Max Payne

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Anyone seen it yet? It got bad reviews, but I'm going to see it tomorrow anyway.

If anyone's seen it, how's the score - any similarity to the game?

[MacLeod]

I havent seen it yet but I definitely am planning on it. I love the video games and hope this movie sticks closely to the game but Im not holding my breath. I know how directors just love to take games then make a movie that has virtually NOTHING to do with the game (ala Doom!).

[fatchowmein]

It's close to the game which means, like the game, it was one part interesting and one part boring. Predictable but that's because I own and played the game. Also, Wahlberg spends too much time commuting. Definitely a rental and much better than The Happening. Still, it wasn't a thrill ride yet I did enjoy it. Not so sure the average Joe would feel the same.

I barely made it on time, missing half the previews, and there were plenty of seats (got my favorite center spot). The theatre was not crowded and this was at one of the more popular venues in DFW. Lack of interest? Economy? Kinda scary for a 7PM showing on a Friday night. The movie theatre was slow.

************ STAY AFTER THE CREDITS ****************
There's a final clip after the credits. Basically, a teaser for part 2.

[Ron-P]

I'll wait for the rental.

[mantis]

The Previews look great. I loved the games. I may wait for the Rental as well.

[kuntasensei]

I was hyped to see this until I read Destructoid's review of it, where they said there are only two gunfights in the movie. How can you only have two gunfights in a movie of a game that was like 95% gunfights? And 85 minute runtime? Seriously?

Waiting for video. Besides, there's no way I could've taken the movie seriously after seeing this (http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/mark-wahlberg-talks-to-animals/727504/).

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

No music from the game, bummer. I did not know to stay after the credits, also bummer.

[MacLeod]

85 minutes and no music from the game? Hmmm - I may go see Quarantine and leave this one for rental as well.

[Jstas]

I was not impressed.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

I'll admit up front that I was a big fan of the game and really wanted to like this movie going in, so that likely clouded my judgment a little. Having said that...

They deviated from the story in the game a little, leaving out or changing what I considered to be important parts of the game. However overall I felt they captured the basic story well and conveyed most of the emotion behind the game, but if you're looking for an exact screenplay adaptation of the game this wasn't it. I'll stop there short of any spoilers.

Leaving out the great music from the game to me is inexcusable. I don't care what the obstacles are in getting the rights to the music or whatever, if you're going to make this movie you damn sure better make sure you work out something to be able to include at least the main theme from the game. There were times at both the beginning and end where they could have worked in the main theme. The music in the movie really wasn't all that bad, I was just looking for the theme music from the game.

Overall it was a good movie - not as good as I'd hoped but still better than something like Hitman that came out a while back.

If you're not a fan of the games or don't know them, then this is just another movie - there's nothing particularly spectacular about it as it stands on it's own. It's got an interesting story, but nothing that's extremely creative or original - I'd give it a C+, basically an average movie. Taken in context with having played the game, I'd give it a B or B+.

I certainly don't think it's as bad as the critics say it is, but then again I don't agree with the critics on much anyway, and the chances that any of them have fully played the game and had that background coming in are pretty slim.

Marky Mark's a cool guy and all, and I like most of the stuff he's in, but I'm starting to see where the 'one dimensional actor' comments I keep hearing are coming from.

[edossin4]

There has never been a film based on a video game that was worth watching.

[wingnut4772]

Say hello to your mother for me.

[cnjvh]

Saw it last night. didn't know it was from a video game, never even heard of the game (not a gamer).

Really enjoyed the movie. The use of slow motion was different somehow from normal slow motion shots and was excellent IMO.

[Jstas]

There has never been a film based on a video game that was worth watching.

I have to disagree.

The Director's Cut of Doom was actually a good deal better than the theatrical version.

Also, the live action Street Fighter movie was sucktastic in every respect but there was an anime version that ended up being quite good.

The first Resident Evil was pretty entertaining and so was the original Tomb Raider movie.

The movie Wing Commander bombed at the box office but cleaned up in Video/DVD sales. It got mixed critical reviews only because most critics were unsure if it was a kids film or an adult film. Either way, it was a fun movie.

Also, Final Fantasy got both rave and reviled critical reviews and it was definitely a game changer in the movie industry with it being the first time anyone attempted photo-realistic 3D rendering for a feature film. The plot was weak but well executed by the actors involved.

Yeah, they were all hokey in some respect and a bit far fetched but no more than a Marvel Comics movie. I think Max Payne is worth watching because it wasn't slow at any point and it moved along well. I just thought that there were way too many plot holes and important story parts that were left on the cutting room floor. If they make a director's cut, I would be interested in seeing how that turns out. I think it might do it some good. Otherwise, I found the plot pedestrian and predictable. It didn't stand out and too many literary devices were blatant. I had the ending figured out about half way through the movie.

