Borderlands Is a Campy & Fun Video Game Movie


The following contains spoilers for Borderlands, which is currently playing in theaters nationwide.

Video game adaptations can be a tricky thing to get right. While recent television adaptations of games succeeded, like HBO’s The Last of Us or Prime Video’s Fallout, most video game movies are heavily panned. Many video games have rich worldbuilding, so for a filmmaker taking a stab at adapting a game to film, the trick is to just have fun. Borderlands, directed by Eli Roth, may be silly, campy, and possibly even a little bit schlocky, but everyone involved seems to be having the best time. If the viewer is able to see past loads of poop jokes and some choppy editing, they will be drifted away by Borderlands’ captivating weirdness and grit.


Borderlands takes place in a not-so-distant future, where bounty hunters, creatures, and killers roam different planets around the solar system. Cate Blanchett stars as Lilith, a bounty hunter tasked with traveling to her home planet of Pandora and rescuing Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt), the daughter of Atlas (Edgar Ramírez), a feared figure of imminent wealth. However, Lilith soon realizes that Atlas’ reasons for wanting to capture Tina are way more nefarious than she originally thought. Lilith decides to team up with Tina, as well as a few other misfits like the ex-soldier Roland (Kevin Hart) and the blabber-mouthed robot Claptrap (Jack Black).


Borderlands is a Funny & Silly Popcorn Flick

The Film Is a Faithful Video Game Adaptation


Borderlands’ Critical Reception

IMDb

Letterboxd

Rotten Tomatoes

4.4/10

1.8/5

  • Tomatometer: 9%
  • Audience Score: 51%

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Borderlands is a silly film with a convoluted plot that is hard to follow, and yet, it is still a lot of fun. The movie is fast-paced and action-packed, providing some great scenes of carnage. One scene involving the main crew battling masked villains dubbed “Psychos” in a sewer goes on for about 10 minutes, and it features as much edge-of-your-seat action as a Marvel movie. The film is filled with exciting set pieces as well, and is never dull, with another sequence featuring the gang trying to avoid falling into green acid also being a highlight.


While Borderlands‘ story can be hard to follow, it is still easy to be compelled by whether Tiny Tina is truly the “chosen one” or not. The plot is loose and kind of all over the place, but it tries to tell a deep story about parents and children, as well as the power of love and friendship. There is a sweetness that is palpable throughout the film. Even through all its gross-out humor, like Claptrap excreting nuts and bolts, the film has a ton of heart. The movie is only 90 minutes long, not counting the credits, and it feels easy-breezy. The pacing is great, and there is enough action and charm from the cast to keep the audience in their seats throughout the brisk runtime.

Borderlands Features a Great Ensemble Cast

The Film’s Talented Cast Make the Characters Compelling


The Stars’ Highest-Rated Movie, According to Rotten Tomaotes

Actor

Movie

Rotten Tomatoes

Cate Blanchett

Journey to the South Pacific

  • Tomatometer: 100%
  • Audience Score: 69%

Ariana Greenblatt

Love and Monsters

  • Tomatometer: 94%
  • Audience Score: 89%

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart: Irresponsible

  • Tomatometer: 100%
  • Audience Score: 38%

Jack Black

The Muppets

  • Tomatometer: 95%
  • Audience Score: 80%

Jamie Lee Curtis

Knives Out

  • Tomatometer: 97%
  • Audience Score: 92%

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As Lilith, Blanchett is superb in action-hero mode and is extremely likable despite playing a slimy individual, who does eventually find her grace. She’s funny and very believable as the brawn. Lilith also goes through many dramatic developments throughout the film. Blanchett plays them with seriousness, yet is still aware of the kind of movie she’s in. Specifically, the kind that is meant to be mindless fun. Ariana Greenblatt also nails the role of Tina, perfectly embodying the beloved character from the Borderlands games. Greenblatt is witty and unpredictable in a role that may annoy some viewers, but that actually further proves Greenblatt’s believability in the role.


Kevin Hart is as strong as ever as Roland, the soldier who tries to portray himself as the tough guy but is really a big teddy bear. Hart isn’t delivering his usual comic relief here since, instead, he’s playing a serious role as a man destined to protect a young girl who may hold the power to save the universe. Hart is impressive in the way that he sells a character who isn’t just in the movie to provide a quick laugh. That role, instead, is handed to Jack Black, who voices the small robot with a large voice, Claptrap. Claptrap’s humor is extremely juvenile, but for the younger audiences, he will be a riot, and Black is fully committed as usual.

Jamie Lee Curtis and Gina Gershon also show up in memorable roles, adding to the ensemble’s success. Curtis plays Dr. Patricia Tannis, a quirky doctor who helps the team along the way. Curtis creates an easily identifiable and distinct character while playing Tannis. Gershon is striking as Mad Moxxi, who owns a brothel of sorts. Gershon provides her usual gusto, and it’s as charming as ever. Creed II‘s Florian Munteanu also appears as Krieg, a “Psycho” who befriends Tina. Munteanu successfully acts with his body in a role that essentially contains no dialogue, which is impressive and implies that the viewer will be seeing this actor for a long time to come.


Borderlands is very bright, but with a sleaziness to it that only Roth, as a director, can provide. One scene takes place in a brothel, and while fairly tame, it holds the essence of Hostel. Horror maestro Roth, who helmed last year’s Thanksgiving, is dedicated to providing interesting and humorous antics for the main ragtag group to get into. Despite Roth’s signature grime and schlock, everything and everyone seen in this film feels pieced together in a positive way. Despite its PG-13 rating, Borderlands has a slimy grotesqueness that feels like signature Roth. Even the flying creatures that devour other monsters is gritty, with the director leaving his mark every chance he gets.

