Eli Roth's Borderlands: A disappointing trip to the video game cinema

Eli Roth's Borderlands: A disappointing trip to the video game cinema

In the latest cinematic adventure, which many video game fans have on the tongue, the prominent director Eli Roth leads the ambitious “Borderlands” project based on the iconic first-person shooter series. Roth is known for his stylized horrors, but this time has taken on the challenge of creating a film adaptation that transfers the elements of the game into the film world.

The expectations were high because the confidence has grown that video game films experience a new heyday after a long time of failure. The recent successes such as the animated new edition of the "Super Mario Bros. Films", which recorded over one billion dollars at the coffers, as well as the HBO series "The Last of Us", which inspired both critics and spectators, gave hope that "Borderlands" could also initiate the turn.

line and direction

"Borderlands" brings a packed ensemble to the screen, including experienced acting sizes such as Cate Blanchett and Jack Black. Roth has already worked with these stars on other projects, which means that there is a certain familiarity between them. Nevertheless, it is puzzling how Jamie Lee Curtis ended up in this mix, because although she is a talented actress, her presentation in this context seems to contribute little to action.

The narrative structure of the film based on a group of unusual heroes is reminiscent of classic sci-fi patterns such as "Star Wars" or "The Guardians of the Galaxy". The protagonists are a colorful group who are on the hunt for a mysterious alien object, the so-called "MacGuffin". This narrative is not in itself, but it can definitely captivate in the right implementation.

criticism and disappointment

If you take a closer look at the film, it is no secret that it does not meet the high expectations. The script is criticized as uninspired and flat, while the jokes often weak and the continuous self -irony could be perceived by the spectators. Roth seems to try to cross the limits of the genre, but often the self -experiment becomes an obstacle.

The influences of large sci-fi classics are unmistakable, but your own identity of the film remains weak. The mixture of faecal humor and exaggerated characters does not make a decisive contribution to the depth of the film, which quickly disappears the enthusiasm that was hoped for as a viewer.

The conclusion of many critics is clear: the attempt to create a profound and yet entertaining story from a concept that was somewhat traced by the genre has failed in this case. While Roth has undertaken an ambitious undertaking, the impression of a non -completed work remains that offers more style than substance. “Borderlands” could therefore be the last shot in the blue for video game films instead of becoming the hoped -for success.