The upcoming Borderlands movie, directed by Eli Roth, is generating significant buzz, but early critical reception paints a bleak picture. Read on for a summary of initial reviews and what moviegoers can anticipate.
A Critical Mauling, Despite Star Power
Early reviews for the Borderlands film adaptation have been overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following early screenings, have voiced their concerns across social media platforms. Common criticisms include weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script.
Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like a misguided attempt to capture 'cool.' The humor falls flat, and the film lacks genuine emotional depth, resulting in a chaotic mess."
Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada described the film as "a baffling adaptation," praising the potential world-building but criticizing the rushed and uninspired screenplay. He noted that while the set design is impressive, poor CGI detracts from the overall visual quality.
However, not all reviews were entirely damning. Some critics found glimmers of positivity. Kurt Morrison highlighted Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances, suggesting they prevent the film from being a complete disaster, though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more optimistic assessment, calling it a "fun PG-13 action movie" carried largely by Blanchett's performance.
Despite a star-studded cast, the Borderlands movie, re-announced in 2020 after a period of inactivity, has faced skepticism from fans of the video game franchise since its inception.
The film follows Lilith (Cate Blanchett) as she returns to Pandora to search for Atlas's missing daughter. She teams up with an eclectic group: Roland (Kevin Hart), Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), Krieg (Florian Munteanu), Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis), and Claptrap (Jack Black).
As broader reviews from major film critics emerge, audiences will soon have the opportunity to judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game, adding further intrigue to the franchise's future.
