Seemingly out of nowhere, Netflix by storm, providing an action movie full of characters fans fell in love with plus some of the best actors working in the action scene today. What may surprise fans is that it Netflix's latest hit is actually based on a graphic novel series of the same name.
As with any adaptation, one can only assume that changes will be made. That was certainly true here. Yet, one has to wonder, which one ended up being better? Is it the movie? Or is it the comic book? Below are five arguments in favor of each. Read and decide.
MOVIE: A Visual Representation Of The Tale
There's no doubt about it. The Old Guard was an action-packed and exciting movie, through and through. It was visually stunning, thanks in no small part to the efforts put in by the actors involved.
In short, it was a visually appealing rendition of the same comics that many fans fell in love with. It took the action to a whole new level, while also doing it's best to stay true to those scenes at the same time.
COMICS: There's More To It
The Old Guard comics continue on beyond the point the movie ended on. Now, granted, the movie could very well get a sequel. But at the moment, if one wants to learn more about what happened next, they're going to have to pick up the graphic novel in order to do so.
It also includes many more details, both about what has been happening and about the past. Mostly, about Andy's past.
MOVIE: It Has A Better Villain
The Old Guard changed a few things between the graphic novel and the movie. One of the biggest changes was the villain himself. In the graphic novel, Merrick is still the CEO of his company, but he's a twisted man through and through.
He's clearly a fan of violence and doesn't blink twice about doing what needs to be done to get what he wants. Meanwhile, the movie version of Merrick took a different spin. Here, he's a privileged CEO, and one who practically oozes slime and incompetence. He's really more of an annoyance than an adversary.
COMICS: There's Less Obfuscation Around Certain Characters
In the graphic novel, it feels like many of the characters are a bit more straightforward. Each of the characters has their own plot arcs, though to varying degrees. While Andy's really does take dominance in the comics, there's less obfuscation occurring on the sidelines.
Character motivations are clearer, as are the hints about what is to come next (mainly revolving around Andy's past, and the not too dead characters). These more obvious hints warned readers to start looking more closely, which enhanced that type of reading experience.
MOVIE: Spot-On Casting Decisions
As mentioned earlier, the acting in The Old Guard is part of the reason why it ended up being so amazing. There were many surprising casting decisions made for the film, but all of it actually ended up making for a better movie.
Charlize Theron (Andy), Kiki Layne (Nile), Matthias Schoenaerts (Booker), Marwan Kenzari (Joe), Luca Marinelli (Nicky), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Copley), and Herry Melling (Merrick) were all perfect for the roles.
COMICS: There's More Backstory
The movie adaptation of The Old Guard ended up cutting out a lot of the backstory for the characters. Well, mainly backstory for Andy, because there's a lot of it. So for any fans wanting to know more about her long life, the comics are the way to go.
It seems like each new change in events or scenery triggers a memory on Andy's part, revealing just a little bit more about her, and her history. It shows how much she has changed with time, ironically enough.
MOVIE: Nile's Role Is Bigger & Better
The Netflix version of The Old Guard made a point of expanding upon Nile's role, and to great effect. In the graphic novel, Nile felt more like a footnote in Andy's very long journey. In the movie, Nile had an entire plot to herself.
In fact, she ended up being pivotal for saving the day, all while dealing with her own turmoil – both with losing her family (essentially), and with the concept of immortality. Her story was suddenly full of nuance, and it made her feel more human than ever.
COMICS: The Art Style
The art style of The Old Guard is one of the highlights of the comics. Readers know exactly that means here. There's a rougher style, sharper edges, and the like. As well as heavy use of negative space to imply gore and damage. Okay, there's still a whole lot of gore actually shown, which should say something right there.
The style of The Old Guard is one of the reasons why it has done so well, as it is iconic and memorable. It's not the sort of thing easily replicated in movie format which, by no fault of its own, looks like just about every other well-made action movie out there.
MOVIE: Cutting Unnecessary Elements
The movie adaptation also made one other major change, this time cutting out unnecessary parts. The graphic novel showcased more details about slave trading. All of this was mentioned in the movie, but that was more to set the scene.
Removing the unnecessary details and visuals was the right call. It made the movie more streamlined and really allowed it to exist better in the world of action movies. There were simply fewer complications this way.
COMICS: More Questions & Answers
The graphic novels that inspired the movie provided both answers and questions, offering plenty of food for thought. Thanks to the long lives of the characters involved, that's not all that surprising. There are moral and ethical debates to be found everywhere, especially as one digs deeper into their backstories.
It's an interesting balance, but it's also perfect for fans that want answers or for those who that want a series that will make them think and ponder over big questions. The comics will do both, whereas the movie had no choice but to water some of these ideas down to fit the run time.
