ROTTEN TOMATOES: RT on DVD: Max Payne, Saw V, King Kong on Blu-ray Comments

RT on DVD: Max Payne, Saw V, King Kong on Blu-ray

by Jen Yamato | January 19, 2009

Summary

Mark Wahlberg brings maximum pain to DVD this week in the critically-punished Max Payne, although new horror titles Saw V and Repo! The Genetic Opera didn't fare much better on the Tomatometer. DVD shoppers will also find intriguing options in the kid adventure City of Ember, William H. Macy's Hollywood satire The Deal, a tenth-anniversary Powerpuff Girls box set, and Peter Jackson's King Kong on Blu-ray! Back to Article

(1-47 of 47 posts) | Reply

vitajex writes:
on Jan 19 2009 03:35 PM

Max Payne was AWFUL!!!!

I remember sitting in the movie with my buddy and like 8 other strangers. Just about every 10 minutes or so was something on the screen that made me gasp at the idiocy.

It was like watching a 3 year old try to power up a nuclear reactor.

"No, no, sweetie. Not like that. You have that backwards. No, don't put that there..."

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 19 2009 03:45 PM

LOL I have Max Payne coming from Netflix tomorrow, should be funny. I also have City of Ember coming tomorrow from Netflix which I think looks decent. Also guys, just rented Death Race. It was hilarious! All day I have been quoting lines from that movie. "You wanna F^ck with me, we'll see who *****s on the side walk"- Joan Allen. Tyrese Gybson plays such a stereotype which is awesome and is actually gay in the movie. The movie is so preposterous, bad dialogue, but it is fun.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 19 2009 03:46 PM

Also the power puff box set, BALLN!

(Reply to this)

vitajex writes:
on Jan 19 2009 03:54 PM

jokerboy, I think you have enough sense to see Max Payne for the turd it is.

Try to get drunk first, because it's not really funny-bad, just sigh-bad.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 19 2009 04:58 PM

In reply to this comment (#2267398)
LOL I think when Marky Mark is bad, he is laughable bad. I am still laughing at him in The Happening.

(Reply to this)

blattman writes:
on Jan 19 2009 06:31 PM

I liked Repo for what it was. A rock oprea, and well told. Great performances from all, especially Anthony Head.

(Reply to this)

Mr. Bo Ziffer writes:
on Jan 19 2009 06:35 PM

Saw V was okay. It was better than III and IV, but they should have stopped after the first movie. I'm willing to give Repo a rental, but I don't think Bousman is a great director (Saw III and IV and his segment on Fear Itself both sucked). My friend actually recommended Max Payne to me, but I think I'm going to go with you guys on this one. I haven't seen King Kong in a while. I might have to give it another shot.

(Reply to this)

lestatthevampire writes:
on Jan 19 2009 07:25 PM

My boy just gave me the Max Payne game for PS2... never played it. Should I see the movie or play the game first?

(Reply to this)

Mr. Bo Ziffer writes:
on Jan 19 2009 07:33 PM

In reply to this comment (#2267755)
Play the game. And from what I hear, never see the movie.

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Jan 19 2009 07:53 PM

In reply to this comment (#2267755)
Judging from past video game movies...stick to the game. A video game movie is NEVER better than the games, because Hollywood doesn't care about the source material. The game is really good, too.

oh, don't even get me started on how Paul Anderson r**ed the Resident Evil series :P that's a prime example of bad VG movies!

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 19 2009 08:17 PM

Leave it to the guy who has Pennywise as a picture to like "Saw". I'm just playing with ya homey.

blattman, you're a friend and I trust your taste, but Repo looks SO horrible.

jokerboy "Man, that's one angry homo!"
"Release the Dreadnought."
Hilarious movie! I liked "Death Race" a lot more than I thought I would.

Anyway I watched many shows back in the 90's, and the only thing special about "Powerpuff Girls" I remember is... MOJO JO JO! An okay cartoon, not up to the likes of "Animaniacs" or "Batman" as far as 90's cartoons go.

