By Kevin Tran
‘’Minecraft’’ is undoubtedly one of the most iconic and best-selling video games of all time, with over 300 million copies sold across the globe. Now, Warner Bro. Pictures is bringing Minecraft to the big screen. They released a trailer on September 4, showcasing what the world of Minecraft will look like in a live-action adaptation.
However, numerous fans are not pleased with the recent trailer, which has a like-to-dislike ratio of 626,000 to 1.6 million on YouTube as of September 16.
One main reason why many fans are upset with this trailer is because they prefer the movie to be animated. Instead of live-action, fans want the movie to stick closer to its iconic blocky aesthetic. Making the film live-action does not capture the charm of Minecraft’s unique visual style.
Minecraft’s visual style is adored by many fans because of its unique blocky graphics. These graphics give creativity and imagination to the players because of their low resolution leaving much of the detail to the players’ imagination, allowing them to be creative and make unique builds in the game.
Furthermore, the pixelated graphics create nostalgia for most fans, who believe that making the movie look more realistic ruins Minecraft’s signature visual style, makes it look less like Minecraft and resembles a more realistic blocky world.
Additionally, The trailer indicates that the movie will be about ‘’real-world characters entering the fictional world.’’ Numerous fans dislike this type of plot because it has been overused in many movies and TV shows.
The plot has been used in movies like Ready Player One and Jumanji, which frustrates fans who hoped for something original, as familiar story structures can tend to diminish suspense and engagement.
Viewers who know a familiar story structure often anticipate where the story’s plot line is before it unfolds, which removes any sense of surprise or tension. Making a movie with a unique plot can make the story unpredictable which will intrigue watchers to see what happens next.
Another contention fans have is the designs of the mobs. The movie’s transition from blocky pixelated mobs to realistic blocky versions made the mobs look unsettling and uncanny. Many fans prefer the basic and simple designs of the original Minecraft mobs because it aligns with Minecraft’s overall aesthetic.
While the movie has received a lot of controversy, it’s important to remember that the trailer has only offered us a glimpse into what the movie will look like. Fans will have to wait and see how the movie ultimately shapes up.
With a cast that includes Jason Momoa and Jack Black, the Minecraft movie is set to hit theaters on April 4, 2025. Until then, viewers will just have to hope incoming trailers will show more of the game’s blocky aesthetic and retain the original mob designs.
