Max Payne

[deathshead2]

So far every review I've read starts with I've never played the game before. Geez has any reviewer played the game?

 

[Episode29]

So far every review I've read starts with I've never played the game before. Geez has any reviewer played the game?

I played the game!

 

[deathshead2]

I played the game!

So have I, but neither of us are big time movie stie reviewer people. Looks like only the common folk have played this game.

 

[Episode29]

So have I, but neither of us are big time movie stie reviewer people. Looks like only the common folk have played this game.

Probably true. I'm not big time in any way, shape or form... But at least my review will be informed by first-hand knowledge of the game.

Though to be honest, despite having passed the first game, this movie made very little sense to me.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

walhberg is fine in his niche roles. His range is quite limited though.

 

[Legion]

I only played the first Max Payne game. Can someone explain to me what these angel/demon things are in the trailer?

 

[louiebling$]

I only played the first Max Payne game. Can someone explain to me what these angel/demon things are in the trailer?

Hallucinations

 

[Episode29]

My review: (Light spoilers for anyone unfamiliar with the game. Nothing major though.

It must be said that video games fell well off my radar shortly after the inglorious final death rattle of the Nintendo 64. Sure, I’ve had controllers thrust into my hands since, and half-heartedly bumbled my way through the odd round of Grand Theft Auto or HALO, but it’s safe to say that the passion pretty much expired following my active retirement from all things GoldenEye and Perfect Dark. Although for some reason I did manage to play my way through a gritty little slice of hyper-noir called Max Payne, which, interestingly enough, proved absolutely useless in attempting to assess, or even understand, the latest video-game-to-film adaptation, titled (duh!) Max Payne.

Set in an atmospheric New York City, where snowflakes always hang artily in the air, Max Payne weaves the tragic tale of Maxwell Norbert Payne (I made up the middle part), played by Mark Wahlberg, a once-great DEA agent now glumly toiling away in a dead end filing job. Why, you ask? Well, because some time back his wife and baby daughter, who apparently existed in a world of soft focus and delicate slow-motion, were killed by drugged-up madmen in a horrific home-invasion. Despite two of the intruders being handily dealt with on the spot, the identity of the escaped third wrongdoer remains a mystery, though I bet most audience members will solve this brain-teaser well before the improbably dense Monsieur Payne does.

Whilst following leads to crack this tragic quandary, Payne becomes a prime suspect in the murder of a trashy party-girl (Olga Kurylenko, who gets to engage in a seduction scene even more awkward than her one in Hitman). This misfortune brings him into contact with the girl’s sister, named Mona Sax (Mila Kunis), who, according to Wikipedia, is an assassin (but one of the film’s many poorly explained details). After an initial dust-up, the two join forces to investigate the cause of their loved ones’ one-way trip into the land of the living challenged, as well as seek to uncover the mysteries behind those shadowy winged creatures that hover like spectres of death in the night sky.

Now, that is about as much detail as I feel capable of giving you, as Max Payne almost redefines the term “Incomprehensible Action Extravaganza”. I’m not sure whether to blame untested screenwriter Beau Thorne or 20th Century Fox, whose tradition of butchering the life out of their genre-based properties is infamous throughout the entertainment world, for why so little of this film makes sense. The middle section in particular got so ridiculously hazy that I began to doubt my own mental faculties.

Typing this review now, I still have no idea how Payne is able to trace those two brutal murders all the way to the ominous Aesir Pharmaceutical corporation. It’s as if director John Moore and his editors removed all the connective tissue of their plot and only left in the pay-off moments. He’s also merciless with his actors (especially Ludacris and Beau Bridges), who typically show up at random, in disconnected scenes, and then disappear without mention. Kunis’ arbitrary reappearance during the climactic shoot-out is especially perplexing. How did she know where to go?

