As someone who grew up playing the iconic “Sonic” video games and has followed the franchise’s journey into cinema, I must say that the latest trailer for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” has left me utterly thrilled! The attention to detail in recreating Shadow the Hedgehog’s signature moves is nothing short of remarkable.
The “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie series has made significant progress since its initial trailer. However, instead of being a glorious occasion for fans of the video game personality, it became overshadowed due to some questionable decisions regarding Sonic’s CGI design, which was criticized heavily as “Ugly Sonic” in the “Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers.” Fortunately, Paramount Pictures postponed the film and revamped Sonic’s appearance to better align with his video game roots. Consequently, the final product turned out to be one of the finest live-action adaptations of a video game ever made.
Following the triumph of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” where we met renowned characters such as Tails and Knuckles, our speedy blue hero is returning for another live-action adventure in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” This time, it appears that the movie is drawing inspiration from the storyline of “Sonic Adventure 2.” For instance, they’re introducing Shadow the Hedgehog, a recurring adversary for Sonic, and delving into the Robotnik family history.
The initial trailer for “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” has been released online, sparking excitement among fans who are eagerly searching through every frame for hidden Easter eggs and hints about how the filmmakers intend to bring one of the video game series’ most cherished titles to life. To spot these subtle details in the trailer, viewers should do the opposite of Sonic and watch it patiently.
Knuckles uses an iconic move
At the beginning of the trailer, there are fast-paced shots featuring Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles in action, and longtime fans will notice that it is Knuckles who does something particularly striking. This scene depicts Knuckles leaping from Big Ben and soaring through the air while his fists are ablaze. Although it might seem unusual for an echidna to fly, fans of “Sonic” are aware that this is one of Knuckles’ well-known abilities.
The move where Knuckles glides has roots tracing back to the year 1994’s game “Sonic & Knuckles,” which was his debut appearance as a playable character. This maneuver serves a dual purpose – it allows him to travel across stages while simultaneously attacking airborne enemies. The levels designed for Knuckles in “Sonic Adventure” and “Sonic Adventure 2” were centered around this action, with Knuckles exploring larger, more puzzle-focused courses in his quest for pieces of the Master Emerald.
As a die-hard Knuckles fan, I can’t help but be intrigued by this fresh take on his punching moves! Unlike anything we’ve seen in the games so far, these flaming knuckle dusters are something entirely new. Sure, Knuckles has summoned explosive fire and used fiery moves before, but these flying fists of fire seem to be a brand-new addition to his arsenal.
Team Sonic comes to the rescue
As a dedicated Sonic gamer, it’s no shocker to me that in the upcoming “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” our favorite speedster, Tails, and Knuckles are teaming up again. If you recall, at the end of “Sonic the Hedgehog 2,” these three took a stand against Dr. Robotnik when he misused Knuckles to grab the Master Emerald and fuel his robot doppelgänger. From what I’ve seen in the trailer, it seems our trio is still on their noble quest, and they even have a name that long-time “Sonic” enthusiasts will recognize!
In the trailer, it’s revealed that the trio – Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles – are brought together to tackle Shadow the Hedgehog’s predicament, and they are referred to as “Team Sonic.” This moniker might seem straightforward, but it stems from the 2003 game called “Sonic Heroes.” In this game, there were a total of four main storylines, with each featuring different teams: Team Sonic, Team Dark, Team Rose, and Team Chaotix. Similar to the movie, Team Sonic in the game comprises Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles, each character having unique abilities and playstyles.
In the trailer, it appears as if the team adopts a V-shaped formation, with Sonic leading the way. This could hint at the possibility that “Sonic Heroes” might influence the synchronized battle sequences of the trio. Given that Shadow the Hedgehog is confirmed for the film, one may wonder if his Team Dark companions, Rouge the Bat and E-123 Omega, will make brief appearances in the movie as well.
Keanu Reeves is perfectly cast as Shadow
To date, the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies have done an excellent job in selecting actors for their iconic video game characters. Ben Schwartz brings Sonic to life with his energetic and charming portrayal, Jim Carrey delivers a top-notch performance as Robotnik, and Idris Elba’s stern Knuckles is spot on. Nevertheless, all these performances are overshadowed by the genius of casting Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog. This choice seems especially fitting for the anti-hero character given Reeves’ similarities to the enigmatic figure he plays in the video game series.
Despite Keanu Reeves’ role being confirmed in April 2024, the trailer offers a glimpse of him as the ultimate lifeform, lending his voice for the first time. This representation aligns well with Shadow’s narrative, which has echoes of the “John Wick” series: A relentless force seeking revenge against those who took away what mattered most to him. Fans have swiftly made connections online, resulting in amusing and undeniably stylish fan art.
One intriguing aspect of this casting decision is that Reeves has previously appeared in the cinematic world of “Sonic the Hedgehog” films. In the initial “Sonic the Hedgehog,” an early scene shows Sonic spying on Tom and Maddie watching “Speed.” Notably, Sonic exclaims, “Keanu, you are a national treasure!” It’s possible that Reeves has been keenly interested in this role since his name was mentioned by Schwartz’s character, or it could simply be a coincidence. Regardless, it’s an exciting connection.
