The Old Guard

With cinemas closed, at least Netflix is spoiling us with higher-budget movies, even if it’s not great, in the current drought is it at least fine entertainment. Charlize Theron leads a group of immortal soldiers who have lived for centuries, but are now threatened with discovery and must do whatever it takes to preserve their identities. The film has pretty decent action, which though not as good as Extraction or 6 Underground, is pretty bloody and a few shots are memorable. There's a twist and the actors do their best. Some might be bothered by the fact that the film is very gender correct and not very clever, but that doesn't bother me that much. The only thing that bothered me was that the flashbacks didn't get more space, as if the film had been set during the Crusades or the time of the witch hunts, the rating would have been very different. I wouldn't mind a sequel. Story***, Action***, Humor>No, Violence***, Entertainment****, Music***, Visual****, Atmosphere***, Suspense***. 6/10. (2020-07-16)

Disintegrating, pace-free, dramatic structure, slightly naive in its seriousness... nevertheless, in the second half, the strange cheesy girl's individuality, well-acted characters and solid actions began to draw me into the world so much that I was inclined toward watching the second part. It's a bit like Underworld for intellectuals and is a very long series pilot, which could possibly get going in the second season. (2020-07-14)

Another wannabe action flick that trips over its own feet over and over again with a stupid script. The action has decently bloody gore and polished visuals that, while effective, are unfortunately too effective and therefore unrealistic and rather artificial. The screenplay is classically stupid like every other film like it, the film literally oozes with over-the-top racial, political, religious and sexual correctness, and the “trendy hits of today’s cinema” are just too much. Add to that the perpetually pissed off expression of the unlikeable Charlize Theron and a handful of supporting, supplementary actors just for show and we get a beautiful mistake that shouldn't have needed to be made in the first place and no one would have missed. Perhaps the best thing about the film is Dudley Dursey, whose presence can at least amuse while Harry Potter fans. (2020-08-25)

If Charlize would kiss the pharmacist who treats her shoulder, this movie’s circle of bizarreness would be closed. The Old Guard is an odd mix of Bram Stoker’s existential motifs, almost parodically overwrought racial, gender and LGBT correctness, and every possible cliché of the action and sci-fi genres, all with excessive focus on the emotions and motivations of the characters, which is sometimes effective and sometimes silly. However, the result is still better and more cohesive than another recent Netflix team/buddy flick…you know, that one by Bay. (2020-07-29)

Remarkable and interesting subject, but unfortunately the film lacks elementary briskness. Here, a skilled editor's hand and a clever screenwriter/dramaturge were needed. Endless philosophical conversations in action-packed movies do not excel. It is a great pity. At least I have definitively confirmed that I like the Belgian bad boy Schoenaerts in every role. (2020-07-18)