Tag Archives: Sonic the Hedgehog

Dec 21 2024

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Is The Perfect Sendoff To My Childhood!

About four years and two movies ago, as well as a spinoff show later, the Sonic Cinematic Universe looks to be at its absolute peak with the latest film Sonic the Hedgehog 3. I would consider myself as a lifelong Sonic fan, and despite his many failures and flops, I’ll always hold a special space in my heart for this franchise. That being said, when Sonic the Hedgehog was released on Valentine’s Day of 2020, I’ll admit that I was beyond ecstatic that the blue blur had finally made it to the big screen; it was far from a great movie, but it was good enough to call a success, and Paramount Pictures agreed to give the franchise a second movie. About a month before the release of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Paramount Pictures officially announced that a third Sonic movie would begin production shortly after the second movie, along with a logo reveal which got fans speculating on what the post-credits scene for the second movie could be. The top two contenders came down to Metal Sonic or Shadow, and it ended up being Shadow, which got many fans like me excited for where Paramount would take the Sonic franchise. I’ll admit that upon the premature announcement of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, I was worried that Paramount would jump the shark and go too crazy, losing general audiences and causing the movie universe to end short, but after watching Sonic the Hedgehog 3, I can confidently say that I fully trust Paramount to handle the delicate nature of the Sonic franchise. By the way, Sonic 2 was amazing, so I thought it would be impossible to top that movie as THE Sonic movie.

I was wrong! Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a pure love letter to the video game Sonic Adventure 2 and its many loyal fans. At the time of watching this movie, I had literally just turned 18, so technically the first thing I did as an adult was watch one of the best releases of the Sonic franchise, yes, games included. Rewinding a bit, 2024 has been an amazing year for Sonic the Hedgehog, or rather Shadow instead. 2024 saw SEGA dubbing it “The Fearless Year of Shadow” in which Shadow would get a lot of excellent spotlights, ranging from the incredible mini-animated series Shadow Generations: Dark Beginnings and the follow up video game Shadow Generations, which I would call my favorite Sonic game (as I’m writing this, I have this game’s soundtrack on loop, currently playing “What I’m Made Of…”). It is safe to say that this year was easily the best idea SEGA has had for the franchise in years, and how else could you end the year of Shadow than releasing the Shadow movie?  I will split this review into non-spoilers, and then spoilers, but I will indicate when the shift is.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 begins with Shadow (voiced by Keanu Reeves) waking up from a 50-year-long stasis and fleeing from Prison Island, an iconic level from the video game, Sonic Adventure 2. We cut to Team Sonic, made up of Sonic (voiced by Ben Schwartz), Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) and Tails (voiced by Colleen O’ Shaughnessy) doing a friendly race which leads to a surprise party in honor of Sonic’s “B-earth-day”, the day Sonic came to Earth in the first film. This party is cut short as the Guardian Units of Nations (G.U.N.) sends a helicopter and requests Team Sonic’s immediate assistance with a rogue alien causing havoc in Tokyo, that alien being Shadow.

That’s enough plot exposure for now, let’s talk about the movie more in depth, starting with how it compares with the previous installments. The first movie was your generic road trip movie that was heightened by Sonic, and of course the brilliant Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik. With Tails appearing after the credits, the movie left much to be desired, so the second film stepped in and delivered. As Knuckles being the main antagonist working with Dr. Robotnik, Sonic and Tails go on a treasure hunt to locate the Master Emerald and protect it from Robotnik’s clutches. This movie felt more like what a Sonic movie should feel like compared to the first. Now back to Sonic 3; I feel Paramount has peaked with this one, so much so that I’m kind of skeptical if they could top it in the recently announced Sonic the Hedgehog 4. If you liked the second Sonic movie, you would adore this movie; it is epic, emotional, and unapologetically “Sonic”.

The characters of the Sonic movies are, for the most part, good. Jim Carrey keeps up the zany hilarious energy that he delivered in the previous films, and the introduction of his grandfather, Gerald Robotnik (also played by Carrey), elevates this film’s humor. This is where Carrey’s acting peaks in my opinion, having two of him on screen at once leads to some really funny scenes, some even made me laugh out loud. The humor in general is the best this trilogy has seen, with Sonic’s puns all landing this time around, rather than sometimes coming off as annoying or cringe-worthy. On the topic of Sonic, Ben Schwartz’s performance as Sonic the Hedgehog is the best that he has been portrayed in his own movies so far. In the previous movies, sure he was adorable and childish, but compared to how he acts in the games, this Sonic was a laughingstock that had a long ways to go before matching his original video game counterpart.

