The era of successful adaptations did not last very long. After Borderlands last August, Minecraft is shaping up to be the next cinematic dud to come out of the video game industry. A pattern even seems to be repeating itself: the adaptation of Gearbox’s FPS has had many twists and turns, and the same goes for the film inspired by Mojang’s title. The project was announced back in 2014 and the last ten years of development do not seem to have been kind. The many changes within the creative team and the multiple rewrites of the script have probably given rise to the worst nightmare of players and spectators.
Following several months of intensive teasing from its atypical cast, Minecraft the movie has finally unveiled the first excerpts that are sure to make a big splash. Actress Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black) promised stunningly realistic images, but ultimately it is nothing of the sort. Unsurprisingly, this film barely deserves its live action designation and is content to place humans in a computer-generated universe for a visual shock that is borderline unpleasant.
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A blockbuster that doesn’t break bricks
Clothes don’t make the man and trailers aren’t always indicative of the final result, but it’s hard to defend Minecraft the movie after the teaser released today. Especially since Mojang and Warner Bros’ proposal is more of a wasted potential than a real horror. The photorealistic interpretation of the world of Minecraft is rather convincing and even amusing, but the integration of the human protagonists attenuates any ounce of charm. Why not make an animated film? Nobody will know and we will have to make do with what we have.
And as if the visuals weren’t enough, it seems that the film’s humor is stuck in the early 2010s. Whether it’s the moment “he’s behind me isn’t he” between Jason Momoa and a Creeper or the introduction of Jack Black as Steve, this strange spectacle promises to be a festival of unease. As for the storyline, here is what the official synopsis promises:
“Welcome to the world of Minecraft, where creativity is essential to survival! As four outsiders—Garrett Garrison “the Garbage Man” (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Eugene Hansen), Natalie (Emma Myers), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks)—struggle with everyday problems, they suddenly step through a mysterious portal and are thrust into the Overworld—a strange, cuboid world that thrives on imagination. To get back home, they’ll need to master the world (and protect it from evil creatures like Piglins and Zombies) while embarking on a magical quest alongside expert crafter Steve (Jack Black). This adventure will challenge them to be bold and use their unique creative abilities—all of which they’ll need to thrive in the real world.”
There is a little air of Jumanjiright? We can only hope that the animated series in preparation at Netflix will manage to catch up with this cinematic attempt. Minecraft the movie is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on April 4, 2025. and has not yet established its French launch. In the usual order of things, the release should take place on April 2, 2025 in France. A real April Fool’s joke at the drop of a hat.
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