The Old Guard is an action packed movie that has a good lesson buried underneath – fight for what you think is right, and you just might change the world.
The Old Guard is coming to Netflix next week and if you like action movies, this one is for you. Not only is it packed with adrenaline, it has a lot of violence and gore. Which if you are like me, you will enjoy. There is also some heart to be found in this movie. It shows friendship, camaraderie, and that fighting for what you believe is right, just might have a bigger impact than you think it does.
This movie is about a small group of people with immortal powers. They have lived through the centuries fighting for what they believe is the right thing. However, living forever is harder than it looks and several of them are struggling with their own issues.
One is fixated on the grief of watching their loved ones grow old and die, while another feels that no matter how hard they fight, nothing will ever change. Humanity is always fighting about something, so is it even worth it anymore? This is something that we all know to be true — just look at how 2020 has shaped up so far. It isn’t great.
When a new immortal is “created”, all immortals dream of them. This continues until they find each other. Toward the beginning of The Old Guard a new immortal is created, and it has been centuries since this has happened. The team is unsure why, although it always tends to happen for a reason.
Andy, the leader, splits from the group to go save this new recruit, as she is not safe where she is. Why? One look at her friends’ faces when she comes back from the dead will show you. But will she be willing to give up her life and her family to join The Old Guard?
The Plot Is Good…But A Bit Muddled
Of course, there is also a villain to our story. I don’t want to give too much away but this person wants to find these warriors and run tests on them. Masking it behind wanting to help the people of the world, but ultimately, he just wants to be rich.
I don’t want to say I didn’t enjoy this part of the film, because I did. But the way the plot went back and forth seemed a bit too much. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it, but if thirty minutes or so was removed, it might have been a smoother ride.
Overall Thoughts
The Old Guard is a good movie — it could have been better, but it certainly could have been worse. It is filled with action, including a lot of bloody violence. Personally, I am a fan of gore so I was OK with this (in fact, I loved it). There are some really cool effects used when fatal would heal, which might be a bit much for some.
The movie clocks in at just over two hours, which is a bit long. I feel like they could have cut 30 minutes out of it and been fine. Did I get bored? Not really, but I did find myself checking the time here and there, which is never a good sign.
I must say however, I do love the plot. A select few people that have immortality going through the centuries, fighting for what they feel is right. That’s the good lesson buried in the midst of a gory action film — stand up for what is right, and you just might do a lot more good than you ever intended.
I don’t recall much language, but it is rated R because of the violence, which I very much agree with. All of the actors did a great job, and yes, I even cried toward the end. No surprise there.
Speaking of the end — it seems to me like The Old Guard set itself up for a sequel. That has me really excited because I feel like there are a lot of ways this could go. I certainly have my fingers crossed for one, and I would watch it without question.
About The Old Guard
Led by a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron), a covert group of tight-knit mercenaries with a mysterious inability to die have fought to protect the mortal world for centuries. But when the team is recruited to take on an emergency mission and their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed, it’s up to Andy and Nile (KiKi Layne), the newest soldier to join their ranks, to help the group eliminate the threat of those who seek to replicate and monetize their power by any means necessary.
Based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Greg Rucka and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball, Beyond the Lights), The Old Guard is a gritty, grounded, action-packed story that shows living forever is harder than it looks.
