I really want the Minecraft movie to be great. I wholly believe Minecraft, when treated as it was intended, is the greatest videogame of all time. It’s also been a huge part of my family as it landed as the kids were growing up and watching them engrossed in it and learning how to play and create is a life-long memory.
I have also been of the ideology that Hollywood should leave video games alone. Sure we have always made games that were tied to big movies but I have yet to see many convincing arguments that it is a two-way street. Therefore I am untrusting when it comes to my beloved Minecraft being turned into an IMAX-riddled silver screen ‘epic adventure ™’.
For a game with no dialogue, and originally intended to be played in beautiful isolation, the idea of Jack Black just being Jack Black but called Steve worries me more than a little, and yet I enjoyed the trailer that they dropped a few hours ago.
For the first time, we get to see the Villagers, and sure they a bit odd, but they are still inherently Minecraft, unlike when we first got a glimpse of the movie Sonic. The way the film deals with the blocks and real people at the same time also looks like it might work. Could this actually turn out to be a wholesome family adventure and actually get pulled off?
We even get things such as redstone-powered minecarts and tracks proving that they aren’t just going for the look of Minecraft but are actually including things that players will connect with. I even laughed at the obvious Creeper explosion.
Whether there will be enough story outside of the ordinary obvious stuff to keep me interested for the 100-minute run time is not assured, but I am not the target audience (even though I so am!)
A Minecraft Movie releases in theaters on the 4th of April with a digital release to follow later in the year.