Code Name Banshee (2022) User Reviews

The film is a single disaster.

[einsamer_boy · 3/10 · 2 July 2022]

Who selected these actors, and why does Banderas do this garbage? He can clearly do that better.

The main actress should consider whether she wants to continue playing at the level, or should rather take on easier roles. She holds the weapon like a beginner and embodies the assassin very badly. The close combat scenes were hidden in the dark. Were you so bad that this was necessary?

I got a migraine trying to watch this nonsense.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 4/10 · 7 July 2022]

Producer and director Jon Keeyes needs to stick to producing and never direct a film again. Right off the start with the tacky slow-mo and faded shots, I knew I was in for a bumpy ride. That pattern continued with all the convoluted flashbacks. I literally got a migraine about half way through when Banderas and King were chatting in his living room and the epileptic camera work started, and never ended. Was this filmed with a handheld cell phone? How does an experienced filmmaker like Keeyes not know what a gimbal stabilizer is? They even make them for cell phones.

Never mind the horrible directing, then you have an absolutely long, dragged out, cliched and incohesive story that was just utter nonsense. It was riddled with plot and technical issues, and dialogue that will make you laugh. Even with the decent pacing, the normally comfortable 88 min runtime feel much longer. This entire production was a bad C-film, on a good day.

Even Jaime King as Banshee was unconvincing to the point of laughable cringe, especially the dark suits, slick hair, and never having to reload. Don't get me started on the "experienced assasin's" shaky hands when she's shooting both guns at the house. It seems this was a failed vanity project for King. With the exception of the always awesome Banderas and Flanagan, all other casting and performances were bland and unrealistic, especially the billionaire's daughter; we couldn't stop laughing at her dialogue, attitude and acting. I'm sure most of the blame falls on Keeyes' failure to direct his cast properly.

The only redeeming part of the film was the last 15 min of action where some of the choreography was actually decent, if you can overlook the cheesy dialogue, cliches and plot holes. I sure hope Banderas and Flanagan got paid well to have this flop in their resume. It's a very generous 4/10 from me.

Action thriller without much of either...

[paul_haakonsen · 4/10 · 2 July 2022]

I had no expectations to the 2022 action thriller "Code Name Banshee" from writer Matthew Rogers and director Jon Keeyes as I sat down to watch it. In fact, I had never heard about the movie prior to sitting down to watch it. But I figured that it might be worth a watch.

The storyline in "Code Name Banshee" was a bit too bland and monotonous to really fall into my liking. There simply wasn't enough happening to keep the momentum going. So it was a rather generic and dull experience sitting through this. Sure, there were a few gun fight scenes throughout the movie, but it was simply drowned out in a tirade of slow paced narrative and monotonous dialogue.

I figured that the movie might have had some worth to it since it had both Antonio Banderas and Jaime King on the cast list. Turned out that I was not right in my assumption. "Code Name Banshee" felt like one of those numerous movies that Bruce Willis has been showing up in throughout the many last years; not really worth the effort. And not even Tommy Flanagan could manage to lift up the movie much.

For an action thriller, then "Code Name Banshee" was rather short on both action and thrills. So director Jon Keeyes didn't really deliver a movie that managed to stand out and prove to be overly entertaining or enjoyable. Yet, I managed to endure the movie to the end, though it was my one and only time to do so. Believe you me, I am never returning to watch this movie again, as it was too slow paced and devoid of interesting events.

My rating of "Code Name Banshee" lands on a generous four out of ten stars.

Movies suck these days

[kuner-59029 · 1/10 · 3 July 2022]

I'm not sure when it happened, but movies just got really bad over the past few years. Even before covid and the obvious budget cuts. Maybe it was superhero movies that just turned everything into low budget, low effort crap.

What a shame to see someone like Antonio Banderas be reduced to this after his 90s hits.

1 star for a few decent shot compositions and Banderas.

Awful

[jeppepalmari · 1/10 · 2 July 2022]

D-level movie. Something a bunch of high schoolers could have made on VHS in the 90's. The guns have zero recoil. The acting is below par. The story makes little sense. Just awful.

What happened to Banderas? He used to be awesome.

