The following may contain spoilers for the A Minecraft Movie. By reading this, you acknowledge and accept the risk of being spoiled by this review. This review is a personal reflection of the film and does not represent the opinions of every Journalism II staff member.
The Swedish company Mojang released the first version of Minecraft May 17, 2009. Since then, the sandbox game has grown into a remarkable figure in the gaming community. It offers many types of gameplay, all of which can be further explored with the surplus of available modifications, more commonly known as “mods”. Minecraft is a universe of creativity, endless and adapting with each new update.
On April 4 of this year, A Minecraft Movie hit theaters. A Minecraft Movie is not meant to be taken seriously. At a glance, it is a simple movie with a standard plot structure, making it very easy to follow for a younger audience. I believe it lived up to the mindless humor showcased in the trailers. Its simplicity is not a flaw, but rather something to be considered when judging the movie’s plot and characters.
The story follows a group of human beings, led by Steve (Jack Black), and their quest through the world of the famous game. The humans find themselves at odds with the piglins in their race to control the Orb of Dominance.
Upon a deeper analysis of the movie, it is quite evident that each of the main characters represents a part of the Minecraft community, as diverse and beautiful as it is. The symbolism may be interpreted differently, but I see the characters as such.
The protagonist, Henry (Sebastian Eugene Hansen), represents the young, innovative players. His creativity is a subject of ridicule amongst his peers. After finding himself Minecraft’s “Overworld”, the primary dimension of the game, he thrives hand in hand with endless opportunities. He is the first to adapt to his surroundings, even crafting items not available in the base game. This aspect of the film is a nod to the modding community, the independent inventors who work tirelessly to add new and interesting things to the game for their fellow players.
Henry’s sister, Natalie (Emma Myers), is the more stubborn, sensible sibling. She spends most of the movie as the guardian of her younger brother. She becomes especially protective after they’re transported to the Overworld. Her protectiveness reflects the battle-based players of the game. Such players find themselves fighting against aggressive mobs and participating in the player vs. player mini games that Minecraft offers.
The siblings’ kind neighbor, Dawn (Danielle Brooks), displays a deep connection to peaceful and tamable mobs of the game. A notable scene of the movie showcases a mushroom home she built while the group was separated. Dawn represents the slice of life players. These players are known to operate a simple Minecraft life, taming pets and building aesthetic homes for themselves and their friends to enjoy.
Garrett “The Garbage Man’ Garrison (Jason Momoa) found success in his youth. He became famous for his solo ability in a two-player arcade game. He’s presented as a washed-up fool chasing something he’s long lost. Throughout the movie, Garrett experiences what it is like to be truly out of his depth. Unlike his previous claim to fame, Garrett is able to work alongside the other characters as a team by the end of the movie. He represents a particular set of Minecrafters, the “old” players. Garrett serves to show that there is no such thing as being “late to the game”. Minecraft can be enjoyed by anyone willing to take the time and understand the game for what it is and what it can be. I believe this is further showcased during the cameo scene in which many famous Minecraft youtubers, all adults, appear briefly on screen. These people have made careers over playing the game and finding new ways to make it enjoyable for themselves and their audiences.
The character Steve was inspired by the default Minecraft skin, the first player. As the first human to enter the Overworld, Steve acts as a mentor for the rest of the group. He’s wise and experienced. Steve is the “veteran” player. These are the players that know their way around. They’ve likely been playing the game for many years and carry profound knowledge of the lore and gameplay. In Steve’s backstory, he wanted to be a miner. The movie capitalizes on the phrase “the children yearn for the mines”, a humorous line used to describe young audiences becoming entrapped with the game. Showing interest in being a miner is meant to represent the players who grew up “yearning for the mines”, using the dated joke to connect to the desired audience.
Minecraft can be a fun experience with no meaning. It can also be something precious and close to one’s heart. It is important to recognize the movie as “a” Minecraft movie, not “the” Minecraft movie. It serves as a single adaptation of the game; one story among infinite possibilities. Each player has a unique experience with the game, and each of those experiences offers a plethora of feasible story lines for a movie. A Minecraft Movie was an easy, enjoyable watch. The comedy is cheesy, the plot is, at times, ridiculous, and I think that is okay. The movie managed to reach a wide audience, much like the game from which it is inspired. There are no rules to Minecraft, and it is up to the player to decide how it is played.
