Things Only Adults Notice In A Minecraft Movie

As a die-hard Minecraft gamer, it’s clear that this game has a massive, cross-generational fanbase. The staggering $313 million global box office earnings in just its first weekend is a testament to that fact. I remember when the first “Minecraft Movie” trailer was met with skepticism, some even going as far as calling it an abomination. But those initial concerns seem like ancient history now, given the film’s success. With numbers like these, a second Minecraft movie feels almost inevitable.

The “Minecraft Movie” has a strong pull among its young fanbase, as evidenced by frequent reports of children and teenagers cheering loudly during significant moments, such as the chicken jockey scene. This isn’t just an ordinary movie; it’s a cultural phenomenon for many who get excited whenever a character mentions something from the game, like “slime cube” or “elytra.” For those not familiar with Minecraft, the slime cube is a tool that helps you jump further, and the elytra are wings used to fly.

In “A Minecraft Movie”, younger viewers effortlessly picked up on the subtle game references, but those details might have gone over the heads of older audience members who aren’t avid gamers. However, the film didn’t neglect the grown-up crowd entirely, as it was filled with humor and themes tailored for them. Here are the nuances in “A Minecraft Movie” that only adults might catch.

That old miner makes zero sense

As a gaming enthusiast, diving into the world of “A Minecraft Movie,” I can’t help but wonder about the backstory of that grizzled miner dude at the beginning. He’s the one who tells Steve (that Jack Black fellow), “Stay out! No kids allowed!” when he’s just a kid longing for the mines. Even though it seems like he’s making life tough for young Steve, I guess it’s good to know he’s got a strong commitment to child labor regulations.

Steve, now a grown man with a full beard, reappears before the elderly miner who had always been wary of him. The miner, despite his advanced age, continues to harbor issues against Steve, perhaps because when Steve was younger, the miner mistook him for a mischievous child and didn’t want him near his mine. However, the miner’s animosity intensifies as he launches an attack on Steve, forcing him to dodge in order to gain entry into the mine. Why won’t the old miner let Steve dig? It seems that the miner may be worried about Steve encroaching on union territory and illegally mining rocks where he shouldn’t.

Steve finds the Orb of Dominance and Earth Crystal too quickly

As a die-hard fan, I can tell you that the movie starts off by swiftly transporting Steve into the Overworld, and it seems like he gets along fine with all the other miners (though there’s no sign of any conflicts during the film). In a blink of an eye, Steve stumbles upon the Orb of Dominance and Earth Crystal, which grants him the power to open a gateway to the Overworld.

Steve must retrieve these items since he’s the protagonist, but the elderly miner who appeared first had been mining for decades – shouldn’t he have discovered the Orb of Dominance by now? It seems quite simple to expose it by just chipping a small part of that wall; you’d think someone with such extensive experience would have already uncovered every possible treasure beneath.

As a fan, I can empathize with the miner who seems fully dedicated to his task – extracting coal. The glowing blue cubes may pique others’ curiosity, but not him; he’s got a job to do and sticks to it like a pro. Respectfully, I admire his focus and determination – no extra tasks for this guy unless there’s something in it for him. Time-in, time-out, coal sack filled, boss man – that’s his motto.

Tater tots will give millennials nostalgia

Initially, Shawn Levy and Rob McElhenney were linked to direct a “Minecraft” movie during its extended production phase; however, it was Jared Hess who eventually took on the role, known for his work on “Napoleon Dynamite.” While Jon Heder, the star of “Napoleon Dynamite,” isn’t as visible these days, in 2004 he was a cultural phenomenon with people donning “Vote for Pedro” shirts and asking if they could “eat your tots.” It appears that Hess acknowledges his cult classic in the “Minecraft Movie” through various nods to the iconic snack.

In the movie, Natalie (Emma Myers) prepares a pizza with tater tots for Henry (Sebastian Hansen), who later employs a solitary tot as an ingredient in his homemade tater tot gun in the film. Tater tots aren’t the only commonality between them, as they both enjoy doodling. Henry gets creative with his drawing assignments, like adding a jetpack to a banana instead of a realistic one, while Napoleon specializes in sketching a liger, a lion-tiger hybrid.

In the real-world settings, the visuals seem strikingly similar to Hess’ artistic style as portrayed in “Napoleon Dynamite.” However, it’s plausible that Hess has made other references beyond just this film. For instance, when Garrett Garrison (Jason Momoa), the self-proclaimed garbage man, engages in a unique fight with the chicken jockey (a zombie on a chicken), they do so in a traditional wrestling ring. This setup seems to be an homage to Hess’ 2006 production “Nacho Libre,” which starred Jack Black and shares some similarities with this scene.

Killing kids is all the rage in video game movies

A Minecraft Film” could receive a PG rating, yet it might contain moments that frighten younger viewers due to spooky scenes featuring skeletons and zombies. While it’s not one of the most inappropriate PG movies ever made, these scenes may be too intense for some young children. However, there are underlying themes that the film only touches upon subtly, which might be troubling for some viewers.

