Taking place at other planets than Earth, the movie "Borderlands" is really exerting itself in ways of displaying new outerworldy cultures and social phenomenon. I was so enthralled by it's innovative dialogue and narrative elements that most of the time I thought I was having a seizure. Utterly incomprehensible for people who originates from Earth the movie "Borderlands" will forever be an enigma. But not a fun one.

The movie starts of really good portraying the arbitrary feeling and helplessness one can have living under justice driven by tribalism, corruption and institutionalized racism. I would much rather the movie ended on more tragic terms and weren't so apologetic.

Huang Xiaoming adds very little to a complex and deep portrayal of famous 7th century monk Xuan Zang. The scenery is at times very beautiful but the visual effects is very disappointing. What could be a long odyssey of interesting encounters instead becomes a two hour long lecture in buddhist vocabulary and thought. But if one enjoys Huang Xiaomings constipated look of deep thought and 5-cent philosophy this is the film to watch.

The sense morale of this movie is morally dubious to say the least. I wonder if this is a ongoing trend in Chinese film: to convey CCP party slogans through moving images. First in Upstream Xu Zheng proclaimed "为人民服务" through the lives of food delivery employees (also a completely fucked up sense morale in that movie) and in "Successor" its "Surveillance is a necessary good. You might not like it but it's still the best for you". Spare yourself the two hour agony of watching this movie.