Borderlands movie

When Video Game Movies Go Wrong: The Abysmal Borderlands Debacle!

Borderlands movie hits rock bottom with a 0% rating! Is it time for video game adaptations to quit while they’re ahead?

The much-anticipated movie adaptation of the popular video game series, Borderlands, has officially dropped and critics have wasted no time in voicing their sheer disappointment. With a staggering 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this isn't just a box office flop; it’s a cinematic catastrophe that has left fans and gamers scratching their heads. Did anyone really expect anything different? After all, Eli Roth’s direction had a way of making even the most riveting video game lore feel like watching paint dry. Critics are slamming it left and right, with some suggesting it might just be a cautionary tale — a glaring reminder of how to tarnish a beloved franchise. Eli Roth’s version of the Borderlands universe is said to embrace everything wrong about video game adaptations, opting for caricatures over characters and cheap gags in place of genuine wit. Reviewers have pointed out that the film seems to lack any understanding of the original game's humor or its over-the-top action, instead offering a bleak experience that feels more like a slog across a deserted wasteland than an adrenaline-fueled romp. One particularly scathing review suggested that watching Borderlands might somehow elevate other, already low-rated video game adaptations to new heights of acclaim! Now, that’s saying something, right? But if that wasn’t bad enough, the film also comes with well-known stars like Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, and Jamie Lee Curtis attached to it, raising eyebrows as to how they also missed the mark on what made Borderlands fun in the first place. One can only imagine the brilliant comedic chops of Hart being wasted on a script that provides little more than grunting and groaning. It seems that the strength of the cast could have been harnessed to create a film that truly honored the source material, or at the very least, entertained audiences while making them laugh. Instead, fans are left with a disappointing reminiscence of a once-iconic franchise that deserved much better. Interestingly, the fate of video game adaptations has been notably rocky over the years. While some, like the sensation of Sonic the Hedgehog, have found success in bringing beloved characters to life, many have gone on to join the infamous “bad adaptations” club. We can only hope that this utter train wreck will serve as a wake-up call for future filmmakers that good adaptations require more than just a recognizable name and an all-star cast. Despite its dreary reception, Take-Two’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, is urging fans to hold judgment, claiming it's crucial to give the film a chance. But here’s the kicker: maybe we should save our energy for the next video game adaptation that dares to tread where Borderlands did not—into the realm of quality! As a final note to leave our movie-goers with a smile (or perhaps a chuckle), did you know that the gaming sector actually started out as being heavily criticized for their adaptation choices? As far back as the late 80s, when movies like Super Mario Bros hit the screens, audiences knew adaptation struggles were real! Let's remind ourselves that video games can take us on crazy adventures—maybe we just need a better roadmap for the cinematic journey!