A Minecraft Movie is now showing at Cineworld, bringing the global gaming phenomenon to the big screen. Directed by Jared Hess (Napoleon Dynamite, Nacho Libre), this live-action blockbuster stars Jack Black as Steve, a master crafter who unwittingly tunnelled his way into a cubic land known as the Overworld as a young man. When a group of misfits (led by Jason Momoa) are pulled through a portal into the Overworld, Steve becomes their guide, helping them to channel their inner strengths in order to find their way home.
Going by the trailer, the movie looks like a feast of fun for the whole family, with stunning visuals, plus plenty of action and laughs throughout the film. But what have critics made of this exciting new release? Here, we round up some of the comments from film reviewers across the world...
Leo Brady of AMovieGuy.com was left in no doubt that this new blockbuster will go down a storm with people of all ages, writing: "A Minecraft Movie taps into the wild energy of creativity, and channels it into an adventure that’s silly, fun, and a total blast for the whole family."
That sentiment seemed to be shared by Simon Foster of Screen-Space, who suggested that you don't need to be a Minecraft fan to enjoy the film: "I’m no gamer, so I can’t speak to how much of that experience is captured," he wrote in his review, "but as a filmgoer, A MINECRAFT MOVIE is a joyous, silly, spectacularly giddy romp."
Ditto Aisle Seat's Mike McGranaghan, who commented: "Even if you don’t know anything about Minecraft, the picture can be enjoyed for its unapologetic silliness."
A Minecraft Movie: Meet the characters from the all-new action blockbuster
Alex Bentley of CultureMap loved the feel and pace of the movie, writing: "It’s a silly, fast-moving romp that works both as an homage to the game and as a stand-alone movie."
Wall Street Journal writer Kyle Smith hailed the filmmakers for bringing such invention to the movie. "Mr Hess and his five screenwriters have mined childhood to craft something that’s alive with imagination," he wrote. "It’s not the most polished movie you’ll see this year, but it’s as cheerfully mad as a little kid’s birthday party. We could use more of that."
Stephen Thompson of NPR paid tribute to how well the videogame has been adapted. "Turning Minecraft into a movie presents a challenge, because the film has a lot of character development to catch up on," he said. "But, as The Lego Movie and Barbie have demonstrated, it's possible to get it spectacularly right."
And finally, Peter Gray of The AU Review singled out the two main actors for praise, writing: "Jack Black and Jason Momoa are the comedic duo we didn’t know we needed, and their one-two punch of camp theatrics and unwavering commitment to the cause make A Minecraft Movie, ridiculous as it is, far more enjoyable than it has any right to be."
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