Also, what in the name of Sam Hill is up with those winged creatures? According to one character they’re called valkyries, famed from Norse mythology as being guardians of warriors. But for the life of me, I have no real idea what their purpose in the film is. Utter curiosity over this point even led me to Internet Movie Database, where a helpful fan named Yasifummah had posted a two-page explanation on their function in the video-game series. To be honest, after two mind-warping paragraphs I had to stop reading for fear of a brain aneurism. If anyone can logically explain their function in this film, you are a smarter individual than I.

Engulfed in the elaborately stylized atmosphere, and hung out to dry by a pathetic script, the actors are all uniformly awful. Wahlberg has two modes of expression: scowling and looking depressed, while Kunis comes close to blowing all the goodwill that Forgetting Sarah Marshall earned her. I was at least amused by Amaury Nolasco, as the evil Lupino, whose entire character seems to be based on staring menacingly down from rooftops (four separate times by my count).

Max Payne isn’t simply a bad movie; it’s an aggressively unpleasant one, battering the audience with fractured, ugly images, concussive sound effects and unspeakable dialogue for 100 minutes, without ever having the courtesy to try to tell a story or entertain anyone. In the film’s dramatic opening Wahlberg tells us in voice-over: “I believe in pain”. Well, count me a convert Mr. Wahlberg, because Max Payne made me believe in pain too.

* / *****

 

[Dark Victory]

Well, I've only had faith in this movie because of the games, but with recent reviews it looks like we've got a new Disaster Movie. Oh well, I'll still see it opening night.

 

[Joker]

Here's my question. As far as I'm concerned, the only important part of the game was the ridiculously hard-boiled dialouge. Is that in the movie? Does he make every step he takes seem like the most dramatic, dark, noir-y thing you could possibly do with the narration? Cause that's all I really care about.

 

[Spider-X]

My review: (Light spoilers for anyone unfamiliar with the game. Nothing major though.

It must be said that video games fell well off my radar shortly after the inglorious final death rattle of the Nintendo 64. Sure, I’ve had controllers thrust into my hands since, and half-heartedly bumbled my way through the odd round of Grand Theft Auto or HALO, but it’s safe to say that the passion pretty much expired following my active retirement from all things GoldenEye and Perfect Dark. Although for some reason I did manage to play my way through a gritty little slice of hyper-noir called Max Payne, which, interestingly enough, proved absolutely useless in attempting to assess, or even understand, the latest video-game-to-film adaptation, titled (duh!) Max Payne.

Set in an atmospheric New York City, where snowflakes always hang artily in the air, Max Payne weaves the tragic tale of Maxwell Norbert Payne (I made up the middle part), played by Mark Wahlberg, a once-great DEA agent now glumly toiling away in a dead end filing job. Why, you ask? Well, because some time back his wife and baby daughter, who apparently existed in a world of soft focus and delicate slow-motion, were killed by drugged-up madmen in a horrific home-invasion. Despite two of the intruders being handily dealt with on the spot, the identity of the escaped third wrongdoer remains a mystery, though I bet most audience members will solve this brain-teaser well before the improbably dense Monsieur Payne does.

Whilst following leads to crack this tragic quandary, Payne becomes a prime suspect in the murder of a trashy party-girl (Olga Kurylenko, who gets to engage in a seduction scene even more awkward than her one in Hitman). This misfortune brings him into contact with the girl’s sister, named Mona Sax (Mila Kunis), who, according to Wikipedia, is an assassin (but one of the film’s many poorly explained details). After an initial dust-up, the two join forces to investigate the cause of their loved ones’ one-way trip into the land of the living challenged, as well as seek to uncover the mysteries behind those shadowy winged creatures that hover like spectres of death in the night sky.

Now, that is about as much detail as I feel capable of giving you, as Max Payne almost redefines the term “Incomprehensible Action Extravaganza”. I’m not sure whether to blame untested screenwriter Beau Thorne or 20th Century Fox, whose tradition of butchering the life out of their genre-based properties is infamous throughout the entertainment world, for why so little of this film makes sense. The middle section in particular got so ridiculously hazy that I began to doubt my own mental faculties.

