A 15-year-old cult classic, this saga is coming to cinemas, but one detail is troubling fans

Borderlands, the adaptation of the famous video game of the same name, will be released in theaters on August 7. Directed by Eli Roth (Hostel) and written by Craig Mazzini (Chernobyl, The Last of Us), the film boasts a top-notch cast including Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jack Black, Ariana Greenblatt and Florian Munteanu.

If the first images released last February announced a violent and bloody action film, its classification in the United States seems to indicate the opposite… and this has fans very worried. Indeed, according to Soon, Borderlands is rated PG-13. This means that parental support is strongly recommended.

The vast majority of films fall into this category, where certain images may not be suitable for children under the age of 13. Mostly images of violence. or drug intake by the protagonists. on the Borderlands website MPA (Motion Pictures Association) discusses “Intensive sequences of violence and action and suggestive language.”

Careful fans

Thus, the feature film will not be as violent and scary as the game, which is known for its bloody and sexual content. Therefore, this rating does not meet the expectations of fans of Borderlands games.

That’s why some fans of the saga have taken to social media to express their dismay at the film’s lack of fidelity to the original video game series. The latter would be more relaxed with an R rating, as the Deadpool saga might be.

That R stands for “restricted.” Minors under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult to view films in this category. This applies to ultra-violent scenes, vulgar dialogues full of “fuk” and more or less “soft” sex scenes. Based on the trailer, the feature film seems to be leaning towards Guardians of the Galaxy, which is rightfully rated PG-13.

The iconic saga

Highly regarded by gamers for its fantastical world and crazy characters, the Borderlands franchise, launched in 2009, dusted off the looter-shooter genre. With 83 million copies sold, the license is one of the best sellers in the world. It is developed by Texas studio Gearbox Software.

In the film, we follow Lilith, a bounty hunter with a troubled past. He reluctantly returns to his home planet of Pandora, the most chaotic planet in the galaxy. His mission is to find the missing daughter of Atlas, the most powerful (and most despicable) man in the world. To get there, Lilith will have to form an unlikely alliance with a happy team of misfits.

Roland, a seasoned mercenary; Tiny Tina, a teenager with a penchant for destruction; Krieg, Tina’s muscular bodyguard; Tanis, a whimsical scientist; and Claptrap, a very talkative robot. Together, these unlikely heroes must face the worst alien species and dangerous bandits to uncover Pandora’s most explosive secrets.