The Net 2.0

THE NET 2.0 has nothing to do with the Sandra Bullock original, except for the theme of identity theft. Nikki DeLoach stars as Hope Cassidy, a computer whiz who takes an assignment in Instanbul against the wishes of her boyfriend. She should have listened..she's no sooner in Istanbul than her identity is completely wiped out, she's wanted for stealing fourteen million dollars belonging to a corrupt gunrunner, and for the murder of two people, including the girl who stole her identity. She doesn't know who to trust except for the nice stewardess she met on her flight to Turkey.

Aside from the lovely travelogue of Istanbul, there's nothing really new or different, some of the plot is totally implausible, but it does have an unexpected twist I didn't see coming. So for escapism entertainment, THE NET 2.0 is enjoyable.

The greatest thing about "The Net: 2.0" is the location. The film was shot in Turkey (entirely on HD video) and the city of Istanbul provides a very colorful and exotic backdrop to the story which is just predictable, often impossible and not very thrilling.

The film follows an American computer security expert Nikki Cassidy (Nikki Deloach) who finds a new job in Istanbul. She needs a change; needs something different, something very exciting. Nikki flies to Turkey, leaving her reluctant boyfriend behind, and there she is wrongly accused of the murders by the local authority.

`The Net: 2.0" uses so many clichéd narrative and visual techniques taken from other better thrillers including its original: flashbacks, voiceovers, fast-forwards and jump-cuts, mysterious (and unreliable) strangers, stolen IDs and high-tech machines. Director Charles Winkler gives bits of car chase here, hand-to-hand fights there, and some tricks using James Bond-like hand-made gadgets in between.

Still we are not excited at all. But how can we? The film totally forgets to explain certain important things. Why doesn't she just phone someone in the US? Being a computer expert who actually meets clients, Nikki must know someone who can help her. How was the money withdrawn from her bank account? And most of all, as to the mastermind of this conspiracy, why not bribe her (or someone else) instead of preparing intricate setups?

`The Net 2:0" shows several great aerial shots and beautiful landscapes of the city. the detailed shots of the streets and buildings of the city are in fact much better than the main plot and character themselves.

Maybe it's just me, but I thought this movie was great for a direct to video movie. Sure it was a bit slow, but the suspense was there, the acting was good and the filming was well done for a movie that might not have made it to the theaters. Was it a masterpiece? No, certainly not. But it was action packed and had me at the edge of my seat.