Netflix's The Old Guard Review

The latest game news from IGN - one of my fave channels ever - check it out The Old Guard debuts on Netflix on July 10. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Netflix’s The Old Guard tells the story of a clandestine group of four immortal mercenaries -- with an emphasis on “old.” Some have lived centuries, while the leader of the group, the apathetic and jaded Andi (Charlize Theron), is so ancient she can’t even remember how long she’s been alive. It’s an intriguing premise, and it allows for plenty of fascinating character work as we learn about the unique traumas one can develop after living a few too many lifetimes. But while The Old Guard is mostly enjoyable, a few shortcomings stop it from fully living up to its potential. The movie -- based on The Old Guard graphic novel series by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández, with a screenplay by Rucka -- kicks off when a militarized pharmaceutical company learns of the group’s secret and hunts them down so they can monetize whatever’s giving them unnaturally long life. At the same time, a fifth immortal pops up on the grid and it’s not long before she’s recruited to the team. The villain winds up feeling a bit toothless, so the real source of conflict becomes the existential crisis that comes with finding out that death no longer applies to you. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=movies-and-tv-based-on-comics&captions=true"] Andi has fought in battles longer than there have been history books, and she finds herself bitter with the ever-declining state of the world. Why did she fight all those battles if things only seem to have gotten worse? Andi’s philosophical debates between her teammates, and the way they reflect on their long lives, fuel the film’s best scenes. It’s these damaged characters with this undying condition that sets this action thriller apart from numerous others in the genre, and the filmmakers service the concept well. Copley, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, has a bit of an obsession with the group, and it’s his heartfelt performance that helps create a sense of awe at what they can do. When US Army soldier Nile Freeman (KiKi Layne) dies in the line of duty and finds herself unexpectedly back among the living, the team is compelled to enlist her. Nile offers a fresh perspective to the bitter Andi, and she becomes the gateway character for the audience. Unfortunately, Nile is often relegated to asking question after question so things can be explained to her, leading to scene after scene of clunky exposition. The rest of the group consists of the melancholy Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) and the brave and bold couple Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli). Though they’ve resigned themselves to spending their years as hired guns, they add an incredible amount of warmth and humanity to the story. Joe and Nicky in particular are a gift -- they’re a badass, openly gay couple who have no qualms about cutting down a room of goons using guns and swords. You don’t see that every day. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/2Zy9xTV] That these immortal mercenaries use bladed weapons from their original time along with modern firearms adds a bit of flair to the action scenes. Speaking of which, the whole team fighting together is an absolute blast to watch. They’re like a well-oiled machine -- a nice detail that shows what a few hundred years of teamwork will do for you. Though there’s a lot to like about The Old Guard, there are a few elements that aren’t as refined as the rest. The visual effect of the characters healing from lethal wounds, Wolverine-style, looks plasticky and unconvincing. Songs seem to force their way into the film at awkward times. A certain plot development feels predictable, unearned, and devoid of impact all at the same time. And as a fan of the comic’s gorgeously stylish artwork, I have to question why the movie was rendered like a standard action flick; I’m left to wonder what it could have been were it made with a style as inventive as the source material. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=netflix-spotlight-july-2020&captions=true"]

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