protagonist Archives

AppWizard

April 20, 2025

Stop Watching and Start Memeing at ‘A Minecraft Movie’

A Minecraft Movie has been released, blending gaming and cinema, and appeals to both nostalgic fans of the game and new audiences. The film features a classic narrative with a villainous duo, Malgosha and Chungus, and includes humor and clever dialogue. Jennifer Coolidge plays Vice Principal Marlene, while Jack Black and Jason Momoa portray Steve and Garrett, respectively. The film includes comedic scenes, such as a product placement moment with Coolidge's character hitting a villager with her Jeep Cherokee. The audience, including fans and families, reacted positively, and the film is seen as a potential cultural touchstone for Gen Alpha.

AppWizard

April 20, 2025

How ‘A Minecraft Movie’ Won With Memes and Deliberate Stupidity

In its second weekend, "A Minecraft Movie" has surpassed 0 million in global ticket sales, becoming the second-highest-grossing video game film of all time and the top-grossing release of 2025. The film resonates with younger audiences and has created a cultural touchstone for Generations Z and Alpha. The world premiere took place on March 30, 2025, in London, with attendees expressing excitement and engaging in lively behavior during screenings. Minecraft, created in 2009 by Markus Persson, allows players to build and explore in a geometric world. The film, directed by Jared Hess, features Jack Black and Jason Momoa and has sparked discussions about generational differences in public behavior. Theater owners have noted the positive impact of the film on attendance and sales.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

Gloomwood’s research update transforms it from Thief with guns into Dishonored with mutations, letting you inject dissected monster juice into yourself to gain their powers

Players speculate that the protagonist of Gloomwood may be named 'Jekyll' following the recent Research update. This update introduces a new laboratory setting where players can synthesize a cure for a plague and conduct ethically ambiguous research to create serums that allow transformation into monstrous forms. These serums enable players to blend in with hostile creatures for stealth advantages. The update expands gameplay possibilities, moving away from the initial concept of a 'Thief with guns' towards abilities reminiscent of those in Dishonored, though the abilities are one-time-use rather than permanent. The doctor's journal has been enhanced with new artwork, soundscapes, and animations. Players will access the research mechanics upon reaching the game's mirror realm, with future updates expected to roll out in the summer months.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

Minecraft movie is uninspiring

The film "A Minecraft Movie," directed by Jared Hess, features Jack Black as Steve, who embarks on a nostalgic journey after discovering a portal to "the overworld." The plot involves an evil sorceress threatening his new paradise, leading Steve to sever ties with his former life. Alongside an eclectic group of characters, including Jason Momoa and Emma Myers, they navigate the challenges of the overworld. Despite receiving a 46% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6/10 on IMDb, the film has become the highest-grossing movie based on a video game within two weekends of its release and is the most profitable movie of the year so far. The film has sparked cultural phenomena with phrases from the game becoming internet memes.

AppWizard

April 17, 2025

Review: ‘A Minecraft Movie’ is not just for miners

The film "A Minecraft Movie" features a cast including Jack Black as Steve, Jason Momoa as Garrett, and Jennifer Coolidge as Vice Principal Marlene. The plot follows tween Henry and his sister Natalie as they move to Chuglass, Idaho, where they encounter a realtor named Dawn and discover a magical cube that transports them into the Overworld. The film includes iconic creatures from the game, such as Villagers, Creepers, and Zombies, as they seek to recover a lost Orb. The audience, primarily young adults familiar with the game since its debut in 2011, showed enthusiasm during the screening, particularly enjoying the humor and nostalgic references. The film blends original lore with new narrative elements and appeals to both dedicated fans and newcomers, emphasizing creativity and positive themes.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is fun but disappointing

Sean Mandell, a writer for the New York Post, described “A Minecraft Movie” as “Gen Z, Alpha’s ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show.’” The film follows Steve, voiced by Jack Black, who becomes disenchanted with adult life and journeys into the “Overworld,” encountering individuals who rely on creativity and resourcefulness. However, character development is lacking, with characters introducing themselves through exposition and showing no growth. The main child protagonist, Henry, constructs a jetpack at both the beginning and end of the story without real challenges. The film attempts to convey themes of creativity and imagination but falls short, leaning heavily on comedic performances. Despite moments of humor, the film is considered superficial and unlikely to resonate with future audiences. The reviewer rates “A Minecraft Movie” a modest 5/10.

AppWizard

April 12, 2025

‘Minecraft,’ an Auteurist Hit

Ray Mendoza co-wrote and co-directed the film Warfare alongside Alex Garland. The film features intense sound design, including sounds of grenades, IEDs, and overflights, which enhances the viewing experience. There is a discussion about the film's narrative, countering the notion that it serves as pro-war propaganda, and comparing it to other anti-war films like Come and See and Paths of Glory. A Minecraft Movie, directed by Jared Hess, follows a young artist named Henry in the fictional town of Chuglass, Idaho. The film incorporates humor and absurdity, featuring moments like a Minecraft “villager” falling for Jennifer Coolidge and Jason Momoa's character charging a child for mentorship. The film currently holds a 47 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, there is an upcoming episode of Bulwark Goes to Hollywood featuring a discussion with Alissa Wilkinson about her new book on Joan Didion, titled We Tell Ourselves Stories.

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Neverway is a ‘nightmarish life sim RPG’ with hand drawn cuties and horrors from Celeste’s artist

Coldblood Inc. revealed its upcoming horror life simulation game, Neverway, co-founded by pixel artist Pedro Medeiros. The game features a protagonist named Fiona, who is the "immortal herald of a dead god," and includes elements like farming, fishing, crafting, and exploring dungeons. The narrative is described as rich and unsettling, with a focus on darker fantasy themes. Medeiros previously left Extremely Ok Games due to creative challenges. A release date for Neverway has not been announced, but it can be added to wishlists on Steam.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Fury over rape and incest game that tells players to be ‘women’s worst nightmare’, as Tech Secretary slams PC giant

The computer game "No Mercy" features a male protagonist who is encouraged to adopt a predatory mindset, promoting themes of violence and non-consensual acts. The game has received criticism from various figures, including Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, who described it as "deeply worrying" and called for its removal from the gaming platform Steam. Despite its disturbing content, "No Mercy" has received 'very positive' user reviews on Steam. The game includes elements of violence, incest, and blackmail, and features "unavoidable non-consensual sex." Concerns have been raised about the lax age verification process on Steam, which allows children to easily access the game. Child mental health expert Nova Eden noted that many parents mistakenly view Steam as a safe environment. Although LBC reported the game's inappropriate content to Steam, it remains available for purchase. The situation raises questions about Ofcom's ability to moderate online content, as it cannot investigate individual complaints. The Games Rating Authority clarified that while physical games must carry a PEGI age rating, digital games are not subject to the same requirement, leaving gaps in consumer protection.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Horizon Forbidden West gets rare, hefty discount

The price of Horizon Forbidden West has dropped from £49.99 to £25.99 on CD Keys, marking the lowest price observed in some time. The game is set six months after Horizon Zero Dawn and follows the protagonist, Aloy, as she uncovers the origins of a mysterious plague in a post-apocalyptic landscape. The Complete Edition includes additional content such as the Burning Shores story expansion. This offer is available for players in the UK and is expected to sell out quickly.