1 post tagged “max payne”
Max Payne came out on DVD Tuesday, January 20th 2009 and was released in theaters October 17th 2008. Its directed by John Moore and stars Mark Walhberg, the beautiful Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) Beau Bridges, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, Chris O'Donnell, and the smoking hot Olga Kurylenko, yes she was the Bond girl in Quantum of Solace.
As with any movie where Mark Walhberg is the star, you have to take it as it is and not expect much. Even more so with a movie based off a video game. Max Payne scored a whopping 18% on Rotten Tomatoes from the T-Meter Critics and a 47% from the RT Community. Which goes to say, it doesn't have a whole lot going for it. But, you're reading this not because you care so much about the opinions of others, but mine. Because I'm awesome. Now, lets continue.
First lets get one thing straight. It is not possible for Hollywood to create a film based off a video game and keep the integrity of the story. It's just inconceivable for them. Doesn't matter who writes it, who directs it and who stars in it. It will suck. There is no such thing as a good movie based off a video game.
Now that thats out of the way, the movie. The story follows a detective, Max Payne, who's wife and infant are murdered years prior by tweaked out drug addicts. Max slips into emo-Walhberg mode and hunts for his dead family's last remaining culprit. He also dawns a sick leather jacket. The story progresses on from there thrusting Max into a dilemma much larger than a missing tweaker.
The story has about as many plot holes as Max's victims have bullet holes, which means there's a crap-ton. The story is actually somewhat intriguing, if you tell yourself its going to suck. (Start at zero and it can only go up from there, unless its spoof movie.) The acting is fairly sub-par, but then again, look at the cast. No one is believable. If the movie actually followed the plot of the original game, it would be brilliant, crappy acting aside even. But like I said, it doesn't. It does however, keep some of the dark atmosphere of the
game with shadowy streets, unpleasant weather and grungy buildings.
Now, on to the part that I like. Scratch that. Loved. Yes, loved. The cinematography and special effects are absolutely brilliant. It is honestly one of the most graphically beautiful movies I've ever seen. That's saying a lot. But in all honestly, shot for shot its freaking awesome. If Mark Walhberg could make a convincing enough mean-face, it would be the cherry on top of the cinematography cake. Every frame is set perfect, the slow motion shots (as ridiculous as they may be) are perfect, the colors are perfect, the lighting is perfect. Everything looks great. The soundtrack, composed by Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, fits the movie's gritty atmosphere just right.
I am by no means saying this is a great movie, let alone a good movie, but it was certainly better than I expected. I will certainly watch this agian just for the visuals. Maybe I'll mute it and just loop the soundtrack.
I'd do a quick recap, but Its too ridiculous. Here's the trailer instead:
As with any movie where Mark Walhberg is the star, you have to take it as it is and not expect much. Even more so with a movie based off a video game. Max Payne scored a whopping 18% on Rotten Tomatoes from the T-Meter Critics and a 47% from the RT Community. Which goes to say, it doesn't have a whole lot going for it. But, you're reading this not because you care so much about the opinions of others, but mine. Because I'm awesome. Now, lets continue.
First lets get one thing straight. It is not possible for Hollywood to create a film based off a video game and keep the integrity of the story. It's just inconceivable for them. Doesn't matter who writes it, who directs it and who stars in it. It will suck. There is no such thing as a good movie based off a video game.
Now that thats out of the way, the movie. The story follows a detective, Max Payne, who's wife and infant are murdered years prior by tweaked out drug addicts. Max slips into emo-Walhberg mode and hunts for his dead family's last remaining culprit. He also dawns a sick leather jacket. The story progresses on from there thrusting Max into a dilemma much larger than a missing tweaker.
The story has about as many plot holes as Max's victims have bullet holes, which means there's a crap-ton. The story is actually somewhat intriguing, if you tell yourself its going to suck. (Start at zero and it can only go up from there, unless its spoof movie.) The acting is fairly sub-par, but then again, look at the cast. No one is believable. If the movie actually followed the plot of the original game, it would be brilliant, crappy acting aside even. But like I said, it doesn't. It does however, keep some of the dark atmosphere of the
Now, on to the part that I like. Scratch that. Loved. Yes, loved. The cinematography and special effects are absolutely brilliant. It is honestly one of the most graphically beautiful movies I've ever seen. That's saying a lot. But in all honestly, shot for shot its freaking awesome. If Mark Walhberg could make a convincing enough mean-face, it would be the cherry on top of the cinematography cake. Every frame is set perfect, the slow motion shots (as ridiculous as they may be) are perfect, the colors are perfect, the lighting is perfect. Everything looks great. The soundtrack, composed by Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders, fits the movie's gritty atmosphere just right.
I am by no means saying this is a great movie, let alone a good movie, but it was certainly better than I expected. I will certainly watch this agian just for the visuals. Maybe I'll mute it and just loop the soundtrack.
I'd do a quick recap, but Its too ridiculous. Here's the trailer instead:
