By Jamie Miller
Comic books, once seen as a medium only fit for children, have very much changed with comic books becoming a juggernaut of pop culture. With comics having ascended to the worlds of television and film, you can’t turn around without seeing a new work based on a comic book. And not even one based on a famous comic, no you’re getting stuff based on small indie comics.. Enter “The Old Guard 2.”
“The Old Guard 2” which was released on Netflix on July 2 and is based on the comic created by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez for Image comics. Continuing the story after “The Old Guard,” Andy is no longer immortal, yet continues to fight and lead her Old Guard, now without Booker, after his betrayal in the previous film. A hard loss made up for with the addition of young immortal Nile Freeman. Everything, while different than before, is going smoothly, however that is all about to change, as trouble lies on the horizon. Trouble going by the name of Discord and she brings with her a face from Andy’s past, a face hellbent on revenge. In order to avoid shedding her newfound mortal coil, Andy will have to ally with faces both old and older.
The film stars Charlize Theron, known for roles in numerous films such as “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Atomic Blonde,”, as Andy, the leader of the Old Guard, a former immortal who dates back to before the common era. KiKi Layne,known for roles in the likes of “Don’t Worry Darling” and “Native Son”, as Freeman, a former United States Marine and the youngest member of The Old Guard whom Discord is obsessed with. Matthias Schoenaerts of “Red Sparrow” and “The Danish Girl” fame stars as Sebastian Le Livre currently known as Booker, a former member of The Old Guard currently banished for 100 years after betraying them during the first film, in a failed attempt to be rid of his immortality. Veronica Ngo, known for roles in “The Creator” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”, as Quynh, Andy’s former companion and another immortal who after spending centuries imprisoned in an iron maiden underwater, is out for revenge on Andy for supposedly abandoning her. Henry Golding, known for roles in “Snake Eyes” and “Crazy Rich Asians” as Tuah, another immortal and a very old friend of Andy, having been there the day she and Quynh were separated. And finally Uma Thurman of “Kill Bill: Volume 1” and “Pulp Fiction.” as Discord, the first known immortal whose destiny is entwined with that of Freeman.
Now what did I think of this movie? Well, there is some good action… in the beginning and the end. Unfortunately, that means most of the movie’s one-hour and 46-minute run-time is dedicated to talking. So much talking! They talk in a villa, they talk in a house and, in a nice change of pace, they talk in a car. Anything to avoid increasing the effects budget, I guess but that’s not even getting into the ending. The movie ends on a freaking cliffhanger! There is no better way to anger your audience than to end a film on a cliffhanger, especially after making a movie where, for most of it, nothing of substance happens.
I am honestly surprised my computer desk doesn’t have a new dent in it from me banging my head into it during the overly long scenes of characters talking. Not to mention, the Old Guard who— don’t forget— save for Freeman, are hundreds of years old, if not older, and are making rookie mistakes in the final battle. However, I will say when there is action, it is choreographed well. The actors, namely Theron, bring their A-game as is to be expected from the star of “Atomic Blonde” and the effects are good, great even. This almost made me forget all my anger over all the talking. Seriously, whose idea was it to turn over half the film into a lore dumper? Regardless, there was good choreography and effects, and that’s going to save it from a failing grade, so to speak. I give it five torches out of 10. It’s mid at best, but I mean, there are worse movies on streaming to watch.
