As a long-time fan of the Borderlands franchise, I must say that this movie truly captured the essence of the game’s universe. The lived-in feel, the oppressive corporate regime, and the iconic characters were all beautifully portrayed on the big screen.
The Borderlands series took off in 2009, but its development had some initial bumps. A significant change happened when they switched to the cel-shaded art style, which made the game stand out at release and earned it numerous positive reviews across various platforms. To date, there have been three primary games, with the most recent one being released in 2019.
In addition, there are four significant offshoots, and interestingly enough, two of them were released in 2022 – “Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep” and “New Tales from the Borderlands.” This timing naturally leads to speculation that Gearbox would attempt to bring their series to life on the big screen with a “Borderlands” film. Despite mixed reviews, ardent fans can concur that the movie does show appreciation for the franchise in various crucial aspects.
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
6 Getting Marcus In There
A Guide To The Vault Hunters
In the world of Borderlands, I found myself yearning for familiar faces from the initial game in the movie adaptation. To my dismay, it seemed as though the filmmakers cherry-picked characters from the first two games, overlooking fan favorites like Brick and Mordecai. Yet, I must admit, it was a delight to recognize several lesser-known characters in their cameos.
In the film, Marcus plays the lively store owner character from many of the games. Despite Lilith repeatedly declining, he persists in his usual Vault Hunter antics when she arrives on Pandora. He’s just that kind of person – an optimistic charmer who’s always looking to make a profit. It was delightful to see Mad Moxxi in a minor role, adding depth to the ensemble cast.
5 The Technology
From Guns To Hollow Faces
It’s clear from the film that this future is brimming with unusual technology. Notably, there are holographic face shields, which characters like Lilith employ to infiltrate Mad Moxxi’s bar. Though they may not be as advanced as Ethan Hunt’s face masks from the Mission Impossible series, these holograms certainly add an intriguing touch to the Borderlands movie.
Players find the guns to be their favorite aspect of the game series. Although the film didn’t feature many, it did include a few that embodied the quirky style characteristic of Borderlands, such as the revolver with the spinning chamber that Lilith uses. The vehicles also looked well-designed, particularly the Outrunner that Lilith steals early on with Claptrap.
4 Claptrap
This Funny Piece Of Gadgetry Deserves Its Own Nod
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but acknowledge that Claptrap, with his distinctive appearance, stands out like no other character from the film. Jack Black brings him to life in a way that feels remarkably true to the game version. He may not grasp human complexities, yet he’s always ready to lend a helping hand. Yet, there’s a certain detachment when it comes to forewarning our doom – he doesn’t seem too bothered about it. Claptrap is like an intriguing puzzle wrapped in a shiny yellow metallic package.
The version in the film looks great too even though the production team decided to go with CG instead of using a practical robot like BB-8 or R2-D2 from the Star Wars films. That would have been a cool practical effect but thankfully the CG of Claptrap blends in well enough with the other characters. There’s a bit of wear and tear to his body to make Claptrap look more lived-in. That’s what this film universe really has going for it, a lived-in feeling wherein everyone looks like they are done with it.
3 The Corporations Are Everywhere
From Atlas To Vladof
At the beginning of the story, Lilith describes that the galaxy is controlled by various corporations. These companies’ advertisements are visible from buildings to spaceships to even weapons, reflecting similar entities in a game. Among these powerful corporations, Hyperion and Dahl stand out, but the main focus of the movie is Atlas, led by the new character, Deukalian Atlas.
The heavy-handed control these corporations exert across various planets is palpable, and the movie serves as a clear depiction of this dominance. This theme is recurrent in numerous works of media, such as games and films, so even those unfamiliar with the Borderlands series can grasp it. The film maintains its portrayal of a corporate regime reminiscent of malevolent empires or kingdoms.
2 The Costumes
Dressed To Impress
1. All primary characters appear fitting for their roles. A peculiar blue vest worn by Lilith initially creates an uneasy impression, but it’s replaced when she transforms into her true Siren form. Her appearance then becomes more distinctive, complete with a tattoo on one arm. Similarly, Roland, Tiny Tina, Mad Moxxi, Dr. Tannis, and the rest of the cast all look convincingly authentic.
Krieg truly merits recognition among the ranks of “The Psychos”. His mask, reminiscent of the game, adds to their fearsome image. Similarly terrifying are The Crimson Lance, another formidable group in the film, who project an air of authority with equal menace.
1 The Cel-Shaded Influence
It’s Hard To Pull Off This Color Scheme
Initially, during the creation process of Borderlands, it appeared similar to other contemporary shooter games such as Gears of War. However, towards the end of development, the game underwent a significant change with a brighter color scheme and adoption of cel-shading design. These alterations were instrumental in setting it apart from other shooters and also proved beneficial for the movie’s visual appeal.
The vibrant colors of the costumes make them stand out even more. Mad Moxxi’s costume and makeup really grab your attention. Additionally, the film incorporates a comic-book like visual style in its background art, giving it an almost cel-shaded appearance at times. It’s unclear exactly how they achieved this effect, but modern technology offers many possibilities in post-production. Despite not being fully realized yet, the movie still gives off a futuristic vibe due to advancements in cinematography.
Read More
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- MNT PREDICTION. MNT cryptocurrency
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- GLM PREDICTION. GLM cryptocurrency
- USD ZAR PREDICTION
- AVAX PREDICTION. AVAX cryptocurrency
- USD MYR PREDICTION
2024-08-17 01:23