The sound effects were pretty good though! The shootout in the office building blew a speaker in the theater!

[concealer404]

Call me stupid, but i liked Hitman....

[edossin4]

I'll give you Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within. That was a pretty good flick. If you liked Hitman....... you're stupid.:D

Just kidding.

[Ron-P]

I'm with stupid.

[Jstas]

I did not see Hitman so I can't comment.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

Hitman was an ok movie, but had very little in common with the game. Max Payne was much more true to the game than Hitman was - not saying that makes it better, just more true to the source.

[croutons]

Mark Wahlberg!!!!!!!!!

[PolkThug]

It wasn't bad. They changed the story, Lupino is completely different from the game.

[Rivrrat]

I just saw this on dvd. The movie wasn't bad, but there were some scenes that definitely woke up the sub. It was one of the more heavy LFE movies I've seen.

[Early B.]

Watched it last night. It was marginally viewable. Loads of bass, though.

[AsSiMiLaTeD]

What, Early B found a movie he doesn't like...no way :)

[ND13]

6.5/10

[danz1906]

Great Sound and a good loooking picture:cool:

[MacLeod]

Just got thru watching this one and as a die hard Max Payne fanatic, I will give my ok on this one.

The good - Mark Wahlberg did a great job with the character. A little different the the one in the video game but not off the ideal. They stayed very close to the video game script with not nearly as many variations as some other movies had taken. They did enough to keep it fresh but it still was Max Payne. Plenty of cool action scenes and special FX.

The bad - The story was a little "huh?" in a lot of places. Nothing really made sense on how it was supposed to have lined up. The stupid valkyries flying around got a little hokie and they couldve done without them. The ending was kinda anti-climatic. A couple other things that would be spoilers.

All in all, if youre a fan of the game, youll probably dig this. If not you will still probably dig it. It aint great but its pretty good and worthy of a "video night" in your house.

6.5 out of 10.

[Dune]

I watched this on blue-ray the other night and thought the sound track was awesome. Probably one of the best I've heard yet. I've never played the game but thought the movie was pretty decent.

[ND13]

Re-watched it tonight on Blu. I'll raise it to 7/10. Better the second time around, especially not being at all familiar with the game.

[mantis]

it was ok at best , "SHE" got killed to early in the movie, wish "SHE" could have stuck around alittle bit more. O well. I enjoyed it.

Dan

[ND13]

Olga? Wasn't "SHE" in Hitman?

[manman]

I haven't seen max payne yet, but as for hitman, I have to say I couldnt' stand that movie...everything made me laugh, and I don't think it was meant to. I felt like a lot of parts of it were like if bourne identity had been handled poorly in every aspect (acting, directing, script...) Maybe if I liked the game I would have been more Into it... lord knows I've liked some laughable movies based on video games. I liked the first mortal kombat movie, but I was really into that game...and 15 at the time, haha. Even though it was corny, I remember it being considered one of the movies most true to the game at the time.

[Ron Temple]

Watched Max Payne in BD last night. I've got to say they captured much of the feel with excellent cinematography and the look of the snow fall/lighting and seedy interior shots. Even some of the action resembled gameplay elements. The sound was very good. Had my cats jumping during some of the hallucinagenic LFE moments after Max took the blue pill (vials). Made the walls groan. That said, the script was subpar, the acting from some characters (that 70s show chick) barely passable, from others fairly decent. There were some very weak passages in trying to keep the story together. All in all, I tilted more toward enjoying it than not, but it was close.

Hitman, on the other hand was a blast. Pure popcorn with lots of butter. Never played the game, unlike MP, but I enjoyed the movie without knowing the game backstory.

[obieone]

I watched this Sat. night, and I gave them 40 min.'s to 'get' me, and they failed.
I never played the game, so maybe that makes the difference?
Although...... I never played 'Hitman', and I loved it.

[Sherardp]

Very good movie, "She" did get killed to early in the movie, very cute chick by the way. Overall BD had great SQ/PQ, would watch it again. Good movie.

[metal83]

I enjoyed the movie quite a bit, but i also loved the games if that makes any difference.
I'm not a highly critical movie watcher though, i like to get sucked into the movies i watch and i'll usually give it my full attention, unless of course it's just utterly horrible.

this movie did have some great audio and video quality on blu-ray.

[Ron-P]

I bought it, and watched it, and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to a second viewing.

[wingnut4772]

I just saw this last night on Blu Rqy and it was pretty bad but it looked and sounded great.