It’s been fifteen years since Gearbox Software released the original Borderlands, introducing millions of fans to its imaginative post-apocalyptic world of Pandora and memorable cast of playable vault hunters. When news first broke of a Borderlands movie in the works, anticipation was high among loyal fans eager to see these beloved characters brought to life on the big screen. Director Eli Roth and a star-studded cast that included Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black promised an over-the-top adventure worthy of this cult classic franchise.
Unfortunately, the final result proves a massive letdown. Rather than building imaginatively on the quirky DNA that made Borderlands such a success in gaming, Roth plays it safe with a formulaic plot and forgettable characters. Gone are the anarchic spirit and pitched gun battles that defined the source material. Blanchett does her best as the veteran vault hunter Lilith but is hampered by one-dimensional writing. Kevin Hart feels miscast as the dour Roland, while Jack Black’s Claptrap, that quirky robot sidekick, emerges as a as a less endearing companion than an annoying tagalong.
Potentially intriguing new characters like Atlas, played by Edgar Ramirez, never develop beyond basic archetypes. Action sequences, dependent on shoddy CGI, lack impact. Even the setting of Pandora itself, so vividly realized in interactive form, appears sterile on screen. While some nods to gaming lore may please die-hard fans, Borderlands offers little for newcomers or casual moviegoers. A bigger budget couldn’t save a weak script or Roth’s uninspired direction. Fifteen years was long enough to get this adaptation right. It’s a real shame it ended up being little more than a hollow shell of the rich world gamers know and love.
Borderlands’ Squandered Potential
The world of Borderlands offers plenty for a film to explore. Its blend of sci-fi, Western, and humor made for a fun adventure in interactive form. But Eli Roth’s movie takes on a much more straightforward treasure hunt, losing much that brought the games to life.
Lilith remains the best part. Cate Blanchett slips into this tough bounty hunter like a comfortable, well-worn jacket. You see why fans loved the character. Yet Roth gives her little depth beyond fighting skills. We never learn her history on Pandora or what drives her now. Still, Blanchett makes the most of it with charm and bravado that outshines much around her.
Kevin Hart fares worse than Roland. Where the games gave depth and complexity, the movie simplifies. He serves mostly as comedic foil, lacking gravitas when needed. The character suffers for it.
Edgar Ramirez brings little presence as the new villain Atlas. He comes across as generic, lacking the flair of others in the role. More time developing his motives could have helped.
The world itself also feels undersold. Pandora seems a shade less wild and imaginative than depicted previously. Cryptic lore around vaults and their treasures amounts to macguffins driving the plot with no real payoff. Were fans really longing for just another routine MacGuffin chase?
Young Tina actress Ariana Greenblatt tries her best amid an angsty retooling. But the spark of character is gone. As for Claptrap, Jack Black can only do so much with poorly written material that renders the robot more irritant than friend.
Potential remains untapped. With so much richness from the games to draw on, Borderlands could have offered so much more. Instead, it takes the shallow route, reducing its vibrant universe to superficial fan service and wasting great talent. Fans and newcomers alike leave, wishing for something with more soul.
Borderlands’ Mixed Messages
The Borderlands series exudes a playful insanity in its post-apocalyptic world. So does the film capture that tone through its humor and storytelling? Only somewhat.
There’s an attempt at the games’ wacky style, from cartoonish villains to over-the-top weaponry. Occasional quips land too, like Lilith poking fun at Roland’s height. Yet so much of the supposed comedy falls flat. The jokes feel immature without being legitimately funny.
Much of this is down to the script. It’s like an adolescent wrote every line with a dictionary of dumb puns at their side. Every attempt at wit comes across as try-hard instead of the natural banter you’d expect from this ragtag group. Even talented comedians can’t salvage material so poorly executed.
Some of the tone’s irreverence also gets lost translating to the big screen. Understandably toned down for younger viewers, the action lacks impact, and psychosis feels mild. A balance could have been struck to keep the spirit of unhinged mayhem while avoiding grimness.
There are also mixed messages about Borderlands’ world. It depicts a harsh, unpredictable place, but the heroes essentially face minimal challenges or losses. Beyond setup, their mission proceeds smoothly without real stakes.
Where’s the despair of people struggling to survive on a forsaken planet? The film makes Pandora seem no worse than a road trip with bad traffic as our crew clumsily bumbles toward the finish line.
By playing it too safe in every respect—humor, action, and story—Borderlands failed to authentically capture what made its source material resonate. It left behind much of what gave the games their anarchic soul, replacing it with a shallow substitute that was no substitute at all. With such a colorful franchise at their disposal, it’s a real missed opportunity.
Borderlands’ Uneven Visuals
Eli Roth clearly put effort into crafting Pandora’s vivid setting. The film pays loving detail to recreating locales from the games. From buzzing markets to crumbling ruins, each area oozes with color and personality. You really feel like you’ve stepped foot on this diverse alien planet.
Massive kudos go to the production design team. They nail Pandora’s mashed-up retro-futuristic vibe. Weathered structures sit alongside dazzling holograms and seedy dens. Throughout, it creates a cohesive world that draws you in. It’s just a shame the same care wasn’t put into other aspects of Borderlands’ visuals.
Because of all its production values, shoddy CGI plagues the film. Many scenes rely on flimsy green screens and artificial backgrounds. Characters frequently look pasted into settings rather than truly present. Even core elements like vehicles veer into uncanny valley territory.
It really damages immersion when visuals fall to such subpar quality. You’re constantly reminded that what you’re seeing isn’t real. With a reported $100 million budget, better virtual sets and effects seemed eminently possible. But something clearly went awry in the execution.
Some action holds up better, at least initially. Gunfights and chase sequences showcase Pandora’s carnage with energy. Violence has a satisfying impact while avoiding gritty excess. Though simplicity becomes its own drawback as scenes repeat familiar beats, Originality and stakes start lacking as it goes on.
Where Borderlands truly crumbles is in its inept third-act direction. The finale spirals into an absolute eyesore. Plot points turn nonsensical, and shoddy green screens run amuck. Characters drift around aimlessly amidst yet another set of generic explosions. At their worst, sequences look like low-budget student films. It’s incredibly jarring and rushed.
Despite a talented cast that gives it their all, Eli Roth proves he’s no storyteller for blockbusters. As director, he fails to conjure grandeur or coherence from Borderlands’ scattered pieces. Poor pacing and stilted exchanges likewise weaken character development. It makes the whole endeavor feel shallow and inconsequential.
With stronger stewardship, this world could have sounded much brighter on screen. Its visual potential was clearly there, even if it was inconsistently grasped. But unfocused storytelling and bungled technicals sink Borderlands into an irredeemable mess. It makes for a massive disappointment, given the pedigree and fandom behind it. At least the sets will live on more vibrantly than this flick in gamers’ minds.
Borderlands’ Uneven Ties to Their Source
Fans of the Borderlands games will spot various nods worked into the film. Names of places and corporations from the series show up. You’ll recognize the Crimson Lance and catch a glimpse of New Haven too. Some weapons and vehicles also get their time to shine. Claptrap himself, of course, rolls along, even if his depiction isn’t a perfect match.
Still, much feels omitted or altered in ways that confuse. The plot swaps around characters in a manner that doesn’t ring true. This Lilith differs from her rebel roots depicted in the first game. Missing too is someone who could have shined as a far more compelling antagonist than the villain introduced.
The film also aims to incorporate aspects from multiple entries across the franchise. Yet this approach muddles understanding for those new to the world. References that could excite loyalists leave most others detached. It’s hard to invest in the story or care about the stakes at hand.
In truth, Borderlands struggles as an adaptation. While it grasps at capturing surface aspects, it misses capturing the spirit and tone that made the games so memorably wild and fun. The movie takes itself too seriously at the cost of the playful mayhem at the heart of the experience.
With a defter touch that leaned harder into what fans adored about these stories, Borderlands could have translated far better to the big screen. As is, it settles for a half-measure that will likely leave devotees of the games as well as casual viewers feeling unfulfilled.
Borderlands’ Rocky Reception
Critics weren’t kind in their reviews of Borderlands. Many panned its shallow characters, flimsy storytelling, and crude visuals. It earned a dismal 36% score on the review site Rottentomatoes. Audiences also seem underwhelmed, based on exit surveys.
It was never going to be easy facing off against blockbusters like Deadpool and Alien: Romulus at the summer box office. But Borderlands faced an uphill battle right out of the gate. With its $100 million production budget and huge marketing costs, it needed massive ticket sales worldwide to turn a profit.
Early signs aren’t promising. Poor word-of-mouth could curb repeat viewings. International markets may not connect to this very American style of action either. Unless it has shockingly long legs, Borderlands is probably destined for disappointing financial returns.
It’s difficult to see this film leaving much of a legacy for the Borderlands franchise. Most fans will probably choose to separate the game and movie realities. Future installments or spinoffs seem unlikely to directly reference the film.
At best, Borderlands could remind developers wanting to make their own movies that oversight is key. Fans want adaptations true to beloved characters and worlds. Creative control needs to stay close to the source material.
Any future video game adaptations would do well learning from Borderlands’ mistakes too. Great games don’t always make great movies without the right creative team fully respecting the source fans. Quality matters most to avoid artistically and commercially underwhelming results.
Borderlands’ Missed Opportunity
There’s no denying Borderlands had potential. The Borderlands games amassed a huge, dedicated fanbase for good reason. Their vibrant worlds, memorable characters, and offbeat humor made for truly entertaining experiences. Fans desperately wanted to see this madness brought to the big screen.
Unfortunately, Eli Roth’s adaptation winds up more messy than memorable. It grasps at embracing the spirit of the games but struggles to refine their essence into a cohesive film. The story falls flat, and humorous moments feel far too forced. Even committed performances from stars like Cate Blanchett can’t save an aimless script and choppy direction.
Yet amongst the misfires exist flickers of what could have shone. Visuals accurately depicting Pandora’s industrial wastelands tantalize with what could have been. And some action sequences capture the gleeful mayhem fans adore. It’s frustrating to see glimpses of greatness drowned in a sea of missed opportunities.
Borderlands had the backing of a beloved franchise and an immensely talented cast. But an unclear vision and a lack of care for both newcomers and devotees sank any chances of success. While not the worst video game film, it underscores what audiences deserve: adaptations that treat source material and viewers with equal respect.
Fans of these games and those hungering for summer blockbusters walk away disappointed rather than delighted. In a season of big-budget spectaculars, Borderlands fails to deliver entertainment on its scale. It’s a lesson that even the most promising prospects can fall short without the right creative leadership at the helm.
The Review
Borderlands
Borderlands represents a missed opportunity. What could have been an action-packed, hilarious thrill ride instead becomes a disjointed mishmash that disserves both its renowned source material and viewers. While flashes of its potential shine through, Borderlands is largely forgettable, failing to justify its ambitious budget or scale. The property and talented cast involved deserved far better.
PROS
- The visual design captures the vibrant aesthetic of the Borderlands games
- Cate Blanchett brings energy and charisma to the lead role
- Some action sequences have entertainment value
CONS
- The story is muddled and confusing for those unfamiliar with games
- Tone is inconsistent; failed attempts at humor
- Poor CGI and direction, especially in the third act
- Underutilizes talented cast
