Video games have a history of not translating well to the big screen. But that hasn’t stopped gaming studios from taking their cinematic swings. The latest to try is the popular action looter-shooter “Borderlands” from Gearbox Software. This wacky looking adaptation is directed and co-written by Eli Roth and features a truly bonkers ensemble. There’s certainly lots of potential. But much like the video game series, there’s also a lot of question marks.
Set within a space-Western sci-fi fantasy world, “Borderlands” follows a ragtag team of misfits that includes Cate Blanchett as a bounty hunter named Lilith, Kevin Hart as a mercenary named Roland, Jack Black as wisecracking robot named Claptrap, Jamie Lee Curtis as a mad scientist named Tannis, Ariana Greenblatt as an explosives guru named Tiny Tina, and Florian Munteanu as Tina’s musclebound protector Krieg. They set out to rescue the daughter of a gangster (Edgar Ramirez) on the most dangerous planet in the galaxy. Again, lots of potential, but just as many ways for it to go off the rails.
“Borderlands” is coming soon to theaters. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.
Keith & the Movies 
This looks absolutely one of the stupidest films ever…. but….. goddamnit…. it looks hilarious and fun. The cast alone sells it including Kevin Hart who is actually acting restrained here which is a good thing. Plus, it’s from Eli Roth and I like his stuff. He doesn’t take himself seriously and he knows it.
I’m pretty lukewarm on Roth. And knowing the game Hart looks terribly
miscast. Still, I won’t write it off. We’ll see how it turns out.
Recommending
Trailer looks good, good ensemble, colors are great, soundtrack, you can’t beat ELO for energy. On the down side too much casual use of CGI which can ruin a movie. On the fence, will not see it at the theater but video or stream release for sure.
p.s. the movies you mention by this director work against it for me.
I completely understand.
I’m not sure what to expect from it. “Borderlands” the game was a little too much for me over time. I wonder if the movie will be the same.
I never played the game. Cate’s voice sounds a little weird in this trailer. The costumes are fabulous!
This may indeed turn out to be a film where the actors enjoyed being in it more than we enjoy watching it…but set within a Firefly/Serenity-type world I suspect it has some potential to surprise us all.
Perhaps, I know for me the games it’s based on tended to wear me out. The
Movie might do the same.