Highly Overrated But Still Good

Admirable film.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

For a screen adaptation this is too loose in terms of script. For a fresh new story about cop taking his revenge against drugs and conspiracy this is also too loose in terms of script. I won't join my voice with the chorus saying "this is not how it had been in the game". The lowest-rate reviews are of that kind. Yet, writers had to choose side. Which they did not. In terms of brand new movie this is simple: plot seems too much generic. Just another cop who takes revenge for his family against conspiracy and corruption. How many of that kind do we know? A lot.In terms of screen adaptation there's too little of Max Payne in this Max Payne movie. Yes, we've got picturesque scenes and precisely directed vignettes (more of the visual kind). But... you know, that is all. Not a movie of Max Payne, but a movie with a cameo of Max Payne. Some different story that takes place somewhere in those parts, and remarkable details glimpse to you now and then. Yet, a totally different story. Not only in script (god knows, that is not necessary) but in the terms of feeling. Bright sun, neat offices, cute family-driven premises are not the things that should surround us! Still... I can't say this is a bad movie. Everything but script seems supreme. To me, at least. I really like visuals. I think Mark Wahlberg is a fairly good Max Payne (except that brand stupid smile is lost). And I love how accurate and beautifully they depict weapons. and...Overall, if you can stand a stupid script, I think you will like this.

Perhaps the greatest tragedy that can befall a film is also one of the most simple mistakes that can be made during the filmmaking process- the failure to meet potential. The inability to live up to the promise of a story or an idea. And arguably in no other film is this idea exemplified more than in director John Moore's 2008 release "Max Payne." Because not only did the film fail to meet its potential... it failed to meet its potential after that potential had already been realized in the far superior video-game on which it is loosely based. The original 2001 game "Max Payne" was a pioneering and groundbreaking release that made keen use of cinematic storytelling, top-notch voice talent and Hollywood-level screen writing to realize a dark and grim tale of vengeance and crime. It was almost a movie in itself already- it merely needed to be translated from one medium to another.Unfortunately, an army of producers and one of the most inept filmmakers in modern cinema saw it differently, and decided that rather than honor the original, they would go out of their way to change it. And it resulted in something that while occasionally aesthetically entertaining to watch, ultimately feels vapid and empty... merely coasting by with the most basic and bland of clichés, and only occasionally giving us brief glimpses of the brilliance seen in the source material. In essence, a truly unique modern noir tale became a generic studio hack-job. But what else can we expect from the same director who single-handedly destroyed the "Die Hard" franchise?Max Payne (Mark Whalberg) is a man lost- a cold-case police detective haunted by the murder of his wife and infant child. Obsessed with the case, he tracks down criminals in an attempt to solve the mystery of why they were killed and who is responsible. Following various leads and tips, Max eventually begins to piece together a conspiracy that might have something to do with the death of his family... a conspiracy involving a mysterious hallucinogenic drug and an equally mysterious young woman named Mona (Mila Kunis) who might be the key to everything...To give some praise where it is deserved, there are indeed a few moments peppered in here and there that work, in addition to a few solid turns from a talented cast. Whalberg and Kunis are both more than adequate in their roles and do the parts as much justice as the script allows. In the hands of a better writer and a better director, they could have been perfect. I also really enjoyed Donal Logue and Beau Bridges in smaller supporting roles. The color palette is a good translation of the source material and what little action there is is typically well-executed, even if Moore fumbles in trying to replicate the game's trademark "bullet time" action set- pieces. As a result, I do think that audiences unfamiliar with the source material might be able to get some surface-level thrills from the proceedings. But that's all it is... surface-level thrills without proper substance behind them. You could say that it almost feels like a true "Max Payne" tale... almost...Unfortunately, you can't help but feel completely apathetic towards the movie as a whole because it seems that Moore and writer Beau Thorne fundamentally misunderstand the appeal of the franchise and completely fail at capturing the magic of those now-classic games. Like many filmmakers who work on game-to-film adaptations, Moore, Thorne and the various producers behind the film seem utterly convinced that they can do better than the original, and make nonstop and completely superfluous changes to the story that convolutes it instead of enhancing it. When you take something as fresh and unique as the original "Max Payne" and try to "make it better" by changing it, it looses its freshness and uniqueness. When you change something that's already pretty much perfect, the only way to go is down, which is exactly what happens.So fresh ideas are replaced by generic tropes. Interesting characters are replaced by bland archetypes. And fascinating twists and turns are replaced by dull and overused cliché. It makes the film so much less than it has the potential to be. Not only does it do no justice to the original work, but it also ends up making for a much weaker film even when judged on its own merit. Change, change, change... and all for no reason. Why should we as an audience care about a film if its clear that the filmmakers have no respect whatsoever for the source material or their audience? Combine that with atrociously grating dialog, generally bland visuals outside of the eye-popping action, a confused and unfocused narrative structure and a tamed-down PG-13 rating that feels like it's holding the film back, and you have a recipe for mediocrity."Max Payne" might not objectively be a terrible film. But it is most certainly a sorely disappointing one. A symbol of not only Hollywood's continued misunderstanding and mishandling of video-game properties, but also of the terrible sin of failed potential. And so, I give it a below-average 4 out of 10.

