Hey guys. This review includes spoilers. I do not if it is appropriate, or stupid, to warn about spoilers of a trailer. But since this is something special, and keeping in mind that the Release of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is today, at least in Japan, I think we can remind the readers they have the right of being amused… in both right and wrong ways. Especially for such an incredible cultural icon.
Having said that, let’s continue.
SURVIVING MY OWN THOUGHTS
Well guys… The day has come. I have done the unthinkable. I… watched the first trailer of the Live Action movie… of Sonic the Hedgehog. And…
Were do I start?
Ok. First and foremost, my childhood was taken over by Mario, Megaman, Castlevania, Zelda, Star Fox, Ninja Gaiden, Street Fighter, Doom, Duke Nukem, Donkey Kong, Indiana Jones, Resident Evil, F-Zero, and thousand of millions of racing games (I still miss Cruisin’ the World and my precious N64).
So many amazing gaming icons, and Sonic is definitely NOT one of them. Yet. I am very familiar with the kind of universe and lore Sonic belongs to. Why am I saying this? Simple. Because I think it is not something a movie with live action actors can replicate without any major controversy. This is not Alita: Battle Angel.
In addition, we are all familiar with the infamous relationship between video games and Hollywood movies. I have disliked most of them. I rather become a zombie rather than watch any Resident Evil movie directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. (Seriously. What the f»*k has Alice in Wonderland has to do with Resident Evil?). And… I prefer to forget that I watch the reboot of Tomb Raider in cinemas (But Alicia Vikander was great) Anyway, sorry about my digressing. The point is… Does Hollywood really think they can take Sonic the Hedgehog and make a good movie?
I… starting to lose the faith… even before I have faith.
I confess that, since this movie was announced, I could not come to terms that Hollywood was making a movie of Sonic the Hedgehog. I still can’t believe that Pokemon: Detective Pikachu really exists. I explored many possible plots for a Sonic the Hedgehog live-action adaptation. None was able to convince me.
I don’t know. Personally I don’t think Sega should handle its property like that. It would end up the same way as the disastrous, yet entertaining, Super Mario Bros movie, starring John Leguizamo and Bob Hoskins. And after watching this trailer, I think it’s gonna be like that.
But why can I be a little more specific?
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG
«Gotta go fast!!» – I agree Sonic. Scaring the moviegoers with your appearance is a terrible idea.
Now. The first 15 seconds of the trailer are fantastic. From the officer holding Sonic’s hair to seeing the logos of both Paramount Pictures and Sega, along with the Sonic Rings, was so awesome. But after that… all simply goes wrong. I personally can’t understand why the background music is Gangsta’s Paradise, from Coolio. I would use California Sun, from Rancid. I don’t know why. I simply think the tempo and rhythm are more appropriate with Sonic. And then… we got the fakest and most bizarre version of Sonic the Hedgehog, the shoes are ok, but for me, the fact that Sonic doesn’t have gloves goes completely against the character. And then a bunch of military gathers for how to deal with the «problem of the energy surge» provoked by the speed of Sonic.
And then… Dr. Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey.
It was exquisite to see Jim Carrey!!! And the jokes delivered were hysterical. And, believe it or not, I bought that he was indeed Dr. Robotnik, despite his outfit. In fact… That is something Carrey adapted pretty well. Yeah. I mentioned Carrey because I don’t think that was the idea came from the producers.
Then we see officer Tom Wachowski, played by James Marsden (You know, Cyclops), who encounters Sonic, forcing him to do, absolutely, the worst joke of the trailer.
«Meow?»
It is impossible not to compare that moment with the infamous last joke of the trailer of the reboot of Ghostbusters.
«The Power of Patty compels you.»
And at this point, the eyes, the fur, the expressions, and the design of Sonic feels so bizarre and repelling. With Detective Pikachu, the CGI feels well constructed, but here… Shortly, Sonic states that he has to «save the planet».
With that design of yours Sonic… I have no comments.
The last part features Good Ol’ Jim Carrey stealing the show with his character… specially on the last seconds of the trailer, which will definitely surprises the fans. I will not spoil them. All I am going to say is that… there are absolutely marvellous.
Unlike another bad joke that comes from Officer Wachowski, after putting Sonic in a bag. A woman asks him whether or not is carrying «his child» on a bag; to which he promptly answers.
«No. I mean Yes. It’s a child, but it’s not mine.»
Seriously. Who wrote that? Who actually thought that was funny? Afterwards, the face of the character looks like… What have I done? But for me, that’s was the actor, perhaps regretting saying such a stupid joke.
Anyway.
Of course there are some good parts of the trailer. The fights between Sonic and Dr. Robotnik look pretty awesome. But the part in which Sonic, literally, copies the iconic scenes of Quicksilver in both X-Men Days of Future Past and X-Men Apocalypse is very crude and implausible. Perhaps I said that last sentence because I am not the greatest fan of Sonic the Hedgehog, but I did not convince me.
CONCLUSION
What can I see? Some fans say that people can judge a movie for its trailer. And this might not be the exception. Ok. It is very soon to say whether Sonic the Hedgehog will be good or bad, however, the movie definitely left a very lame first impression with the trailer.
And the fact that most of the movies based on video games are terrible will NOT help the movie. On the other hand, both fans and moviegoers will watch the movie for curiosity, custom, or perhaps to confirm that Sonic the Hedgehog is an unintentional comedy. So it’s going to be a financial success for the wrong reasons.
Or a box office bomb.
Nevertheless, one thing is for sure. With this trailer, and the upcoming release of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, May is gonna be an interesting month, and, possibly, the greatest prelude of the summer season. (Winter in Australia.)
Jainituos Presents 