Returning to her home planet, an infamous bounty hunter forms an unexpected alliance with a team of unlikely heroes. Together, they battle monsters and dangerous bandits to protect a young girl who holds the key to unimaginable power.
Never played the game, enjoyed the film. I have heard of the video game that emBorderlands/em is based upon, though my knowledge of it doesnt extend past that one and only fact. I knew nothing else about it, so I cant comment on this in regards how well it adapts the game. As a movie though, I did get the required enjoyment from it. Sure the story couldve been greater, but whats produced kept me watching all the way through - its a watchable flick. I did like the cast and characters, all of whom I found suitably interesting. Cate Blanchett is good fun in the lead role, Kevin Hart is perhaps a tad underused but satisfactory nonetheless, while Ariana Greenblatt impresses. Jack Black is the one I enjoyed most, admittedly thats no surprise given I am a fan of that guy as an actor. I will say that his character is the opposite of Harts Roland, in that I think the filmmakers shouldve utilised him less - he does get a bit too much screen time for a side character. However, as its Black voicing Claptrap I cant possibly say I didnt like seeing him. *now looks to see how this has been received thus far* Well, shit. Granted, I do see the emGuardians of the Galaxy/em attempted resemblance.
10 minutes is and the acting is already bothering me. Why are they all smiling like its all a joke, totally does not fit the background or mood of the set. How can a movie with such complex and elaborate set, costume design and background can have such a bland, forgettable character with such a boring storyline? I suppose it is not the fault of the movie because it follows the story of a video game? Yet it remains true. I think theres too many characters and not enough time to explore each character. They could have just pick one or two characters for this movie and then add a bit more on the next sequel.
Oh come on - its not that bad! True, there isnt an original thought in its hundred minute duration and it does look like a very poor relation to a video-game, but its Mad Max meets Buck Rogers vibe just about entertained me. Its all about Lilith (Cate Blanchett) who is a renowned bounty hunter charged by gazillionaire Atlas (Edgar Ramirez) with finding his kidnapped daughter Tina (Ariana Greenblatt). Thing is, shes already been rescued by Roland (Kevin Hart) and is in no great rush to return to the loving arms of daddy. Whilst trying to track her down, Lilith encounters the true star of the film - the robot Claptrap, a sarcastic pile of scrap who decides to help out whether she likes it or not, so off they go a-child-hunting. Yep - it proceeds exactly as youd expect, except for the frankly bamboozling contribution of Jamie Lee Curtis (and her red glasses) who does look like shes enjoying herself on set but, like Blanchett, is just a complete fish out of water as the banal dialogue and set-piece combat scenes pass the entire project into the hands of the CGI developers. This is nothing at all special or memorable, just a predictable action enterprise that takes Robot Wars to the desert, but if you aim low and take it in the spirit its clearly intended then its a perfectly watchable summer adventure.
I just have a question on what world Hollywood is living in to believe this would be in any way a success. Weve have how many writer strikes for better pay and this is the outcome for people supporting them? Nah, sorry Im not a borderlands fan game wise, its simply not my cup of tea but I can see the appeal that so many love about it especially with friends. However I am still familiar with the characters and seeing this film completely destroy them is a slap to the face. If you arent going to respect the lore/source of whatever book or game youre taking it from dont make it at all. PS - Kevin Hart as Roland? Really? How many drugs are legal in Cali?
This is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. To preface, I want to clarify that I know nothing about the Borderlands video games—I’ve never played them, and I have no bias against them. However, I approached this movie with some trepidation, knowing Eli Roths track record with handling other IPs has been less than stellar. From the outset, Borderlands feels like a blatant attempt to rip off Guardians of the Galaxy. The influence is undeniable, but Roth clearly missed what made Guardians so special. Borderlands is one dance-off scene short of being a direct copy, but even if Roth had included a dance-off, he probably would have cast an Australian Olympic breakdancer—an ill-fitting choice emblematic of how off-target this film is. The movie throws the audience into a barrage of nonsensical twists and turns that lack coherence or purpose. The narrative seems to be constantly shifting, yet never in a way that feels organic or meaningful. The lack of a coherent plot makes it difficult to stay invested, and the film quickly becomes tedious. Another glaring issue is the films failure to create any meaningful connection between its main characters. In Guardians of the Galaxy, the chemistry among the team is a driving force, making their adventures feel both exciting and emotionally resonant. In contrast, Borderlands completely misses this mark. The characters are paper-thin, with little to no development, and their interactions lack the spark needed to make the audience care about their journey. Visually, the film also disappoints. The aesthetic choices, from the set design to the visual effects, fail to create a compelling or immersive world. The film’s attempt to capture the wild, chaotic energy of the Borderlands universe falls flat, resulting in a bland and uninspired visual experience. Overall, Borderlands is a truly boring movie, devoid of character development, narrative coherence, or visual appeal. It’s a film that not only fails to honor the spirit of its source material but also fails to stand on its own as an entertaining piece of cinema. Eli Roth’s attempt to capture the magic of Guardians of the Galaxy is misguided and ultimately unsuccessful, resulting in a forgettable and frustrating experience. This movie serves as a reminder that simply mimicking successful formulas without understanding what makes them work is a recipe for disaster.
Brittle, boring and badly miscast, there is little to like in Borderlands. Once witty, satirical, over the top and above all else, a colourfully fun gaming experience, in my view this film mirrors, what Borderlands has become. Dull, humourless, uninspiring, wooden exposition, that vacuously apes what once was. For my money too, much of the cast just dont fit this kind of over the top action genre. As a result a good number of performances feel more than a little awkward. Any upside? Decent production values, I guess..... In summary, very little to like here. Bland, brittle exposition with a Borderlands make over, minus all the good things that made the original Borderlands games franchise, so appealing.
After reading all the bad reviews (some here) of Borderlands, I decided to give it a watch. To be brutally honest, I actually enjoyed it. It’s definitely not a movie I’d watch again, but it was entertaining enough that if forced to choose, I’d rather watch it again over any of the Ant-Man films. Michael Douglas and Paul Rudd just don’t do sci-fi well—especially Paul Rudd. I thought Cate Blanchett’s performance wasn’t bad at all, and frankly, some of the reviews here seem like pure trolling.
