Thread by @___frye

thinking about the minecraft movie trailer, and why it feels wrong

i think the issue isn’t just that it’s cringe

it’s that it’s taking something genuine and earnest, and making it self-referential and incredulous about itself

minecraft is a quiet, earnest game

you drop into an empty world, cut down trees, build a house. the house is lopsided and a little funny looking, but you made it, and so it matters

the game doesn’t point and snicker behind your back, “hey, get a load of this”

sheep in minecraft aren’t meant to look weird. that’s just what they look like

your name is Steve and you run around exploring a vast world and somehow it makes total sense that your name would be Steve

it’s not some joke, there is no punchline

the minecraft movie looks like someone heard of minecraft, heard that kids like it, and assumed it was like fortnite

that’s not it

kids like minecraft because it’s a game that takes you seriously

you can be an architect or an explorer or dig a giant hole or build a contraption or whatever you want

the world has depth, literally and figuratively. that’s what makes it compelling

it’s comfortable with mystery too. not everything is explained

when i think about minecraft, i think of being deep underground, exploring a vast cave network, alone. then hearing the first soft notes of a familiar piano tune

i don’t think the movie will be like this

minecraft the game ends with an 8 minute scrolling poem before the credits roll

it’s a little reddit, a little 2011. but it’s sincere

i can’t imagine something like this in a modern hollywood project

in conclusion,

https://x.com/___frye/status/1832109410132619606