We happen to know that there was dancing in the street in San Antonio, Texas, when A Minecraft Movie was released to cineplexes across America on April 4. This writerās two adolescent grandchildren are adept and expert master Minecraft builders and have entertained our rural Custer County household countless evenings during their biannual visits to the ranch. They have even replicated our ranch buildings, inside and out, and much of downtown Westcliffe on their sites, where they visit us in in their imaginative ventures when not with us. Because of school and sports schedules they have not been able to see the film yet, so we canāt quote their reviews, just their enthusiasm.
Whether that enthusiasm has spread to the Valley will be demonstrated by attendance at the historic Jones Theater during A Minecraft Movie showings this weekend. Once again, Main Street, Westcliffe is right in stride with American film and fandom, thanks to the planning of the good folks there booking first-run popular movies for our viewing pleasure ASAP.
Despite what some cranky, picky-picky film critics and film historians have moaned and groaned about in their very precious writing, audiences have quickly brought A Minecraft Movie to top box office status. It is no longer, as one critic wrote upon its release, āa wannabe blockbuster.ā It IS a blockbuster! This mega-hit has garnered $300M and counting, with Valley viewers yet to pitch in.
Viewer excitement may be motivated by old gamers and new gamers engagement with Minecraft itself. One reviewer wondered out loud if thereās anybody left who hasnāt played away hours on the fantasy site. That is hyperbole, of course, but A Minecraft Movie clearly is brand- and experience-oriented. At the same time the production takes on character development of the four gamers trapped within a pretty dark world, as well as attempting to run a coherent storyline narrative at the mercy of chaotic, goofy, adaptive creative imagination.
Writing online at rogerebert.com, Brian Tellerico takes the high road of mass and popular cultural commentary to claim, āā¦[A] likeable venture, a movie that pushes through its cravenly reason for existence, flavoring its ācontentā with enough personality to keep [viewers] engagedā¦A video game movie that encourages creation instead of just uplifting capitalism? Thatās a small victory in 2025.ā
But we are more drawn to what Kyle Smith had to say in the Wall Street Journal: ā[A Minecraft Movie is] as cheerfully mad as a little kidās birthday party. We could use more of that.ā Count me inā¦
The 101-minute PG film shows tomorrow and Saturday at 7 p.m., and on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Gather up the kiddos whether you or they are gamers or not, and dance on down Main Street to the Jones for this quirky escape adventure. And adults who have Minecrafted or not, join in too. Itās not a distraction; itās just plain wild, wacky fun.
The Jones doors open 30 minutes before showtimes, when you can purchase your tickets at such modest prices youāll think you are also in an imaginary game world.
Enjoy!
ā W.A. Ewing