Max Payne Review
Oct 16, 2008 by Vic HoltremanIs Max Payne finally the first video game to movie adaptation that actually works? We’ll tell you.
Short version: Max Payne starts out promising but eventually begins to unravel, only to end in an awful mess.
Screen Rant reviews Max Payne
Mark Wahlberg plays Max Payne, a cop who’s wife and child were murdered and who subsequently becomes an obsessed outcast in the police department. Eventually he teams up with Mona Sax (played by Mila Kunis) in a quest to track down the killer.
Caveat: I know nothing about the video game. Not only have I never played it, I’ve never seen so much as a screen grab from it. So, I can’t speak to the authenticity of the movie in regards to the character and/or plot line of the game.
The movie opens with what we’ve seen in the trailer: Max floating underwater, apparently unconscious. We are then kicked back to “One Week Earlier,” indicated in the current fad of making on-screen text look like it’s part of the actual scene. We soon meet Max, a somber and unsociable guy who has been downgraded to the Cold Case department at the local police precinct.
His wife and child were murdered three years ago and he’s been on an off-duty quest to find one of the killers. Soon we get a taste of his search as he gives three drug addicts in the subway an invitation to mug him, and in a pretty damned cool scene he puts them down very easily.
Soon thereafter at a party thrown by one of Payne’s snitches he meets Natasha, a super-sexy hottie played by Olga Kurylenko. I’ll give you one guess as to her nationality based on that tricky name. Her sister Mona appears at the party and there is some conflict between them that is not clear.
In the meantime there is an addictive drug that is taken orally which seems will be a focal point of the movie. At first it is quite confusing why anyone would even take this drug because it causes terrifying hallucinations in the form of winged creatures.
One thing leads to another and Max ends up teaming up with Mona and the trail leads them to a mysterious bald, shirtless guy who carries a VERY big knife and knows how to use it (much to the chagrin of his victims).
One of the only people on Max’s side is B.B. Hensley (played by Beau Bridges), an ex-cop now head of security at the same pharmaceutical company that Max’s wife worked for.
So what’s good… I’d say in the first third of the movie, everything was pretty good. Wahlberg, while not great, certainly redeems himself from his performance in The Happening. Then again, how hard can it be to play somber and morose. Beau Bridges – just love the guy no matter what he does. He just has a great way about him that’s a pleasure to watch. Olga Kurylenko, well… let’s just say she’s really easy on the eyes.
The story and action are pretty solid at the start of the film as well.
So what’s not so good… well, as the film moves on it gets pretty ridiculous, and for some reason even the action scenes suffer. Director John Moore makes use of slow motion in a couple of scenes, and in one particular scene it’s not just slo-mo – it’s super-excruciatingly-painful slo-mo. I mean seriously, I might have had time to take a bathroom break and still return in time to see the scene (which in real-time would have taken two seconds) end.
The film gets more bizarre as it goes on (which for all I know is how the game progresses) and gets harder to believe. By the end with visions of fiery skies, circling winged-demons and lame dialog (among other things), I was ready to get the heck out of the theater.
I gave it 2 1/2 stars only because of the early part of the movie, and that overall it does look cool – but that doesn’t make up for the rest.
Keep in mind that Max Payne is barely PG-13, with sexual imagery and tons of pretty nasty violence missing only the blood which would have made it R.
Our Rating:
2.5 out of 5
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Im really sad to read that. I generally agree with your reviews Vic. I played both games, and as soon as I was done with each one, the first thing I thought was that the story would make a great movie. The only thing was that I knew they could easily screw this up and make a sorely disappointing movie. I might go see it in the theaters anyway, but man, this is depressing!
I have asimple philosphy .
if I dont get a good feeling from the trailer or ads,
Then I dont go .
None of the promotion for this film has interested me so far .
I doubt I will see it .
Lol, Vic,,,
I have a feeling this is the same review that The Punisher is gonna receive…
Rated NGST
(Not gonna see this)
Sounds kind of close to the game, but only kind of. Like Uwe Boll kind of. Either way, it sounds like it’s about as faithful to the story as I Am Legend was, and considering how much that movie (and it’s deplorable ending) ruined the experience for me, I think I’ll be waiting for this one’s DVD release.
Shame on you Marky Mark.
Really 790?? None of us knew that you felt that way about Punisher!! We simply have not heard you say things like that enough times!
lol
Well come on Ken J, there the same film,,,
Seems like their faith to the game is in name only, literally. The story seems sufficiently off the point to have missed what made the game good. Thanks Vic.
K
@Deadpool
Since you’re very familiar with the game I’d love to hear your opinion on the movie.
Vic
All right, I’ll check it out and post my mini review here.
I think this movie stays true to the game ” t’s not just slo-mo – it’s super-excruciatingly-painful slo-mo.” This the problem with movie/game releases, who do you stay true to? The hardcore Max Payne fan or the casual viewer?
Hey 790, Give Punisher Warzone a chance. This is the third time they’ve tried to bring the character to life, and the third time is a charm. Remember, the Punisher is basically Batman with guns and no remorse. Max Payne and the Punisher are even closer since their families shared the same fate. I guess I’m sort of biased since I’m a complete Punisher fanboy.
As for Max Payne, the games were pretty cool but got really strange towards the end. It sounds like the movie stayed true to that chemistry. The games were all about your use of “bullet time” and some fictional drug that drove people mad. Just goes to prove that games don’t always translate well to the big screen.
