Eli Roth's highly anticipated Borderlands movie is poised for release, but early critical reception paints a bleak picture. Read on for a summary of initial reviews and what audiences can expect.
A Critical Mauling, Despite Star Power
Early reviews of the Borderlands film adaptation have been overwhelmingly negative. Critics, following the film's early US premieres, cite weak humor, unconvincing CGI, and a lackluster script as major flaws.
Edgar Ortega of Loud and Clear Reviews tweeted, "Borderlands feels like what an out-of-touch executive thinks the ‘cool kids’ find appealing. No earnest character moments, just tired, dated jokes. It's not even 'so bad it's good,' just a mess." Darren Movie Reviews from Movie Scene Canada called it "a baffling video game adaptation," praising the set design but criticizing the poor CGI and rushed, dull screenplay.
However, not all reviews were entirely damning. Kurt Morrison noted that Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart's performances were highlights, preventing a complete disaster, though he doubts it will find a wide audience. The Hollywood Handle offered a slightly more positive assessment, describing it as a "fun PG-13 action movie" carried by Blanchett's performance.
Despite a star-studded cast and initial skepticism from fans, the film, re-announced in 2020 after a period of inactivity, has faced considerable criticism.
The film follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, returning to Pandora to find Atlas' missing daughter (Edgar Ramirez). She teams up with an eclectic group: Kevin Hart as Roland, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu as Krieg, Jamie Lee Curtis as Tannis, and Jack Black as Claptrap.With full reviews from major publications forthcoming, audiences can judge for themselves when Borderlands hits theaters on August 9th. Meanwhile, Gearbox has hinted at a new Borderlands game.
