The debut trailer for Warner Bros Picture’s Minecraft feature film left me confused, a little frightened, and significantly disturbed. With a star-studded cast including the likes of Jack Black and Jason Momoa, it is blatantly obvious the film will be leaning entirely on the charisma of their stars to make it through the runtime, because the subject matter itself is appalling. 

It is honestly difficult to know where to start, but I think perhaps with a question. Who is this film for? It doesn’t seem to be for young children, considering the trailer climaxes with a joke calling Jack Black’s Steve a “toolbag,” as well as how unfriendly the character designs seem to be for in-game creatures like the sheep. I can’t say I see too many children going home after the movie and asking for a film-accurate sheep toy. 

Is it for longtime fans? Clearly not. The writing treats the scenario like a joke, and the complete  unseriousness of…well, everything, signifies this is a movie that is perhaps a bit ashamed of itself, and will offer recompense by making fun of itself at every given opportunity. As a longtime Minecraft fan I certainly can’t say I was hoping for Jason Momoa dressed as an adult child when I thought about a potential Minecraft movie. It is all the more frustrating because the blueprint was already laid out by Telltale’s rather good Minecraft: Story Mode. A Minecraft movie can be comedic without being a joke itself. 

It is almost baffling that with so many high-quality video game adaptations being released over the last decade, this is the direction being taken for a property as large and beloved as Minecraft. I will never understand the obsession that executives have with hyper-realizing video game characters as they adapt the medium. It was awful in 1993’s Super Mario Bros., it was awful when 2020’s Sonic the Hedgehog revealed the initial draft of Sonic, and it is awful now with Minecraft. Nobody likes it. 

You would think the massive success of The Super Mario Movie would lay out a path for adapting a child-oriented franchise in a comedic yet respectful way, but instead we have Emma Myers calling Jack Black a toolbag. At the very least, Gearbox is breathing easy knowing it won’t be responsible for the only atrocity of an adaptation amongst so many successful examples.

Then again who knows, maybe it will surprise me. I doubt it, but I might be counting my hyper-realistic chickens before they hatch.

How do you feel about this trailer? Am I being too harsh? Sound off in the comments!

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Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Featured Image: Warner Bros. Pictures

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