It's a good thing that most video game film adaptions have been horrible, because instead of getting my hopes up in anticipation of Max Payne, I was prepared for the pile of shit that would attempt to pass for a decent movie. Looking back, Silent Hill wasn't all that bad, and the first Resident Evil was ok, but overall I still haven't seen a single adaption that really brought the game to life. They all set you up for a major let down and never stay true to the original game that gave life to the movie in the first place. At least this time knowing full well that the $10 I just spent would have been better saved for a new game allows me to walk away feeling sane, rather than attempting to maim the first director I can find in a storm of rage... and boy am I glad my expectations were low going in.

First of all, what were they trying to accomplish here? A good video game adaption, or a good action flick for someone off the street? Either way, the result that they got was a half assed attempt to please both, and as far as I'm concerned, you cannot please both groups! Every time you hear a director saying that they would love to make the movie as accessible as possible, you can translate that as their attempt to totally destroy any connection with the original story. And why is this? Is the audience that stupid that they can't understand what is going on, yet gamers had no problem with it? Sin City did this perfectly and adapted the film directly off of the comic, pleasing die hard fans, and bringing in a new audience. So, why can't this happen with games, and even better, Max Payne the game is presented IN COMIC STRIP FORMAT! Fucking hell....

Regardless if you're adapting the first or second game, both present a fully flushed storyline with excellent characters, a great music score, plenty of dialog, and amazing film noir atmosphere. But why use any of these elements, the director knows best, right? WTF. NO. The movie uses maybe 10% of the game material, and even when it does it's for a completely different purpose. Jack Lupino, the Mafia crime boss? Nope. He's a dumb as shit ex-military Aesir test subject high on steroids and Valkyr. Vinnie Gognitti, a main character in not one, but both games? Uh no. He's not even in the movie except for a name on a sign! Mona Sax, the sexy, yet mysterious assassin? She's now Russian and plays an absolutely useless role in the movie. Jim Bravura, the cranky old white guy police chief? He's now black and works for internal affairs trying to bring in Max. Vladimr Lem? Nope. The Inner Circle and Alfred Woden? Try again. Nicole Horne, the uber bad gal who is the whole point of the game???? Try two scenes that have no pivotal role. And finally, Max Payne, the DEA officer who will do nothing to get revenge for his family? He's now a depressed and quiet cold case worker that hides in his office, acts somewhat confused constantly, has nothing to do with the Mafia, and my favorite, takes Valkyr, the drug he has sworn to destroy! Holy shit, you could not fuck the story more if you tried.

And where did this whole psychological demon thing come from? Every time someone takes Valkyr they are mysteriously killed and chased by winged demons, including Max! Who the hell came up with that? *sigh* I just can't understand why the developers don't use all the pieces that are handed to them. The number one piece of the game that makes it Max Payne would probably be the film noir style narration. It's goes throughout the entire game and gives it a sense of atmosphere and depth. Not only did they completely leave that out, but the two seconds of it's in the first minute is horrible compared to what Max usually says. Why not just use the lines from the game!? And where's the theme song? Was it that hard to include it, somewhere? The music absolutely sucks and definitely could have benefited from the game soundtrack.

Grrr, this movie really pissed me off. Such a waste of a great story. It is such a departure from the original games that they would have been better off calling it by a different name. Max Payne the movie should have been an action packed cross between Shoot Em Up and Sin City, with Clive Owen kicking ass, but was instead a boring mystery movie with dull characters and bad acting. Mark Wahlberg is the farthest thing from Max Payne.