In the last few years, I haven't watched too many recent action movies because they started to feel too generic and too busy when it comes to including funny lines that for me cheapens the entire product. I was worried this movie was going to be another generic film about agent/mercenaries who always beat their opponents and find a smart way to complete their missions, but the truth is this movie has a different element that makes it special.
The plot is about a group of individuals who have a hidden quality that no one, not even themselves, can explain. They are immortals. When they die they come back to life in the same fashion as Wolverine from the X-Men. The first surprise is that despite being ancient humans they don't look very wealthy or knowledgeable.
They look like regular mercenaries with not even a hint of having a lot of accumulated knowledge about history and/or wealth after living for many centuries. This is a very typical characteristic of vampires in several fiction works, since they are very old they are usually very rich and smart. In The Old Guard, these immortals aren't vampires, they are simply humans who come back to life after dying.
They are afraid of being exposed as immortals because of all the potential dangers of being captured and used as lab rats. This is why they live hiding themselves from the public spot. Their "work" is to participate as mercenaries giving support to causes they believe are worthy. They risk their lives but that is no issue for them, and they have become very good in their fighting skills as well as the handling of weapons and the technique to infiltrate places.
What happens in the movie is the result of living in a modern world, where all the information is digitalized, and exploring ancient files, such as photographs, is something that anyone can do. They will have to face a modern and powerful threat that is almost impossible to escape from.
The film doesn't even try to explain where does this immortality come from, but at least it gives some glimpses showing the reach of this mysterious ability. The ending also has a cool surprise that leaves the door open for more.
I think that if this film is successful there should be a part 2 and probably even a trilogy because there is enough potential for that in this fictional universe. It feels like this movie only shows a part of what could be achieved which is why I also think that instead of a movie this would have been better off as a series.
If you are looking for a unique and well-done action film The Old Guard will probably be very enjoyable for you. It did have some scenes that I didn't enjoy but the overall product was satisfactory.
The best
- Original, modern, and entertaining fantasy action plot.
- There could be a sequel because there is clearly more to explore with these characters.
The worst
- Some fights scenes and dialogues were boring.
More information: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7556122/
Review: AAA
In numbers: 7.5/10