The Borderland

This picture is really weird. Filmed in France? I think it was supposed to be an action packed thriller. For me it was also a comedy. I laughed out loud several times. The plot has so many holes, worse than a Swiss cheese. The acting was meh, the dialogue was written by Yogi Berra sitting on the toilet and eating crackers. The main bad guy was also always uptight. He was a caricature of what a western person might think of an Asian evil dude. You could tell the hero was a professional martial artist. He was really good, the fight scenes were OK, but also contributed to the comedy. You know, the unwritten law that only one man at a time can attack the hero even though he is surrounded by 16 martial arts guys.

Yet still I liked it. I gave it a seven.. I'm easy

I have to say I strongly disagree with those reviewers praising this movie. It really really is just horrible. The script is just awful. The plot is so full of holes- that it is unbelievable. I have never seen the lead actor in anything else, so I don't know if his performance is a result of his lack of ability or a result of bad directing. His line delivery is worse than a second grader reading a book out loud for the first time. It is an action movie lacking much in the way of action. The few action sequences are bland and unexciting. Any attempt at comic relief falls flat. So if you come across this flick, pass it by and spare yourself the suffering.

We all know what these type of movies are trying to do, and as such, give them the benefit of the doubt. However, "Covert Operation" has too many flaws to rate any higher than a 2 out of 10. The portrayal of the North Koreans alone is horrible. I can only recommend this film as a poor attempt at a dark comedy. The dialogue is difficult to hear, and the accents are also very heavy. Much of the action is shot with the camera moving, another reason I do not care for the film. I like to see the action in my action films. The plot was hard for me to follow, but it seemed to contain more holes than substance. Also used through out the entire film was poor lighting, again making it difficult to follow the action, and plot. In conclusion, "Covert Operation" is a poor attempt at action, and should be watched with caution, if at all.

I am not normally a follower of these types of films, though this one is unlike anything I had expected. The genre is an interesting blend of action, thriller, adventure, martial art, and even some comedy. If you are expecting something in particular, then you may not get the full appreciation of this film. I came in not knowing what to expect and I was very impressed. The action scenes are professionally done (for once!) and some of the camera work is also quite beautiful. Immediately after watching the film I wanted to watch it again. Even simply the visuals of the scenery and exotic setting were captivating. I simply loved this film.

Great action and acting from Seydina Baldé (5 times world karate champion). Nice twists and turns and I had to hide behind my hands a few times when it got bloody!! A bit shocked when you think about women actually being treated that way, and there are so many stories that exist like this in the world. So even if this is fictional it reminds you that it does actually happen. The colours of the film bring in originality and depth. It's surprisingly high quality when you know how low the budget was. Loved seeing Richard Sammel again (from Inglorious Basterds) Hoping that there will be a sequel and that it will show more about the relationships between Gabriel, Witaker and Joan...