After expressing "bewilderment" at specific inconsistencies between the Max Payne games and the recently-released movie adaptation, 3D Realms CEO Scott Miller, whose company produced the game series, has toned down his criticisms.

"To be clear, I'm proud of this film," Miller told Edge in a follow-up statement.

"Making films is much different than making games, because there's a lot more money involved, and a lot more people involved. What often happens is people get involved who do not fully understand the property and therefore try to take it in the wrong direction.

"This often happens when a script is finally approved by the movie studio and handed over to the director, for example.

"At that point, the producers, the writer, and the IP creators have very little influence and just have to hope for the best. Only a few people like Spielberg have cradle-to-grave authority over a project."

Earlier this week, Miller had previously criticized the on-screen representation of Max Payne and other characters, as well as the storyline. John Moore directed the film.

Although critically panned, Max Payne topped the North American box office with $18 million over the weekend, outdoing Oliver Stone's film W.

"It's ... really impressive to me that Max Payne came in number one this weekend," Miller said.

"...What I'm hearing is that the film is doing very well in many other European countries and Australia. This kind of opening brings us a lot closer to the reality of a sequel."

Miller admitted that the film "isn't appealing to everyone," but added that those involved with the making of Max Payne accomplished one of "the best game-to-film efforts we've seen in the industry."

While that might not be saying much in a genre that includes the work of Uwe Boll and theatrical stinkers such as Street Fighter: The Movie and Super Mario Bros., Miller said, "along with the first Tomb Raider, I think it's hard to argue that Max Payne isn't one of the best two adaptations yet."

And despite the shots he took at the film earlier, he threw some credit towards the film's makers.

"Clearly, doing a game-to-film is not easy. And in Max Payne's case, it's a miracle it ever reached the big screen, and a testament to the committed efforts of Scott Faye and Julie Yorn, the two lead producers."

Miller described in vague terms how the odds were stacked up against a Max Payne movie.

"A book could be written on the winding hazard-filled path this project took, through different studios, scripts, and even lawsuits. Not to mention, Rockstar Games, after they bought the IP, made serious attempts, including legal, to try to prevent this movie from being made, and were non-cooperative in providing materials that would help with pre-production."