Okay, looks like we've got some more info
from someone who saw the test screenings of the movie:
- They consider the movie a solid 7/10 and describe it as "2014's TMNT but good".
- The movie has good character development on Tom, Sonic and Robotnik.
- Sonic and Tom have a great relationship, their chemistry is good and their friendship is very believable.
- They consider this relationship the best aspect of the movie.
- There are plenty of references.
- Unlike similar Live Action CGI hybrids (TMNT, Smurfs and Alvin and the chipmunks), the focus remains on Sonic, the main character.
- Sonic is really cute in the movie, he starts off very shy and awkward but as the movie progresses he learns and develops into his loveable cocky self.
- The cinematography is stunning and the action scenes are really good, even if the CGI and effects were unfinished back then.
- There is a great action scene that pays homage to SA 2.
- There is also a shot by shot recreation of an iconic SA 1 scene.
- When Sonic and Robotnik comes face-to-face for the first time in their lives, the movie takes a second to breathe. It's a really well-done and epic scene that actually gives chills.
- There is apparently an awesome action scene on a highway.
- Ben Schwartz nails his performance as Sonic.
- The movie has plenty of heart and is very wholesome.
- The cast is great and so is the acting.
- It's overall lots of fun.
Negatives:
- The pacing is kinda clunky at the beginning (mostly the events that lead to Sonic being sent to earth), however, it improves significantly throughout the movie.
- Some of the serious moments get interrupted by jokes (this is only sometimes)
- The chemistry between Tom and Nan is kind of weird and they didn't interact enough
- The worldbuilding was alright, but it needed more.
- Some gags are a little forced.
- Could have used more action scenes.
Trivia:
- The movie is more of an "Adventure comedy" than "Action Adventure"
- Adam Pally's plays Tom's coworker (Wade Whipple). He has some funny lines and does something very useful for Tom at some point. He's a Cool Dude TM
- The "Campfire scene" is listed as a positive
- There is no toilet humor
- There is, however, a hedgehog mating joke.
- Sonic being able to dodge missiles but not a tranq dart it's not an inconsistency, it's part of his character development.
- There is a very dark scene in the movie.
- The movie ends with a cheesy gag, very 90's
- Frank C. Turner's character is indeed named "Crazy Carl"
- Sonic is their favourite character in the movie because of his character development, but Robotnik brings the most laughs (specially through slapstick)
- Tom wife's name is Annie, Nan is her nickname.
- Sonic has does hedgehog things like curling into a ball when he's scared.
- The relationship between Sonic, Tom and Nan is more friendship than found family.
- Sonic does NOT have sex and is not sexualized in any way
- The post credits scene hints at a sequel.
- Robotnik does become a threatening villain, but it takes time.
- Sonic's feet are alluded to, but never shown
- The trailer pretty much undersells the movie and the music choice, while fits what Sonic listens to, doesn't fit the movie at all.
- Sonic does the floss dance immediately after saying "Is that all you've got?"
- The name "Eggman" is never used.
- Agent Stone is funny and fawns over Robotnik
- There is only one product placement (probably the shoes)
- They actually consider the movie better than Detective Pikachu.
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
Not even one hint of Sonic's friends?
The most consistent thing I've seen from people who liked the movie were them not being Sonic fans, which makes me wonder how Sonic fans will take it. XD; I also wonder if the owl in Sonic's backstory is anthropomorphic or not. I remember seeing that only Sonic and Robotnik would be featured, like a sort of prequel to the first game, so that doesn't surprise me.
Edited by lalalei2001 on Aug 16th 2019 at 2:40:54 AM
The Protomen enhanced my life.
Disasturbator
Siiiiiiiiiiiip
This sounds pretty interesting overall.
Also, the issue with just throwing his friends in immediately is they can't develop if too many are there. Focusing on just Robotnik and Sonic is a good way to start it off. A sequel could introduce more characters and worldbuild better. Robotnik isn't the only villain in the series. Though until I see the ending, it'd be hard to say if Robotnik could return or not.
Besides that, they could take the route of the Comics and have Eggman and Robotnik as separate people too. Never mind that technically speaking, they do have actually 3 versions of Eggman/Robotnik overall. Gerald Robotnik, Dr. Ivo Eggman Robotnik, and Eggman Nega. There's a lot of ways it could go. A future evil Eggman who has even less morals(Eggman Nega), Gerald returning with a different storyline(unrelated to Shadow, or maybe just changing Shadow's backstory). That's not counting other various characters likes Chaos, etc. that Eggman usually awakens. There's a lot they can do.
The lack of toilet humor should be interesting. The jokes should be fun since they're keeping it a bit more highbrow humor. Or apparently are.
