The Old Guard: Movie Review

Not only an action film, "The Old Guard" is a surprisingly deep and satisfying take on immortality. It gives a lot on the pros and cons of having everlasting life. While it was ultimately disappointing as we never really get to know the rhyme and reason for why they were given their powers, the film had enough action set pieces to make it quite enjoyable.

Led by a centuries old warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of mercenaries with immortality have fought to protect the mortal world for centuries. But when the team is recruited to take on a mission to save kidnapped children, they are double-crossed and are suddenly exposed. The group must eliminate the people behind the deception who not only intend to replicate their powers but profit over it by any means necessary. Nile (KiKi Layne), the newest immortal to join the group, helps in the process.

How do you make an action film starring immortal characters entertaining? The fact that the characters are unable to die is a risky proposition on paper. "The Old Guard" found a way to mix things up by putting a twist into the immortality concept making some scenes feeling tension-filled. That twist also proves to be crucial in the overall narrative but we have to admit that there was a lacksy daisy approach in character development and on its own lore and mythology. The film puts out crucial touch points that will make audiences think twice if the proposition of eternal life is a gift or a curse. Unfortunately, it also failed to make its handful of characters relatable in an emotional level - so much so that we even had a hard time understanding the plight of its main character Andy played by Charlize Theron. It was quite obvious that the film was setting up for more films (at least a sequel) and it did a great job in building a good foundation in that aspect but it also sacrifices a lot of details in the process. The saving grace for the film was easily its action-packed sequences and awesome fight choreography. The film also doesn't pull any punches with its gore so expect to wince a lot. The narrative was just okay. Some elements could pass off for a B-movie film and there was really nothing special when it came to their main adversary. "The Old Guard" gave us mixed feelings. On one hand, it had high-budget action that thrilled us but its story felt unpolished even cheap. The lore behind it was interesting but the way it was developed and built was ordinary. Would we recommend "The Old Guard"? Probably yes. But just manage your expectations - don't expect anything extraordinary.

Rating: 3 and a half reels





Why you should watch it:
- satisfying action and gore
- had interesting takes on the immortality aspect

Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the film just felt average
- it's a setup for a sequel so a lot of details were left out