You might not be aware, but Eli Roth directed a Borderlands movie based on the popular video game franchise and it comes out this week. The official review embargo lifts on August 8, however, social impressions were free to run wild and they are not the best.The film doesn’t adapt any specific Borderlands story but takes place in the world of Pandora and within the lore of the land. A major recognizable element is Jack Black as Claptrap, the game’s robotic guide, and your character’s sidekick. The main observation seems to be the comparison between that and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which was a reinvention of the team from the comics.
Borderlands is easily one of the worst movies of the year. Fans will be pissed off with how much they get the characters wrong (especially Tina), casual moviegoers will be unimpressed at how much it feels like a half-baked GOTG ripoff.
Full review coming soon to @CGMagonline. — Shak Lambert (@ShakExcellence) August 7, 2024
The social media embargo has now lifted and I can say that #BorderlandsMovie has an exceptional level of detail for those who have played the video games, but I don’t know if that’s enough to stop people from accusing it of being a Guardians of the Galaxy rip-off. pic.twitter.com/PiShS2NVyC — Sean Patrick Kelly (@SKonMovies) August 7, 2024
Borderlands feels like what an out of touch executive thinks the “cool kids” find appealing. There is not a single earnest character moment here, just obnoxious quips that feel dated as soon as they leave the actors’ mouths. It’s not even so bad it’s good, just a complete mess. pic.twitter.com/M7WCc1cUj3 — Edgar Ortega (@edgorteg) August 7, 2024
Oh hey I can tell you I’ve seen #BorderlandsMovie now and that it’s really bad. I really wanted to like it, but an uninspired plot + several phoned in performances + being stuck in a weird place where it looks both expensive and cheap a the same time make it a huge misfire. pic.twitter.com/nek6r0CuTm — Matthew Simpson (@SmatthewAF) August 7, 2024
Not everything was bleak for the would-be-tentpole, end-of-summer feature. There were some actual positive impressions. Fans praised Jack Black and Cate Blanchett’s performances and fans of the franchise will love the Easter eggs.
Ok, the #BorderlandsMovie was better than I expected BUT I went in expecting a 6/10.
NO SPOILERS
The plot is kinda a mess in true #Borderlands fashion, but the humor and heart are there. LOTS of fan service moments, but ultimately I don’t know if it will resonate. 6.75/10 — Ki11er Six (@Ki11ersix) August 7, 2024
Jack Black’s Claptrap is the standout of the film. Comedy gold with fun action sequences, the audience will eat him up. Crowd-pleasing adaptation that’s faithful to the legacy of the games while also defining Borderlands for a new generation.#ChaosLovesCompany #BorderlandsMovie pic.twitter.com/kQF7CvSq1i — Atom (@theatomreview) August 7, 2024
Last year’s trend of successful video game adaptations might hit a few road bumps with the Borderlands film, but we’ll see soon enough.Borderlands stars Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Edgar Ramírez, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Gina Gershon, and Jamie Lee Curtis, and hits theaters August 9.