Borderlands review – video game movie fails to find Fallout’s nuclear formula

As a longtime enthusiast of both the video game world and the cinematic realm, I must say that the adaptation of Borderlands left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed – much like a Hyperion Vault empty of its promised loot.

Today, the “Borderlands” movie hits theaters, following closely on the heels of numerous video game adaptations that have been making their way onto our screens recently.

Moving from the blockbuster animated film based on Nintendo’s billion-dollar project, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” last year, we are now anticipating the third installment of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It appears that video game adaptations continue to thrive and show signs of improvement in quality.

On Amazon Prime Video, the adaptation of Fallout ranked as the second most-watched series, following closely behind a top contender. Meanwhile, The Last of Us has proven itself to be one of HBO’s finest productions, and eagerly awaited is the upcoming season, sparking excitement among fans who extend beyond the gaming community.

Building a rich universe, fleshing out characters, and hiding intricate details (like Easter Eggs) becomes significantly smoother with extended runtimes. However, longer isn’t always better; in fact, the runtime for Borderlands clocks in at a relatively concise 100 minutes, which is quite unusual in today’s cinema.

As a dedicated fan, I must confess that while Borderlands delivers visually, nailing the look, boasting catchy tunes, and assembling a stellar comedic ensemble, it falls short in delivering the humor, zaniness, and the level of violence that truly defines the franchise. Somehow, it lacks the spice that makes Borderlands stand out, leaving me with a sense of blandness.

In a somewhat average category, “Borderlands” can be placed alongside other titles like 2018’s “Tomb Raider”, 2020’s “Monster Hunter”, and 2022’s “Uncharted”. When arranging them on our hypothetical video game-movie comparison shelf, they share a similar level of entertainment.

The movie traces the main events from the game series, where adventurers infiltrate Pandora, an exotic alien world, in search of enchanted keys that unlock a mystical chest filled with unimaginable power and riches. To accomplish this mission, a motley crew of outsiders are compelled to join forces to locate the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful figure.

Enthusiasts of these games are bound to be thrilled with the spot-on portrayal of Claptrap, brought to life by accomplished voice actor Jack Black, who’s well-known for his work in video games and movies.

Despite the opportunity, the role seems to have missed out on showcasing Black’s improvisational skills and emotional vocal acrobatics, much like what made Bowser and Peaches stand out.

Instead, we get him pooping bullets. Literally.

Additionally, there’s an unusual combination of numerous stoic and valiant characters performing similar actions, creating a peculiar contrast when we consider the presence of comedic stars like Kevin Hart (portraying soldier Roland) and Jamie Lee Curtis, playing the role of a nervous Dr. Patrica Tannis.

In Hart’s films, his height – frequently used as a joke – is mentioned initially before he adopts the typical heroic character. Except for a brief humorous exchange with Bobby Lee’s Larry in a bar, there are few opportunities to showcase his genuine charm, which seems like an underutilization of his talents.

In a humorous twist, Ariana Greenblatt brings lightness to her role as the lost and disorderly Tiny Tina. She develops an unlikely friendship with Florian Munteanu’s almost-silent psychopath Krieg. It might surprise you that Krieg steals some of the best lines in this dynamic duo, delivering unexpected, abrupt responses from behind the scenes like a barking madman.

Completing our ensemble is Cate Beckinsale’s character Lilith, who is absolutely stunning. Her hair possesses an enigmatic allure and her costume appears as a creative rendition of the game, subtly incorporating elements of the cell-shaded style that made the games iconic in terms of visual uniqueness.

Prime Video’s “Fallout” skillfully balanced a deep emotional weight with absurdly funny horror elements, mirroring Bethesda’s wasteland perfectly. On the other hand, it seems that “Borderlands” could have embraced humor even more, maybe adopting a style similar to the “Dungeons and Dragons” reboot or the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, where self-aware jokes added a touch of silliness to the overall narrative.

Despite the mature content typically associated with the series, such as profanity, violence, drug use, and gore, the movie is rated 12A. The language in this film is somewhat restrained, and while numerous characters are depicted as being killed, there’s surprisingly little bloodshed given the situation. This seems to be a missed opportunity for esteemed horror director Eli Roth, who could have made full use of his expertise to create a more intense viewing experience.

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but marvel at the instant when Tiny Tina silently snaps a psycho’s neck off-screen. It’s hard not to suspect that the scene was perhaps edited for a younger audience.

Is adding more graphic violence, explicit sexual content, and intense scenes of violence really an improvement for the movie? Definitely not. However, it raises the question of whether they could have explored the film’s potential even further had they ventured closer to the edge.

In a surprising twist, the movie “Borderlands” appears to target a younger audience, yet it falls short in delivering humor and engaging characters. Regrettably, these deficiencies cannot be overcome by its striking visuals alone.

The scenes have some standout moments, yet they falter occasionally, with shaky computer graphics and an evident struggle to fully capture the vast, neon-lit, interstellar apocalypse due to budget constraints.

As a devoted Borderlands fan, I found that my love for the games didn’t necessarily enhance the playing experience, but rather checked off familiar elements as they appeared on-screen. Characters like Mad Moxxi, portrayed by Gina Gershon, and Marcus, played by Benjamin Byron Davis, added delightful cameos to the mix.

A great approach for video game adaptations is to captivate longtime fans while introducing the excitement to newcomers in a cinematic format, ensuring they comprehend what sets the games apart. It seemed like Borderlands could have been an extravagant, chaotic adventure. However, it appears more like a monotonous journey across a sandy wasteland with some costumed participants.

Borderlands in is cinemas now.

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2024-08-08 11:49