You know what movies like "Bloodrayne", "Hitman", or "Max Payne" have in common besides they're both adaptions of video games. They're adaptions of mediocre video games. "Super Mario Bros." film and "Resident Evil" movies are nothing to emulate, but at least they're adaptions of great games. So lesty, don't see the movie OR play the game.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 19 2009 08:21 PM

By the way, does anyone else but me find the 2005 version of "King Kong" better than the orginal besides me? I'd say it's the best movie of 2005.

(Reply to this)

DivineCC writes:
on Jan 19 2009 08:35 PM

Tyrant, most video games don't have enough material for a movie, which is why they always change things. The majority of the game is actual gameplay, not cut scenes. Its very tough translating gameplay into a movie. I'm not defending hollywood either, I can just understand partially why video game movies suck.

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Jan 19 2009 08:43 PM

In reply to this comment (#2267832)
In the case of Resident Evil though, there is a TON to work with. But it was just never utilized. I do however agree with you that for the most part, that can be said for a lot of VG movies.

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Jan 19 2009 08:46 PM

In reply to this comment (#2267832)
Woops, i wasn't clear. I meant that i agree with you that there isn't a lot of material for a huge portion of VG movies, so some changes are warranted. But seriously, how could they stray so far from the RE games..... I can understand some differences, but the third had absolutely nothing to do with the RE story, and the second barely followed it.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 19 2009 09:20 PM

In reply to this comment (#2267819)
No I loved Peter Jackson's King Kong, I thought it was awesome and gets too much crap. Also in some ways I would say it is a better movie then the original, I do love the original too though.

(Reply to this)

Xx MooSE xX writes:
on Jan 19 2009 10:13 PM

you people think you're so phuckin wise, and know what it takes to make a good video game movie, yet none of u are making them, you're sitting here bitching about the people who are, not saying payne was perfect, but it was good enough. If you played the games, you'd know this. RE was fine too, since when is good looking women kicking *** a bad thing? When you're gay, thats when. HOMOS!!

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 19 2009 10:21 PM

Xx MooSE xX, I suppose you pride yourself on being a complete idiot.

jokerboy, I'm glad I'm not alone. I do like the orginal as well. How's a remake to "King Kong Lives"! ;)

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Jan 19 2009 10:41 PM

In reply to this comment (#2267900)
Hell yeah, i love the new king kong and the original! (i hate the 70s remake however >_>) And GOD NO to King Kong Lives :P

MooSE, that post requires no real response, insulting and speaking in a boorish manner just shows you lack the maturity to have a real conversation.

(Reply to this)

rockclmbr6 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 04:28 AM

I actually really loved the remake of King Kong. I love Naomi Watts and I thought it had some of the most thrilling action sequences I've seen in a long time. I may pick it up on Blu-ray eventually.

And I may give Max Payne a rent...keeping in mind that I will probably hate it.

(Reply to this)

FritzLang writes:
on Jan 20 2009 06:44 AM

I rewatched Jackson's KK the other day. It is pretty gorgeous - but it felt a little bloated. I think some of the story elements involving the fringe characters could have been dropped or reduced. That aside, it's an incredible feat. I suppose if you could get to make your dream film on the back of a dozen or so Oscars and a basically unlimited budget, who wouldn't be indulgent?

(Reply to this)

CFM writes:
on Jan 20 2009 09:06 AM

Allow me to add to the Peter Jackson lovefest. I loved his King Kong. I thought the dinosaur stampede was too over-the-top, but otherwise, the movie was filled with great moments. Grade A stuff.