Pass - unless it's FREE and you're really bored

[sthsenior-290-725202 · 2/10 · 29 August 2022]

Tiresome dialogue, weak action performed by underprepared actors. If you can't hold an automatic at arms length without shaking, you may not want to portray a seasoned assassin. Just saying. Antonio Banderas should have passed on this one. His part in Stallone's "Expendables" was 10 times better than his character in this one. Just sad.

I gave it 2 stars only because it did have Banderas in it and the short preview I saw looked promising. Fool me once and all that... I'll never get the time or my $9 back on this one. Wish I'd checked these reviews first.

And why do they require a minimum of 600 characters in these reviews? In this case I'm forced to ramble on much longer than needed.

Would be Jane Wick. But isn't

[rchevalier-37303 · 2/10 · 2 August 2022]

Let's be clear. The is a Banderas drive by. His screen time is minimal. Guns never need a reload, and while King makes an effort she blinks on every shot and has no actual shooter training. She shakes so much she couldn't hit the broad side of the barn. Very slow to start to get to the last fifteen minutes of action which tries for Wick like choreography and fails. There is no real colour so plainly the colourist either forgot to do any correction from the flat captures or applied a LUT designed to achieve the look of uncorrected log footage. There is a side story that is supposed to support the film that is cut so badly it makes no sense at all. I was hoping for a decent time waster. This film does not rise to that level.

Another career ended

[Luv2Spooge · 2/10 · 4 July 2022]

Looks like Banderas is the next actor to follow the path of Nicholas Cage, Bruce Willis, etc...

This movie was a big swing and a miss, despite the big names in the cast. I thought the whole opening sequence was laughable as the protagonist literally stood in the open while holding two guns out like she's some sort of terminator. From that point on, the story was just cliche and the actions were just boring as expected. They should take a lesson from Kate, which did it right.

However, perhaps the most annoying is the camera work. Again, in 2022 with what we have today in terms of technology, it still baffles me while there are directors who want to get cute and use some poor lighting, old camera style, etc... People want to see crisp clear HD, not a dark near black and white grainy screen.

Terrible film. 2/10.

Very poorly done...

[LordSavvart · 2/10 · 1 July 2022]

It really is incredible that a supposed action movie can be so poorly executed across story, action scenes, dialogue and editing. I expected so much more...

Action scenes good. Storyline, unoriginal. Believability, nil. Waste of talent, high.

[gadfeal · 4/10 · 2 July 2022]

Yet another laws of physics defying "action" (i.e. Guns, violence, speeded up choreographed fight scenes, size zero females overpowering 250lb muscle men). I'm all for women being in strong roles - but not at the price of being ersatz males. The lead may be a fine actress but her tomboy haircut, stoicism and sociopathic killing are NOT qualities that I would find likeable in any person, male or female. Why do "strong female" roles have to essentially deprecate feminine nature?

The plot was completely unoriginal. Betrayed former special ops Americans who go independent or "rogue" when the CIA, DHS or other agency of three letters or more, decides that they know too much, or have developed independent opinions of inhumane governmental actions. You have it with the Eraser, with Reacher, with umpteen other such stories, most of which I have deliberately avoided. The incredible, indefatigable acrobatic fighting, implausible 100% accuracy in rapid fire shooting, and herculean strength are all on display. They may as well have just used cartoons that have brainwashed children growing up with Roadrunner for violence and impossible physics.

Antonio Banderas was the only one with some semblance of an authentic person, and he did the best thing for himself, die before the end of the film. His daughter was a one note, scowling teenager.

Dreadful.

Terrible

[scottmadar · 21 August 2023]

Just terrible. 90 minutes of my life wasted... really don't know why I didn't just stop watching... I thought it would get better but it didn't.

I'm writing this lengthy review because I have to have a minimum number of characters to be allowed to post and since this movie was so terrible I am hoping to save others from the pain and suffering of watching this stinking turd.

It really was terrible, the acting could not have been more robotic, and the filming was jerky. I think my kids could have made a better movie in elementary school.

Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Not sure how desperate Antonio had to be to make this movie.

AVOID THIS MOVIE!!!

WEIRDLY GOOD

[marallvim · 8/10 · 2 August 2022]

It's been a while since I've seen Antônio Banderas, he's a little faded on paper. A strange but cool movie. I liked and recommend this cineviagem, and then, you'll see???

