The latest film in a string of video game adaptations has hit cinemas, and there’s no doubt A Minecraft Movie will be a hit. Photo: Warner Bros Studio.
There are two types of movie watchers.
Those who can appreciate what they are watching for what it is and those who can’t.
Depending on how serious you want your cinema-going experience to be will dictate how much you enjoy certain films.
For example, if you’re in a packed cinema with kids between the ages of 5 and 25, all dressed up in one of three different sets of attire (those being cheap Minecraft merch, full-blown suits or pyjamas), and you’re expecting it to be a contained and quiet experience, you will not enjoy the new Minecraft movie.
However, if you dress up as I did, take the film for what it is and join in with the chorus of fans who want to see their beloved video game adapted to the big screen, you will love The Minecraft Movie.
From the get-go, this film set itself up as an experience more than a film, similar to that of Spider-Man: No Way Home a few years ago.
The first seconds of the movie had Jack Black as the fabled Steve, setting up the world we were about to enter and the crowd lapped it up. My cinema had cheers, applause, people yelling references to the game and laughs echoing throughout.
The joy of the kids in the cinema was infectious, and I can’t lie to you, it elevated the entire experience.
“Ever since I was a child, I yearned for the mines,” Jack Black said with complete sincerity while holding an oversized pick axe and two-sizes-too-small hard hat.
The crowd erupted, and for the next two hours, I was a part of the best cinema experience I’ve had in years.
Now, this thing isn’t Citizen Kane, but what it is is a film that understands its audience perfectly. It didn’t dumb things down for casual fans; it acknowledged YouTubers who helped make the game so popular, and it dove into the fact that it’s a game about building stuff with blocks.
The easiest comparison I can make for anyone reading this is to the Super Mario Bros. Movie from 2023.
If you hated it, you either didn’t care or didn’t understand. If you played Mario growing up and enjoyed seeing niche easter eggs and silly gags that made the game what it is, you probably loved it.
For fans that are still on the fence, all I have to say is Chicken Jockey.
If you know, you know.
If you want legitimate criticisms, I guess I could knock some of the CGI looking like poor green screen, some of the line delivery being a little strange, and the overall plot not making a whole lot of sense.
The issue with all that is, no one will care. This movie is too much fun, and that’s a credit to the filmmakers owning the subject matter of what they were making and delivering something for the fans.
Rotten Tomatoes probably won’t be kind to this film (it’s at 53 per cent at the moment, so the verdict looks to be in), but in all honesty, who cares? If you or your children want to see this movie, watch it. Go with as many people as possible and just let go for two hours.
A Minecraft Movie is showing in cinemas everywhere.
