Borderlands (2024) : A wasted Opportunity
IMdb - 4.3
Rotten Tomatoes (Critics) - 9% | (Audience) - 52%
Genre - Action, Sci-Fi
Runtime - 1 hour 40 minutes
Rating - PG 13
Review
There are some great video game adaptations like "The Last of Us" and "Fallout", and then there are bad ones like "Borderlands"
The story follows a rich man named Atlas who hires Lilith, played by Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, to find his missing daughter on the chaotic and lawless planet Pandora, which is also Lilith's home. I liked Lilith's character—she's strong, fearless, and a total badass.
During her mission, Lilith meets Roland, played by Kevin Hart, a soldier who was the first to find the missing daughter, Tina. Roland rescues Tina from a prison and escapes with her to Pandora. Tina also meets a new friend named Krieg, who is big, muscular, and wears a mask. He instantly becomes her protector, but there’s no real explanation for why. Lilith also encounters a robot called Claptrap. While the robot is funny at times, most of the humor feels forced, as the movie tries too hard to make us laugh at his expense. There’s also a scientist named Dr. Tannis, played by Jamie Lee Curtis, who seems to know more about the mysterious vault everyone’s after. The team eventually comes together, but there’s no real character development or moments that show them bonding. It feels like a waste of the star-studded cast.
The film fails at world-building. First, Pandora is shown as just a few ruined structures and mountain landscapes, with little explanation of why the planet is chaotic and toxic. Second, the important races and character backstories from the franchise are poorly explained. There’s no chemistry between the characters, and their interactions feel flat.
Bounty hunters and mercenaries come to Pandora searching for the vault, which supposedly contains hidden treasure left by an ancient civilization with advanced science and technology. But again, there’s no further explanation, and the story just leaves it at that.
Overall, the story is boring. It’s hard to get invested in where the plot is going because it never takes itself seriously. There’s no real plot or depth to the story, and the jokes fall flat.
While there’s plenty of action, it’s not enjoyable. The explosions are colorful and frequent, but our heroes never seem to run out of bullets, constantly firing at their enemies. The visuals aren’t unique, and the action sequences are forgettable.
Conclusion
"Borderlands" is a disappointing video game adaptation that wastes its opportunity. Despite Cate Blanchett's great lead performance as Lilith, the film suffers from poor world-building, thin character development, and a poor plot. The action is plenty but forgettable, and the comedy often falls flat. Overall, it's a lost opportunity with little to offer and an underutilized star-studded combination.
My Screen Times Score - 3
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