OK So it is not Natural Born Killers

[fmansoor · 7/10 · 15 July 2022]

OK So it is not NBK, but it holds one's attention, leads with the action and keeps it up to the end. I cannot agree with all these negative reviews. It held my attention, and I wanted to know how it all turned out.

As a completely distracting action romp it serves its purpose.

WTF

[egordoniv · 1/10 · 27 July 2022]

I'm not a rich man, but I'm betting I could have paid Antonio Banderas more to come make omelettes in my own kitchen than they paid him to make this God-awful direct-to-dvd garbage. 2nd worst movie I've seen all year. Seriously made me consider making movies with my cellphone if there's actually profit to be had in creating this stuff.

Below Average Bordering On Very Poor.

[STEVE24BUS · 3/10 · 5 July 2022]

Usual revenge story but not very well done. Macho woman verses big hard Scottish man, predictable result in a poor thriller. Usual cliche's for this genre. Give it a miss, get's a three because there is a lot of action in it, albeit predictable and poorly staged.

If you are looking for a good action film this fails to enthrall.

[lenwenzellw · 3/10 · 1 July 2022]

Casting in this film was a problem. Jamie King was the wrong actress for the lead character as she was incapable of holding her gun without the gun shaking all over the place. Every scene where she holds the gun at arms length, and there are many, the gun is moving every where except where it should be. A shooter needs to have a dead steady consistent hold if they don't they can not shoot reliably. It was so bad in some scenes I thought the only safe place would be in front of that gun. The many shoot outs were too long, and were dull and not very exciting. They tried to do some of the shooting close combat we came to be familiar in the John Wick series, and failed to even come close. What was worse all of the shoot outs occurred in very dark scenes so that you really could not see any of the action except as vague impressions of gross movement.

Antonio Banderas must be sorry he was part of this project. Although his scenes were alright, there was just not enough story here for any actor to really shine. I thought his death scene was under whelming.

30 minutes could have easily been cut from this film without it badly effecting the story. In fact if most of the gun fights were cut it might have been a better picture.

Disappointments Galore

[kjenkins · 2/10 · 13 August 2022]

The previews looked good, and the cast is solid . . . Ish, but the final product is mournful in its shortcomings.

In it all, Tommy Flanagan turns in a six of ten performance, but he is the highlight of the show. King and Banderas showed up, and maybe they did exactly what the director told them, but it is not what we call acting. Arnold has no competition in either Action or Acting in this one - sad.

The fight scenes driven by Jaime King are woefully lacking in talents of combat. She is terribly underweight, and slow, with ungraceful kicks and weak punches, so much so that all sequences of direct impact, blocking, evasion, et al are completely unbelievable.

The relationship between Banshee and Caleb is cold and distant in a way that says, these people are working together but don't know each other, and they don't show any attachment beyond a paycheck.

Could have been so much better

[trinaboice · 3/10 · 2 July 2022]

THINGS I LIKED: The cast includes Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory), Jaime King (Black Summer), Tommy Flanagan (Westworld) and Catherine Davis (Run Hide Fight) I always get a kick out of Antonio Banderas, but I was worried about 2 things: his red hair and that this movie might be like one of those terrible Bruce Willis movies that he's been pumping out lately. That being said, I can't wait to hear his voice talents in the next PUSS In Boots movie. You can watch my trailer reaction for Puss in Boots by clicking here. The movie looks awesome.

There is plenty of action.

There is an element of the importance of family: blood-related family, as well as the loyal friends we surround ourselves with.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: I couldn't hear a word anyone said for the first 5 minutes. All of a sudden, the volume picked up.

One of the characters has a thick Irish accent which is often difficult to understand.

I was bored within minutes. Yawn.

The camera angles and shaky cam were super annoying.

Tons of flashbacks and exposition.

I just didn't find any of the characters compelling enough to care about them very much.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: High dead body count with blood splatters Lots of killing with a variety of weapons Profanity, including F-bombs and crude language

THEMES: Revenge Family Loyalty Risk Parenting Legacy

YouTube channel.

