The Old Guard
Finally! I've been waiting for years to watch this movie. It's a Netflix film, but was never available on dvd, and I didn't have streaming until a little over a year ago. While going through some old notes I remembered it and immediately tuned in because it seemed like a fun movie, and Charlize Theron is one of those actresses who can totally sell a good fight scene. I don't say that because I think it's cool that there is a "strong woman" character. That has finally become kinda old hat. Kudos. Rather, if the actress can make the fight scenes believable, the fight scenes don't make me roll my eyes in distain and I can enjoy the movie more.
Drawn from a comic, as are so many action movies these days, the guard in question is a small group of immortals who have fought in countless battles over the years, always trying to do their best for humanity. Lately, the leader and oldest of their group has questioned whether they do any good at all and given the continuing violent state of humanity, what's the use in trying. She and the group are waylaid and mowed down by a sophisticated group that confirms the group cannot be killed. Shortly thereafter, a new immortal is discovered and Andy, the eldest, goes to collect her. Evil corporation ensues.
It's a movie full of ancient tropes, like the evil corporation, and a champion being born and thrust into a heroic situation against their will. This time, it's a young African American Marine by the name of Nile (actor and producer Kiki Layne, Coming to America). She begins the film already trained and tested in combat, which is a nice jump start into her story by the writer, which was one of the strengths of the film that really wowed me. The beauty of the writing is that a barrel full of tropes is filled quickly and neatly by the writer. Greg Ruka is the author of the comics, so of course he knows the story well, but he has masterfully transferred it to film. (I want to say something about The Walking Dead, but I will somehow restrain myself. As Nile says the last time she's killed in the movie, "Ow.") Sure, there is at least one leak, like how the group was found out by one man looking for something he couldn't know to look for, but I didn't mind that much because the rest of the story is solid.
Director Gina Prince-Bythewood is no stranger to action (Love & Basketball, The Woman King), which lends strength to the fight scenes, and gives the whole film that certain difference that women directors give even when they're doing something as prosaic as an action film. I keep harping on the fight scenes, but they're a more important aspect of an action movie than people give credit for. They're tough to do in a way that doesn't make a reviewer roll her eyes and mark the film down from a four to two stars. Think about how difficult The Hunger Games action scenes are to watch, with the extreme shaky camera and super quick cuts, or any of the last ten Marvel films, with the over-long sequences of endless mortal blows that don't even cause someone to be knocked out. I can't speak for you, viewer, but that kind of stuff gets under my skin.
Theron, wielding a double headed ax, long a symbol of woman power, has an awesome masc look and really sells the millennial weariness of someone still trying to do her best but questioning why. Layne is also a treat, and I wish there was a sequel just to see her play this part again. Chiwetel Ejiofor brings his usual earnestness and ability to sell the ethically challenged good guy. If there is one big weakness in the movie, and you know I will find it, it's the music. It's just wrong. The song titles are great, like "Born Alone, Die Alone", "Godspeed", "The World We've Made", but their sound is not right for any of the sequences they appear in. You don't want a young woman winsomely singing over a gory gun battle.
I did wait a long time to see this movie, and I'm very happy that I finally have. It's beautifully written, with great actors and a quality director who has crafted a tight film. I highly recommend seeing it, even if you're not normally into action films. Saying a woman director makes it better or at east different sounds sexist, but it's completely true and I stand by my opinion.
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CFR: In Addition
I stand by Cranky's opinion too. This is a darn good movie! First, I love Greg Ruka as he knows how to write good women and men characters. I've been a fan since the Whiteout movie and comics. So if he wrote it, I'm gonna watch.
Theron is awesome, the whole cast rocks, the fights scenes are YES. My only complaint: It was too short. I want more. MORE I TELL YOU!
So turn on your Netflix, or go to a friend's house who has Netflix, and enjoy two minutes of great action and characters. You'll be wanting a sequel, or two, too.
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