope had to pretend to be shot to help nab the bad guys. Blood-packs are cool.

Good thing Hope ran into these folks. I'd always want a guy with an awesome mustache on my side.

Obligatory computer room shot at the end.

Well, THE NET 2.0 wasn't very good. It didn't have 10+ years to become outdated and cute. Instead, it was the same basic story as the first film, with "exotic" Turkish locales that didn't make up for the predictable story. Oh well, maybe it will be a fun watch in the year 2015.