Blocks, humor, and missed opportunities! Join us as we break down what works and what doesn't in the blocky big-screen adaptation. From Jared Hess' signature quirky comedy to underutilized characters, we're examining how this pixelated world translates to film. Does it build something special or crumble under pressure?
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00:00As a child, I yearned for the mines, but something always got in the way.
00:06Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're breaking down the best and worst elements of a Minecraft movie.
00:11You want me to fight the chicken?
00:19Longtime Minecraft players will surely appreciate seeing nitwits, creepers, zombies, and other figures on the big screen.
00:25However, almost all of these characters don't speak or don't speak English.
00:29Instead, focusing on the live-action humans.
00:41The only animated characters who are given much development are the piglins.
00:45Rachel House turns in a funny voiceover performance as the main villain, although the film could have used additional characters like her.
00:54Granted, Minecraft isn't exactly a character-driven game, but movies can dig deeper.
00:59The film gave Jack Black's Steve a more defined personality.
01:01The filmmakers could have done the same for this world's other inhabitants, kind of like what Telltale Games did in Minecraft Story Mode.
01:08Here though, the blocky residents are primarily blank slates and glorified extras.
01:22Minecraft provides the blocks for users to build anything.
01:25This carries over to the movie, encouraging young viewers to follow their passions and let their imaginations run wild.
01:42While the film is essentially a Minecraft commercial, it doesn't condone spending all your time in front of a computer screen.
01:48Anything you can dream about here, you can make.
01:53Although that fantasy world is fun in doses, you should take the creativity you channel into Minecraft and apply it to real life.
02:00How's he doing that?
02:01I don't know, but it might work.
02:03At times, this moral gets overshadowed by the film's constant action, effects, and slapstick.
02:08It isn't the Lego movie, which got this message across in a more impactful way.
02:12I am a master builder!
02:15Still, if kids walk away from this film wanting to make stuff, be it games, movies, or a potato launcher, we're all for it.
02:26Despite stemming from a game lacking a set narrative, a Minecraft movie has numerous subplots that ultimately fall by the wayside.
02:33This place makes no sense.
02:35Don't I know it.
02:37The film opens with siblings Natalie and Henry moving to a new town following the death of their mother.
02:42In the real world, you got constraints.
02:45It seems like this is going to be the film's emotional core, but the mother is barely mentioned going forward.
02:50Likewise, the film sets up an arc for Natalie, who's balancing being Henry's big sister and new parental figure.
02:56Yet, that doesn't have much payoff either.
02:58There are so many MacGuffins and side quests that by the time we get to the big action climax,
03:03we struggle to remember what these characters are fighting for and why we should be invested.
03:09Let's do this.
03:15While Jared Hess might be an acquired taste, he's a solid choice to direct a Minecraft movie.
03:20His debut was Napoleon Dynamite, which prioritized quirky scenarios and surreal humor over telling a three-act story.
03:27Something similar can be said about the Minecraft game, which can be as random as whatever pops into a player's head.
03:42A Minecraft movie is at its best when it's a Jared Hess movie.
03:47In the spirit of Napoleon Dynamite, the real world here is mundane, but offbeat.
03:53It's a world where real estate agents drive around with llamas in their backseat,
03:57tater tots are pizza toppings, and a kid builds an almost functional jetpack on a dare.
04:02Ironically, the real world is arguably stranger and funnier than the Minecraft world.
04:12At one point, Emma Meyer's Natalie and Danielle Brooks' Dawn are separated from Steve, Garrett, and Henry.
04:18Great. Now it's dark.
04:20That feel quick to anyone else?
04:22While the three male leads embark on another quest, Natalie and Dawn get lost in the shuffle for much of the picture.
04:27Brooks is fresh off an Oscar nomination, while Meyers recently had a career breakthrough as Enid on Wednesday.
04:33Are you feeling okay? You look a little... pale.
04:36We wish the film gave these actresses more to do, but a Minecraft movie seems more interested in Jack Black and Jason Momoa.
04:43The film could have used more of Jennifer Coolidge as Henry's vice principal who falls in love with a nitwit.
04:48That subplot is also introduced and forgotten about until the end credits.
04:52Even so, whenever Coolidge is on screen, she is naturally a laugh riot.
05:04When we heard they were making a Minecraft movie, we assumed it would be entirely filmed in front of a green screen.
05:11While the film is wall-to-wall with CGI, we're genuinely impressed that the filmmakers went to the trouble of crafting sets and props.
05:18Fitting, seeing as how Minecraft is about construction.
05:21Watching behind-the-scenes footage, we were surprised to learn just how many elements were practical.
05:32Whether a scene utilizes practical effects, CGI, or both, the film captures the simple yet inventive look of the game.
05:39Admittedly, some of the CG characters can appear a little outlandish in this more quote-unquote realistic take on Minecraft.
05:46Overall though, the visuals find a solid balance between naturalism and the abstract aesthetic that distinguishes this franchise.
06:00As mentioned before, the film doesn't always know what to do with Natalie and especially Dawn.
06:05Although we're always glad to see Danielle Brooks, you probably could have cut Dawn out of the story without missing much.
06:12Jack Black and Jason Momoa are funny here, but they're both basically playing immature man-children trying to escape reality.
06:26Just as their characters are constantly bickering over who the team leader should be, Black and Momoa seem to be in contention over who the film's comedic relief is.
06:34Since they pretty much go through the same arc, it might have made more sense to combine these two characters into one.
06:50This would have allowed more time to flesh out Natalie and Henry, whose sibling bond should have been the film's emotional anchor.
06:57Even if a Minecraft movie has more characters than it knows what to do with, we can't deny that every cast member is giving it their all.
07:11Jack Black might not be the first actor who comes to mind when we think of Steve.
07:14Then again, the same can be said about Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik, which worked out better than the trailer suggested.
07:22If you're a Jack Black fan, he's good for a few laughs here.
07:25Momoa also demonstrates his comedic chops as a washed-up yet well-built gamer still stuck in 1989.
07:34While Myers, Brooks, and Sebastian Hansen at times get the short end of the stick, they all deliver committed performances, making us believe the CG characters they're interacting with are real.
07:44No! No!
07:51Although Minecraft doesn't really have a story, this allows the filmmakers plenty of room to explore and add unique twists to the established lore.
08:07Just as players can build whatever they want, a Minecraft movie could take its narrative in any number of directions.
08:13For a property that champions thinking outside the box, though, the story here feels boxed in.
08:20Once our characters enter the Minecraft world, the film essentially becomes a series of fetch quests before culminating in a big battle.
08:27Whereas the game it's based on is so innovative and experimental, the movie plays it safe with a plot we've seen countless times before.
08:34We'd excuse the formulaic plot if the comedy consistently landed, but the jokes can be hit or miss.
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09:02Your enjoyment of a Minecraft movie will likely depend on how well-versed you are in the franchise.
09:07Now what? Elytra wingsuits.
09:11For die-hard fans young and old, there are more than a few in-jokes that'll put a smile on your face.
09:16Some references are obvious, while others are deep cuts.
09:24We won't go into heavy spoilers, but there's a nice nod to a certain YouTuber who tragically passed away.
09:29This Easter egg takes the crown.
09:31It's also worth staying until after the credits for one last reference hinting at a potential sequel.
09:36If we do get another Minecraft movie, there are definitely elements that can be improved upon.
09:42But the aspects that do work leave us cautiously optimistic for whatever this team builds in the future.
09:52What did you think of a Minecraft movie?
09:54Did you think it was better than the trailer?
09:56Let us know in the comments.
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