Borderlands Presents a Rich Setting With Interesting World-Building

The Film’s Confused Tone and Juvenile Humor Are Its Biggest Hurdles


Top 5 Movies Directed by Eli Roth, According to Rotten Tomatoes

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Score

Thanksgiving

  • Tomatometer: 84%
  • Audience Score: 80%

Fin

  • Tomatometer: 82%
  • Audience Score: 89%

The House With a Clock in Its Walls

  • Tomatometer: 65%
  • Audience Score: 45%

Cabin Fever (2002)

  • Tomatometer: 62%
  • Audience Score: 44%

Hostel

  • Tomatometer: 59%
  • Audience Score: 53%

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There is so much worldbuilding in Borderlands, providing so much to explore. The film only scratches the surface of the games’ wacky lore and setting, but it more than makes up for this with its tonal throwback to old-school action movies. In today’s world of grim and self-serious storytelling, this knowing embrace of comical schlock is a much-appreciated breath of fresh air. For instance, Lilith’s introduction has her meeting Atlas (or at least a hologram of him) at a bar while handling a man she caught with a bounty on his head. The scene feels reminiscent of Spaghetti Westerns, and Blanchett is at once deadly and glamorous, helping to launch a genuinely good time at the movies.


That said, the movie makes its intentions clear the moment it begins. In the opening, which explains the logistics of Borderlands‘ world, bounty hunters are seen barely wearing any clothes, which sets the tone early for how campy Roth is trying to get with this. However, the film’s tone is actually one of its biggest issues. Despite its famously M-Rated source material and Roth’s influences from exploitation cinema, Borderlands seemingly thinks it’s intended for a younger audience. This notion is stressed with the inclusion of many childish poop jokes. Case in point, the crew rides through a swamp of monster urine midway through the movie. As if this weren’t enough, Claptrap reveals that the floods of monster bodily fluids contain “fecal matter” as well.

Some of these jokes are funny, but they get repetitive quickly. The film contains adult subject matter as well, like the characters visiting a brothel, making it hard to pinpoint who the actual audience for this film is. Then again, the intended audience seems to be fans of the original Borderlands video game. The games are best known for their rapid-fire jokes and shameless embrace of juvenile humor. Though it won’t work for everyone, the inclusion of gross-out gags and the frenetic storytelling are actually necessary. They show that the movie is fairly faithful when it comes to adapting the games’ spirit.


Borderlands’ Plot Is Confusing, but Has Plenty of Heart

The Storyline Is Convoluted but Still Engaging

Top 5 Borderlands Games, According to IGN

Title

IGN Score

Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep

  • IGN Score: 9.2/10
  • User Score: 8.2/10

Borderlands 2

  • IGN Score: 9/10
  • User Score: 8.3/10

Borderlands 3

  • IGN Score: 9/10
  • User Score: 7.8/10

Borderlands

  • IGN Score: 8/10
  • User Score: 7.7/10

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

  • IGN Score: 8/10
  • User Score:7.5/10


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Borderlands’ plot revolves around a person chosen with the gift of being able to open an ancient vault that contains limitless power. This aspect of the plot is engaging, and gives the film a mysterious whodunit vibe, especially since the audience does not know who has the power until the end. There is a twist at the end that is successful, because the characters are actually developed and earn the place they find themselves in by the story’s conclusion. The plot has compelling aspects, but it is a bit all over the place at times. However, the strong characters help keep the audience engaged. Borderlands may not be interested in achieving Oscar-nominated writing, but there is still enough character development to make viewers genuinely care about the cast’s fate.


Another highlight are the special effects and creature design. The main planet featured within the movie, Pandora, is largely a desert occupied by some memorable monsters, including one with tentacles and another huge beast that meets a fairly brutal but comical end. The visuals are not groundbreaking, but they are pleasing to the eyes and contain enough emphasis to captivate the audience. The costume design, as well as the design of the weapons, are also very well done. Lilith’s look alone, from her fiery red hair to her bedazzling blue top, is nothing short of chic. The cinematography is also crisp, providing a nice fluidity throughout the film. However, Borderlands’ editing is a negative. The movie’s rushed editing denies some scenes of their potential emotional impact and depth, such as one of Tina’s conversations being abruptly cut short by another random sequence.


That said, Borderlands is never dull or boring. For moviegoers looking for a fun popcorn flick with endless combat and some fun sci-fi elements, this movie is worth the price of admission. While it doesn’t go far enough in terms of its humor and overall depravity, Borderlands is a faithful enough video game adaptation that should delight established fans. For fans of fun action movies more concerned with entertainment than a fully coherent and complex storyline, Borderlands may win them over. This movie is definitely intended for teenagers, despite some aspects that may make it seem like the opposite is true and the games’ age. Borderlands doesn’t break new ground, but the nonstop action and enjoyable performances make it worth a look.

Borderlands is currently in theaters.


Borderlands Film Poster

Borderlands

A feature film based on the popular video game set on the abandoned fictional planet of Pandora where people search for a mysterious relic.

Director
Eli Roth

Release Date
August 9, 2024

Writers
Eli Roth , Joe Crombie

Main Genre
Sci-Fi

Cast
Ariana Greenblatt , Cate Blanchett , Jack Black , Edgar Ramirez , Olivier Richters , Jamie Lee Curtis

Pros

  • Great Action Scenes
  • Excellent Ensemble Cast
  • Plot Contains Heart
Cons

  • Convoluted Story
  • Relies on Potty Humor

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