My first thought: this looks like a parody trailer made by College Humor or a similar group. My second thought: that might actually be the best approach. Movie adaptations of video games already...
My first thought: this looks like a parody trailer made by College Humor or a similar group.
My second thought: that might actually be the best approach.
Movie adaptations of video games already have a bad reputation for diverging too much from the game. Minecraft doesn't really have a story (well, besides story mode), and the thing that makes it instantly recognizable? The cube-shaped everything. If they went for a "serious" take, it would be really easy to just become a bland mess that just has the Minecraft name on it. Alternatively, it could just become a story that could exist in any setting but happens to be in Minecraft.
So going for something that directly acknowledges the mechanics of Minecraft is probably the best option. So, the "regular humans get transported to Minecraft world" approach where they can acknowledge how freaking weird it is might actually be the best way to make this work. It kind of makes me think of The Lego Movie.
It's a risky gamble, because either it works or it doesn't. It will either be great and highly beloved, or terrible and memed to hell for being bad.
Mostly agree, but this has actually already been done in official Minecraft media, and even with Jack Black attached to it (see Minecraft:The Island). Seems weird that they wouldn't try to adapt...
So going for something that directly acknowledges the mechanics of Minecraft is probably the best option.
Mostly agree, but this has actually already been done in official Minecraft media, and even with Jack Black attached to it (see Minecraft:The Island). Seems weird that they wouldn't try to adapt one of those stories. My hot take is that this looks like it will be a disaster.
Lots of films would be better if they just adapted other official media, but film studios like to go for original stories. (See: all the bad movie adaptations of video games that ignore the source...
Lots of films would be better if they just adapted other official media, but film studios like to go for original stories. (See: all the bad movie adaptations of video games that ignore the source material)
I think this will either be a masterpiece or a disaster. There's no in-between.
I'd agree with you. The only thing I don't like is the art style, but I honestly can't think of any way to make it better so I can't really complain about it.
I'd agree with you. The only thing I don't like is the art style, but I honestly can't think of any way to make it better so I can't really complain about it.
So after seeing both of my kids' reaction... I think maybe I was too harsh. They both reacted pretty positively to the teaser. So maybe I'm just the stick in the mud, and maybe this movie isn't...
So after seeing both of my kids' reaction... I think maybe I was too harsh. They both reacted pretty positively to the teaser. So maybe I'm just the stick in the mud, and maybe this movie isn't for me. :)
I sure love this sentiment/realization… I think we so-called “adults” put too much on the movies that are probably just made for kids. I do think the movies I grew up with are pretty great;TNMT,...
I sure love this sentiment/realization… I think we so-called “adults” put too much on the movies that are probably just made for kids. I do think the movies I grew up with are pretty great;TNMT, Ghostbusters, Burton’s Batman… The animated movies were pretty much only Disney in my household, so the quality was only Disney. When it came to animated, I was pretty much watching Nickelodeon with Rugrats specifically making my mom go nuts in the other room.
These IPs are given so much in terms of budget that we sure put a ton of pressure on them to be whatever perfect may mean to us as fans. The Lego Movie and Super Mario Bros come to mind where they didn’t fail completely.
But even though Minecraft seems to appeal to a wider audience than just children, it probably is ultimately meant for kids… and maybe we just leave it at that? It would be nice to see all this money go to a meaningful adaptation that appeals to everyone, but I’m not going to be upset by it because of your point. I think this is mainly for kids, and it should be fun for them.
My problem with movies being made "just for kids" and grading them on their own scale is that movies like The Lion King, WALL-E, and Spirited Away exist. You can make movies for kids that are also...
My problem with movies being made "just for kids" and grading them on their own scale is that movies like The Lion King, WALL-E, and Spirited Away exist.
You can make movies for kids that are also actually good movies. Deliberately aiming low because "kids will like it anyways" just reeks of laziness.
I'm not sure I'd call it lazy per se, maybe just different goals. I don't think I'd call the Paw Patrol movie lazy for example. They were aiming for a specific age range, and a lot of people...
I'm not sure I'd call it lazy per se, maybe just different goals. I don't think I'd call the Paw Patrol movie lazy for example. They were aiming for a specific age range, and a lot of people worked hard to hit that target. It's definitely not a movie I'd like to watch more than once, but then I'm not the target audience. 🤷♂️
The Minecraft movie (Like LEGO and Mario) is generational, though, so it causes a bit more turmoil when the target is a more narrow group than "Everyone"
Good question. It looks like Jason Momoa has top billing, followed by Jack Black, with everyone else secondary to them. That could just be star power, since for example I remember Peter Dinklage...
Good question.
starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black
The film also stars Emma Myers (“Wednesday”), Oscar nominee Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), Sebastian Eugene Hansen (“Just Mercy, “Lisey’s Story”), with Jennifer Coolidge
It looks like Jason Momoa has top billing, followed by Jack Black, with everyone else secondary to them. That could just be star power, since for example I remember Peter Dinklage had top billing in Game of Thrones but his character definitely wasn't the main character.
I'm guessing from the trailer that Momoa's group just shows up because insert plot device here and Steve is the one who has some problem he needs to solve (probably the piglins, since they're in this trailer a lot and they were bad guys in one of the Minecraft spinoff games).
I'm not sure I prefer this direction or something more like Minecraft Story Mode. But the environmental and lighting artists have done some amazing work though not sure if I will go to the cinema...
