Edge of the World is a movie that could have worked so well, but unfortunately fell flat on too many levels.
Edge of the World is a movie about the story of Captain James Brooke and it is so very close to being a good film, but unfortunately the bad outweighs the good. There is a lot to like about this movie, however there is just no getting away from the White savior undertones, which are there because they are very much a part of the history.
In this film, the story of the first White Rajah is told, as James Brooke flees Victorian England, as is attacked by pirates. He falls in love and must ultimately decide if he will embrace the ways of the jungle to save his people.
What Works In Edge of the World
While the movie overall is not great, there are some positive things to be said about Edge of the World. The sets are absolutely gorgeous, creating a lot of pretty to look at scenes. The score is also fantastic, and does a great job of adding emotions when they are needed in the story.
There are some good action scenes, complete with blood and gore, so if that is your sort of thing, you will be very happy with how they turned out. One scene in particular has so much gore that it is difficult to look at — in a good way.
The best thing about Edge of the World is the fantastic performance from Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He does wonders with the words and role that he is given, and shines whenever he is on screen.
What Doesn’t Work In Edge of the World
The pacing is really off in this movie, making it drag on and feel about three times as long as it is. Even Meyers cannot save the script with his acting, although he does put his whole heart into it. As mentioned, there are some great action scenes, but they can’t hold viewers for long as the narrative itself is problematic. There are several corny moments and it just never works as a whole.
The biggest issue with Edge of the World is that James Brooke is very much a White savior, and that cannot be unseen in this movie. It puts a damper on the whole thing and honestly, it feels kind of disgusting when watching it.
Overall Thoughts
Edge of the World has some good moments, a fantastic score, and an incredible leading performance, but the pacing issues, the corniness or the dialogue, and the White savior complex really bring it down. While there is a good history lesson in here somewhere, it just is not worth watching.
A movie about pirates and war should have viewers on the edge of their seats all throughout, not checking their watches and pinching themselves to stay awake.
About Edge of the World
In 1839, Brooke flees Victorian England to explore Borneo. After a pirate attack, Brooke allies with rival princes to seize a rebel fort. To save prisoners from beheading, Brooke agrees to be crowned Rajah. James begs the Royal Navy for a steamship to fight pirates, but the British want his kingdom as a colony. Makota’s pirates massacre Brooke’s capital, leaving James half-dead. To save his people, he must shed Englishness and embrace the jungle: “All of it, the beauty and the blood.”
Edge of the World is available on digital and on demand June 4th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.