Shadow’s tragic past
In “Sonic Adventure 2”, it was unveiled that Shadow the Hedgehog, a character later introduced in the Sonic series, had one of the saddest backstories. This military experiment, codenamed Project Shadow by G.U.N., was conceived by Gerald Robotnik with the aim to create the perfect being. Shadow formed a bond with Gerald’s granddaughter Maria, Dr. Ivo Robotnik’s cousin. However, Maria met an unfortunate end while trying to aid Shadow in his escape from the Space Colony ARK.
Although the narrative of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 appears quite gloomy, fans remained enthusiastic upon seeing Maria, played by Alyla Browne, make a brief appearance in the movie trailer. Notably, Alyla Browne is known for playing a young Anya Taylor-Joy in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” With G.U.N.’s presence established in the previous film and “Project Shadow” being hinted at during its closing credits, it seems that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is planning to maintain Shadow’s history consistent with the original storyline.
It’s highly likely that Maria’s appearance in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” will trigger a wave of memes related to the character’s supposed canonical demise, given its frequent portrayal in flashbacks within “Sonic Adventure 2”. To capture the attention of dedicated “Sonic” fans, the filmmakers might choose to reenact her death scene multiple times throughout the movie.
Jim Carrey is playing Robotnik’s grandfather
There was a lot of speculation regarding who would be cast to play Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of Jim Carrey’s Dr. Ivo Robotnik, in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3.” Some names thrown out there included Christopher Lloyd, Willem Dafoe, and J.K. Simmons, but the end result is probably the best choice that could’ve been made. In the trailer, Carrey’s Robotnik wanders through an abandoned lab before reuniting with his grandfather, who’s played by… yup, Jim Carrey.
From a visual standpoint, the new design for Robotnik in the movie doesn’t represent a significant shift away from his appearance in the games. The character is typically portrayed as an older, grayer version of Dr. Eggman, which seems to be the direction Jim Carrey has taken for his dual role. What’s more intriguing is that it deviates significantly from Gerald Robotnik’s in-game storyline. In the games, after the death of Maria, Gerald went mad and swore revenge on humanity before being imprisoned and eventually executed.
I must admit, I was taken aback when I heard Jim Carrey would be in the latest film, given his previous statements about retiring from acting. Just a short while ago, it seemed like Hollywood had bid farewell to this comedic legend. However, his portrayal of Robotnik in the “Sonic” films felt like a triumphant comeback for Carrey. It seems that the allure of an entertaining part is hard to resist, even for one as renowned as he, or should I say, even for multiple roles as engaging as these.
Shadow’s skating is accurate to the games
As a diehard Sonic fan, witnessing Shadow the Hedgehog in motion has me buzzing with anticipation! The prospect of seeing this iconic character’s signature moves like Chaos Control and Black Tornado brought to life on the big screen is nothing short of exhilarating. Eagle-eyed gamers might have spotted a fleeting moment in the Sonic 3 trailer where he performs his iconic skate technique across water, a nod to Shadow’s distinctive gameplay style that left me grinning ear to ear!
In previous instances, Sonic has momentarily run over water, but compared to Shadow, his water-crossing method seems less elegant. This video demonstrates that point. Neither Sonic nor Shadow have shown the ability to walk on water for long durations; in fact, large bodies of water pose risks for both Sonic and his companions. The trailer suggests that this new version of Shadow might be stronger than ever before, displaying a skill to skate effortlessly over water, which fans of “Sonic” may not have witnessed yet.
In the trailer, it’s not just this instance where Shadow’s shoes draw attention. During a heated encounter with Sonic, Shadow employs his Air Shoes – a feature often seen allowing him to levitate and soar through the air across the game franchise – to hoist Sonic aloft.
Shadow does the Akira bike slide
In a quick-as-a-wink instance within the “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” preview, there’s no direct link to the “Sonic” series, but rather a nod to a memorable scene in anime lore. During an action-packed chase scene where Shadow is on a motorbike, his maneuver while turning the bike seems inspired by a scene from the 1988 Japanese animated film “Akira”. Here, the camera perspective is set so that the main character, Kaneda, gracefully rides in from below and halts at the top of the frame as sparks fly from his motorbike.
This move isn’t entirely exclusive as an Easter egg in cinema, considering many other movies and cartoons have replicated it. What sets this instance apart is that Keanu Reeves was nearly cast as Kaneda in a live-action remake of “Akira” instead. It’s not unique to the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie series either, given its history of referencing pop culture extensively, such as “Apocalypse Now” and “Spider-Man.”
Restaging a minor scene from “Akira” with the character Shadow serves not only to recreate that specific detail but also honors the Japanese roots of the “Sonic” franchise, which has predominantly targeted Western audiences up until now. Fingers crossed that Shadow’s “Akira” slide in the movie looks as impressive on the big screen as it does in this trailer, considering how eagerly fans await its release later this year to witness it for themselves.
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2024-08-28 20:30