Minecraft is a game that built the foundation for many childhoods at State High, and around the world.

Youtubers like “DanTDM,” “Stampylonghead,” “PopularMMOs,” and “LDShadowLady” were staple Minecraft Youtubers for millions of young people, including numerous State High students. 

Which is why when “A Minecraft Movie” was announced, it left many fans of the game in anticipation. 

The movie was highly anticipated, as it had many notable and well loved actors in it playing major roles, such as Jack Black, and Jason Momoa.

Sophomore Julia Noel shared her thoughts on the movies cast. “I really liked when Jason Momoa and Jack Black had scenes together, especially the ‘man sandwich,’ I thought it was pretty epic,” Noel said.

The ‘man sandwich’ refers to a scene where Black and Momoa are flying in the air with the use of the Minecraft item Elytra. They are forced to hold onto each other very closely, and intimately, so as not to fall.

Sophomore Oscar Vebber added her thoughts on the scene. “There was a lot of tension in that Elytra scene,” Vebber said.

Due to the movie being based on one of the most popular games of the 21st century, it caught the attention of kids and adults alike.

,“I thought it was so amazing, and funny,” sophomore Avery Fuller said.

The movie’s main attribute seemed to be its wit, which isn’t unexpected, as the well loved comedian, Jack Black, plays the leading role of Steve.

Sophomore Zach Spicer discussed how it was mainly Black who made the movie enjoyable. “All the memes were pretty funny,”  Spicer said.

Jokes surrounding the movie and its trailer have been circulating popular social media platforms, mainly through TikTok. Iconic quotes from the movie were already picked up on by fans prior to its release, quotes mainly said by Jack Black. Lines such as, “Chicken Jockey, Flint and Steel,” and “water bucket release,” have become fan favorites. 

Though many who watched the movie seemed to enjoy it, critics didn’t. “A Minecraft Movie” was given a 6/10 rating on IMDb, and a 47% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film was directed by Jared Hess, who is known for films like “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Nicktoons.”

“It was genuinely funny, the writing was really good, and you could tell it was Jared Hess,”  Vebber said.

“You could tell they weren’t trying to be serious, and I think that’s why the critics didn’t write it very high, because they didn’t understand that,” Noel said.

The movie’s writing and overall impression wasn’t the most professional, or sophisticated and developed.

“It wasn’t a great movie considering the writing, but it was like ‘funny bad,’” sophomore Brooke Roldan said.

Though what could be seen as the movie’s flaws contributed to what  made it a hit for the people watching it.

“Honestly I thought it was actually solid, I feel like people are hating on it but I thought it was really funny. It was such a fun theater experience,” Noel said.

Students like Fuller, Noel, Roldan, Spicer, and Vebber had enjoyable experiences watching the movie in theaters. Overall, people seemed to love the movie, before and after it came out, despite what film critics say.