In the story, at one moment, a small pig-like creature presents a drawing to the primary antagonist Malgosha, portrayed by Rachel House. Instead of appreciating the child’s creativity, she reacts violently and stabs him, transforming him into a piece of meat. This act is particularly dark, considering it involves the murder of a child, even if he was a pigling. This incident mirrors an unsettling pattern in contemporary video game adaptations, where violence and brutality are often portrayed excessively.

In the game “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” Maria Robotnik’s (Alyla Browne) demise is noteworthy, yet it holds significance within the game’s narrative. This event sets Shadow (Keanu Reeves) on a path towards villainy, which he must overcome to be redeemed as one of the good guys. However, Maria’s death appears to lack a substantial plot purpose, as her character was already established as evil. The act of killing a child seems unnecessary and excessive, given that Malgosha’s evil nature was previously known.

Henry has good Frodo vibes

In the movie adaptation of Minecraft, it doesn’t simply display items from the game; instead, it incorporates numerous pop culture references that older viewers might miss while their children are engrossed in the action. For instance, Garrett’s video game store features a “Beetlejuice” poster, and Malgosha becomes evil after being humiliated on a show called “Nether’s Got Talent,” which is derived from “America’s Got Talent.” However, the most charming reference occurs when Henry, Garrett, Natalie, and Dawn (played by Danielle Brooks) first encounter Steve. This scene alludes to a well-known pop culture reference that might be overlooked by younger viewers.

Although Garrett desires control over the Orb of Dominance, Dawn passes it to Henry instead, commenting that he exudes a “Frodo-like aura.” This reference to “The Lord of the Rings” is fitting since Henry has been entrusted with a highly potent artifact, much like Frodo. Moreover, Sebastian Hansen bears a striking resemblance to a young Elijah Wood, who portrayed Frodo in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Like hobbits, he is one of the smallest members of their group, and his dark, curly hair makes him an excellent candidate for playing a hobbit in any future installments of “The Lord of the Rings.

Jennifer Coolidge (probably) has sex with a Villager

In an unrelated subplot, we find a character named Nitwit leaving his village and venturing into the real world. While strolling along the road, he is struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Vice Principal Marlene (Jennifer Coolidge). However, instead of being angry, Marlene develops a fondness for the large-headed Minecraft character. Eventually, Nitwit asks Marlene to marry him, and she becomes ecstatic about their upcoming wedding, with little hearts floating around her to symbolize her joy.

In Minecraft, small hearts appearing near animals indicate they are ready to reproduce. This is shown in “A Minecraft Movie” when two pandas have hearts around them, and subsequently a baby panda emerges between them. These little hearts serve as a subtle indication of impending reproduction, which is why the scene ends before anything else happens involving Marlene (the Vice Principal) and Nitwit (the Villager). While children who play Minecraft understand what these hearts symbolize and find humor in the idea of the school administrator starting a family with a town resident, adults may recall Coolidge’s past roles and associate the breeding scene with her history of playing risqué characters.

Nitwit is voiced by Matt Berry

In his performances, Nitwit communicates using the common dialect of Villagers, referred to as Standard Villic. This language often appears nonsensical, yet it captivates Marlene. Remarkably, within a day and under the influence of love, Nitwit switches to flawless English, accompanied by a thick British accent. However, discerning ears among the audience might identify that voice as Matt Berry’s.

The actor from “What We Do in the Shadows” has a vast acting history, showcasing his unique abilities on series such as “The IT Crowd,” “Portlandia,” and “Community.” However, it was “Shadows” that truly catapulted him to fame with his portrayal of Laszlo Cravensworth. His peculiar intonations transformed the character into a beloved figure among fans. Some lines he delivered, like “He’s my best friend, he’s my pal, he’s my homeboy, my rotten soldier, my sweet cheese, my good time boy,” became legendary on the internet.

It seems curious to ponder if Nitwit was intended to have a larger role in the movie, given that Matt Berry’s casting for “A Minecraft Movie” was announced in May 2023, which feels unusually early for just a brief appearance. Regardless, we hope that Berry will provide more lines worthy of memes in case there is a sequel.

Jack Black and Jason Momoa make a manwich

To avoid being overrun by a swarm of piglins, Steve arms Garrett and Henry with elytra (a rare winged item that enables flight in “Minecraft”). This way, they can leap from a cliff without harm. While Garrett enjoys the experience, Steve must cling to Garrett as he escapes the horde since he doesn’t possess an extra set of elytra himself. In this scene, there are two important details: Firstly, when Steve is seen victoriously holding onto Garrett’s long, flowing hair like reins, it mirrors the way characters ride dragons in “Game of Thrones,” which featured Jason Momoa. This visual reference adds an exciting and dramatic touch to the scene, reminiscent of that show’s dragon-riding scenes.

Adults might pick up on the fact that the elytra scene is loaded with subtle, double meanings. Garrett finds Steve’s behavior of riding on his back annoying, but Steve responds casually with “Just unwind, let my hips lead the way.” Later during their flight, they have to squeeze through a narrow gap in the mountain, and the only way they can do that is by forming a human sandwich. In other words, Steve places himself with his face near Garrett’s groin area, and vice versa. It may seem odd, but adults might perceive this as a playful reenactment of a popular sexual position named after a number.