...It's weird having so many websites and no way to properly display now, lol.
I don’t mind it because unless you’re In Medias Res, conceptually all of them are “the story is already ongoing” characters who would have to appear after the origin story.
Tails, for example, is a kid who was inspired by Sonic’s example and became a hero to a Sonic that was already in existence. I could see him showing up in a first movie if it was from his point of view, and I’m kind of surprised they didn’t allude to him in a post-credits scene or something, but I don’t mind him not being the movie proper yet if it’s supposed to be all about Sonic’s start. And of all the friends, if you don’t start with Tails you’re doing something wrong.
On the other hand...
Yay!
Uuurgh...
"The difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to make sense." - Tom Clancy, paraphrasing Mark Twain.
Not a cat
Re: Not even one hint of Sonic's friends?
If you're referring to Tails and Knuckles, they weren't in the first video game, so it kinda makes sense they wouldn't be in this one.
If I had a nickel for every film where Emma Stone falls off a balcony... I'd only have two nickels, but weird that there's two of them.
I'm Sad Frogerson.
Yep, it's important to spend a two hour movie setting up the plot to the first game. A game with a plot so intricate, layered, and complex that it's summarized in only four sentences on its Wikipedia page.
In all honesty, do we really need to wait for a sequel to set-up Tails and his friendship with Sonic? I feel you can cover that in a single flashback and audiences would be up to speed.
If you’re doing it in a flash back, then you’re not doing a story about Sonic’s origin, you’re doing a story well after that in which you want to rush through his origin rather than show it.
Also, flashbacks are a crutch.
But either way, that’s why I said in a different kind of story, Tails would make sense to show up, but in the story they chose to tell it’s not really an issue not to have him. Tails, by definition, enters the plot because Sonic is already established. It’s like how Robin shouldn’t be in a Batman origin movie, and a Robin like Tim Drake especially shouldn’t.
Edited by KnownUnknown on Aug 16th 2019 at 6:02:54 AM
"The difference between reality and fiction is that fiction has to make sense." - Tom Clancy, paraphrasing Mark Twain.
Well yeah. But villain options are either him or the Deadly Six. And we know how everyone feels about the Deadly Six. lol
I'm Sad Frogerson.
We can't all be lucky enough to see Wendy Witchcart in a Sonic film. Maybe someday... someday...
The King Without a Kingdom
Yeah, I'm starting to think more and more that they intentionally made Sonic look ugly as shit to start with to get people interested in the movie.
It's been 3000 years…
I wouldn't mind if they pulled a Sonic Heroes and had Metal Sonic as Big Bad of a film. Like, Robotnik creates him, but he goes Ultron turns out to be more than Robotnik can handle and - twist - becomes the big villain of the film.
Lets not forget the times Eggman released something and it backfires on him.
And his evil(ler) descendant/alternate counterpart Nega.
Every accusation by the GOP is ALWAYS a confession.
You know, on the topic of the Sonic movie, after seeing the trailer I was compelled to create a comic based on the whole affair, which I recently dubbed with some friends. Check it out: https://youtu.be/beK4nZU59YU
Mighty No. 51345
If they wanted the real villain of the Sonic series in a movie, they'd throw in Ken Penders.
But seriously, this still doesnt sound good. It sounds like they're giving Tails' narrative to Sonic as an origin.
Mega Man fanatic extraordinaire
Down with the Privileged🪓
Eh, as hollywood adaptions go it could be a lot more twisted. I'll take it.
Holy god though all breaths held for the redesign reveal.
Bleye knows Sabers.
Disasturbator
> You know, on the topic of the Sonic movie, after seeing the trailer I was compelled to create a comic based on the whole affair, which I recently dubbed with some friends. Check it ou
Why is a comic on youtube?
Edited by Ultimatum on Aug 17th 2019 at 11:19:12 AM
New theme music also a box
Mighty No. 51345
I think the mention of dubbing explains that. They put voices to it.
Mega Man fanatic extraordinaire
So it seems the trailer wasn't a good representation of the actual movie if those test screeners are to be believed.
Not really surprising.
I still want to see what the new look for Sonic is.
Disasturbator
sonic's new look is a guy dressed as a blue hedgehog
New theme music also a box
Not gonna lie, I would totally watch that.
...well there goes at least half of this movie's audience.
Already I like this movie's writers more than the current writers for the games. Jesus if this movie turns out to be more entertaining than the past 3-4 Sonic games I am going to lose it.
Edited by Soble on Aug 17th 2019 at 8:50:46 AM
I'M MR. MEESEEKS, LOOK AT ME!
If they didn't try and convince paramount it was a bad design in the first place it's their own fault.
Bleye knows Sabers.