“A Minecraft Movie” (2025) truly has something for everyone. 

Over my many years as a cinephile, I have rarely come across a piece so cinematically gratifying. The story may seem derivative at first, following a motley crew of misfits as they get sucked into the world of the “Minecraft” video game. For instance, fans of modern spectacle-based filmmaking will love the film for its use of intense action set pieces and masterful James Cameron-esque CGI. 

Furthermore, the combat sequences in “A Minecraft Movie” are highly stylistic, being reminiscent of films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015) and “Oldboy” (2013). 

When it comes to storytelling content, “A Minecraft Movie” is the brainchild of three writers. Some may argue that such a large team could make the film feel disjointed and awkward, and anyone who does argue that would be correct. Speaking of the plot, it stands on the shoulders of previous great works of cinema–it hinges around a plot device called the MacGuffin, which is an object or event that drives the narrative, used most notably in “The Lord of the Rings.” “A Minecraft Movie” manages to feel, somehow, just as long.

Sure, jokes and explosions are the two most important parts of any movie, but it’s hard to argue against the film’s cast and crew being a close third. There are no complaints to be made against director Jared Hess, who has directed projects such as “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nacho Libre,” but I believe Jennifer Coolidge had one of the most underrated and important roles in the production. If her name doesn’t ring a bell, fans of Kino cinema will know her as the woman who says “You look like the Fourth of July” in “Legally Blonde.” In “A Minecraft Movie,” her character becomes enamored with a Nitwit, which is probably a subtle reference to her aforementioned role in “Legally Blonde”. Jason Momoa and Jack Black perform several demanding scenes together, with a level of emotional realism on display rivaled only by “Marriage Story” (which seems impressive, until you remember Jack Black is a member of the legendary rock duo known as “Tenacious D,” who can kind of do anything).

“A Minecraft Movie” is probably one of the worst films you will ever see, but it’s also some of the most fun I’ve ever had in a movie theater. I just hope you get something out of it because I know I didn’t.

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 classic thriller film “Rear Window” is one of my favorite films ever made. It’s a masterclass in utilizing a simplistic narrative idea with an equally simple set design to create one of the most tense films I’ve ever seen.

The last time I saw the movie was at AMC Rosedale for its 70th anniversary re-release. I went with my Mom. My mom’s love of cinema has one hundred percent been the cause of my love of cinema. Her favorite director is Alfred Hitchcock. I remember being a kid and being forced to watch his 1963 movie “The Birds” with my family and being absolutely horrified. I thought going into Rear Window I wouldn’t feel the same fear I did when I was a lot younger. But I was wrong. Hitchcock’s carefully crafted tense atmosphere worked really well on me, for many reasons. The biggest reason is the claustrophobic nature of the film. The entire movie takes place in the apartment of an injured photographer named Jeff. During an intense heat wave, Jeff uses his camera equipment to look through the open windows of his neighbors’ apartments, where he starts to believe that one of his neighbors murdered their wife.

The set of the movie looks simple, but in reality, it is an extremely complex set. It’s entirely indoors and replicates a city block. The greatest part of the set, in my opinion, is the use of the open windows. The framing of the open windows always shows you the bare minimum of what you need to see. Especially for the presumed murderer. You spend the entire movie just like the protagonist, Jeff, having to constantly analyze every tiny thing you see, and always second-guessing yourself. on what you see.

Anything suspicious you see could always just be something normal. It creates this tense atmosphere I’ve been mentioning, and it really hooks you into the movie. It’s why I love it so much. Hitchcock is called the “Master of Suspense” for a reason, and “Rear Window” is the greatest example of why. The movie keeps you engaged with the hair on the back of your neck standing on edge from start to finish.