Jack Black brings back the Sax-A-Boom

Upon reaching the Woodland Mansion, Steve, Garrett, and Henry have two objectives: first, they must find an Earth Crystal to reopen the portal, and second, Henry desires to collect an ender pearl for teleportation abilities. However, to avoid detection by the inhabitants, it’s essential that Steve and Garrett create a diversion, leading potentially to a reenactment of one of Jack Black’s memorable talk show scenes.

Steve and Garrett burst through the doors, sporting mushroom caps and blowing saxophones. This musical scene, typical of Steve, is one of many in a film that boasts an unexpected number of them. The sight of Black playing a saxophone might remind some viewers of his 2018 appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” During this show, Fallon gifted Black a toy saxophone, which he often used during performances with Tenacious D. Although some of the language from Black’s performance may not be suitable for the primary audience of “A Minecraft Movie,” it brings back fond memories for adults who recall this iconic late-night moment.

The ending involves celebrating the genocide of an entire race

In contrast to their habitat in the Nether, Piglins dwell there because exposure to sunlight transforms them into zombies and eventually kills them. Malgosha seeks the Orb due to its power to block sunlight, a tactic reminiscent of Mr. Burns’ past plan on “The Simpsons,” enabling the piglins to dominate the Overworld. The heroes manufacture an array of weapons and tools to combat the piglin army, culminating in Henry seizing the Orb and restoring sunlight, thereby vanquishing the piglins forever.

As a gamer, I can’t help but acknowledge that the Piglins, despite their comical moments, are portrayed as the antagonists in this game. However, it seems like Henry, Steve, and others deal with them by annihilating every single one of them without exception. This brutal tactic, to me, feels more like a genocide against the Piglins. It’s heartbreaking to see that even Malgosha, a young Piglin who showed creative potential, was among those eliminated earlier in the game. One might think there could have been an opportunity for rehabilitation amidst these creatures. The sight of everyone celebrating and embracing each other while Piglins are falling around them is quite unsettling.

Throughout Malgosha’s character, there’s an underlying wickedness evident, such as when she repeatedly attempts to stab Steve at the climax. It wouldn’t be so unfortunate if she had perished instead—after all, some rather unsettling deaths have occurred in children’s films previously. However, it seems plausible that some Piglins may still reside within the Nether; but should they not, an entire species appears to have been eradicated in a single instant, which is somewhat heavy for a children’s movie.

Creativity must serve capitalism

One issue I have with “A Minecraft Movie” is that the overall message gets lost in the conclusion. In the story, characters like Steve make a return trip to Earth and transform their pixelated journey into a game called “Block City Battle Buddies.” Previously a social outcast, Henry now enjoys popularity at school thanks to his functional jetpack. He spends his leisure time tinkering with the game’s electronic components. Garrett’s company flourishes once more, Natalie teaches self-defense, and Dawn establishes a petting zoo. By the finale, everyone seems to have found success and solved their financial troubles. This seemingly happy ending, however, detracts from the deeper themes initially explored in the story.

While it’s important to acknowledge that everyone deserves to earn a living, the essence of “A Minecraft Movie” up until then was about following one’s passions, regardless of financial reward. This is evident in Steve’s character, who starts off in an unfulfilling job selling doorknobs but finds his true passion in mining. So, it seems unusual that Steve would agree to go on adventures with the others and perform singing gigs with Garrett if his dream was actually mining.

It’s important for everyone to discover something they’re deeply enthusiastic about, whether it’s visual arts like painting, auditory arts such as music, or virtual worlds like “Minecraft” creation. Earning income from these passions would be fantastic, but often, a conventional job is necessary to support pursuing one’s true interests. The ending of “A Minecraft Movie” portrays everyone profiting from their passions, which is inspiring, but it shouldn’t be the ultimate goal. Instead, the journey and personal growth derived from these passions should be valued above financial gain.

A Minecraft Movie wants you to go outside and touch grass

As a passionate Minecraft fan, I can’t help but marvel at the success of “The Minecraft Movie,” which has already grossed hundreds of millions and is poised to break the $1 billion mark at the box office. You might assume that the primary objective of a film based on such a popular IP would be to boost sales of the original game. However, it’s not about enticing us to play Minecraft non-stop, which would be disheartening, but rather, it guides us to step away from our screens and explore the real world every once in a while. Instead of encouraging endless gaming, this movie invites us to venture outside the Overworld and experience life beyond the pixels.

It’s not a negative situation that children spend all their active hours glued to a computer, gathering fictional resources. Instead, it’s surprising and subtly hinted at, which might escape younger viewers. In the end credits, Steve returns to his old home to find Alex (portrayed by Kate McKinnon) residing there. Given the possibility of a sequel, it seems Steve’s foray into reality is temporary, with him and Alex likely exploring the Overworld again in the future.

Steve found his creative outlet in the Overworld, however, he eventually recognized the importance of stepping back to build relationships. While video games can be enjoyable, they shouldn’t overshadow the need for companionship. Everyone, regardless of age, should grasp this lesson: even though a Minecraft movie may have its flaws, it underscores the significance of prioritizing connections over solitude.

2025-04-08 19:34