CGI Archives

AppWizard

April 5, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ Review: It’s better than you’d think

Jared Hess is directing A Minecraft Movie, which reflects the game's cultural resonance described as "cringe," appealing to both adults and disenchanted teens. Despite competition from Roblox and Fortnite, Minecraft retains its allure through timeless gameplay that encourages exploration and creativity. The film adaptation has received mixed reactions, with concerns about the necessity of such a project and the history of video game adaptations being fraught with uncertainty. Hess's unique style, characterized by absurdity, invites varied responses from fans and cinephiles. Much of the film takes place in the "overworld," utilizing practical effects and real sets instead of CGI, which adds a tactile quality. The film features crisp action sequences and physical comedy, embracing an adolescent spirit rather than a moralistic narrative. Hess prioritizes the imaginative desires of children over adult expectations, maintaining the film's aesthetic integrity amidst studio pressures.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

Buried By Critics: Minecraft Rotten Tomatoes Score Is In

Warner Bros.' A Minecraft Movie has received a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on the first 45 reviews. The film stars Jack Black as Steve, alongside Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge. Critics praised the chemistry between Jack Black and Jason Momoa, the film's faithfulness to Minecraft's spirit, its appeal to kids and families, and director Jared Hess' unique style. However, many reviews criticized the film for its lack of depth and coherence, poor humor and CGI, a corporate feel, and failure to engage older fans. An extended preview of James Gunn’s upcoming Superman film will be shown with screenings of A Minecraft Movie.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

New Minecraft Movie Clip Focuses On A Date Night For Unlikely Couple

Warner Bros. has released a new clip for A Minecraft Movie, focusing on a romantic encounter between Jennifer Coolidge's character and a CGI Villager, rather than traditional building elements. The trailer, titled Be Mine, features a humorous dinner scene where Coolidge's character reflects on her divorce and interacts with the Villager. The film's antagonist is a Piglin named Malgosha, and the cast includes Jason Momoa, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen, and Jack Black, who was not originally set to voice Steve. A Minecraft Movie is scheduled to be released in theaters on April 4.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Minecraft Movie Starring Jack Black and Jason Momoa Is Out Next Week

“A Minecraft Movie” is set to be released on April 4, 2025, as the first live-action adaptation of the popular video game. The film is directed by Jared Hess and features Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, Jack Black as Steve, Emma Myers as Natalie, Danielle Brooks as Dawn, and Jennifer Coolidge in a mysterious role. Production wrapped in April 2024, and the film will be available in standard theaters and IMAX. The storyline follows four misfits who are transported into the Overworld of Minecraft, where they must learn to build, craft, and survive with the help of Steve. The film aims to recreate Minecraft’s aesthetics using CGI and will include familiar gameplay mechanics and beloved creatures from the game. Promotional events include McDonald’s themed Happy Meals launching on April 1, 2025, featuring collectible toys and a new sauce. An in-game event titled “A Minecraft Movie” will run from March 25 to April 7, 2025, offering quests and rewards in Minecraft. The film is expected to receive a PG rating and has a rumored runtime of approximately 108 minutes. The marketing campaign targets both fans and new audiences through digital promotions and merchandise. The film's visual effects team aims to blend practical and digital effects to authentically represent Minecraft's mechanics. The score is composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, and the cinematography is handled by Enrique Chediak. Mojang Studios is involved in the production to ensure the film aligns with the game's spirit. The film's themes include adventure, community, and creativity, reflecting the core elements of Minecraft. Initial fan reactions to the trailer have been mixed, but anticipation remains high.

AppWizard

March 12, 2025

The New Minecraft Movie Is Coming Soon – Watch The Final Trailer To Get Set

A Minecraft Movie is set to premiere in theaters on April 4, 2025, in the United States, with international audiences getting an earlier look on April 2, 2025. The film is directed by Jared Hess and produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, featuring a cast that includes Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen. The narrative follows four unlikely heroes who are transported into the Minecraft universe, where they must navigate challenges and learn to craft their own destiny. The film will blend live-action and CGI, aiming to capture the essence of the game. IMAX screenings will be available across North America. Pre-sales for tickets have begun.