I’m rooting for the actor playing Frank Castle, Ray Stevenson. There’s no way he will make it suck… But of course, there are plenty of other actors in the mix, so who knows…
All right Vic, Ive seen the movie and I must say…bleh
First off, let me say that there are two Max Payne video games to draw material from. I believe one of them was heralded in the gaming community as a “film noir love story” There was plenty of good material to draw from. Everything needed for a decent action/drama was there for the taking. The games were violent. Gunfights were massive. The concept of “bullet time” was truly innovative. Simply put the games were great. I might even suggest that casual gamers would enjoy them.
Now that you know what you need to about the games, on to the movie. Marky Marky made a very believable Payne. He wasnt channeling the character, but he was believable. I would though, rather have seen Bruce Willis. Guess he’s done enough pissed off cop movies though. Anyway, that is where the good stuff ends. Everything else about this movie was very vanilla. Vic, you’re right about the bullet time in the movie. It was excruciatingly slow. They really shouldve taken a page from the matrix when shooting those scenes. Where do you think they got the idea for that? Max Payne! Tossing the bullet time aside, the gunfights were not nearly long enough. The odds always seemed to overwhelm Payne in the games, but in the movie, I didnt buy it for a second. Made it all look too easy.
The last thing I want to say about this movie is the theme/subplot surrounding angels/demons. The movie took that idea from the game, thats true. But it was a very minor part of the game. I saw it as more of a distraction from the regular action. Something used to advance the story but really just ended up mixing in some challenges not related to bullets. They WAY over amplified that in the movie. It did end up convoluting the story. I was scratching my head as I left the theater. That was the last reaction I expected to have. Ive experienced all the source material for this movie. All the actors claim they stayed true to the games. So I should see it all coming, right? Wrong.
All in all, I have to agree with you Vic. It was pretty disappointing for me. It was all there for the film makers. Its pretty clear they decided to pick and choose plot details based on how “cool” they’d look on the big screen. Thats just sad.
Didn’t you guys see this coming?
Man the trailers looked like crap,,,
You thought the overall film was gonna be good???
Lol,,,
Sheeehsssssshhhh
@790
From everything I saw before hand, I was a little worried. But I am such a big fan of the games that I held out hope that it would be good. Because the games were really good.
I guess at the end of the day, movie adaptations of games/books/comics have to be made for the general public, and not the rabid fanboys. I understand its all about making money. However, where Max Payne is concerned, if they really had stuck to the source material completely, they wouldve made more money. Because they wouldve had a better movie.
@Deadpool
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the film!
Vic
I have never played the games, but found the supernatural side of the movie exciting, and wish it was eleberated on.
They take a drug that allows them so see angels – and allows the valkyrie’s to see them even do they are not fighting,
the angels killed the people, not the bald dude, he was just not afraid of the evil looking angels and got strenght from the drug, just like max did…
-thats my interpetation…
i hated this movie i’m sorry i wanted to leave the teater when it was only 30 min in! i was disapinted becuase i though it was going to be a great movie it just was one of the worst movies i have every payed to see, i have never played the game so it might just be that you had to have played the game but i dont see how anyone could like this movie!!!
Good review Deappool,,,
I wonder if the screenwriters ever play the games ???
My brother and I just came from this movie. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY !
if you have ever played the game you will HATE IT ! my dad tagged along and of course he never played the game and he liked the movie . IT appeals to teh casual movie goER NOT GAME FANS.
ZERo (0) Stars out of FIVE (5)
@J BIZ
I might give it a chance on dvd. Unless it reviews badly then prob won’t take the time.
It pained me deeply to write that review. I desperately wanted it to be good (I also desperately wanted to write “Payned me” just there, but I decided against it. Good call?)
@J BIZ, I meant all see Punisher on dvd, not Max Payne. ;-p
^
Come on Deadpool, you’ll be ok,,,!!!
Theres always “Gears of Wars 2″ to look forward too?
First time posting…Spoiler alert
I saw this movie tonight. There were some very big holes for me. For one, the Detective guy (played by Ludacris) how and why did he go from wanting to arrest Payne (Payne gets away) to contacting FBI. I mean, he was not on the floor when that Jason guy got shot. So, he goes from thinking Payne is a killer to knowing that Payne is getting Framed. Unfortunately the viewed has to guess as to how that happened.
Then, I guess her name is Mona… Where the heck did she come from in the end? I know she was looking outside a window after Payne takes the drug. So, I am guessing that she just so happened to be looking outside a window and is witness to what Payne is doing?
Then, when he shoots B.B. its kinda anticlimatic…. really only one bullet?
Also, Was Payne wearing a bullet proof vest cause he shore got shot up to just be limping around.
And, are they leaving that woman CEO free cause they want to make a Sequel?
I wish I would have just gone to the SNL site and saw the “Hey chicken, how you doing? Most people want to eat you, I just want to talk to you, say hello your mother for me, okay….. lol….
So i see the movie tonight and since my expectations ave been shot,( not that they were high to begin with) I should enjoy the movie a little more after a couple of mojito’s and some close friends to ridicule the movie with.
I have to ask the question, If I hold my breath when the slo-mo starts will I die if I try to hold until its over?
There’s a bonus scene at the end of the credits,,,
Wow, this review sucks, i have played both games many times and i find this 90% true to the storyline in the game, if you have never played the game then DONT write a review for it. Seriously. I honestly think that this movie is for the Payne fans and not lame movie critics.
And there will be a sequal (that CEO lady will be the next plot and if u stayed after the credit they showed a 5 min. extension). Thank you.
Ok. Youre entitled to your opinion.
I played the both games all the way through multiple times, and I didnt like the movie.
To each his or her own
@David90
Really? The movie was made for fans of the video game and NO ONE ElSE?
Right. Brilliant. Really.
Oh, and go see what everyone else is saying about the movie. I was kind. Trust me.
Have a nice day.
Vic