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The first reviews of the highly anticipated Borderlands movie are in, with critics largely panning the film for its uninspiring script and general miscasting. The movie premiered in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 6, and the early reviews suggest an overwhelmingly negative reaction.
This was widely expected, as initial reactions to the first images and trailers were mixed at best. Directed by Eli Roth and co-written by Joe Crombie, the movie has several big-name Hollywood stars, including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Florian Munteanu, Ariana Greenblatt, and Jack Black, who is the voice of a talkative Claptrap.
However, despite the star-studded cast, there was confusion among fans, with some saying that film studio Lionsgate UK “missed the mark” with the casting. In addition, the movie received a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association, despite the video games being known for their rudeness, crudeness, and lewdness.
Borderlands movie reviews roundup
Bitesize Break
Adriano Caporusso, Bitesize Break’s resident film critic, took to X to denounce the game-to-movie remake. He called the adaptation a “disaster,” adding that it was “filled with every cliché you can ponder.”
In a scathing critique, Caporusso said the film swapped “the mayhem and imagination of the games for a lifeless, unfunny, and visually repulsive dud.”
He also pointed out that the cast lacked chemistry, and the characters were generally annoying.
Loud and Clear Reviews
Reviewer Edgar Ortega had a fairly similar reaction to the film. The writer echoed some of the sentiments of Caporusso, saying: “Borderlands feels like what an out-of-touch executive thinks the ‘cool kids’ find appealing.”
Ortega also felt that the characters were outdated, adding: “There is not a single earnest character moment here, just obnoxious quips that feel dated as soon as they leave the actors’ mouths.”
He concluded that the movie couldn’t even be hate-watched, stating, “It’s not even so bad it’s good, just a complete mess.”
Awesome Friday!
Awesome Friday! critic Matthew Simpson said that the plot was “uninspired” and that it was strangely stuck between seeming “both expensive and cheap [at] the same time [making] it a huge misfire.”
Simpson also noted issues with the cast and characters, remarking that the performances seemed lackluster and “phoned in.”
Movie Scene Canada
Darren Zakus from Movie Scene Canada called it a “baffling video game adaptation.” He slammed the screenplay, declaring it “dull” and “rushed.” Like many other critics, Zakus slated the CGI effects, which reportedly made the movie look cheap.
He commented: “Cate Blanchett, Ariana Greenblatt and Jack Black are all great, even if their characters are underdeveloped and the majority of the jokes fall flat.”
The reviewer also mentioned the shift from an M-rating to a PG-13 rating, which he says may have forced Eli Roth into an “uncomfortable space as he tried to create a fun and bizarre space adventure.”
“Not bad, but utterly forgettable,” he concludes.
More comprehensive reviews will come in over the next few days, but the initial indications about Borderlands are not promising. The film will be released to the public in the United States and United Kingdom on August 9.
Featured image: Borderlands / Lionsgate
