The Old Guard is an action-packed thriller with a philosophical side, as well as a strong brotherhood, which impressed me and made me think. Having such a strong display of Charlize Theron as Andy, a warrior at their peak, who is authoritative, creates weight to the film and roots the more fantastic aspects of the film in a quiet strength. Her subtle portrayal is able to reflect the solitude and the burden of immortality, which makes her character both dangerous and likable.
The underlying themes of mortality, loyalty and ethical issues of undying life dominate the storyline of the film. Their powers are revealed, and the plot touches upon the fundamental issues of what it can mean to live and what it is to have an endless life in the positive and negative ways. The increased personal and global stakes make the whole process more intense and exciting, which made me dedicated to this journey of theirs. The movie is visually appealing with elements of gritty realism, mingled with clean action, cinematic, but still brutal choreographed fight scenes that are underpinned by a thoroughly detailed production design evocative of centuries of history at work.
I was touched the most because the context of the actual relationships and self-sacrifice between the members of the team was shown. The connections seemed genuine, and the themes of loyalty and compassion in the amorphous were underlined. Nile played by Kiki Layne is a new shot of energy and vulnerability which makes the story more emotional. The supporting characters lacked some development but the tone of the film which varied between gritty realism and superhero fantasy worked in the favor of the film in the end. On the whole, The Old Guard is a poignant and intellectually stimulating action picture which brims with inspiration of survival, human empathy and endless spirit of the characters.
