Movies

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is a block of big dumb fun

BBG News

Currently, countless individuals are immersed in the world of Minecraft, including during your reading of this sentence. In this digital landscape, they’re constructing inventions using the swift strike of a hammer. Mix sand and gunpowder and with a quick snap, you’ve created a brick of TNT. The game’s Overworld is pixelated and features cubical structures, from trees to bees. Players create their unique stories, unlike the classic damsel-in-distress scenario in castles. Minecraft’s distinctive blocky and surreal aesthetic has garnered worldwide acclaim, while its open-ended exploration across a terrain as vast as Neptune has generated over $3 billion in revenue.

Indeed, the Hollywood industry is investing significantly in producing “A Minecraft Film” rather than “The Minecraft Film.

The title recognizes the audacity of trying to impose a single story on a game that’s well-liked precisely because it lacks characters and a narrative. Calling this “Jared Hess’ Minecraft Movie” would also be fitting. Hess, the director, blends the essence of his 2004 hit “Napoleon Dynamite” with the game, creating a strong comedy that reflects his signature elements: tater tots, ’80s nostalgia, and competitive males trying to prove themselves through their gaming skills.

The title acknowledges the risk of telling a story in a game like Minecraft, which people love because it doesn’t have set characters or a plot. It could also be called “Jared Hess’ Minecraft Movie.” By mixing the style of his movie Napoleon Dynamite with the game, Hess has made a funny film that features things he often uses in his movies like tater tots, ’80s stuff, and guys showing off their gaming skills.

In even simpler terms:

The title shows that it’s daring to have a story for Minecraft, a game people enjoy because there are no set characters or plot. Calling it “Jared Hess’ Minecraft Movie” would also fit. By combining parts of his movie Napoleon Dynamite with the game, Hess made a funny movie that has things he often uses like tater tots, ’80s stuff, and guys competing in gaming.

The film initiates in an imaginary town called Chugless, Idaho, known as the “capital of American potato chips,” where a colossal tuber statue dominates the landscape. As the initial credits unfold, we encounter Steve, a troublesome doorknob vendor (played by Jack Black), who suddenly enters the realm of Overworld through a mystical gateway. He swiftly introduces the audience to the game mechanics and is subsequently incarcerated by the antagonist, Malgosha – a sorceress pig with a disdain for art and progress. When one of her captive pigs creates a picture using crayons, she transforms him into a slice of bacon.

Hollywood Inc.

As a movie-loving enthusiast, I’ve been keeping an eye on Warner Bros. Film Studio lately, noticing a series of box office underperformers such as ‘Mickey 17’ and ‘The Alto Knights.’ With an ambitious lineup that includes ‘A Minecraft Movie,’ let’s hope this studio can rekindle the spark that once made it a cinematic powerhouse.

Hess views Minecraft as a simplified, action-oriented interpretation of “The Wizard of Oz.” Four unlikely friends from Idaho stumble into the vast digital world known as the Overworld and seek guidance from the powerful wizard-like figure, Black, with his long beard and boisterous demeanor. In this version, Toto is replaced by a cubist-style dog, and Henry (Sebastian Hansen), an intelligent boy with a lisp, serves as the story’s guide for younger viewers. Accompanying him are his nervous older sister Natalie (Emma Myers); their Realtor Dawn (Danielle Brooks); and Garrett (Jason Momoa), a former champion of ’80s arcade games who struggles to adapt to Minecraft’s open-ended gameplay. Upon entering the Overworld, Garrett approaches a sheep and demands instructions, revealing his inexperience with the game. “My wrists aren’t what they used to be,” he complains.

Jason Momoa plays a single character note exceptionally well, transforming it into an electrifying keyboard solo. This hulk of a man is a precise physical comedian: With his fringed leather jacket and bleached hair, Momoa’s Garrett resembles the long-haired metal adaptation of the Cowardly Lion. He’s so convinced about what is trendy that he’s affectionately known as “The Garbage Man.” In an early scene, Garrett is seen driving around while crying to the Skid Row ballad “I Remember You,” causing one to ponder if the director himself might be equally misguided about what today’s fifth-graders find cool. Is Skid Row as charmingly nostalgic as Benny Goodman?

The script features a romantic plotline involving one of Minecraft’s silent, non-playable characters (initially credited to multiple writers) and Jennifer Coolidge’s divorcée character. In these scenes, Coolidge’s character expresses affection towards the mute character, which sometimes feels out of place as a distraction. However, these brief, humorous moments are excusable due to their brevity and minimal impact on overall runtime. Meanwhile, in the game, there are numerous similar villagers watching from the sidelines, resembling a worried group of Martin Scorseses who reluctantly acknowledge that the movie is enjoyable.

Jack Black, in contrast, is an engineering marvel: a round piece perfectly fitting into this land shaped like a square. The villainous Malgosha scoffs at him, calling him a “roundling.” A human cannonball would be a more accurate description. Black barrels through the movie as if he’s the king of the sandbox or the lord of the playground, inviting us all to join him on an impromptu quest. He was born to stand with a pyre of flaming zombies behind him, and he does so here, with the wind gently playing with his hair.

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As a cinephile, I’d say it goes like this: More often than not, Black’s dialogues serve as a play-by-play commentary, whether it’s diamond swords or hot air balloons shaped like gothic squid-like creatures in the sky. But what truly sets his delivery apart is the sparkle in his eyes and the enthusiasm he brings to every line, making each one resonate. Today, I’m sharing a recipe from the master himself – flame-roasted chicken: one brick of lava, one bird. In a fit of joy, he bursts into a catchy tune: “La-la-la-lava! Ch-ch-ch-chicken!” It’s the kind of silly jingle that sticks in your head for days on end. You’ll find yourself equally frustrated and charmed by its existence, all while offering high praise to the art department who crafted a Picasso-inspired drumstick prop for Black to flaunt.

Growing up in the ’90s, it’s a bit surprising that today’s schoolchildren are fans of the alt-comedy superstar, recognizing him from “Kung Fu Panda” films. However, if Black is sparking an interest in movies among kids, I’m content to allow the new generation to enjoy my childhood treasures.

As a film enthusiast, I firmly believe that creativity is the lifeline in our world. It’s not just a whim, it’s a necessity for survival. Movies and games are no exception; they thrive on the excitement of unearthing hidden gems. Once we step out of the pixelated realm, complacency takes over – apathy is the deadliest adversary one can face.

At Henry’s school, there’s a teacher who seems to suppress the students’ curiosity in science, instead focusing on his own financial woes. A classmate once argued, “My dad says math has been disproven.

The qualities of intellect, creativity, and resourcefulness are valuable, even if they may seem unconventional or odd. One such extraordinary individual, a YouTuber named Technoblade, spent numerous months figuring out how to cultivate over 500 million virtual potatoes in the game Minecraft, before passing away from cancer at the age of 23. He and Hess both have an eccentric yet endearing fascination with potatoes, and as a tribute, Technoblade’s character, a pig adorned with a jeweled crown, made a brief appearance in the film. “A legend,” Black says, clearly meaning it. In fact, his admiration for Technoblade is genuine as well.

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2025-04-03 00:31

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