Outside the Wire
“So we’re partners?”
“F*ck, no. You’re my subordinate.”
Summary:
Set in 2036, a much different landscape has taken hold of northeastern Asia. A new war for Ukraine has started, but the technology on both sides is drastically different. Harp, a drone pilot who has yet to see a minute of combat time, is sent to the front lines after disobeying a direct order. It’s here he is assigned to Leo, his commanding officer for the time being. Harp is quickly thrown into the fire, as training turns into a mission into some of the most dangerous territories, outside the wire. It doesn’t take long for Harp to realize that there is more than meets the eye with his CO.
Characters:
Outside the Wire features two main characters Lieutenant Thomas Harp and Captain Leo. Harp is a drone pilot, but after disobeying direct orders, he is sent to another camp and is taken by Captain Leo for a mission. Harp is someone with a strong moral compass who wants to do what is right. However, during his mission, Harp is inexperienced and cowardly. Captain Leo, on the other hand, is a cyborg created by the US for military purposes. He’s smart, fearless, and persuasive. The two share an interesting relationship, as Harp is under Leo’s command, but Leo needs Harp in order to function.
Nathanyal: 9.5/10
I believe that I may have found my newest favourite movie. If you have ever played any Call of Duty Campaigns, this movie pretty much feels like a live action telling of one of those games. The main game that comes to mind is the Black Ops line of games due to the inclusion of militaristic mechs. The plot is quite simple in premises: a US soldier and his commanding officer have to stop a Russian military group from setting off nukes. But that isn’t all the plot has to offer. Throughout the mission, many twists and turns are added, and some philosophical questions about war and humanity are asked. Although these questions aren’t delved into too deeply, it does excite the mind for what could be. There is one major twist about Captain Leo that happens later in the movie, which I will not spoil, but it adds another layer to the philosophy of war and the effects of war. I also enjoyed seeing the development of Harp’s character. In the beginning, he was scared and cowardly, having never been on the front lines, but by the end, he was able to achieve the hero status and demonstrated great bravery.
I guess the only major downside of this movie is the backstories and development of the characters. I would have liked to learn more about Leo and his creations, however, that doesn’t really fit into the whole narrative.
Overall, this was a great movie to watch. The opening scene is tense and exhilarating. The questions and themes brought up were also very interesting and thought-provoking. The protagonists were fun to watch and the side characters did add t the overall story. Definitely recommend this one for a watch.
Austin: 9.0/10
Outside the Wire is an action-packed, futuristic movie that grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go. From the opening minute, it’s clear that technology has made huge jumps in 15 years with Gumps being the biggest thing. They are advanced robots built for war, but they still have flaws and glitches which adds a few moments of comedy along the way during a pretty tense movie. We also find out that Harp is about as human as the Gumps, which adds a super cool aspect to the movie. As a future engineer, stuff like that makes a movie that much more interesting and that much more intriguing. The details put in by the writers make this movie feel like it could actually occur in 15 years. The technology is a huge step, but the writers do a good job of keeping it realistic enough to make you think just a little bit.
One of the more minor details that I really appreciated was the differences in areas outside the wire. Even though most of the territory is war-torn, they still kept the culture and uniqueness that comes from different communities.
Character development is great as well, especially with our main protagonist Harp. We see a “full circle” type of development from the beginning compared to the end, and we get to experience two totally different Harps. Leo doesn’t develop as much, but we learn a lot more about the android as the movie rolls along.
This is the best movie Netflix has released this year, only 17 days in so take that with a grain of salt, but it’s also one of the best action movies we’ve seen on Netflix in a while. If you are someone who loves a good action movie or even enjoys campaign modes from shooter games, this is the movie for you.
Sebastian: 8.9/10
This movie is a wall to wall, action-packed, thrill ride that you don’t want to get off while watching. The movie starts with a bang and it doesn’t stop; taking place in the not-so-distant future where a war is being fought in Europe between the United States and a terrorist sect of Russians. The advancements in technology are apparent with robots called Gumps and humans fighting as well as the use of drone strikes being a large part of this war. The best part of this film is the action, which is very engaging and has some cool stunts and fight scenes that were quite memorable. One of the things that makes the action so exciting is that one of the characters named Captain Leo (as played by Anthony Mackie) is an android type being who has enhanced strength and speed which allows for some interesting hand-to-hand combat scenes between him and a variety of enemies. The movie has a very straightforward and concise plot that feels right out of a Call of Duty game which works perfectly for this film as it allows there to be more focus on the action and the characters. The characters of Harp ( as played by Damson Idris) is the character who receives the most development as we see him go from cold calculating drone pilot to soldier trying not to risk lives and his character allows the viewers to see the brutality of this war and how the war might not be all it seems. The only negative I have for this film is that I wish the war and why it was happening was a little more fleshed out as well as the origins of Captain Leo.
All in all, this is a straight-up good action film that is probably the most fun new movie I have watched so far this year and I would recommend this to anyone looking for some fun violent mayhem.
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