Typing this review now, I still have no idea how Payne is able to trace those two brutal murders all the way to the ominous Aesir Pharmaceutical corporation. It’s as if director John Moore and his editors removed all the connective tissue of their plot and only left in the pay-off moments. He’s also merciless with his actors (especially Ludacris and Beau Bridges), who typically show up at random, in disconnected scenes, and then disappear without mention. Kunis’ arbitrary reappearance during the climactic shoot-out is especially perplexing. How did she know where to go?

Also, what in the name of Sam Hill is up with those winged creatures? According to one character they’re called valkyries, famed from Norse mythology as being guardians of warriors. But for the life of me, I have no real idea what their purpose in the film is. Utter curiosity over this point even led me to Internet Movie Database, where a helpful fan named Yasifummah had posted a two-page explanation on their function in the video-game series. To be honest, after two mind-warping paragraphs I had to stop reading for fear of a brain aneurism. If anyone can logically explain their function in this film, you are a smart individual than I.

Engulfed in the elaborately stylized atmosphere, and hung out to dry by a pathetic script, the actors are all uniformly awful. Wahlberg has two modes of expression: scowling and looking depressed, while Kunis comes close to blowing all the goodwill that Forgetting Sarah Marshall earned her. I was at least amused by Amaury Nolasco, as the evil Lupino, whose entire character seems to be based on staring menacingly down from rooftops (four separate times by my count).

Max Payne isn’t simply a bad movie; it’s an aggressively unpleasant one, battering the audience with fractured, ugly images, concussive sound effects and unspeakable dialogue for 100 minutes, without ever having the courtesy to try to tell a story or entertain anyone. In the film’s dramatic opening Wahlberg tells us in voice-over: “I believe in pain”. Well, count me a convert Mr. Wahlberg, because Max Payne made me believe in pain too.

* / *****

You lost me with your first paragraph...you are waaaaaay off about the video game industry. Not to mention your hyperbole narrative...

 

[Bobber]

As I said before, I have low expecations for Max Payne anyways. It looks decent, but it doesn't look great. I hate Fox so I knew this was going to be watered down to begin with.

As for Mark Wahlberg being overrated? Hardly. He started his career off as a successful hip-hop artist and then became a serious actor. He didn't start off in big movies like most musicians tend to do. He gradually worked his way to becoming a serious actor who gives pretty damn good performances.

My favorite Wahlberg movies are The Perfect Storm, Rock Star(Mainly for the music in general. Wahlberg was the only good part of the film in terms of performances.), I Heart Huckabees, The Departed, Boogie Nights, and We Own The Night.

I agree that he was good in Boogie Nights, but all he did in The Departed was yell and swear and look tough. Great acting!!!

 

[WeaponXProject]

I take it you've never seen The Perfect Storm or I Heart Huckabee's? Mark has done pretty good for himself honestly. He's a very talented actor and every actor has a few stinkers under their belt. Shooter didn't flop if I remember correctly, haven't seen Invincible, We Own The Night was Phoenix's movie, and Max Payne should be good. I'm not expecting some Dark Knight esque film anyways.

I have seen those but those were before The Departed. Those don't even compare to his early work with Boogie Nights and Fear, which are the roles where he became a character. Shooter might have done well but was not a good movie. Invincible is okay at best, but I get sick of sports movies. We Own the Night was equally his movie.

Max Payne should be good? Have you heard the reviews? Have you seen the cast? I don't think anyone thinks it should be TDK but it looking like a mixture of Constantine and Hitman only worse.

How can you even argue with his choices lately? Look at the movies I listed. All were not up to expectations and not something an actor should do after receiving such respect from the Academy.

I like Wahlberg but I don't like his choices lately.

 

[Episode29]

You lost me with your first paragraph...you are waaaaaay off about the video game industry. Not to mention your hyperbole narrative...

LOL. Pullin' out the H-card, the number one go-to criticism by 99% of the internet's irritated film-fan community. I take off my hat to you, sir.

