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- ‘Sonic 3’ Looks to Go in a Darker Direction
- ‘Sonic 3’ Needs to Appeal to Older Viewers
- Bring on Sonic vs. Shadow
As a long-time fan of Sega’s iconic blue blur and someone who has spent countless hours racing through Green Hill Zone on my trusty Mega Drive, I must say that the news about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has filled me with unbridled excitement! The fact that this movie seems to be taking inspiration from one of the darker storylines in the franchise’s history is a breath of fresh air for us old-school gamers.
Through a remarkable twist of events, a straightforward character makeover significantly boosted Paramount’s profitable Sonic the Hedgehog franchise. Initial reactions to the 2020 film trailer were less than favorable due to the criticized design of the main character, Sonic. However, the creative team made adjustments, leading to a movie that satisfied (most) of the Sonic fanbase. This appeal extended to both long-time fans of the Blue Blur and newcomers, breaking the curse often associated with video game adaptations. The film garnered mostly positive reviews and impressive box office success. The sequel released two years later was even more successful and generally considered an improvement.
This upcoming weekend marks the debut of the much-awaited installment, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3”. In this part, our main character Sonic will square off against fan-adored villain Shadow the Hedgehog, who is voiced by everyone’s internet crush, Keanu Reeves. Each movie in the series has become increasingly true to the video games, and “Sonic 3” appears to carry on this tradition, seemingly adapting one of the most cherished games, Sonic Adventure 2. Moreover, it seems that this film will be the darkest in the franchise yet, and we can’t wait!
‘Sonic 3’ Looks to Go in a Darker Direction
Given the influence drawn from its source material, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is likely to present a much more ominous storyline. This is because the film appears to be heavily inspired by Sonic Adventure 2 from 2001, where Shadow the Hedgehog made his first appearance, joining forces with Dr. Robotnik to obtain the Chaos Emeralds.
One of the games in the series stood out as particularly somber, largely due to Shadow’s heart-wrenching past. This character was brought to life by Professor Gerald Robotnik, who will be portrayed by Jim Carrey in the upcoming film. Profoundly affected by his granddaughter Maria’s terminal illness, Gerald resorted to genetic engineering to create Shadow. As their bond deepened, Shadow made a vow to use his powers for the greater good and safeguard the world from peril, all while protecting Maria.
However, misfortune befallen them. The military group G.U.N. considered Shadow a danger and put him into a deep sleep, but unintentionally took Maria’s life while she attempted to shield her friend. Consequently, when Eggman resurrects Shadow in the principal storyline, he is consumed by vengeance against mankind for Maria’s demise and decides to aid him in his scheme to dominate the world.
From the previews of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, it appears the movie will closely follow its backstory, and pictures showing Maria guarding Shadow seem almost identical to scenes from the games. Since Sonic Adventure 2 is highly appreciated by fans, even those who disliked Sonic’s transition to 3D, it’s thrilling to witness such a dedicated adaptation of a storyline we’ve been eagerly anticipating since its inception for the big screen. Although we remain cautious about incorporating aspects from Shadow’s criticized self-titled game, we’re still looking forward to experiencing a more ominous Sonic tale.
‘Sonic 3’ Needs to Appeal to Older Viewers
Moving towards a more mature tone could enhance the Sonic movies in terms of quality as well. While the current movies have been fun overall, they’ve leaned heavily towards kid-friendly humor. Given that Sonic has always been marketed towards children, this isn’t too surprising. However, these films haven’t quite captured the wide appeal of Pixar or the Spider-Verse movies, which manage to entertain both kids and adults simultaneously.
In summary, Sonic 3 appears to be exploring a deeper, darker storyline within the franchise, offering something more substantial for mature viewers alongside the usual kid-friendly charm of Sonic. So far, early fan responses have supported this expectation, hinting that it’s the most emotionally mature film in the trilogy and that Shadow’s character development is particularly moving. While we won’t delve into the specifics of Sonic Adventure 2’s ending here, indications suggest that the movie will accurately portray the game’s touching conclusion.
Improving the accuracy to the source games seems to positively impact the films, making them even better. The initial Sonic film had its highlights, but it generally followed the typical formula of a buddy movie. Sonic mostly interacted with James Marsden comically, and Jim Carrey’s eccentric portrayal of Dr. Robotnik provided some excitement. However, the second film stood out more due to the inclusion of popular characters like Tails and Knuckles, who later starred in their own miniseries, as well as familiar elements such as the Chaos Emeralds and Super Sonic.
Despite the fact that Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was surprisingly enjoyable, it had some limitations due to the carryover human characters from the initial movie. Scenes attempting to include Marsden and his associates in the narrative felt less engaging, especially a confusing 10-minute segment involving Sonic and Tails interrupting Marsden’s sister-in-law’s wedding. Given that this character had minimal involvement in previous films, it slowed down the pace and drew attention away from the more captivating struggle between Robotnik and Knuckles. As human characters are set to return in Sonic 3, we can hope that the creative team will shift their focus even further towards Sonic and the game-authentic elements.
Bring on Sonic vs. Shadow
Absolutely, what draws movie and franchise enthusiasts, as well as purists, is the expectation that Sonic the Hedgehog 3 will likely be the darkest installment in the series so far. The marketing campaign has effectively built anticipation around Shadow serving as Sonic’s most significant adversary yet (while also hinting at exceptional voice acting from Keanu Reeves). It certainly appears this is a natural progression for the storyline.
Enthusiasts of Sonic games have been eagerly requesting a genuine adaptation of Sonic Adventure 2 for quite some time, as the films could expand their audience beyond mainly children. Regardless, we’re all excited! Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is set to premiere in theaters on December 20.
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2024-12-20 05:31