Just Dreadful

[cosenslytton · 2/10 · 21 November 2022]

I don't know what's worse, the acting, the writing, or the plot believability. Just when I think it's one, another gets worse. I think a group of high schoolers who enjoy movies could have written a better script with a more believable plot. I've seen high school students act better.

Someone goes into hiding, but doesn't look any differently? A high priced assassin that works with a team of 40 people? A tech expert that can hack the CIA, but has no security for his house? An assassin that can barely hold a gun, but never misses? A guy in hiding with a super thick accent in an area where no one has an accent? Are we supposed to not recognize that Antonio has an accent? Operatives that are so close that one has no idea the other has a family. Was there even a director or did they just roll out lines and let the actors figure it out? Is this the type of dribble that we can expect from Hollyweird in the future? It sure looks like it. I literally stopped watching 3 times. I only finished the movie just so I could write the review and be sure it didn't get better past the halfway point. Spoiler alert...it didn't.

Some don't get better with age.

[jayg_58 · 2/10 · 4 July 2022]

Not sure why Antonio allowed his name in this. Probably the Bruce Willis thing. Call it in for a check. Who knows, I didn't make it that far. Jaime King never could act. She's aging hard and still can't act. When I saw it take on the believability of a Schwarzenegger movie, I quit. 10 guys with machine guns open up on her - miss - and she takes them out with pistols. Yup, click. Gave it a 2 because it wasn't one of those high school extra credit projects.

Entertaining and fun cast

[jwbdevil · 9/10 · 2 July 2022]

I'm a big fan of Antonio B and Tommy F, so I really enjoyed this film. Yes, one has to suspend disbelief, but isn't that the point of an action thriller?

I've sat through worse action movies that had higher IMDB ratings...

[imdb-11879 · 7/10 · 27 July 2022]

I've sat through worse action movies that had higher IMDB ratings, so I gave it a 7.0 because it deserves a 5.3 instead of a 3.4. It's a comic book for heavens' sake. Lighten up. Sure, Jaime King bothered me because she looked like Michael Jackson and can't act... but, seriously, for a late night action flick, you could do much worse (I know I have).

Poor story worse action

[awtymon · 4/10 · 16 July 2022]

The story is basic but so many holes send in a team to do a job all get killed then ask next team how many they have and they say enough but they again got killed. The film was a special kind of stupid planned operation just burn the house down it was good enough for Winston Churchill.

Its true, its not worth watching

[Jim_Screechy · 4/10 · 3 July 2022]

I came across this movie totally by accident, and although the cast looked impressive (particularly with Banderas) the recent stream of appalling movies with actors like Willis, Cage and a handful of others meant I was guarded (at best) on its prospects for being decent... and as it turns out my scepticism was completely warranted.

Banderas is as always accomplished, and! Puts his heart into his work delivering a solid performance as you'd expect, but he can't carry this one (no single actor could) since on the whole the movie just fails to deliver on so many fronts.

It's really a pale shadow of the story it should be offering an insufficient level of suspense, dialogue, story, action and overall engagement to pull off a film of this genre. In fact, the overall experience is a little like the title, underwhelming and somewhat misleading.

One of the major problems is with the lead played by Jamie King. She is seriously miscast here and hasn't the on-screen presence, the physical dexterity, or the acting capability to pull this one off, and what she lacks she does in some considerable measure.

I love strong female characters, but if you're selling me one, make it authentic and not some Poundland or Wallmart alternative. Her inability to hold a gun steady is a glaringly obvious disaster even for a casual observer, but the choreography she delivers in the fight scenes had me doubting if she could successfully even take on my eighty three year old grandmother, who is a specialist in her own right with a wooden spoon. That said, she isn't the sole cause of the films failure to deliver, just another aspect of one of the many facets that wasn't addressed sufficiently.

There is no excitement here, just another mediocre delivery to pass time or have on in the background and even though I made it to the end, I don't recommend it.

Acting tough with one liners and cliches

[mike-c-b · 1/10 · 13 August 2022]

Everyone puts on a deep voice, faux depression, and acts tough.

In reality, people who have been through a lot 'act' sociable & comfortable to cover the pain. It can be seen in John Wick, Jack Reacher and others... but in this film, it's the opposite.

Music and shaky camera movements try to force drama.