DVD Corner

Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera 4K UHD Review

“Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera” is a better than expected sequel.

Written and directed by Christian Gudegast, “Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera” is a sequel to 2018’s “Den Of Thieves.” The globe-trotting story kicks off in Antwerp where thief Donnie joins the Panther crew in stealing a red diamond. Little do they know, the red diamond belongs to the Sicilian mafia and they want it back (this comes into play later). The Panther crew’s next job involves knocking off the World Diamond Center in Nice, France. Enter Deputy Sheriff Nick. Initially, he seemed hell bent on capturing Donnie, but now he wants to join the Panthers. He’s tired of being broke and wants a big score, but could this all be part of an elaborate scheme?

Who exactly was clamoring for an “Den Of Thieves” sequel? Judging by the box office not many, but somehow this sequel is now a reality. This sequel looked like the type of disposable action movie fare you’d expect to see released early on in the year. Somehow though, it’s better than it has any right being. Christian Gudegast has crafted a slick, stylish, and exciting international action heist film with dazzling location shooting and some truly thrilling action scenes (the heist sequence and the car chase shootout are the clear MVPs here). It’s a bit slow going early on (and is way too drawn out at 144 minutes), but once it kicks into gear you’ll find yourself locked in. 

‘Pantera’ does have a few glaring issues. The characterization is minimal, the product placement is embarrassingly in your face, the plot contains some truly stupid scenes for dramatic purposes, and there’s nothing remotely original about this rivals turned allies tale. Still, as far as action sequels go, this is a respectable one.

There’s not a lot of actors churning out action flicks these days, but Gerard Butler is one of them. Butler is looking a bit more grizzled these days, but his enthusiasm and commitment to these action vehicles never wavers. He’s simply good at what he does and makes the films better. O’Shea Jackson Jr. is a talented actor who never shies away from taking on roles that show his versatility. Admittedly, it’s not one of his strongest performances, but he settles into and definitely comes alive when opposite Butler. Evin Ahmad also shines here as Jovanna who leads the Panthers team.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? This 4K disc offers up a pristine print.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? An effective track that really soars during the action sequences (the Porsche chase particularly sounds incredible).

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital copy
* Theatrical trailer
* Commentary by writer/director Christian Gudegast, producer Tucker Tooley, cinematographer Terry Stacey, and editor Robert Nordh.
* 18 minutes of deleted scenes
* “Flipping The Script: Plotting Den Of Thieves 2”- A 21 minute extra that contains set footage, interviews, discussions about the research and scripting, and more.

February 24, 2025 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Action Movie, Den Of Thieves, Den Of Thieves 2, Den Of Thieves 2: Pantera 4K UHD Review, Gerard Butler, Heist Movie, O'Shea Jackson Jr.