I can gladly say that Sonic feels more like his video game counterpart and has become less annoying and more serious and cooler while not completely losing his comical and emotional side. Idris Elba and Colleen O’Shaughnessy as Knuckles and Tails thankfully have more to do in this film and have grown as characters too. The second film wants you to believe that Sonic and Tails are immediate best friends, but the film barely portrays that; Sonic 3 makes it more believable that Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles are all best buddies this time around. Finally, Keanu Reeves absolutely crushes it as Shadow the Hedgehog. Upon hearing his voice in the first trailer, I was kind of worried about a lackluster portrayal of the delicate character, but after seeing the movie, I would say it matches the original soul of Shadow. Reeves put forth effort to research the character and delivers cool, emotional, and grim scenes that does the beloved hedgehog justice. Alyla Brown’s loving and caring portrayal of young Maria mixed with Shadow’s quiet and softness leads to adorable and heart clenching interactions that will really touch the audience and make them fall in love with the characters. Also, to those worried about the humans’ involvement with this movie, it centers mainly around Tom and Maddie (Tika Sumpter), and they serve more important roles this time.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s story is also significantly better than the other stories. The first film once again was a road trip, the second was basically a treasure hunt, and while those tropes don’t necessarily lead to bad movies, they can get kind of tired. This story is fast paced and emotional while taking itself more seriously. Having to adapt Sonic Adventure 2 was no easy task, but I would say they did an amazing job while keeping the universe grounded to make it as realistic as possible. One of my only complaints about this movie has to do with pacing of the story, however. The first act throws scenes at the audience at whiplash speed and does not really give them time to swallow what they just saw. This problem fixes itself as the movie goes on, or I just got used to the pacing, but when I say the last 30 minutes of this movie is perfect, I mean it. The climax is genuinely perfect, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it; the story is at the best and the action is unmatched in the third act. Speaking of action, this movie’s action sequences were genuinely top tier, rivaling many iconic fight scenes the franchise has seen. Every scene of conflict is handled to perfection and especially with Sonic fans in mind; let me tell you, my fan-event theater had reactions on the level of Avengers: Endgame to every fight scene in this movie. The action in this movie made me feel like I was watching an anime of the likes of Dragon Ball Z or My Hero Academia, which I felt is what the Sonic games needed the most, just more sick action sequences and fights. Every scene that involves high-speed fights is bound to get Sonic fans on the verge of tears.

Overall, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is a near-perfect Sonic the Hedgehog movie that adapts Sonic Adventure 2 to the big screen in the right way, and I am positively anticipating what comes next for this expansive universe. My theater being a fan-event filled with diehard Sonic fans honestly elevated my viewing experience and hearing everyone’s reaction as they screamed with joy to this movie was amazing. I would rate this movie as a 10/10, and I believe everyone should give this film a try this holiday season. To those who are Sonic and Shadow lovers, buy yourself a ticket and strap in your seatbelts because this movie is wild! This is the part where I delve into spoilers, so if you haven’t watched this movie yet, why are you still here?

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Apr 16 2024

The Post-Superhero Film & TV Era

As we move further into this decade, it is apparent that the superhero era in films and TV shows has ended. We all know about the hurdles many recent superhero films and TV show have faced with diminished quality and profit. Guaranteed would-be hits like The Marvels or The Flash failed spectacularly last year and help cement that the superhero films and TV shows are no longer as popular at they were in the previous decade.

This does not mean that there won’t be anymore superhero films or TV shows or that they will never be popular again. There are several superhero films and TV shows in various stages of development and it is possible that a new era could arise. It has happened before. Back in the early 2000s, superhero films became dominant in films thanks to the success of Spider-Man and X-Men, but they then diminished in quality and several films did not perform well. However, as we all know the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) exploded on the scene and launched an even more successful and popular era of superhero films and TV shows. It is similar to what has happened with the comic books that inspired these live-action films and TV shows.

As comic book fans know, comic books have had their ups and downs throughout history with different ages. When they first came into prominence in the late 1930s they sold very well, but by the mid 1950s comic books declined in popularity and sales until the release of Showcase #4, which revamped the Flash and introduced a new age of comic books. Essentially, the eras come and go in cycles with comic books as they reinvented themselves and there is little reason to doubt this won’t happen with superhero films and TV shows. For all we know this year’s Deadpool & Wolverine will usher in a new age of superhero films and TV shows. Or it may be a while as other genres capture the attention of viewers as they offer a fresh new take on superheroes.