Winsage

March 10, 2025

Threat Actors Exploited PHP-CGI RCE Vulnerability To Attack Windows Machines

Cisco Talos has reported a series of cyberattacks exploiting a critical vulnerability in PHP (CVE-2024-4577) to target Windows systems, primarily affecting organizations in Japan since January 2025. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code on servers running Apache with PHP-CGI. They use a Python script, “PHP-CGICVE-2024-4577RCE.py,” to send crafted POST requests and confirm exploitation through a specific MD5 hash. After gaining access, attackers deploy a PowerShell injector script to establish a connection with their command and control (C2) server and utilize Cobalt Strike plugins for post-exploitation activities, including modifying registry keys for persistence and clearing event logs to evade detection. They conduct lateral movement using reconnaissance tools and exploit Group Policy Objects to execute malicious scripts, ultimately extracting credentials with Mimikatz. The attackers have access to a pre-configured installer script on their C2 server, suggesting potential for future attacks.

AppWizard

March 9, 2025

From Minecraft to Superman and 28 Years Later: 20 movies we can’t wait to see

- Disney's live-action musical fantasy "Snow White," featuring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot, is set to release on March 20. - The Latvian animated film "Flow," which won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, will also be released on March 20. - A CGI-heavy "Minecraft Movie," featuring Jack Black and Jason Momoa, is scheduled for April 3. - "Death of a Unicorn," a black comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, will be released on April 10. - "The Correspondent," based on the true story of journalist Peter Greste, will premiere on April 17. - Ryan Coogler's horror film "Sinners," set in the 1930s segregated South, will also be released on April 17. - Marvel's "Thunderbolts," the 36th installment in the franchise, is set for May 1. - The musical biopic "Monsieur Aznavour," featuring Tahar Rahim, will be released on May 8. - "Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning," rumored to be one of the most expensive films ever made, will premiere on May 22. - Wes Anderson's "The Phoenician Scheme," featuring a star-studded cast, is set for June 5. - The live-action adaptation of "How To Train Your Dragon" will be released on June 12. - "28 Years Later," a sequel to "28 Days Later," will premiere on June 19. - Pixar's "Elio," about an 11-year-old boy mistaken for Earth's leader, is set for June 19. - "Jurassic World Rebirth," starring Scarlett Johansson, will be released on July 3. - James Gunn's new Superman film, featuring David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, is set for July 10. - "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," a retro-futuristic origin story, will premiere on July 24. - Paul Thomas Anderson's untitled project, rumored to be based on a Thomas Pynchon novel, is set for August 7. - "The Bride!" directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, featuring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, will be released on September 25. - Edgar Wright's remake of "The Running Man" is scheduled for November 6. - The conclusion of "Wicked," titled "Wicked: For Good," featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, will premiere on November 20.

AppWizard

February 21, 2025

‘A massive, massive moment of wow.’ Microsoft CEO predicts AI-generated games are a ‘CGI moment’ for the industry

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed the company's plans for artificial intelligence and quantum computing, particularly focusing on their AI-powered game generation platform, Muse. He compared Muse's potential impact on gaming to the influence of CGI in the film industry, despite its current limitations of generating games at a resolution of 300 by 180 pixels. Nadella envisions a future where users can request unique gaming experiences, indicating that the integration of AI into gaming is imminent. He also highlighted the broader implications of AI on economic growth, cautioning against the hype surrounding artificial general intelligence (AGI) and emphasizing the importance of AI's impact on GDP growth. Nadella believes in a collaborative future for AI development, suggesting that the market can support multiple successful players. The timeline for when gamers can fully engage with Muse remains uncertain, with some experts cautioning that its capabilities may be overstated.

AppWizard

February 5, 2025

A lavish immersive Minecraft experience is coming to London

A Minecraft Movie is set to release, featuring a blend of live-action and CGI, with an initial trailer described as 'divisive.' In conjunction with the film, an immersive experience titled Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will debut in London on April 4. This interactive show involves navigating seven biome-themed rooms to rescue a village from zombies, designed by Supply + Demand. The experience has already been successful in Dallas, utilizing augmented reality through a device called the Orb of Interaction. It lasts approximately 45 minutes and is suitable for younger audiences. Ticket prices start at £20 for children and £26 for adults, with sales beginning on February 14 at 10 am.

Winsage

December 27, 2024

I’m still reeling from the knowledge that the Windows 10 desktop background is a real photo and not CGI

The iconic Windows 10 desktop background, featuring a blue light from a suspended Windows logo, was created through a collaboration between Microsoft and artist GMUNK. The design process involved using colored lasers and various light sources directed through a glass Windows logo suspended by wires, with billowing volumetric smoke to enhance the visual effect. This was captured using a high-speed camera, resulting in the final image. GMUNK has documented the project on his website, and a YouTube video showcasing the motion of the piece has been available for nearly a decade.