A MINECRAFT MOVIE

A MINECRAFT MOVIE is a live action fantasy adventure based on the bestselling video game of all time, MINECRAFT. Four misfits are pulled through a portal to Overworld, a world built of blocks and imagination, under the threat of destruction. The “ragtag” team meets up with a zany crafter who can help them. They must learn to work together if they want to save Overworld and return to their own world.

A MINECRAFT MOVE has a strong redemptive, morally uplifting worldview where people find meaning, strength and courage in friendship to stand up and fight against the evil greedy queen of the nether world. There is too much action related violence, several light profanities, some rude and crude humor, along with scary images. So, caution is recommended for older children and young teenagers.

A MINECRAFT MOVIE is the latest movie adaptation of a video game based on the wildly and consistently popular video game created in 2011 by Mojang Studios. MINECRAFT is an adventure fantasy game where one can explore, build, fight, and mine. It’s a game where players feel their world is open to infinite possibilities. If you can imagine it, you can build it. There are many different animals, villages, monsters, and bosses that a player can encounter.

In the movie, a character from the game, Steve, makes his way to Overworld where he befriends a wolf named Dennis. While there, he finds the “orb of dominance” used by the evil piglin, “Queen Malgosha,” so she can destroy the Overworld with a great darkening. Steve sends Dennis back to Earth to hide the orb.

Years later, the orb is found by a washed-up championship gamer named Garrett “The Garbage Man.” Garret has lost all his money and is about to lose his business in the town of Chuglass.

Meanwhile, Natalie and Henry have moved to Chuglass after the death of their mother. The young Natalie promises to take care of her brother, a creative misfit. A creative whiz, Henry asks Garrett for help. However, Henry unknowingly unlocks the power of the orb, which sends him, his sister, Natalie, Garrett, and their realtor, Dawn, to Overworld. There they meet up with Minecraft Steve who becomes their guide to try to save Overworld and get back to the real world. First, however, Garrett makes them go through perilous mines so he can grab diamonds in order to solve his money problems in the real world.

A MINECRAFT MOVIE is a funny, lighthearted tale with deep meaning. The main characters find strength and love through building friendships with each other. Eventually, a once self-absorbed character risks his life to save his friend. When the evil queen chides her subjects that to hope, dream and create is to suffer, the hero agrees with her but rebukes her by telling her that cowards choose to destroy things because it’s easier than building things. Another main character encourages her friend to bring some of his magic to the real world. The movie drives home the message that, if you are brave enough, you can make positive things happen in the world.

The settings in A MINECRAFT MOVIE are purposely unrealistic with the use of clever CGI graphics. Some original songs by Jack Black, who plays Steve, are included in the adventure story. The story struggled a bit, but the wonderful messages, a very strong cast including Jason Momoa, who plays Garrett, Danielle Brooks (Dawn), and Emma Myers as Natalie, and wonderful directing by Jared Hess make the movie a winner for older children. Don’t worry! Minecraft Steve names everything along the way, so those without any knowledge of the game will not be kept in the dark.