It has been years since the live-action adaptation of Borderlands was announced in 2015, and after so many delays, the movie is finally close to being released. However, if the trailers and clips are any indication, the long wait might not be as rewarding as fans might hope.
Poorly-Received First Look
IGN recently released a clip from the movie that's supposed to show us what we could expect from the upcoming release of the film, but what was supposed to be a fast-paced and action-packed scene turned out to be lackluster.
The trailer starts off with Claptrap ejecting bullets through a back compartment, which was already featured in the previous trailer, and then the group proceeds to bring out their guns to fight the incoming group of bandits.
Perhaps it was to show what kinds of action we're in for when situations get heated in the film, but all the elements in the sequence just feel off. For starters, the lighting is too dark to enjoy the action happening in the scene and when the flamethrower does illuminate the room, fire takes over the entire shot.
The enemies move so slowly that it's like they want to get shot. One user on YouTube said that it looked more like an SNL skit than a movie, and in some way, they might be right. Despite being shot by the gang, the bandits' reactions were what you would normally see in improv shows.
There was no blood and the stunt execution was terrible, making it seem like the extras were greener than grass in spring. Another YouTube user also pointed out that the clip looked like "some random people cosplaying as [B]orderlands characters."
Cate Blanchett, who plays Lilith, admittedly has some good moves, especially with all the hand-action with her firearms. However, it also just highlights how inept the enemies are, kind of like returning to a low-level mission after grinding on side quests first.
There were also complaints about Mordecai and Brick missing in action, as well as Kevin Hart being cast as Roland. Seeing as he was a Soldier-type character, people expected someone more serious to take on the role instead of a known comedian who also brought his humor to the character.
Fans even suggested that the franchise should've just released a fourth game in the series instead of producing a live-action movie, which a lot of the game's players would agree on. Hopefully, the trailers are just a way to downplay what we might actually see in theaters on August 9th.
The Idea of Borderlands 4
The latest release of the Borderlands video game series is closing in on being five years old this September, and fans are starting to wonder why there isn't even a hint of its existence to be heard of. There were expectations that it would be announced on the June 7th showcase, but there was none.
It would've been a good way to redeem Borderlands 3, which fans argued was the worst title out of all the three. The action and gameplay are good, and players have pointed that out as well, but the story is just not as engaging as the previous ones.
