The highly anticipated Borderlands movie, directed by Eli Roth, is about to hit theaters, but early critical reactions paint a less-than-stellar picture. Let's dive into the initial reviews and what moviegoers can expect.
Borderlands Movie: More Miss Than Hit?
Early reviews for Eli Roth's Borderlands adaptation are overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following early screenings across the US, have taken to social media to express their disappointment. Common criticisms include lackluster humor, unconvincing CGI, and a weak screenplay.
Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "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."
Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it "a baffling video game adaptation," praising the potential for impressive world-building but faulting the "rushed and dull screenplay" and poor CGI, despite strong set design.
However, not all reviews were entirely scathing. Film critic Kurt Morrison noted, "Blanchett and Hart are having a lot of fun here & save this from being a trainwreck," though he added, "it’ll be a big surprise if this film finds an audience." The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment: "Borderlands is a fun PG-13 action movie. It completely relies on Cate Blanchett’s star power to carry itself to the finish line — and she delivers."
Despite the skepticism surrounding its adaptation, the 2020 re-announced Borderlands movie boasts a star-studded cast.
The film follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, returning to Pandora to find Atlas's missing daughter (Edgar Ramirez). She teams up with an eclectic crew: Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Jack Black as Claptrap.As major publications release their full reviews in the coming days, audiences will get to judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.