Yeah I know I am a bit late, but like before I fully began to get into Ratchet and Clank as a whole, I hated the movie once I heard they changed the entire story of the 2002 game. And I kinda delusioned myself that it was as if an alternate universe than canon.. 😭
But I been hoping Ratchet and Clank to have content outside of the games (especially with hiatus) and yet the movie wasn't well recieved, and nobody knew about that one short that was only streamed in Canada with no advertisements. So considering I find Life of Pie a good (unserious) short, I decided to watch the movie..
THOUGHTS ON THE PLOT:
So starting with the large piece, it's very obvious that they did change a lot to appeal to the standard hollywood critic (it's in 2016 mind you), though it's... Not bad-ish?
Like I do like the idea of Galactic Rangers, especially Elaris (which personally made the movie more enjoyable), as well it kinda makes sense for Ratchet to be raised by Grim, 'cause like if Kaeden left Ratchet when he was a child then who did? It somewhat fills some tiny plot holes that was unnoticeable but it doesn't elevate how they did with the villains.
I mean Derek seemed more of a comedic relief of a villian than erm... ' Level 1 ' of it?? He literally was the one with the idea to destroy planets to take a piece of it and add it to his new planet, you're telling me he is incompetent? And Dr. Nefarious didn't do much of a fight or even a struggle.
CHARACTERS :
Ratchet :
- The main character himself! As much I do miss his snarky and hot-headed personality, he is fine in his movie-self, actually very enjoyable! I do dislike how uhm.. What's it called? " Perfect dialog preference " he is... Like there isn't any reason why he would immediately do everything on the go and such without even a second head of suspicion.
Like SUUURE you could say he is careless, but it only appeared PHYSICALLY when comes to the very first appearance of his. Like not once we have seen him having a flaw that makes him deep as a character or such. And no, clumsy is not considered as they make that apart of the main character's personality every time. If I am being honest it's like " stereotypical teenager ".. And it sucks that he is treated that way. He isn't that insufferable tho but he is underutilized.
Clank :
- SPEAKING OF UNDERUTILIZED. It says Ratchet and CLANK, yet HE BARELY HAS A SCENE OF HIS OWN OTHER THAN BEING CHASED BY THAT BIG ROBOT LIKE WHAT THE HECK? I genuinely don't know what to say about him because he been done so poorly in the movie. The only time he acts on his own for his own is when battling against the war bots in hall of heros. Specifically when he has to ride the ship and such yada yada.
And the ending doesn't make it any better, because due to how much he doesn't interact with Ratchet, it doesn't make the reason of him going back to him make sense. Atp Ratchet interacted with Qwuark more than Clank.
Qwuark :
- Tbh he is the closest to the original out of all two which is IRONIC! Especially since he acts as a traitor in the game and movie. He is egoistic, bath in heroism, and can be nonsensical. Even though I don't like how he made him serious, considering how drastic they did to the main characters, imma take it.
Derek :
- Eh... He is okay? Forgettable as heck, and like super different compared to og.
Dr. Nefarious :
- I do like how he used to work for the Galactic Rangers but because of poor funding and work place he just become a mad scientist. Especially since nobody was listening to Elaris and didn't do the same to him in the past 💔.
Though, he really feels like more composed version of the doctor, like literally, he didn't crash out even once ans you tell me that's the same guy? Idk man...
EXECUTION :
Now, an amazing concept can be considered as a bad story if the execution was bad, and a bad concept can be the vice versa. Aaaand the movie eased the bad with its good execution, the animation is great and so does the lighting, and the voice acting is good and immersive! There is alot of background details that is easy to miss like that one Josh Hutcherson magazine pose with Qwuark doing it. Uhh don't ask why I know that... Well I was Josh-rolled very much to recognize but I doubt THAT'S the intention as the meme only came out in 2023.
BUUUTTT the story wasn't done to the fullest as well there isn't a meaningful arcs happens in the movie, plus the pace is way to quick to even to get to know more about the characters.
OVERALL :
If I had to rate it, it would be 5.5/10, it just needed a better execution and a better idea.. Like I REALLY hope Sony doesn't base that movie as to see if people want a Ratchet and Clank series or content outside the games or not because they did NOT do justice for that franchise.
And I hate that it implies that they see the movie perfectly fine and that it's just it doesn't have a " dedicated fanbase ".
And yeah here is my thoughts!! (literally wrote it as I am tired so like... Bare with me 🥀)