(Reply to this)

Iceman Cometh writes:
on Jan 20 2009 09:28 AM

In reply to this comment (#2267819)
i'm with you ledawg. when king kong destroys those 3 t-rexs at the same, i jizz in my pants everytime

(Reply to this)

Jen Yamato writes:
on Jan 20 2009 09:34 AM

In reply to this comment (#2268653)
abl2k2 - While I didn't have quite the same reaction as you, I did rewatch that one scene (Kong vs. the T-rexes) on Blu-ray and it's INCREDIBLE. I recommend the BD, if only to watch select scenes on their own.

(Reply to this)

cypress550 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 09:52 AM

the king kong remake was good but the original is a classic and can never be replaced. max payne sucked and for saw i wish i would never have SAW it.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 10:09 AM

The orginal Kong was great, but when the ape died I wasn't so sad. And the characters (with the exception of Carl Denham) weren't so devoloped to me. A very good movie. 8/10.

But the new one, I wasn't just surprised by the perfect period feel, when Kong died, I was on the verge of tears. And a macho man like e, that don't happen much. And all the performances were top notch, Naomi Watts was snubbed for an Oscar nom. I give it a 10/10. Peter Jackson can make 3 hours go by very fast. And that's a good thing.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 10:10 AM

*e = me

(Reply to this)

nathanpoitras writes:
on Jan 20 2009 11:38 AM

I'm getting King Kong, El Norte, Election and The Express all on glorious Blu-Ray hi-def. Good day I'd say.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 12:48 PM

Hey guys, just watched Max Payne and City of Ember. Max Payne SUCKED like I expected, but it wasn't even funny bad just bad- though there are some chuckles. The movie was only 95 minutes and it was so boring, don't waste your time trust me. I actually enjoyed City of Ember. It ad cool sets and a cool story, but had some weak action scenes and not a very good ending but I would say its worth ending. STAY AWAY FROM MAX PAYNE! Go rent Death Race if you want a fun bad movie.

(Reply to this)

ColinTheCimmerian writes:
on Jan 20 2009 01:43 PM

My biggest complaint with Jackson's King Kong is that it's too long, or, as FritzLang put it, 'bloated'. I have nothing against long movies, in fact generally my viewpoint is the longer the better, but that's only if there's enough content there to last the whole runtime. For Lord of the Rings 3 1/2 or 4 hours is fine, because there's so much going on, so many characters and subplots, but King Kong is a pretty simple story really. The original was in the 90-100 minute range, and I don't feel shortchanged when I watch it. Jackson's version had pretty much the same plot, but had a lot of fluff scenes and a bunch of new characters that didn't really contribute to the core story; they had subplots of their own that didn't really matter and just made the movie run longer. So yeah, Jackson's was obviously better visually and acting-wise, but I think its pacing and lack of focus hurt it. The whole time I was watching it I couldn't help but feel like it was being stretched out just to feel more epic and grand, and as a result, I really have no desire to sit through it again. Sometimes, less is more.

Regarding video game movies, I kind of agree with everyone. It's true that video games are inherently difficult to adapt well. There appear to be two common approaches, neither of which seem to go over well. One is to make radical changes to the source material in an effort to flesh out the material (Super Mario Bros, the later Resident Evil movies), thus angering the game fans and essentially missing the point of making an adaption at all. The other is to not even try fleshing out the plot and just string together scenes that are reminiscent of the game (Mortal Kombat: Annihilation), which is generally disappointing for game fans and casual viewers alike. However, I do think it's possible to adapt a video game successfully. I think it's usually necessary to add stuff in to enhance the plot, but it must be done without blatantly contradicting or deviating from what plot already exists; there is a happy medium there between following the game's plot to the letter and totally throwing it aside. Personally, I thought the first Mortal Kombat was pretty good, as were Silent Hill and the first Resident Evil. I'm sure many would disagree with those particular examples, but I'm sure everyone can agree that some adaptions are better than others, and some are at least ok. I think the primary reason we so rarely get a good video game adaption is because there's pretty much never any top talent linked to them. It's generally rookie directors or just plain bad directors who end up handling the projects, which really doesn't help their odds of turning out good.

