The International Trailer for "Max Payne" Starring Mark Wahlberg Will Rock Your Socks

By: Adam Quigley Posted: July 10, 2008 Filed under: Trailers

Being that there is not a single truly great or even notably good video game movie adaptation in existence (although Silent Hill comes close), there is literally no reason to expect that Max Payne will play out any differently. And yet, this international trailer has me as giddy as a schoolgirl on ritalin while hopping on a pogo stick.

My expectations still aren't high from a storytelling standpoint, what with director John Moore having continually failed to impress with such efforts as The Omen, Flight of the Phoenix, and Behind Enemy Lines, but stylistically, I'm loving the look of this film. It's got a gritty yet visually slick downbeat style, playing up the noir aspects of the video game without becoming completely entrenched in it.

Check it out for yourself to see what I mean.

If the YouTube video gets taken down, you can also access it here and here. Other available working links include Hatak, Allocine, and First Showing.

Now, I'm not overly familiar with the video game, so I have to admit being surprised in regards to the inclusion of flying demon creatures. I was under the impression that the Max Payne series was all about hardcore realism, with the exception of lots of slow motion running-and-gunning while leaping through the air (which there is plenty of present in the film's trailer). It actually reminds me of Constantine in a lot of ways, which can either be a good or bad thing depending on your perspective.