As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that “Borderlands” the movie is a disappointing venture into the wasteland. Having played countless hours of the game series, I had high expectations for this cinematic adaptation, but it fell short in every aspect.
If you’ve watched the preview for “Borderlands,” you’ve gotten a taste of the six main characters at their wittiest. Given that the movie only spares a few minutes for such humor, the trailer primarily showcases an array of explosions and gunfights, with not much else in between. Although these action sequences can be thrilling, without any substantial content to support them, they fail to deliver a satisfying experience. Essentially, “Borderlands” is not a catastrophic flop, but its lack of narrative depth makes it quite dull.
In essence, here’s how the story unfolds: Lilith, a bounty hunter (played by Cate Blanchett), gets hired by Atlas, the CEO of a multi-planetary corporation, to locate his daughter. Lilith manages to track her down swiftly, but it turns out that Tiny Tina doesn’t want to return to Atlas, and even seems to dislike him. This revelation sets off a chain reaction, as people in official Atlas gear start pursuing Lilith and Tina. In such a predicament, Lilith decides to side with Tina and her companions, Roland and Krieg. Claptrap, a robot who had previously interacted with Lilith, follows them as they elude the forces sent to capture them.
In their journey, they aim to secure all three keys to a vault, enlisting Dr. Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis) as an ally. The contents of the vault remain unknown, yet everyone seems eager to access it, suggesting it must hold something valuable. However, the narrative doesn’t quite race along at a fast pace. This type of plot is common in action movies where the goal is typically a MacGuffin. But in this case, the quest feels unusually insignificant for several reasons.
Show, don’t tell
One significant issue in this film lies in its storytelling approach, which is reminiscent of basic filmmaking principles. Apart from action scenes, the movie predominantly informs rather than shows the audience what transpires. While occasional exposition isn’t inherently wrong (even according to some film educators), the lack of visualization is unfortunate.
In essence, Eli Roth, both director and co-writer with Joe Crombie, appears to have prioritized action sequences over character development when allocating the film budget. Trimming down some scenes might have allowed for more focus on the characters’ backgrounds, which could have significantly improved the movie. Instead, what we get is a series of action sequences that resemble levels in a video game, but without the interactive element, these repeated shooting and explosion scenes become monotonous rather than exciting or thrilling.
The wrong rating
One issue raised by viewers is that the characters seem one-dimensional, or like mere codes rather than fully developed personalities. Despite some vocal criticism about the casting in the “Borderlands” film, this concern has been somewhat addressed. The movie includes early scenes that show Cate Blanchett’s character is older than her game counterpart, making Dr. Tannis similarly aged. Since both characters have a history dating back to when Lilith was young, this age difference is significant. Similarly, the short stature of Roland is also acknowledged in the movie. However, it remains unclear why these specific changes were implemented in the film.
As a gamer putting on my director’s hat, let me say this: The riddle within the game is intriguing, but what truly leaves me wanting is the lack of character development. Why bring in heavyweights like Blanchett and Hart if their talents aren’t fully utilized? Hart’s Roland, in particular, seems underdeveloped; we barely scratch the surface of his past as a soldier. It feels like no one gets the chance to truly shine. Lionsgate has crafted rich backstories for each character, but on-screen, they simply feel like interchangeable pieces in a grand scheme. I yearn to see these characters come alive rather than merely spinning their wheels in the machine of the storyline.
Generally, the film appears to struggle due to its rating, as Eli Roth is widely recognized for directing horror films that carry R ratings. This classification permits a higher level of violence and profanity, which is what “Borderlands” arguably required to be entertaining. However, with a PG-13 rating, the characters lack depth, failing to fully develop their personalities. It’s worth considering if Roth could have provided the necessary foundation for this movie, given that horror movies often focus more on the plot and less on character development. In a horror film, a strong villain might be enough, but in “Borderlands,” there’s a need for slightly more depth. Unfortunately, the characters in this film aren’t even stereotypical, and despite having talented actors, Roth fails to utilize their potential effectively.
Although Roth and his set designer, Andrew Menzies, effectively bring some sets to life, especially when the makeshift team ventures into the city center, the narrative fails to match up. “Borderlands” unfortunately lacks the charm of “Guardians of the Galaxy”; while it might appear visually appealing, it falls short in capturing the character and spirit of that previous film. I would advise against investing your time in this one.
“Borderlands” opens in theaters on August 9.
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2024-08-08 10:30