(Reply to this)

-apocolyptic- writes:
on Jan 20 2009 04:24 PM

Regarding video game movies, I kind of agree with everyone. It's true that video games are inherently difficult to adapt well. There appear to be two common approaches, neither of which seem to go over well. One is to make radical changes to the source material in an effort to flesh out the material (Super Mario Bros, the later Resident Evil movies), thus angering the game fans and essentially missing the point of making an adaption at all. The other is to not even try fleshing out the plot and just string together scenes that are reminiscent of the game (Mortal Kombat: Annihilation), which is generally disappointing for game fans and casual viewers alike. However, I do think it's possible to adapt a video game successfully. I think it's usually necessary to add stuff in to enhance the plot, but it must be done without blatantly contradicting or deviating from what plot already exists; there is a happy medium there between following the game's plot to the letter and totally throwing it aside. Personally, I thought the first Mortal Kombat was pretty good, as were Silent Hill and the first Resident Evil. I'm sure many would disagree with those particular examples, but I'm sure everyone can agree that some adaptions are better than others, and some are at least ok. I think the primary reason we so rarely get a good video game adaption is because there's pretty much never any top talent linked to them. It's generally rookie directors or just plain bad directors who end up handling the projects, which really doesn't help their odds of turning out good.

Well as a gamer and a movie lover, its hard to find balance when both are being done at the same time.
Resident Evil was good to the point that you had some backstory to what happened in Racoon City.
The only real tie in,aside from certain names, was the ending. It was nice that they tried to lead into the game, but as much fun as it was getting there, didn't do so well.
Silent Hill, aside from the crappy begininng and the middle part with the cop and the husband, retained alot of what the game was.
Camera angles and claustrophobia.
At times when I watched that movie I was like like "Yeah do that, cuz you'll open that door".
For me, a little more involved than, well every other video game movie.
And as a gamer found that the source material held up way better than most.
Some of the liberties they took were a little odd, but still did well to fit into the whole mythology of the movie.

The one I haven't heard any mention though, and they could pretty much just string the cut scenes together is Metal Gear Solid.
Its a movie in inself.
SNAAAAAAAKE!!!!!!!

(Reply to this)

vitajex writes:
on Jan 20 2009 04:57 PM

In reply to this comment (#2269012)
Hate to say I told you so...

Max Payne SPOILER ALERT!!! (If you stop reading because you don't want Max Payne to be ruined for you, I'm sorry, but the studio already ruined it for you...)

When Beau Bridges' character confesses to having killed Payne's wife, and Marky Mark flashes back to the murder scene and remembers seeing Bridges' reflection in a silver-dollar sized mirror on the baby's mobile! Oh, for *****'s sake!!!
Or how about the mercenary with an assault rifle with a scope, shooting at Marky Mark from above, total of about 30 feet distance, and the merc is off by more than 5 feet! There were better henchmen on the old Batman series!

Biff! Bam! Blort! Kazoo!

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 06:37 PM

Kazoo? Blort? I love that old show.

Anyway, all video game movies are EVIL! When I was 8 years old, I saw "Super Mario Bros.". Being a huge Mario fan (still am) I was VERY excited. Now as a 8 year old I didn't have very good taste, so almost any film I saw I liked. Then I saw THAT. It was the first movie I turned off, turned to my bored parents, and I said "This is so horrible." It was the first movie I reconized a being bad. It scars me to this day. Now, about a decade later, I've only seen worse video game films come into being. Thanks to Evil incarnate, Mr. Uwe Boll.

-apocolyptic-, I see how you could think Metal Gear Solid could make a good movie, kind of like Grand Theft Auto and The Legend of Zelda could seemingly make good films. But since all three series are so GREAT, it would be a crime if they were messed up. You wouldn't wanna see Vin Diesel as Snake, or Zac Efron as Link, would you? WOULD YOU?!... Sorry, lost my cool.

I'm still making quotes from "Death Race". "Merry Christmas, ***hole!"