So, until then what genre can replace the superhero films and TV shows in terms of prominence and popularity?

It is too early to tell, but we have a couple of contenders: video game-based properties or monster-based properties.

The MonsterVerse based on giant kaijus like Godzilla and King Kong has proven to be unexpectedly popular, while Godzilla Minus Zero blew away audiences and critics with its high quality and success. There are plans for films based on classic movie monsters like the Wolfman and Frankenstein’s monster, which could fulfill the failed promise of the so-called Dark Universe from ten years ago. The only issue with these monster films is their limited scope in terms of story. It is difficult to make compelling stories that focus on giant monsters while ignoring poorly developed human characters. But it is possible, again look at Godzilla Minus Zero.

On the other hand, video games have provided ample material for filmmakers to mine from. The most popular video games are based on science fiction, horror and fantasy and everything in between. In the past, films based on video games fared poorly as filmmakers were unable to translate what made the games so popular into film.

However, there have been many recent films and TV shows based on video games that were wildly successful and were well received. These include Sonic the Hedgehog, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Five Nights at Freddy’s, The Last of Us, The Witcher, Halo and most recently Fallout. Although the quality and success of these projects varied, it is clear that they are becoming more and more prominent in theaters and in streaming services. These properties are just the tip of the iceberg of available video games that are practically begging to be adapted to live-action. There are plans to produce films and TV shows based on The Legend of Zelda, Death Stranding, Borderlands, Minecraft: The Movie, Metal Gear Solid, Mass Effect and Bioshock. Of course, we will also be getting sequels and new seasons like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, The Last of Us, Knuckles, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. The subject matter of these projects range from alternate history, hard sci-fi, horror and animated cartoons.

Will these films duplicate the success of the MCU and other superhero films and TV shows? It’s hard to say at this point, but do not be surprised if some video-game based property explodes and captures the public zeitgeist. The Super Mario Bros. Movie was able to do this given that it earned over $1 billion when it was released last year. It’s possible that the sequel could earn more money and cement the Mario Brothers as the next big thing. Or maybe it will be some other video game property. The future is wide open for video game-based films and TV shows to dominate the public consciousness.

Apr 10 2022

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Dashes Past The First Film!

[WARNING: SPOILERS WILL FOLLOW]

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is delighting fans of the classic video game franchise during its cinematic premiere this weekend. It is probably the best video game adaptation to the big screen yet. It is full of material straight from the Sega video games Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles (S2&K), which makes the film a bit predictable for diehard Sonic fans, but is still a fun time throughout for all.

The story starts about 8 months after the events of the first film, Sonic the Hedgehog, with Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey, who is as zany as ever playing Sonic’s foe) still stuck on the mushroom planet (a reference to Mushroom Hill Zone from S2&K) escaping with Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba), a big red echidna. Robotnik promises Knuckles that he would take him to Sonic’s (voiced by Ben Schwartz) location on Earth, which ties into Knuckles’ trait of being gulible. Tails (Colleen O’Shaunessey), a two-tailed yellow fox, then arrives on Earth to warn Sonic about Knuckles and the two soon become friends. I won’t be covering the rest of the movie’s plot so that people can have a chance to experience it for themselves, but I will now get into the most interesting easter eggs, which covers MAJOR spoilers for the film, so beware.

The first reference that I loved was when Sonic and Tails was in a bar in Siberia, and Sonic does the iconic “Sonic Adventure” pose while in midair. That moment made my heart jump in excitement, and is one of the many reasons as to why the director Jeff Fowler and the filmmakers clearly care about the source material. The scenes at the bar was also very funny, by the way. The next BIG reference is, of course, Super Sonic and the chaos emeralds. Going into this movie, I would have never expected the inclusion of Super Sonic, but I was so happy they added the golden god into the film. Super Sonic first appeared in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 and quickly becomes a staple for Sonic games, so how could they not include him in this film? The next reference is literally big, The Death Egg Robot! This giant robot first appears in Sonic 2 like Super Sonic, but it is WAY bigger than any form the games include. It was really cool to see this giant robot in the film since, again, its a staple of the Sonic franchise.

