“A Minecraft Movie” is the best movie ever made, not including “Captain Underpants” or “Mamma Mia.” It defied expectations without insisting upon itself and introduced new concepts without changing what Minecraft stands for.
Many believed the movie would be just as bad as every other live-action children’s movie from the past decade, and they were right. The animation was average, and the story was half-baked. But it brought community to people, even for those watching it ironically. My 13-year-old brother and known Minecraft fanatic, Marcus Arnold, was excited about the movie’s release, describing it as “very goofy.”
Despite the Arnold family’s happiness, the movie’s release stirred up some controversy when a TikTok trend began of audience members trashing the theater during viral quotes. Cineworld, a British cinema company, published a statement to dissuade participants.
“Any form of anti-social behavior, especially anything that may disturb other guests such as loud, screaming, clapping and shouting will not be tolerated,” the notice read. “Anyone who is found to be acting in this manner will be removed from the screening and not entitled to a refund.”
The trend highlighted something unique—the rise of irony in humor. An understanding with most people seemed to preface their positive reviews with the phrase, “I know it was awful, but…” Most people participating in this trend were young adults, so perhaps the chaos was an excuse for a generation scared of sincerity to watch a stupid movie without embarrassment. That could be wrong, because sometimes the movie really was that bad. During one scene, a character “dies,” and it is so obvious that they are not dead that their “revival” in the climax is not anticipated.
The movie shared a message of embracing creativity in an unforgiving world. The villain was a Piglin named Melgosha who longed to express herself before her parents crushed her dreams. This heartbreak caused her to instead obsess over obtaining gold, even going so far as to destroy another realm to have it. Despite the movie being for children, the idea of choosing between art and financial success is a concept faced by many adults.
Some jokes in the movie were hilarious. Many parts of the movie surprised sophomore psychology major Mae Harding.
“Out of all the scenes, I loved the scene between the villager and Jennifer Coolidge the most,” Harding said. “Her one-liners, like when the waitress asks if they’re finished, Coolidge says, ‘I think he’s Swedish.”
The cinematic covers of the game’s soundtrack were beautiful. Jack Black and Jason Momoa sang a duet at the end of the movie that rivaled Troy and Gabriella from “High School Musical.” Many fans were able to spot cameos of popular Minecraft YouTubers, such as DanTDM, Aphmau, LDShadowlady and Mumbo Jumbo. The movie also honored a legendary YouTuber,Technoblade, who passed away after a battle with cancer in 2022.
Do not go into this movie thinking it is “The Shawshank Redemption,” but do not assume that it will be awful. If you look past the drawbacks shared with most movie adaptations, “A Minecraft Movie” is a fun time to have with your friends, family or with your loyal dog you tamed with a single bone, which is totally unrealistic, by the way.
