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Borderlands Is a Video Game Movie Made for Absolutely No One

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Borderlands Is a Video Game Movie Made for Absolutely No One

As a longtime gamer who has witnessed countless disappointing video game adaptations over the years, I must say that the recent releases of The Last of Us and Fallout have been a breath of fresh air. These productions have managed to capture the essence of their respective games while still appealing to a wider audience.

At first glance, a movie adaptation of “Borderlands” appears to be a no-brainer. Launched by video game publisher 2K back in 2009, this game series rapidly amassed a dedicated fanbase that continued to expand over the subsequent decade. Developers Gearbox Software and 2K Australia produced four installments within the franchise during this period. The “Borderlands” series shared many characteristics with popular games from the 2010s: eccentric characters, off-color humor, a distinctive, comic-book-like aesthetic, an expansive world to explore, and, crucially, weapons that were procedurally generated (or loot), which players could use to blast aliens until they disintegrated into a mess of gore and guts. This blend of elements struck a chord with gamers, earning critical praise, selling millions of copies, and generating over $1 billion in revenue. Given these success metrics, a transition to the big screen seemed almost predestined.

In contrast, the Borderlands series peaked during the 2010s, but its relevance has waned in this current decade. Although there have been some spin-offs, the last significant release was Borderlands 3 in 2019 – a span of five years since the series started. At that time, Borderlands 3 was well-received, but it came at a point when gamers were growing weary of games with similar features. The gaming industry had shifted away from games centered around collecting random items, which Borderlands helped popularize, due to complaints about the tedious effort needed to find unique loot. To make matters worse, publishers started exploiting and degrading this system by charging players for access to items that could theoretically be found for free, if one was willing to spend countless hours searching.

As a passionate cinephile who’s been following the film industry closely, I must admit that back in 2015 when Lionsgate embarked on a cinematic journey for the ‘Borderlands’ franchise, it was hard to foresee the game’s charm would seem outdated by the time the movie hit the silver screen. Fast forward to 2024, and its brash humor feels out-of-touch, and its characters have faded from cultural relevance. The affection fans hold is more of a nostalgic longing, primarily for the gameplay. However, after numerous script revisions and reshoots, ‘Borderlands’ the movie has finally graced the big screen—to the delight of no one.

A buzzy cast can’t compensate for a host of shortcomings

Borderlands Is a Video Game Movie Made for Absolutely No One

In the movie “Borderlands”, Lionsgate employed a common strategy to draw in new audiences for an established franchise: they recruited well-known actors to star. Notable among these are Cate Blanchett (who sports an unusually rigid red wig), Kevin Hart (playing against type as a stoic soldier), Jamie Lee Curtis (nervously twitchy), and Jack Black, whose role seems fitting given his recent success as Bowser’s voice in “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”. Claptrap, the robot character voiced by Black who never stops talking and makes numerous jokes about poop, is an excellent match for his comedic style. Ariana Greenblatt, who gained recognition from the movie “Barbie”, plays a troublesome teenager in this film, adding to the buzz surrounding the production, despite its somewhat hastily put together feel.

The problem lies in that the fans of these actors don’t typically overlap with those of the Borderlands game or the usual audience of director Eli Roth, who is renowned for his horror films. Initially co-written by Craig Mazin, Roth’s script, before he worked on HBO’s hit series The Last of Us, seems to have forced a team of comedians and Academy Award winners into familiar patterns. Roth’s interpretation of Borderlands combines elements from Guardians of the Galaxy, Mad Max, and Dragon Ball, in an attempt to attract fans of action comedies who aren’t gamers. This film is set in a techno-futuristic wasteland and follows a group of space misfits on a quest for a vault containing immense power. However, it lacks the cleverness, style, and vitality that are hallmarks of its cinematic influences. A viewer not familiar with the Borderlands franchise but a fan of any of the genres it mimics might leave feeling disappointed, or even deceived.

