11/9/2022 0 Comments Max payne 2 review![]() ![]() It doesn’t even feature a scene where Max dives through the air with a Beretta in each hand, which is just about the biggest sin of all. Wahlberg admitted he didn’t play the game and the movie makes bizarre changes to the source. The pervading feeling is nobody really cared about the material. The video game movie genre has a long history of disappointing fans, and while Max Payne is far from the worst, it was still a major letdown. The action scenes – when they arrive – are fun, with Max’s drugged out rampage in the finale injecting the glum thriller with a bit of adrenaline. The Valkyrie creatures are an odd inclusion, but they again make for a striking visual, which Moore milks whenever possible. Director John Moore may not be a master storyteller but he’s got a great eye, and clearly had a blast shooting this neo-noir flick. The snowy New York where the story is set is a beautiful wasteland. Max Payne is a game defined by a high bodycount and bloodshed, so the decision to make it a PG-13 movie was already a sign it was walking down the wrong path.īefore I start beating the film with a stick, let’s start with some positives. There are certain characters and franchises that are fundamentally aimed at adults, and trying to tone them down for a lower rating usually ends in disaster. That, and the moment Max picks up another handgun and prepares to dive, should be enough to produce a smirk in even the most jaded fan. Some line readings feel off and a few scenes play out a little long, but Retributionremains a stylish ode that understands what made the series so interesting in the first place. This sequence manages to cram in all the classic elements of the game too – slo-mo, dual wielding, and even a spot of bullet time, and it’s a nicely choreographed shootout. It has a slick cinematic look, from a moody early scene of Max washing his face while bathed in neon to the warehouse finale. The budgetary stretch marks are visible in certain sets or effects shots, but what the crew was able to achieve on that amount is impressive. ![]() Actor Joan James Muixi certainly has the look of old school Max and does a good job with the stylized dialogue. Sadly, he lacks the gruff authority of original voice actor James McCaffrey, but then again replicating McCaffrey’s distinct sound is near impossible anyway. The attention to detail of the short is impressive, especially given Retribution’s modest £1500 budget. A love for the material is evident in every frame, from the countless Easter eggs (Max drinking Kong whiskey, “Address Unknown” playing on the television, etc) to the faithful recreation of the main characters. ![]()
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