The Old Guard

[emperor]

Third of the Hugo shortlist, and the best so far by a comfortable margin. The premise here is a small band of almost-immortal mercenaries; what they do with their time, what it's like being a new (and very old) immortal, and what happens when someone thinks they might be useful to Big Pharma...

This was more interesting and less just-endless-fight-scenes than I was expecting (though the fight scenes are very well done!), although it was still a fairly predictable plot (while Obbxre tvivat Naql na rzcgl tha was a twist we didn't spot coming, we both said "Zreevpx'f fgvyy va gur cragubhfr" when gur yvsg jnf frra tbvat qbja). Some of the character motivations around key plot points felt a bit flat, though. I'm not sure the plot as a whole entirely stands up to scrutiny, either...

I did like that all the characters are pretty competent (including the villains), and that most of them (the exception being Merrick) have complex motivations. I like that there's a central queer relationship that isn't just one aspect of the relevant characters. And the fight scenes are very well done :)

Comments

[kaberett]

I would definitely be interested to know which motivations you thought were dubious! This is a film I will get Very Intent about when discussing, so. ;)

[emperor]

It's been a while now, but. I think I was alluding to Booker's decision to betray the group; seemingly because he's fed up of being immortal and thinks Merrick might relieve him of this burden? That felt quite slight a reason to betray your friends and comrades of 100s of years.
[the whole "we have all this great tech but can't find Quynh; oh wait they show up at the end of the film" thing was a bit of a cheat too]