Max Payne 2008

There's an army of bodies under this river, people who ran out of time, out of friends. I could feel the dead down there, reaching up to welcome me as one of their own. It was an easy mistake to make. - Max Payne

The movie Max Payne is the adaption of the first part of the famous game with the same name, but has a few new characters and a more complex script.

This action movie is the story of the undercover agent Max Payne, whose wife and daughter were brutally killed some years before. He does everything he can to gain revenge on the murderers. Mysterious crimes take place in New York City, which resemble to his family's murder, so Max launches himself into an investigation on his own that takes him in an obscure and supernatural world. Conflicts arise between him and the Police Department, the local mafia and with a famous pharmaceutical company. On his crusade, Max meets Mona Sax, who decides to fight at his side, wishing to revenge her sister's suspicious death.

The talented Mark Wahlberg plays Max Payne, the role being quite fit for him, while Mila Kunis stars as Mona Sax. The award winner Beau Bridges brings B.B. Hensley's character to life, while Famous Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, who starred in Hustle and Flow and Crash, plays Jim Bravura. Olga Kurylenko, Amaury Nolasco and Chris O'Donell also co-star in the film.

Like any other movie, it has its pros and cons. Some viewers only recommend it to those who have some knowledge of the game, otherwise those who haven't played it might not fully comprehend what is going on. The soundtrack and sound effects were given thumbs up, while the director's decision to stay faithful to the game and at the same time make it as good as possible was congratulated. Director John Moore managed to keep it much like the game and at the same time give it a special touch.

It is rated PG-13 for violence including intense shooting sequences, drug content, some sexuality and brief strong language, as expected.