The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMovie reviews

Edge of the World

Edge of the World | Movie review
15 June 2021
Joe Milo
Avatar
Joe Milo
15 June 2021

Movie and show review

Joe Milo

Edge of the World

★★★★★

Release date

18th June 2021

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

FacebookWebsite

Narration is tricky. When executed well, it’s a nice way to introduce some introspection and philosophical themes into a film, but when done poorly it comes off more as a way for a writer to work in some characterisation where there was none to begin with. Sadly, Edge of the World is an example of the latter.

Set in the mid 19th century, it tells the story of James Brooke, a British ex-soldier and adventurer who was named the first white Rajah of Sarawak by the Sultan of Brunei after helping to crush a rebellion. It’s an interesting story, but it must be said that the production does not live up to the potential of its premise. From the off, Edge of the World is presented as a mix between Errol Flynn and Terrence Malick, with a combination of swashbuckling adventure and peaceful stillness. The problem is that this results in a tonally one-note affair, punctuated by some moments of excitement that do little to lift the mood or provide some variety. Simply put, it doesn’t work. 

The tone remains flaccid throughout the runtime and scenes seem to meander, much like a few of the performances. Whilst Jonathan Rhys Myers and Dominic Monaghan do seem to inhabit their characters well, it must be said that they’re hindered by some eye-rollingly clichéd dialogue. A particular highlight is when Rhys Myers exclaims, “To rule the jungle I must love the jungle,” which is likely to elicit audible groans. 

There are times when the film is quite beautiful, which is helped by the fact that it was shot on location in Borneo, and the production design as a whole is wonderful. But it’s very rare that a movie is able to survive on visuals alone and Edge of the World most certainly doesn’t. Perhaps the greatest problem is that it rests too heavily on the laurels of its influences. James Brooke’s introspective journey into the jungles of Borneo feels a little too close to Captain Willard’s pursuit of Colonel Kurtz in the heart of the Cambodian jungle. The ending doesn’t improve matters when it apes the confrontation between Willard and Kurtz almost to a tee.  

The combination of all of these elements results in Edge of the World coming off as less Apocalypse Now and more kerfuffle whenever. 

★★★★★

Joe Milo

Edge of the World is released digitally on demand on 18th June 2021.

Watch the trailer for Edge of the World here:

Related Itemsbiopicdramajonathan rhys myersmichael haussmanreviewsir james brooke

More in Movie reviews

Where is Anne Frank?

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Anaïs in Love

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

The Feast

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More

My Old School

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More

Eiffel

★★★★★
Diletta Lobuono
Read More

Nope

★★★★★
Selina Sondermann
Read More

Fadia’s Tree

★★★★★
Marissa Khaos
Read More

Prey

★★★★★
Selina Sondermann
Read More

What Josiah Saw

★★★★★
Andrew Murray
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Joe Milo

Edge of the World

★★★★★

Release date

18th June 2021

Certificate

UPG121518 title=

Links

FacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Coldplay at Wembley Stadium: “A night that will be remembered by 80,000 people for years to come”
    Live music
  • My Old School
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Sprung
    ★★★★★
    other
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Mr Moon at C Aquila
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Camden Fringe 2022: Keep It Down at Hope Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Camden Fringe 2022: The Man Who Wouldn’t Be Murdered at Lion & Unicorn Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “It’s by going to the intimacy of our own perspective that we can hope to then speak to a more general audience”: Charline Bourgeouis-Tacquet on Anaïs in Love
    Cinema & Tv
  • Trending summer dresses everyone wants to own in a heatwave
    Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022: In PurSUEt at Underbelly, Cowgate
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2022: Mr Moon at C Aquila
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • “It’s by going to the intimacy of our own perspective that we can hope to then speak to a more general audience”: Charline Bourgeouis-Tacquet on Anaïs in Love
    Cinema & Tv
  • Coldplay at Wembley Stadium: “A night that will be remembered by 80,000 people for years to come”
    Live music
  • Where is Anne Frank?
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Anaïs in Love
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Sprung
    ★★★★★
    other
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Fatherhood | Movie review
Scaramouche Jones or The Seven White Masks at Wilton’s Music Hall | Theatre review