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Jan 20 2009 06:54 PM

In reply to this comment (#2269244)
A metal gear game would be sweet! Just don't let Paul Anderson (he r*ped nemesis! I'll always hate him for that) or Uwe Bol. I hate their work.

I CAN see a great director, say Nolan or Peter Jackson, potentially making a good video game movie like Metal Gear. Hell, someone has to break this VG curse, it might as well be someone who takes the job seriously.

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 07:30 PM

Igmar Bergman, with Fritz Lang, and Fellini , with Charlie Chaplin, and Martin Scorscece and Steven Spielberg all working together, couldn't break the curse friend. Not that they would do a video game film.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 07:43 PM

In reply to this comment (#2269450)
LOL WHA?!? Didn't you see Anderson's genius Death Race?!? LOL thats is actually his only enjoyable movie, it was pretty funny.

(Reply to this)

Tyrant writes:
on Jan 20 2009 07:54 PM

No i haven't, i heard it was horrible. However, from what I've read about you saying it, sounds like i might get a kick out of it. I'll go rent it tomorrow hehe. Regardless I'll still hate him though! :P

(Reply to this)

tomwaitsjr writes:
on Jan 20 2009 08:53 PM

I hated Repo with a passion.

But, to each there own.

(Reply to this)

-apocolyptic- writes:
on Jan 20 2009 09:27 PM

In reply to this comment (#2269440)

ledawg.....yeah man I can see how someone like Anderson would totally screw up MGS. But if they just took all the cut scenes and put them together and released it to DVD(aside from updating the animation from the first one) it would make for an awesome movie.......probably about 12 hours long.......but still awesome.
And yeah I wouldn't liek to see Vin Diesel do anything, cept maybe apply for unemployment.
Would be completely on board to having David HAyter play Snakes role.

Oddly enough, he kinda sounds like Snake(oh wait I was just watching the beginning credits of MGS and noticed that David Hayter does Snakes voive..........isn't that odd.;)

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 10:10 PM

Well, Snake is so freakin' awesome. So maybe a comtimplation of cutscenes could work... but I'm sure you could find stuff like that on YouTube. In fact, I'm lookin'.

(Reply to this)

-apocolyptic- writes:
on Jan 20 2009 10:19 PM

In reply to this comment (#2269881)
Yeah I thought about just video tape it off my playstations at one point just to see how long it would be.
Procrastination took over though.

(Reply to this)

jokerboy1991 writes:
on Jan 20 2009 11:49 PM

In reply to this comment (#2269450)
LOL I hate Anderson's movies as much as you I am sure, but Death Race was hilarious. It is a so bad its kind of decent. Totally rent it, and watch it with friends.

(Reply to this)

Lawrence M. writes:
on Jan 22 2009 10:30 PM

I WANT TO RENT PAX PAYNE

(Reply to this)

Lawrence M. writes:
on Jan 22 2009 10:31 PM

RENT MAX PAYNE

(Reply to this)

ledawg1138 writes:
on Jan 22 2009 11:59 PM

In reply to this comment (#2274105)
Then just rent it!

(Reply to this)

vitajex writes:
on Jan 23 2009 12:31 PM

In reply to this comment (#2274223)
ledawg!

I find your advice to be dangerously flippant.

Here is a person who is obviously reaching out for help. They are expressing, in no uncertain terms, a desire to cause GRIEVOUS injury to themself.

I suggest we arrange for an intervention on Lawrence M.'s behalf. I'll bring the diet soda and the cattle prod...

(Reply to this)

Flap s. writes:
on Jan 23 2009 01:53 PM

I am watching max payne now..i cant believe how they were able to **** this up! It has nothing to do with the video game. The game played like a movie! Unbelievable. What a dissapointment!

(Reply to this)

Related Links

Max Payne

Related Articles

Most Discussed

Latest News

Latest Interviews

Latest Features

Sponsored Links