Max Payne is my second favourite Video game adaption after "Prince of Persia the Sand of Time".The movie is a clear and effective homage to the Noir-Thrillers of the 30's-50's in every aspect and that's what makes the movie great for me. This film doesn't rely on action sequences rather than telling a intriguing Thriller-story with a few very well handled action sequences, which are all unique and different.This is my favourite performance by Mark Wahlberg and that's saying something, because a year prior he showed us his worst performance in the weird "The Happening". He shows great subtle emotions and you feel for him the whole way through because you understand him. All the other actors also do a fairly well job, even Mila Kunis who is believable in one of her first serious roles.One of the reasons i hold this movie in such high regards is also the technical aspect of it. The look is beautiful and the camera-work and editing is great. It succeeds in capturing the style and tone of a real Noir-Thrillers, but with a modern take. Dark contrasts and long shadows, also the use of color in this movie is (while slightly on-the-nose) really well handled. Also the visual effects are really well done, most of all when people take the Valkyr-drug it's sheer amazing at times.The score by Marco Beltrami is some of his best work, and i'm a real fan of this composer for a long time.The story is slightly changed from the video game to make it work on it's own and so that it's surprising even for fans, and i appreciate it (being a fan of the games myself).I'm also happy they used Max monologues just at the start and the finish of the movie, because even in the game it's sometimes a bit to over-depressive and metaphorical at times.All in all i enjoy the movie very much, it even introduced me to the games, and even after playing both i haven't changed my mind at all... (For the record: I talk only about the Director's Cut, the other version really is some bull**** ;) )

Story: Having never played the games or even knowing anything about the games I could really see this fresh as an action fan. I was expecting some form of supernatural side to the story but I was wrong. It is just a revenge thriller that has lots of action and very little dialogue. Most of the support characters have very little development and are each only used to pass on a small part of the story. In the end as a standalone action film it is switch the mind of acceptable. (6/10)Actor Review: Mark Wahlberg – Max Payne the determined cop who wants to truth who ends up getting caught up in something bigger than he could have ever imagined. Solid from Mark but the fans of the games will dislike what he does to the character. (7/10)maxActor Review: Mila Kunis – Mona from the more underworld side of the city she ends up teaming up with Max to take down the people responsible for the death of their loved ones. I think this was a bit too early in her career, she looks a little bit out of place, and maybe she could return for a sequel and use what she has learned. (4/10)milaActor Review: Beau Bridges – BB Hensley friend of Max who was also good friends with his wife, he tries to help but ultimately is the guy responsible for everything that has driven Max. Good but nothing special performance. (6/10)Actor Review: Ludicrous – Jim the internal affairs officer trying to figure out what the corruption in the Police could change how they look at crimes being committed in the town. Another guy who was in a role that is hard to believe too early in his acting career, he tries but it just doesn't quite some off for him. (5/10)ludicrusActor Review: Chris O'Donnell – Jason a former work colleague of Max's wife, knows more than he is letting on. Good supporting role that is good use for information only. (5/10)Actor Review: Donal Logue – Alex ex-partner who tries to reconnect after discovering a new clue about Max's wife's murder. Only a small role but the look of a desperate friend works well. (6/10)Actor Review: Amaury Nolasco – Jack a man that spends a lot of time watching what is going on with Max and Mona, but he does have a motive, but we never know what he final motive is. Good supporting role used well to create a target for Max. (6/10)amruayDirector Review: John Moore – Simple direction used to create plenty of over the top action for the more casual fan to enjoy. (6/10)Action: Plenty of gun fights throughout, I really don't know how many bullets they must have used. (9/10)Crime: Simple crime aspects used nothing truly original though. (6/10)Thriller: Tries to pull of some thrills but doesn't really succeed. (6/10)Special Effects: Good special effects for the hallucination scenes and gun battles. (9/10)Believability: No (0/10)Chances of Tears: No (0/10)Settings: Dark settings used to create a very dark world similar to the story they are in. (8/10)Suggestion: This is really one to try I can't say it is very original and like most video game films isn't the most popular compared to the games. (Try It)Best Part: Gun rights.Worst Part: poor support character development.Action Scene Of The Film: The office gun battleOscar Chances: NoChances of Sequel: Do to the poor box office it would be a no.Overall: Video Game Action, You Know What You Are Getting