Finally, the thing that got me most excited, but kind of worried, about a potential Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is with Shadow in the post credits of this movie. Shadow is a robot made by Dr. Eggman’s uncle Gerald in the Space Colony Ark. His backstory is very complicated, so I won’t get into it here, but that’s what worries me about the third film. They are basicially jumping 5ish games, as well as their characters, which are very important. He was first introduced in Sonic Adventure 2 and rose to be a fan favorite charcter of the franchise. However, I don’t think the story of Sonic Adventure 2 would translate well into a movie, it’s complicated and feels like it would be a weird plot to include in the Sonic films. The plot follows this girl named Maria, who was Robotnik’s granddaughter, and Shadow’s friendship with her. But she is killed by a guard on the Space Colony ARK and now Shadow hates humanity and wants to explode the Earth. The other problem is that the game included a lot of charcters we haven’t seen yet in the films. Amy, the Chao, Omega, Rouge, and Gearld, to name a few. I’m worried that they may jump the gun and go too crazy, but I still have faith in them, so I’m excited.

Overall, as a long-term Sonic fan, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is everything I would have asked for in a Sonic movie. The first just felt like a generic movie with Sonic in it, but the second one feels likes it’s Sonic’s movie, and I love that. It’s way better than Sonic the Hedgehog because that movie walked, but this movie can dash! The first film had to set up our characters so they could go crazy once introductions were out of the way. This movie is full of easter eggs and references to past Sonic games so fans will love it. It is also a fun and action-packed movie so anyone can sit down and enjoy this film. I cannot wait for Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and what it will bring to the table of an already full family of fans.

Angelo Soto

Feb 15 2020

Sonic The Hedgehog Races His Way To The Big Screen

The general rule is that films based on video games are beyond awful; infamous examples include Max Payne or Super Mario Bros. So, when Sonic the Hedgehog was announced most people thought the film would be just as bad and the first trailer that came out last year did not dispute this notion. The design of Sonic was universally panned and fans of the Sega game hero lamented the film was doomed. Well, the filmmakers heard the outcries and went back to the drawing board. Sonic the Hedgehog was redesigned to look like he is supposed to appear but is the film any good? This will come as a surprise, but it actually is a good film.

Sonic the Hedgehog brings the popular Sega character (voiced by Ben Schwartz) to life starting with a brief opening intro taking place on Sonic’s homeworld when he was a child. Pursued by other creatures because of his super speeding powers, Sonic is forced to use these golden rings to teleport to other worlds. At some point, Sonic ends up on Earth and stays hidden while enjoying our culture. However, the alien hedgehog is lonely for company and an accidental overuse of his powers brings him to the awareness of a loony scientist, Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) who wants to capture him. Robotnik’s pursuit forces Sonic to befriend a small-town sheriff, Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) and the film turns into a buddy road picture as Tom helps Sonic to stay one step ahead of the scientist until the alien can teleport to another world.

By no means is the film groundbreaking or something extraordinary. The plot isn’t unique and fairly standard but it serves its purpose. Also, the film is hampered by some humongous narrative flaws where some subplots were brought up then forgotten and some of the developments were very important but then ignored. Be warned there are numerous and in-your-face product placements littering the film. It is what it is so try to ignore them as much as possible.

But Sonic the Hedgehog is highly entertaining and full of character and spirit. The director Jeff Fowler does a very fine job with the material considering this is his first directing job. The relationship between Sonic and his human friend Tom is surprisingly genuine and the heart of the film. The two characters have good banter and chemistry, which was a pleasant surprise. Not every joke lands but a lot of them do as Sonic is a bit of a call back to a Looney Tunes character thanks to skillful voice acting and silly antics. Sonic has a couple of moments that straight up were “inspired” by Quicksilver scenes in the recent X-Men films, but they work well and are highlights.

The actors in the film do a solid job with their roles, while Jim Carrey evoked vintage Jim Carrey with his over-the-top comedic delivery that was best seen in his films during the 90s. Fans of his work should be pleased by this.

More importantly Sonic fans will be delighted and thrilled by Sonic the Hedgehog as it captures the essence and fun of the video games and the film will entertain non-fans. In other words, fun for the whole family and anyone else looking for a brief escape from the outside world. There are several references to the Sonic franchise, including a popular character that appeared during the mid-credits scene, which promised more adventures. This origin film does warrant future sequels and proves that a film based on a video game franchise can work.

*Check out this fan tribute video of the film done by a skilled Sonic fan close to the editor of Starloggers!