Borderlands Movie Review - Generic And Disposable

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen the evolution of video game adaptations from the dark ages to the modern era. And let me tell you, Borderlands feels like it was left behind in those dark ages.

In this modern time, it’s no longer uncommon for video game adaptations to be well-received, much like other geeky endeavors. Previously, many of us would expect a video game movie to disappoint, but now, after seeing several quality ones, the general expectation has evolved. However, the Borderlands movie seems to hark back to the old days – an era when most game adaptations were generic action films at best, and often much worse. Regrettably, that’s exactly what Borderlands turns out to be: unremarkable and forgettable.

In the film “Borderlands,” helmed by director Eli Roth and based on the expansive video game series, we find ourselves on the barren, corporate-ridden planet of Pandora, where fortunes are sought after in the quest to unlock a legendary ancient vault rumored to contain advanced technology. The story follows Lilith (Cate Blanchett, delivering a less-than-stellar American accent), who has been employed by a man named Atlas (Edgar Ramirez) to locate his supposedly abducted daughter on Pandora. However, there’s a twist—the girl in question isn’t Atlas’ true child; she’s Tiny Tina (Arianna Greenblatt), an engineered being born from the blood of ancient aliens for the sole purpose of opening the vault. The supposed kidnapping wasn’t really a kidnapping, but rather Tiny Tina was rescued by Roland (Kevin Hart) from her captivity.

In a short while, Lilith overtakes them, followed swiftly by an assault from Atlas troops. Lilith subsequently forms an alliance with Roland, Tina, their oddball bandit friend, eccentric scientist Tannis (portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis), and humorous robot Claptrap to not only endure but also embark on a quest to locate the vault themselves.

Discussing Claptrap, a character widely recognized from the games, who initially had his voice provided by David Eddings, a former developer at Gearbox. However, in Borderlands 3, a doppelganger replaced him. Surprisingly, the movie cast Jack Black to voice Claptrap, but unfortunately, it didn’t work well. In the initial moments of the film, I was somewhat engaged, but as soon as Claptrap interacted with Lilith, the whole experience felt disastrous.

In Black’s interpretation of Claptrap, it might be challenging to pinpoint the main issue. One possibility is that he fails to capture Claptrap’s original rhythm and tone, which makes him sound more like an irritating, newly-introduced Star Wars droid instead. However, his presence significantly alters the film’s flow, particularly because he dominates most of the comedic attempts.

It’s surprising that a movie starring Kevin Hart wouldn’t be filled with his usual jokes, but in Borderlands, that’s exactly the case. Instead, Hart portrays Roland as a more serious action hero with dry wit, and he does well when given the chance. However, it seems like many of his crucial scenes are noticeably absent. This could be due to the film’s PG-13 rating, considering that the games carry an M rating for their explicit content. Consequently, Borderlands often feels like a toned-down version of what might have been an R-rated production, which is one of the movie’s main problems.

In a surprising brevity, Borderlands clocks in at just 102 minutes, a fact that might initially seem appealing given the trend of lengthy films today. However, this conciseness comes at the cost of depth, a characteristic that seems lacking in Borderlands. This is often the case with movies that undergo extensive post-production over a period of four years and are repeatedly refined – too much polishing can lead to a loss of substance.

It’s disheartening to observe that Eli Roth, who is known for directing his own horror movies like ‘Thanksgiving’ last year, frequently creates films that resemble studio-produced work rather than auteur pieces in recent times. Movies such as ‘The House With a Clock in Its Walls’, his remake of ‘Death Wish’, and the latest ‘Borderlands’ fall into this category. These productions lack quality and originality, appearing more like ordinary, mid-budget CGI projects that often resemble an average episode of ‘The Mandalorian’. Unfortunately, due to multiple re-edits and reshoots by another director, the filmmaking artistry in ‘Borderlands’ seems to have diminished significantly.

The main cast members don’t offer significant contributions to the film. Blanchett tries hard, but her American accent isn’t convincing, and her narration can be quite grating at times. Unfortunately, this issue is shared among most adult actors in Borderlands. However, Greenblatt steals the show as Tiny Tina. While Tina becomes less prominent as the story progresses, Greenblatt delivers a commendable performance that makes her one of the few standout elements in the movie Borderlands.

Hey there! I’ve seen my fair share of movies and video games, but let me tell you, Borderlands wasn’t exactly a standout for me. It was like a blur, something that slipped through the cracks of my memory so easily that it’s hard to muster up any real dislike for it. But hey, at least there’s one thing worth remembering – Jack Black’s new take on Claptrap. Now that’s something I won’t forget in a hurry!

2024-08-08 10:09

Borderlands Movie Review – Generic And Disposable

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