But seriously, all reviews are ultimately based on emotional response filtered through intellectual reasoning. Max Payne was a dreadfully dull 100 minutes of my life. I longed to see something (anything!) that would alleviate my boredom for a second, and the director failed to provide that. Most bad movies are forgettable and not worthy of irritation, and can be covered with a dismissive dismantling of their assorted faults. This junker digs deep and pulls the vitriol to the surface. I felt it would be dishonest to hide that emotional reaction, and was honestly expressing my bewilderment over it's flaws. This film received the analysis and insight that it deserved. Sue me.

Oh, and I'm baffled by your comment about me being "off" about the videogame industry? All I said was that I stopped following it years ago.

 

[StylishHokie21]

This isn't looking good. I have both games and certainly not expecting much.

 

[[A]]

Box Office Tracking: Max Payne Targets $20M

Movies based on video games do not always work, and I spoke to a pair of reputable film critics today who have seen and dislike Fox’s Mark Wahlberg vehicle Max Payne (although reviews have been embargoed until opening day), but it will likely be the big winner this weekend at America’s multiplexes. One of the critics went full-on snarky calling it Max Payne-ful, but industry tracking seems to point to an opening in the $18M-$21M range, and I am leaning toward something north of $20M.

That would likely make Max Payne the 7th-best 3-day start for a video game film adaptation trailing all-time #1, 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider ($47.7M), and putting it on par with 2006’s Silent Hil ($20.1M) and Pokemon: The Movie 2000 ($19.6M). That’s far better than recent X-Box and Playstation-to-big screen attempts like last year’s Hitman ($13.1M) and 2005’s Doom ($15.5M).

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/10/17/box-office-tracking-max-payne-targets-20m/

 

[christhn]

Dang, was hoping it'd be good too.

 

[Balthus Dire]

I watched it today. I didn't think it was as bad as the critics are making it out to be, but it was definitely average. The story follows very closely to the game, and having played through it a whole whack of times I wasn't confused at all, but I could see why someone who hasn't played the game would be like "WTF IS GOING ON?!?!?" because it's a very complicated plot.

What bothered me most is there is almost no action at all. Max Payne doesn't even really have a real shoot out until like an hour into the movie; and even then there's only one or two more shootouts after that. For an action movie based on an action game, there just wasn't enough action. They focused too much on the cop/detective/drug crap, instead of just keeping it simple.

And I personally think the PG-13 really hurt the movie; at least in terms of the violence. They did manage to slide an F-Bomb in there though.

2/5 - Pretty average.

 

[Lobo]

I added a poll.

 

[Octoberist]

speaking of Pg-13, I've heard that there were scenes where blood and nudity could have enhance certain scenes, but were cut out (or never filmed). I guess it cheapens the effect.

 

[Symbiote666]

They wouldn't have been filmed, it was always filmed as a PG-13 movie.

Unless Moore is an idiot and doesn't know what should be in a PG-13 movie and what shouldn't.

 

[Octoberist]

more or less, with grim urban content like this, it probably would have worked better as a Rated R.

 

[BAILY]

Just got back from the movie.. I liked it .. it was dumbed down and you could tell but I thought it was decent considering .. shame all the good stuff was already shown in the trailers .. the rest was just plotfiller

 

[nocomics]

I just got back from the movie,and thought it was okay,not good,but not terrible. My quick view of it...

Good:

Spoiler

The visuals/cinematography was good,the snow was a good touch. Slo-mo was good when they used it,just had a good visual vibe to the movie. The hallucinations,were well done I thought,it showed a dark side of the characters.

Bad:

Spoiler

Was very slow for first part of movie. It lacked enough action to keep the movie moving,as well as the story seemed slow. Other than Mark,supporting actors and their roles were subpar. Good film sequences towards end,wish it was constant thru the movie..

Used spoiler,though I don't think I really spoiled anything,but just incase

 

[[A]]

I got a question for you all, since it's been ages since I played the video-games.. were there any supernatural-winged-fellas in the game too..? I can't remember if there were..