“A Minecraft Movie”
This film tries to bring the world’s favorite game to life, but falls short…hard. Directed by Jared Hess and released on April 4, the Minecraft movie starts with four misfits struggling with ordinary problems when they are suddenly pulled through a mysterious portal and land in a world full of cubes. To get back, they must master this world and embark on a magical adventure with an expert crafter named Steve (Jack Black). With a budget of $150 million, the movie shockingly scored a 6/10 on IMDb and only 47% on Rotten Tomatoes. Although the Minecraft movie received multiple negative reviews, it earned $700 million, on track to become the highest-grossing video game movie of all time.
“Snow White”
Released on March 21, this movie is a modern reimagining of the classic fairy tale, directed by Marc Webb and featuring a cast led by Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, and Andrew Burnap. With a staggering $270 million budget, the film was expected to be a major family-friendly blockbuster. However, it fell flat at the box office, earning only $43 million and receiving overwhelmingly negative reviews. It holds a dismal 1.6/10 rating on IMDb and just 40% on Rotten Tomatoes. Rated PG and aimed primarily at young children, the film attempted to blend familiar fantasy elements with updated storytelling and visuals.
The plot follows Snow White as she escapes the Evil Queen and finds refuge with the seven dwarfs. As royal guards pursue her, a brave commoner and a group of woodland animals step in to help protect her. Despite the whimsical premise, the film failed to capture the magic of the original. Viewer response has been largely negative, with many criticizing the film’s execution, lackluster performances, and unnecessary reinvention of a beloved story. Audiences described it as uninspired and hollow, reflecting disappointment in yet another big-budget remake that couldn’t live up to expectations.
“Death of a Unicorn”
This dark comedy horror film stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father and daughter duo who accidentally kill a unicorn while traveling to a weekend retreat. There, the father’s boss (Richard E. Grant) attempts to exploit unicorns for their healing powers. The film was written and directed by Alex Scharfman. His directorial debut, it was released March 28 and so far has worldwide box office earnings of $15 million, meeting its budget of the same amount.
The A24 movie has an IMDb rating of 6.3/10 and 53% Rotten Tomatoes. Specifically, it has scored a 53% on the Tomatometer (reserved for critics), though a much higher 78% on the Popcornmeter (for general audiences). Overall, the film has received mixed reviews with most agreeing on its enjoyable humor, though it falls short in its horror. The satirical commentary on the elitist rich comes through, though not as effectively as desired. Paired with its mediocre special effects, the general consensus seems to be this: a great idea with poor execution, but an entertaining watch nonetheless.
“Captain America: Brave New World”
This hit theaters on February 14, marking a new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Sam Wilson stepping into the role of Captain America. Directed by Julius Onah and featuring a cast that includes Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, and Shira Haas, the film aimed to reignite the franchise’s momentum. With a production budget of $180 million and a modest $200 million box office return, it fell short of Marvel’s usual blockbuster standards. The film is rated PG-13 and categorized as an action-adventure epic, but it received a lukewarm critical reception, scoring just 48% on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.8/10 on IMDb.
The plot centers on a global conflict involving President Thaddeus Ross, pulling Sam Wilson into a dangerous web of hidden agendas and evil forces working behind the scenes. Despite its high stakes and polished visuals, the film failed to resonate with many viewers. Longtime Marvel fans expressed disappointment, calling the film unnecessary and lacking the emotional and narrative depth of earlier franchise entries. Many reviews highlighted a sense of boredom and a longing for the Marvel films of the past, indicating a growing disconnect between the studio and its core audience.
“Mickey 17”
Director Bong Joon-Ho never stops to urge his audiences to step out of their comfort zone, and this time, he comes up with the more sci-fi, unsettling world of “Mickey 17.” Adapted from the novel, “Mickey 7,” by Edward Ashton, the movie follows Mickey Barnes (Robert Pattinson), a disposable employee sent on a human expedition to colonize the ice world Niflheim. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. Scoring high with 77% Rotten Tomatoes and a solid 6.9/10 IMDb scale, the movie only earned back around $121 million worldwide compared to its $118 million cost of production, not enough to break even.
The movie touches on cloning, which is a fascinating subject for a sci-fi movie considering the moral dilemmas it presents. As the story progresses, however, the film loses focus and ultimately turns into something generic, with an uninteresting and rushed conclusion. That said, the film excels in its production design. The setting and costumes are well-crafted, adding to the immersive sci-fi atmosphere. Additionally, the visual effects are compelling, bringing the futuristic world to life in a convincing and visually stunning way, which helps maintain engagement even when the story fails to do so.
“Hell of a Summer”
Written and directed by Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk, this comedic horror film follows camp counselor Jason Hochberg (Fred Hechinger) as he navigates feeling out of place amongst his teenage co-workers, until a masked killer begins brutally targeting counselors one by one. A homage to classic 80s slasher films, the movie was released on April 4th, and has garnered box office earnings of $3 million thus far, meeting its budget of the same amount.
The film from Neon has received a rating of 6/10 on IMDb and 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a 54% on the Tomatometer (reserved for critics) and a 56% on the Popcornmeter (for general audiences). Though fun and campy, the movie is lacking in the slashing department and feels a bit juvenile, relying too heavily on tropes of older slasher films. Most viewers found it a bit underdeveloped and lacking in ambition, yet an entertaining watch that shows promise for future projects from the two young directors.
