Warner Bros’ latest attempt to adapt a beloved video game into a feature film, A Minecraft Movie, is a curious mix of highs and lows (mostly lows).
While the movie started out strong with some good laughs and engaging character introductions, my attention span went out the window once the plot dove into the pixelated world of Minecraft. What could have been a creative exploration of the game’s limitless possibilities instead feels like a lazy adaption that doesn’t give the game justice.
The film starts by showing us how a group of real-world characters get transported into Minecraft. These early scenes show promise, introducing us to a pair of siblings named Henry and Natalie, as well as Jason Momoa’s washed-up gamer Garrett, but the story falters when Jack Black’s Steve takes center stage.
While Jack Black’s performance is energetic, it eventually becomes too overwhelming. His portrayal of Steve, a character that had no predefined personality, ends up feeling like an imitation of his own comedic style. The humour that initially lands soon becomes unpleasant.
The plot revolves around a clichéd quest for a shiny box, with our heroes battling an uninspired villain, which unironically reminds me of Captain Sparkle’s Minecraft Original Songs Series. The CGI is impressive at times, seamlessly blending live-action and digital elements, but the overall visuals lack the charm of Minecraft’s iconic aesthetic. Instead, the world feels like an ugly texture pack slapped onto the game’s framework.
A little rant here about the ending (spoilers ahead): I don’t think it makes sense how the group has buckets and buckets of diamonds, and yet somehow Steve ends up being the only one wearing diamond armour, while the main characters just get a potato gun and a diamond sword with no armour or proper accessories. I also don’t think Steve entered The End, and even if he did, I doubt the Ender Dragon would be weaker than some third-rate villain.
Okay, while I’ve been pretty harsh towards this film, if you are a Minecraft fan or a parent who just wants to enjoy this movie with your kids, I’d say go right ahead – you might just like the movie a lot more than I did. First, we mine. Then, we craft. Let’s Minecraft!
