‘Tetris’ review: This video game-inspired adventure is a winner

a Tetris The movie sounds like a punchline about how Hollywood has really run out of ideas. The movie it’s based on seems like it should be a bridge too far.And frankly, thisTetris It’s a great method, but it gets a little silly.

Combining its crafting story, which is stranger than fiction, with an impassioned embrace of gaming aesthetics and nostalgia for a wider era, Tetris is a surprisingly smart, silly, and satisfying adventure.

I entered the cynic and came out grinning like an idiot.

Tetris True story of Henk Rogers and Alexey Pajitnov.

Screenplay by Noah Pink Tetris introduces Dutch video game designer Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) in 1988. Tetris at a convention in Las Vegas. He found himself looking at nothing but the future of gaming. As the founder of Bullet-Proof Software, Henk TetrisFor international rights, he is trying to mediate not only with Nintendo, but also with a British company. However, all his efforts and life savings are put in jeopardy when it turns out that the Russian government owns the game and has no intention of playing it fair.

Caught in the cold war crosshairs of this battle of business, politics and shady trading, Tetris Inventor Alexei Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) is a Soviet computer engineer who loves games. What began as his hobby became a viral sensation in his floppy disk days.with that possibility Tetris Pajitnov doesn’t decide who distributes his puzzle games. It’s up to governments that are crumbling at the seams and are increasingly corrupt.

Amidst political intrigue, overly subtle threats from the KGB, and harassment from a bullish British billionaire, Henk and Alexei forge an unlikely friendship, Tetris’will determine the future of

Taron Egerton is just a star Tetris request.

Since most of the film consists of henks hopping from one business meeting to another contract negotiation, Tetris Director John S. Baird faced major obstacles in keeping this seemingly mundane chain of events entertaining. His secret weapon in fighting the threatening boredom of business, business, business is the Welsh actor, kingsmanthe brave underdog of eddie the eagleand the dazzling charisma of Elton John rocket man.(opens in new tab)

right out the gate, Tetris He welcomes us with an innocent smile and a do-it-yourself attitude that oozes from under Egerton’s bushy ’80s deep mustache. It influences the American accent with a frenzied enthusiasm that gently reflects the capitalist expectation that and The undying optimism that fueled American business in this era. The open enthusiasm of Egerton’s persona is key here.While there is an air of Founder”opportunistic businessman (opens in new tab)About him, Genk’s passion Tetris It’s tied not only to his belief in being a hit, but also to his genuine love for the game itself. the game is good.

His enthusiasm is contagious, leading audiences to discover iconic puzzle games and their captivating and addictive wonders for the first time. From his family’s crowded apartment in Tokyo, to his clandestine R&D office for Nintendo in Seattle, to his self-important multimedia office in London, and even to the off-limits government buildings in Moscow, Genk has traveled all over the world. flying around When the tension builds and turns into a deadly gamble, Egerton’s charm transforms from a lure to a flotation device, guaranteed to see through us with confident eyes.

Tetris It comes to life with game elements.

Another major tool for maintaining Tetris Even as you come across a quagmire of business and corruption, what’s moving and enjoyable is how Baird works with the elements of the game. I’m here. The chapter title introduces “The Player”, complete with his 8-bit avatars of Henk, Alexei, and their friends and foes. Standard setting shots of places like the convention center and Hank’s house are replaced with 8-bit illustrations when the new “chapter” title cards are introduced. Elsewhere, subtitles use fonts that recall the sharp lines of ’80s video games, and the music blaring in underground clubs embraces the brutality and sheer fun of Western culture at the time. When you lock out to “The Final Countdown” on(opens in new tab) I dare you not to bop along.

Elsewhere in the soundscape, sound effects drawn from old-school games replace real sounds, such as pinging footsteps, to bring zing to simple actions. Animation of falling blocks appears as a dreamy overlay as Genk poetically talks about the magic of blocks. Tetris game. All this contrasts with the grey, cold, concrete world of Moscow, where things are bleak and utterly devoid of glamor. Tetriscolorful graphics and frenetic scores.

This bizarre juxtaposition culminates in the climactic car chase scene. Tetris game music. Ridiculous! That’s stupid! It’s glorious! The car itself bursts out of metal reality and transforms into an 8-bit automobile. Rather than lower the stakes on this escape attempt, Baird’s playful flamboyance is a visual reminder of what Henk and Alexei are racing towards. It’s a dream to share our vision with the world, to break down the barriers of what is and what is possible, and to eliminate the boring boredom of our everyday life, 8 bits at a time!

Style and star power can’t smooth everything out TetrisHowever, it has a rough edge. Despite Baird’s best efforts, the second act gets a little bogged down in a scene away from his two heroes. These sequences draw the line between the film’s heroic dreamers and the greedy, callous business antagonists. These villains are a drug because they are firm stereotypes of greed, entitlement, and cynicism. These numbers are another element of his ’80s, glorifying the decade’s vices, but they have a little effect on characters like that. But Baird has a long way to go. That means repeating the same punch lines and poses over and over.

not yet, Tetris A much better movie than I dared hope for. As expected from the Game Boy generation, I loved games. Indeed, the trailer teased a sense of self-aware wit, playing this Cold War thriller like a zany comedy. Still, I had my doubts. Tetris It seems ridiculous. Despite my reservations, I cannot deny that this biography is downright enjoyable.

At times, Baird struggles to balance Henk’s capricious enthusiasm with the cunning intensity of the Soviet spies. Tetris It’s a thrilling rampage filled with humor, heart and an athletic message of hope.

Tetris Reviewed from World Premiere at SXSW Film Festival(opens in new tab)The film will be released on Apple TV+ on March 31st.