The world of video game adaptations is a tricky landscape to navigate, with many filmmakers struggling to capture the essence of beloved games. There’s no “video game adaptation curse,” but the genre has seen its fair share of misses. One of the most notable recent examples is Eli Roth’s Borderlands. Aiming to bring Gearbox Software’s iconic looter-shooter franchise to the big screen, the movie instead crashes and burns, failing to capture the spirit and chaotic fun of its source material. This review delves into why Borderlands is a textbook example of how not to make a video game movie.
The Premise: A Simplistic Take on a Complex Universe
The Stripped-Down Plot
The Borderlands games are renowned for their rich world-building, eccentric characters, and frenetic gameplay. Roth’s film, however, strips away these layers, leaving behind a simplistic plot that does little justice to the games. The movie centers on Lilith, played by Cate Blanchett, a bounty hunter tasked by the arms manufacturer Atlas (Edgar Ramírez) to find his daughter, Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), on Pandora. The narrative also loosely incorporates elements from the broader Borderlands timeline, including the hunt for an ancient Eridian vault.
Missed Opportunities in World-Building
One of the most glaring issues is the film’s approach to the expansive universe of Borderlands. The games are set in a chaotic, vibrant world filled with dangerous creatures, treacherous terrains, and colorful personalities. The movie, however, confines its characters to a linear, single-mission storyline, effectively erasing the sense of adventure and exploration that defines the series. Roth’s Pandora is a far cry from the sprawling, danger-ridden planet fans know and love.
Character Portrayals: Hollow Shells of Beloved Figures
Lilith: A Missed Opportunity for Depth
Cate Blanchett’s portrayal of Lilith, one of the franchise’s most iconic characters, is surprisingly underwhelming. While Blanchett is undoubtedly a talented actress, her performance in Borderlands lacks the fiery energy and depth that fans have come to expect from the Siren. Lilith’s character is reduced to a grumbly, one-dimensional figure, devoid of the complexity and charisma that make her a standout in the games.
Tiny Tina: A Bright Spot in a Dim Film
Ariana Greenblatt’s Tiny Tina, on the other hand, is one of the few bright spots in the movie. Her portrayal of the explosives-loving demolitionist channels the chaotic, unpredictable energy of the character, though even this is somewhat diluted by the film’s overall tone. Despite Greenblatt’s best efforts, Tina’s antics feel out of place in a movie that struggles to balance humor and action.
Wasted Talent: The Supporting Cast
The supporting cast, including Kevin Hart as Roland and Jack Black as Claptrap, suffers from poor direction and uninspired writing. Hart’s Roland feels more like a caricature of himself than the stoic soldier from the games, while Black’s usually energetic Claptrap falls flat, failing to deliver the witty banter fans expect. Jamie Lee Curtis as Dr. Patricia Tannis is reduced to an exposition machine, her character lacking the quirky, neurotic charm that defines Tannis in the games.
Action and Visuals: A Far Cry from the Games
Action Sequences: Posing Action Figures
The Borderlands games are known for their over-the-top, adrenaline-fueled combat, where players face off against hordes of enemies using an arsenal of wild and wacky weapons. The movie, however, delivers action sequences that feel more like a child’s playtime with action figures than the high-octane battles fans crave. Roth directs these scenes with a stiff, uninspired hand, failing to capture the kinetic energy and chaos of the source material.
Visual Aesthetics: A Disaster in Design
Visually, the Borderlands movie is a disaster. The games’ signature cel-shaded, comic book-style graphics are one of their most distinctive features, but Roth’s film ditches this aesthetic in favor of a drab, uninspired look. Pandora’s landscapes, which should be vibrant and dangerous, instead come across as dull and lifeless. The CGI is subpar, with some scenes, like Tiny Tina’s explosive introduction, looking more like a poorly rendered video game cutscene than a big-budget film.
Tone and Humor: A Failed Attempt at Replicating the Games
Humor: Lost in Translation
One of the Borderlands franchise’s defining traits is its dark, irreverent humor. The games are filled with crude jokes, bizarre characters, and absurd situations that add to the chaotic fun. Unfortunately, the movie’s attempt at humor falls flat, with jokes that feel forced and out of place. Roth’s direction seems to miss the mark entirely, failing to capture the unique blend of comedy and action that makes Borderlands so beloved.
Tone: A Confusing Mess
The film’s tone is another major issue. It swings wildly between trying to be a serious sci-fi adventure and a goofy, lighthearted romp, ultimately succeeding at neither. This tonal inconsistency makes it difficult for the audience to engage with the story or the characters. The film’s PG-13 rating also hinders its ability to fully embrace the mature, often grotesque content that defines the games, resulting in a sanitized version of Borderlands that feels disconnected from its roots.
Fan Service vs. Storytelling: A Balancing Act Gone Wrong
Nostalgia Overload
Roth’s Borderlands is packed with nods to the games, from Marcus’ bus to the Dahl ECHO HUDs, but these Easter eggs feel more like a checklist of fan service than meaningful additions to the story. The movie is so focused on cramming in references that it neglects to develop a coherent, engaging narrative. This over-reliance on nostalgia is ultimately to the film’s detriment, as it fails to stand on its own as a compelling story.
An Unfulfilled Promise
Fans of the Borderlands series were undoubtedly excited to see their favorite characters and settings brought to life on the big screen. However, the film’s focus on surface-level references rather than deep storytelling leaves much to be desired. The end result is a movie that feels more like a soulless cash grab than a genuine attempt to expand the Borderlands universe.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale for Future Adaptations
Eli Roth’s Borderlands is a cautionary tale of what can go wrong when adapting a beloved video game franchise. From its uninspired direction and lackluster performances to its drab visuals and inconsistent tone, the movie fails on almost every level. It’s a prime example of how not to make a video game adaptation, serving as a reminder that simply throwing in a few Easter eggs and familiar faces is not enough to satisfy fans or create a compelling film.
Verdict
The Borderlands movie is an abysmal waste of a beloved franchise. Eli Roth’s uninspired direction and poor adaptation of the source material result in a film that drains the life out of the characters and world fans adore. This is not the Borderlands movie fans were hoping for, and it stands as a miserable failure in the realm of video game adaptations.
FAQs
Is the Borderlands movie faithful to the games? The Borderlands movie includes several references to the games, but it fails to capture the chaotic energy, dark humor, and vibrant world that fans love. The plot is overly simplified, and the characters lack the depth and personality of their in-game counterparts.
How is Cate Blanchett’s performance as Lilith? Cate Blanchett’s performance as Lilith is underwhelming. Despite her talent, the script gives her little to work with, resulting in a one-dimensional portrayal that doesn’t do the character justice.
Are there any standout performances in the movie? Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina is one of the few bright spots in the film. Her portrayal captures some of the character’s chaotic energy, but even this is not enough to save the movie from its overall mediocrity.
How are the visuals in the Borderlands movie? The visuals in the Borderlands movie are disappointing. The film fails to replicate the distinctive cel-shaded look of the games, opting instead for a dull, uninspired aesthetic that detracts from the experience.
Does the Borderlands movie capture the humor of the games? The movie’s attempt at humor falls flat, missing the mark entirely. The dark, irreverent humor that defines the Borderlands games is lost in translation, with jokes that feel forced and out of place.
Should fans of the Borderlands series watch the movie? While die-hard fans might find some enjoyment in the film’s references to the games, most will likely be disappointed by the movie’s lackluster execution. It’s a far cry from the chaotic, fun-filled experience that the Borderlands series is known for.
