Title: A Minecraft Movie (2025) Director: Jared Hess Rating: PG Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy Run Time: 1hr 41mins Star(s): Jason Momoa • Jack Black • Emma Myers • Jennifer Coolidge • Sebastian Eugene Hansen • Danielle Brooks MINECRAFT – VISUALLY APPEALING, SHALLOW NARRATIVE Four misfits who are Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison (Jason Momoa), Natalie (Emma Myers), Henry (Sebastian Eugene Hansen), and Dawn (Danielle Brooks), get sucked by a mysterious portal into Overworld, an unusual, animated, cubic wonderland that thrives on creativity and imagination. In order to get back home, they must navigate the terrain while accomplishing a quest guided by a crafter named Steve (Jack Black). Jason Momoa in a kid’s movie brings out his goofy side, which is an interesting watch. Emma Myers delivers a decent performance of an older sibling trying to take on parental roles. Sebastian Eugene Hansen fits into the role of a social misfit well. Jack Black on the other hand has played multiple similar roles before. He needs to diversify. Director Jared Hess blends CGI animation and live action into A Minecraft Movie, creating a nerd heaven for both Minecraft players and movie buffs into a single story. The cinematography is basic but works well. The film was shot in Auckland, New Zealand. The inclusion of Steve as a live-action character instead of an animated player brings authenticity and connection for Minecraft users. A Minecraft Movie is a film that stays true to the source material while also exercising creativity that adds to the production rather than diminish or degrade the source. One of the most forgettable elements of the film is the piglin villain, Malgosha. Although Rachael House is a good voice actress, Malgosha wasn’t the best character for her. Perhaps more development into her actions in the film would’ve salvaged her character. The film lacks meaningful character development. For instance, conflict resolution between siblings Natalie and Henry was a missed opportunity to delve deeper into the issues of kids who are social outcasts because of their hobbies and interests. It may appeal to kids visually but leaves those seeking a deeper narrative unsatisfied. It also serves as a reminder that translating interactive experiences into film can be challenging and requires more than just visual appeal but a great narrative as well. Certain fighting scenes are not suitable for a really young audience. Rating 7/10.