Borderlands Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A group of famous actors cosplaying as video game characters go on a scavenger hunt in a junkyard, but the real treasure was the friends they made along the way… or was it?!

🍿 Borderlands: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Introduction to Pandora and Lilith

The movie introduces Pandora, a chaotic planet driven by the pursuit of a hidden Eridian vault. Lilith, a bounty hunter haunted by her past, is drawn back to Pandora to find Atlas’s missing daughter, Tiny Tina. Pandora is portrayed as a lawless wasteland, reflecting its decline due to the relentless vault hunting craze. Lilith’s initial reluctance stems from her troubled childhood on Pandora, abandoned by her vault-hunting mother.

Assembling the Unlikely Team

Lilith reluctantly teams up with Roland, a mercenary; Tiny Tina, a demolitions expert; Krieg, Tina’s protector; Tannis, an eccentric scientist; and Claptrap, a quirky robot. Each character brings unique skills and motivations to the quest. The team forms an uneasy alliance, navigating dangerous landscapes and battling various factions in their pursuit of the vault keys. Their journey involves facing personal demons and learning to trust each other despite their differences.

The Truth About Tiny Tina and Lilith’s Heritage

The team discovers that Tiny Tina is a genetically engineered creation of Atlas, designed to unlock the vault. This revelation adds a layer of moral complexity to their mission, as they question Atlas’s motives. Lilith learns about her own Eridian heritage through a message from her mother, revealing she is the true key to the vault. This discovery forces Lilith to confront her past and embrace her destiny as the ‘Firehawk.’

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lilith (Cate Blanchett): An infamous bounty hunter with a mysterious past, Lilith returns to her chaotic home planet Pandora to find a missing girl and uncovers her own hidden powers.
• Roland (Kevin Hart): A seasoned mercenary, Roland seeks fortune on Pandora and joins Lilith’s team, providing combat expertise and strategic thinking.
• Tiny Tina (Ariana Greenblatt): A feral preteen demolitionist, Tiny Tina is being hunted because of her connection to the Eridian vault.
• Tannis (Jamie Lee Curtis): An oddball scientist obsessed with Pandora’s secrets, Tannis offers her expertise in finding the Eridian vault.
• Claptrap (Jack Black): A wise-cracking robot, Claptrap provides comic relief and unexpected assistance to the team’s quest.
• Atlas (Edgar Ramírez): The universe’s most powerful corporate leader, Atlas seeks his missing daughter and the Eridian vault for his own domination.
• Krieg (Florian Munteanu): Tina’s musclebound protector, Krieg is a former psycho who fights with reckless abandon.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Tiny Tina: “Ooh! Mine’s bigger.” – Tiny Tina is known for being a feral preteen demolitionist.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $115,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $15,482,668
• Worldwide Gross: $32,978,510

💥 Borderlands Reviews

Personal Review

As a fan of the games, I walked in hoping for a wild, chaotic ride, but left feeling disappointed. I was expecting more dark humor and over-the-top action. There were moments where I could see what they were trying to do, but the characters felt flat. There was this scene where the vault door opened, but it had no impact! Overall, I wished they’d embraced the source material more fully.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of sci-fi action comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy ensemble casts”
  • “Those interested in video game adaptations (with adjusted expectations)”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Fantasy violence”
  • “Gun violence”
  • “Explosions”
  • “Some crude humor”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “While the visual design captures some of the game’s aesthetic, the film’s humor feels forced and the plot is a derivative mishmash of sci-fi tropes. The cast is talented, but they’re ultimately let down by a weak script and uninspired direction.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “”Borderlands” struggles to translate the game’s chaotic energy to the big screen. The action sequences are competent but lack impact, and the characters feel underdeveloped, failing to create a compelling connection with the audience. A disappointing adaptation.
• IGN: “This adaptation misses the mark by sacrificing the game’s distinctive style for generic action and tired jokes. The core group is poorly cast. The story is an incoherent mess that fails to capture the Borderlands franchise’s charm.

Audience Reactions

Some viewers appreciated the visual style, finding it reminiscent of the game’s art style.: The film’s set design and costumes were praised by a minority.

Many fans were disappointed by the PG-13 rating, feeling it neutered the franchise’s signature violence and dark humor.: Hardcore fans felt that the film didn’t capture Borderlands’ mature tone.

Overall Consensus: The movie has missed the mark for many fans, though some found moments to enjoy amidst the flawed adaptation.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Eli Roth shot the film in the summer of 2021 and purportedly finished it in early 2022, but the film was deemed incomplete due to varying rumors and reasons, including the studio objecting to the first cut’s extreme R-rated violence and poor screen testing.”
• “Tim Miller was hired to undertake two weeks of re-shoots. These re-shoots wound up being so extensive that Steve Jablonsky was hired to write a new musical score, as Nathan Barr’s original score no longer fit the film.”

🖥️ How to Watch Borderlands?

As of November 2024, Borderlands is available for purchase or rental on various digital platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for streaming availability on platforms like Hulu or Paramount+.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Borderlands, you might like these similar films:

• Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Similar team of misfit heroes traveling through space on a wacky adventure.
• Mad Max: Fury Road (2015): Post-apocalyptic wasteland setting with over-the-top action and crazy characters.
• Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023): Ensemble cast on a quest, balancing action and comedy.

🛒 Borderlands Related Products

• Borderlands 3: Experience the mayhem of the original Borderlands games with explosive action, diverse Vault Hunters, and a sprawling world filled with loot and colorful characters. Pick one of four brand new Vault Hunters, each with deep skill trees, abilities and customization.
• Borderlands Claptrap Talking Plush: Bring home the wise-cracking robot with this officially licensed Claptrap plush. Features iconic phrases and sounds from the game.
• Borderlands Psycho Bandit Mask: Become one of Pandora’s iconic Psycho Bandits with this detailed replica mask, perfect for cosplay or display.
• Borderlands Art Book: A behind-the-scenes look at the art and design of the Borderlands universe, featuring concept art, character designs, and commentary from the creators.

🎧 Soundtrack

Borderlands features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “How You Like Me Now” – performed by The Heavy

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Borderlands Movie is Horrible

Penguinz0 thinks the Borderlands movie is… well, the title says it all. But with 3.6M views, you know this review is gonna be brutally honest and funny. Wondering if it’s REALLY that bad? Give it a watch!

Back when Bobby Lee insulted us… #borderlands

Ever wondered what the cast was like off-screen? This short clip from IGN shows a funny moment with Bobby Lee. It’s only 36 seconds, so give it a quick watch for some laughs!

Borderlands – How to Fail at Basic Filmmaking | Anatomy of a Failure

Okay, so everyone’s saying Borderlands is bad… but WHY? Filmento breaks down the filmmaking mistakes that led to its downfall. If you’re a film buff, this breakdown is super insightful.

Honest Trailers | Borderlands

Honest Trailers never disappoints, and their Borderlands take is GOLD. They perfectly roast all the movie’s clichés and absurdities in a hilarious way. Even if you liked the movie, you gotta admit, this is funny!

✨ Rate