I'm not sure I prefer this direction or something more like Minecraft Story Mode. But the environmental and lighting artists have done some amazing work though not sure if I will go to the cinema for this.
I see they didn't learn anything from Sonic in regards to the mobs. This entire movie should just be animated, that way there isn't this weird clash of aesthetics.
I see they didn't learn anything from Sonic in regards to the mobs.
This entire movie should just be animated, that way there isn't this weird clash of aesthetics.
I'm kinda eh on it but don't see much wrong with it, if I'm being completely honest. I sort of want to reserve judgement until I see it, likely after its theater run. The costumes feel like funky...
I'm kinda eh on it but don't see much wrong with it, if I'm being completely honest. I sort of want to reserve judgement until I see it, likely after its theater run.
The costumes feel like funky Minecraft skins, the aesthetic is... Living cubes which works, and the only friction I have is humans in the world, but cube people wouldn't have been much better I feel.
My first thought: this looks like a parody trailer made by College Humor or a similar group.
My second thought: that might actually be the best approach.
Movie adaptations of video games already have a bad reputation for diverging too much from the game. Minecraft doesn't really have a story (well, besides story mode), and the thing that makes it instantly recognizable? The cube-shaped everything. If they went for a "serious" take, it would be really easy to just become a bland mess that just has the Minecraft name on it. Alternatively, it could just become a story that could exist in any setting but happens to be in Minecraft.
So going for something that directly acknowledges the mechanics of Minecraft is probably the best option. So, the "regular humans get transported to Minecraft world" approach where they can acknowledge how freaking weird it is might actually be the best way to make this work. It kind of makes me think of The Lego Movie.
It's a risky gamble, because either it works or it doesn't. It will either be great and highly beloved, or terrible and memed to hell for being bad.
Mostly agree, but this has actually already been done in official Minecraft media, and even with Jack Black attached to it (see Minecraft:The Island). Seems weird that they wouldn't try to adapt one of those stories. My hot take is that this looks like it will be a disaster.
Lots of films would be better if they just adapted other official media, but film studios like to go for original stories. (See: all the bad movie adaptations of video games that ignore the source material)
I think this will either be a masterpiece or a disaster. There's no in-between.
I'd agree with you. The only thing I don't like is the art style, but I honestly can't think of any way to make it better so I can't really complain about it.
So after seeing both of my kids' reaction... I think maybe I was too harsh. They both reacted pretty positively to the teaser. So maybe I'm just the stick in the mud, and maybe this movie isn't for me. :)
I sure love this sentiment/realization… I think we so-called “adults” put too much on the movies that are probably just made for kids. I do think the movies I grew up with are pretty great;TNMT, Ghostbusters, Burton’s Batman… The animated movies were pretty much only Disney in my household, so the quality was only Disney. When it came to animated, I was pretty much watching Nickelodeon with Rugrats specifically making my mom go nuts in the other room.
These IPs are given so much in terms of budget that we sure put a ton of pressure on them to be whatever perfect may mean to us as fans. The Lego Movie and Super Mario Bros come to mind where they didn’t fail completely.
But even though Minecraft seems to appeal to a wider audience than just children, it probably is ultimately meant for kids… and maybe we just leave it at that? It would be nice to see all this money go to a meaningful adaptation that appeals to everyone, but I’m not going to be upset by it because of your point. I think this is mainly for kids, and it should be fun for them.
My problem with movies being made "just for kids" and grading them on their own scale is that movies like The Lion King, WALL-E, and Spirited Away exist.
You can make movies for kids that are also actually good movies. Deliberately aiming low because "kids will like it anyways" just reeks of laziness.
I'm not sure I'd call it lazy per se, maybe just different goals. I don't think I'd call the Paw Patrol movie lazy for example. They were aiming for a specific age range, and a lot of people worked hard to hit that target. It's definitely not a movie I'd like to watch more than once, but then I'm not the target audience. 🤷♂️
The Minecraft movie (Like LEGO and Mario) is generational, though, so it causes a bit more turmoil when the target is a more narrow group than "Everyone"
It looks fine. (haven't played Minecraft) Who is the nain lead in the movie- Steve or whoever Jason Momoa is playing?
Good question.
It looks like Jason Momoa has top billing, followed by Jack Black, with everyone else secondary to them. That could just be star power, since for example I remember Peter Dinklage had top billing in Game of Thrones but his character definitely wasn't the main character.
I'm guessing from the trailer that Momoa's group just shows up because insert plot device here and Steve is the one who has some problem he needs to solve (probably the piglins, since they're in this trailer a lot and they were bad guys in one of the Minecraft spinoff games).
I'm not sure I prefer this direction or something more like Minecraft Story Mode. But the environmental and lighting artists have done some amazing work though not sure if I will go to the cinema for this.
I see they didn't learn anything from Sonic in regards to the mobs.
This entire movie should just be animated, that way there isn't this weird clash of aesthetics.
I think we just found 2025's Borderlands.
I'm kinda eh on it but don't see much wrong with it, if I'm being completely honest. I sort of want to reserve judgement until I see it, likely after its theater run.
The costumes feel like funky Minecraft skins, the aesthetic is... Living cubes which works, and the only friction I have is humans in the world, but cube people wouldn't have been much better I feel.