Borderlands Is a Video Game Movie Made for Absolutely No One

It’s unfortunate that the essence of what makes the game series Borderlands successful – its humor, style, and vibrancy – might not translate well to a film adaptation. The reason being is that these qualities are more evident in the visuals and gameplay rather than the storyline. The characters can come across as annoying, and the plot may appear shallow at first glance, with many of the best aspects hidden within the game’s lore for players to discover. It’s the unique and powerful weapons in the game that players continue to rave about, but these won’t be present in the film adaptation due to its nature. The appeal of Borderlands lies in the fact that there are countless weapons for players to explore, creating a sense of spontaneity and achievement when they find an exceptional one. However, this excitement fades away when you’re not the one discovering these weapons yourself. In focusing on developing relationships between diverse characters, the live-action Borderlands film might overlook the quirky world-building that made the games so memorable and iconic.

In a similar fashion, the distinctive visual style of the ‘Borderlands’ franchise, though frequently overlooked, could potentially be more effortlessly replicated. This unique cartoonish aesthetic, characterized by vibrant colors, set it apart from the browner, often derided, first-person shooters prevalent during its time. The visual design of ‘Borderlands’ drew inspiration from graphic novels, featuring thick lines and textured illustrations that lent a unique depth to its characters. If an animated adaptation were not in the cards, a live-action film could have capitalized on this by emulating the style seen in ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’, with a focus on written sound effects and vivid colors. Regrettably, director Roth opted for a more subdued look, reminiscent of the very games that the franchise sought to differentiate from in the late 2000s, with Blanchett’s hair standing out even more starkly against the drab backdrops.

Floundering amid a renaissance of video game adaptations

Borderlands Is a Video Game Movie Made for Absolutely No One

In my perspective, the movie adaptation of “Borderlands” falls short significantly, failing to bridge the gap between the captivating aspects of the video games. This has been a consistent issue with game-to-film adaptations throughout the years, as they often overlook the fundamental elements that make the games enjoyable in the first place.

Over the past few years, “The Last of Us” and Amazon’s “Fallout” have significantly raised the benchmark for video game adaptations. Unlike something like “Borderlands”, these games are more suitable for live-action due to their narrative focus and well-defined characters. Players are encouraged to form emotional bonds with these characters, which enhances the dramatic tension as they navigate a post-zombie apocalypse world. The TV series effectively captures this human element, making it engaging for regular HBO viewers, exciting for sci-fi enthusiasts, and reminiscent for fans of the popular games. The excellent acting and performances are just an added bonus.

The Fallout series is renowned for its distinctive backdrop: a post-apocalyptic America, where people reside in 1950s-style bunkers (a favorite among gamers), oblivious to the desolate wasteland (a gamer’s dream) beyond their fortifications. Familiar but decaying landmarks starkly contrast with the monstrous mutants and vicious creatures that infest them. The TV adaptation captures this unique blend, as well as the mix of violence and dark humor it portrays. This results in a captivating drama-comedy reminiscent of Westworld, created by people who have worked on Fallout. At the same time, its authentic gaming atmosphere appealed to Fallout enthusiasts, and its dedication to preserving the franchise’s iconic elements didn’t go unnoticed.

Compared to Roth’s Borderlands, it seems destined for poor reception among both fans and general audiences. Predicted box-office figures paint a grim picture, more so when considering its reported budget of up to $120 million. The film appears outdated, struggling with subpar writing, lifeless aesthetics, and questionable casting choices – Kevin Hart being cast as the straight man in this case. Perhaps it’s for the best. However, if it didn’t strive for the critical acclaim of The Last of Us, which was also being filmed at the same time, one might have expected it to at least honor what made the franchise special initially. For instance, the children’s Super Mario Bros. Movie, despite receiving negative reviews from many critics, excelled in its faithful recreation of the Mario game’s atmosphere. Conversely, Borderlands feels regressive; it fails to engage fans who feel obligated to watch it, and it doesn’t distinguish itself enough to draw in moviegoers who have seen superior films it emulates. Essentially, it blandly and forgettably exists.

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2024-08-10 02:07

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