The Old Guard

2020  Netflix

Rated:  R

Length:  2 hr  5min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Thriller

Directed by:  Gina Prince-Bythewood

Starring:  Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Harry Melling, Veronica Ngo and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Forever is Harder Than It Looks

The Old Guard is based on the 2017 series of Comic Book Graphic Novels written by Greg Rucka  and illustrated by Leandro Fernandez:

1. The Old Guard Vol. 1: Opening Fire 

2. The Old Guard: Tales Through Time Vol. 1 

3. The Old Guard Vol. 2: Force Multiplied 

It follows the story of a group of Immortal Mercenaries led by Andy (Andromache of Scythia) who have lived together for centuries, having found each other because of their unique abilities. Not only can their bodies and minds regenerate and heal themselves, they also have the ability to sense and find their own kind in the mortal world.  They use their unexplained regenerative healing abilities and mercenary skills learned through centuries of battle to protect the world and fight for causes they deem worthy, after having been sought out by those can afford their price.

Andromache of Scythia aka Andy (Charlize Theron), Yusuf al-Kaysani aka Joe (Marwan Kenzari), Nicolò di Genoa aka Nicky (Luca Marinelli) and Sebastian Le Livre aka Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) have accepted a mission from a previous client named Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to rescue a group of kidnapped girls in Sudan. In doing so they have also broken one of their cardinal rules, never to work for the same employer twice. As they enter into their mission to rescue the girls they realize that it was all a ruse, set up to expose and document their immortality by filming them being ambushed and shot to death. They die, regenerate, come back to life and kill their attackers and realize they have been set up. They retreat back to their hideout but before they get there, they all have the same vision but each have their own details that they share with each other.

There is a newly killed and regenerated Immortal, they share the different details they all received in their visions and decipher where she is.  Andy, being the oldest, heads out to retrieve her and help her into the fold of her new life and immortality. The others head back to base to research who, what and where the responsible party is that set them up. And what follows is the adventure of Andy trying to convince the newbie who she has become and that she is one of them now, and The Old Guard and it’s newest member figuring out who has come to do them harm, and the battle to fight them and maintain their anonymity as Immortal Mercenaries.

As we go through the journey with The Old Guard and their newest member Nile Freeman (KiKi Layne), there are flashbacks to their past history and how they all met and came together. We learn of the existence of other immortals throughout history and how Andy was alone for thousands of years before she met another immortal Quynh (Veronica Ngo). I won’t go into too much more history so as not to spoil anything, but I mention Quynh because she figures pretty prominently in the movie towards the end. Except for a few flashbacks,  we don’t see her until the end and that leads us to The Old Guard 2.

According to The Author Greg Rucka,

“The series follows a group of soldiers who have been given the gift of immortality. Led by Andromache of Scythia (whom her comrades call Andy) they ply their trade for those who can find and afford their services. But in the 21st century, immortality is a hard secret to keep, and they learn that there are many fates worse than death.”

“The Old Guard was named after the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, which was formed in 1784. I wanted the story to be an adventure about invincible characters, but I decided to make them immortal, comparing them to Looney Tunes cartoon characters who are not sidelined by injuries. Halfway through the process of creating The Old Guard, I realized it was an attempt to rationalize the necessity of death after his father’s recent passing.”

“I always envisioned the movies as a trilogy. There is a complete three-part story that can be told. God willing, if it’s a success, Netflix comes back and says, ‘Hey, let’s do it again.’ There’s more to tell, and there are questions that we want to answer.”

I saw this when it first came out in the beginning of the pandemic and I really liked it. I loved the story, the fantasy of immortal beings trying to help humanity with their gift. And I really liked Charlize Theron in this, I can’t imagine anyone else playing Andy. I was an instant fan of the story, Andy’s character, Charlize and the rest of the Old Guard and the actors who played them. I watched it again last night before I watch The Old Guard 2 so I could refamiliarize myself and review it. I still like it, I think it is a great story and a great action thriller.

But the one thing I didn’t like is how it sets itself up in the end for a definitive sequel. It was obviously meant to be followed by a sequel, kind of like a weekly show. It left you hanging without resolution of the full story. I remember thinking, “I sure hope there is another one…I really like it but now I have unanswered questions. I am not really fond of movies like that, especially ones that make you wait forever for the sequel. In this case it was five years before The Old Guard 2 came out yesterday. Too long…. was it worth the wait? What happens to Andy? What happens to Booker? And what about Quynh?

Stay tuned Dear Reader,

for the next review coming your way is

THE OLD GUARD 2!

The Old Guard 2