Movies

Review: ‘Borderlands’ is a game-to-screen misfire so thoroughly bad, it’s breathtaking

BBG News

Review: 'Borderlands' is a game-to-screen misfire so thoroughly bad, it's breathtaking

As a film enthusiast with decades of movie-watching under my belt and a soft spot for sci-fi, I must say that “Borderlands” left me feeling more stranded than a lost Vault Hunter on Pandora itself. This cinematic excursion was as exciting as watching paint dry in slow motion.

In Eli Roth’s poorly inspired science fiction adventure “Borderlands,” the character Claptrap, a sarcastic robot voiced by Jack Black, recalls the humor from the TV show “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” where intelligent robots mock cheesy B-movies. Black’s biting remarks, directed at the motley crew of characters searching for keys to unlock an ancient vault of wisdom, are the only enjoyable elements in this failed film adaptation of the first-person-shooter video game, bearable only in brief moments.

A bland fusion of overused clichés in the genre, “Borderlands” lacks any genuine grit or originality. It attempts to capitalize on the market-tested cynicism that has made films like “The Suicide Squad,” “Deadpool,” and more recently “Deadpool & Wolverine” appear edgy, but falls flat due to a PG-13 rating and uninspired writing that is among the weakest of any movie released this year. The experience of watching “Borderlands” feels like a monotonous journey across an empty desert, with little excitement or engagement along the way. It may reach its destinations, but the journey itself offers little entertainment value.

Although Lith (played by Cate Blanchett), an interplanetary bounty hunter, provides extensive explanations throughout the film, people not familiar with the original story may find themselves perplexed about how this universe functions. The movie’s creators, Roth and Joe Crombie, who co-wrote the screenplay, struggle to blend the game’s background information and the characters’ personal histories in a manner that would captivate newcomers.

The story unfolds as Atlas (Edgar Ramírez), a ruthless and power-hungry antagonist with advanced weaponry, employs Lilith to locate his daughter Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), who wears bunny ears in the desolate land of Pandora. Atlas suspects the genetically created Tina is destined to open a portal and release knowledge from an ancient civilization he intends to utilize for conflict. Upon reaching the girl with relative ease, Lilith finds that Tina is already protected by two guardians, including Krieg (Florian Munteanu), a masked behemoth.

Among the shallowly developed characters guarding Tina, Kevin Hart’s soldier Roland, and Jamie Lee Curtis’ scientist Tannis, stand out in an unusual way for their lack of impact. If these two were removed from the storyline, it would be challenging to explain why they were included at all.

While Greenblatt’s playful and mischievous portrayal of Tina occasionally appears exaggerated, this could be due to the fact that the production of “Borderlands” faced numerous obstacles leading to significant delays. It’s plausible that these scenes were filmed well before Greenblatt showcased her talent as a brooding teenager in Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” which provided a more suitable platform for her acting abilities.

In summary, throughout the film, Blanchett portrays Lilith’s intense indifference as if struggling to free herself from deep mud, displaying her captivating royal charm and mostly surviving the ordeal unscathed. A moment where a colossal Blanchett soars through the sky on fiery wings, reminiscent of an “X-Men” character, was likely a delight for her to film but may not enhance the movie’s watchability. If every actor has that one performance that leaves fans scratching their heads, this could be Blanchett’s. Unfortunately, sentimental flashbacks to Lilith’s deceased mother fail to establish an emotional connection, arriving too late and lacking sufficient context.

At a significant distance from being “so bad it’s good,” the movie “Borderlands” falls short in developing a unique visual style, despite the efforts of the costume and hair design teams to remain true to the original source material. The film features holographic masks, colossal monsters, and a wasteland reminiscent of the “Mad Max” universe’s discarded sets. However, a sense of unity is hard to find, as it remains unclear why these elements are present and what role they play in the story.

In terms of the action, continuous gunfights tend not to provoke much excitement, instead drawing focus to their prolonged nature and failure to build up to a satisfying climax. While these computer-generated effects are skillfully done, they seem more like reused elements rather than tailor-made for this uninspiring mix.

When “Borderlands” concludes with a disappointing lack of impact, it solidifies itself as a squandered investment (estimated at $115 million) and a significant drain on everyone’s precious time, including ours. One might wonder about the other promising projects that the high-profile cast chose to forego in favor of this misadventure.

Toward the finale, the camera sweeps sideways to show the characters’ expressions following their successful mission, radiating an overly confident “we did it” air that seems unwarranted. This smug cinematic moment often feels like a slap in the face, as if it’s the viewers who should be consoled instead. They don’t usually behave this arrogantly.

Read More

2024-08-10 01:31

Previous post Kanye West’s wife Bianca Censori almost suffers yet another wardrobe malfunction exposing her derriere in bandage dress as they step out in LA
Next post Blac Chyna showcases her natural beauty as she steps for ice cream after having her facial fillers dissolved