Video games that are made into movies

[ColeBarrett]

Just looking for the thoughts and opinions of my fellow gamers on Video Games that are translated to the big screen? for instance, what apporach do you think Hollywood should take before undertaking such a difficult task ( as proven by past attempts ). Some constructive points/counter points would be appreciated...

I for one think Hollywood should poll gamers on what they (the consumer!) think a games movie translation should be like, not what they think gamers want to see, b/c clearly they have missed the mark. Especially with today's games having solid movie quality scripts for story and dialogue why oh why do they scrap it???
I understand they dont just want to repeat the exact same story ( for fear that since gamers know it so well, they wont spend the $10-$14 to see it and we know profit is the only drive for them to make these movies )but why drop the concept and main plot/story of the game?
Another thing, if you have a good script and plenty of action/suspense/intrigue/mystery/comedy (depending on what game your translating) you dont need an A-List Celeb (with their $20+ million salary ) taking away from the overall budget that will weaken the film. Ive heard too many grumbles from people about how it had great visuals but lame story, or great story but nobody that could act. or its Uwe Boll/ M night shamalama-ding dong directing the film(insatnt death to films ) Just some solid actors and maybe a few well knowns/likable folks will be enough to draw people in.Especially right now, when there are a lot of young up-n-comers in the field who yet dont command the outrageous salaries of the upper tier.
Has Hollywood lost touch with its audience or do they just have very low opinions of gamers??

I have more to add but im curious on your thoughts?? plus I dont want to make this thing too long that no one will read it...ha

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Either employ the people who made the game originally to help write the script or just stop making movies based on games.

 

[theComposer]

I think the key is to not just rip off the plot of a game and make it into a movie. The storytelling capacities of the mediums are just to different for such a callous approach. Use the setting of the game world, maybe some of the major or minor characters, but come up with a new story that takes place around the game's plot. This way it's tied in with the game, but gives directors/writers/producers the creative freedom to do what they want without desecrating the source material and angering fans.

 

[Veylon]

They should keep to the spirit and take the core concepts seriously. Maybe make it a little darker in tone, if necessary, but in the same spirit. An example would be the first Ninja Turtles movie (since I can't come put any good game moviees). Or maybe the Sonic Sat AM cartoon.

A major problem is that most game franchises are built around a character who often has little to no personality, character, or even a voice. Mario, Link, the DOOM guy, Master Chief, Gordon, Simon Belmont. Just having an actor portray the character will immediate antagonize a big chunk of the fan base, regardless of what they do. Should Link be a warrior badass? A shy, reluctant hero? A canny jokester?

Next problem is the setting. Many video games, especially older ones, took place somewhere utterly and completely insane. Trying putting the Mushroom Kingdom on film. Or the Casino Zone. There's the difficult task of explaining the setting to the audience without it being crazy or boring.

Then, after that, there's the plot. Try to cram a Final Fantasy game into two hours. Try to stretch Castlevania into 90 minutes. Much of the stuff that happens in a game makes little sense in a movie. Powerups are a staple of games and provide a lot of variety, but in a movie they're ridiculous, except maybe for picking up an enemy gun.

Whatever is decided to do, it has to all out. No fourth-wall breaking nonsense. The tag line for the Superman movie was that "You will believe a man can fly." A video game movie might as well have it be "You will believe that this happens". Simon Belmont has to be serious with his whip, Samus has to be a bounty hunter, and Sonic has to run real, real fast. And they all have to act as though it's all real and what they're doing is worthwhile and important.

So it's understandable that something like the Mario Brothers movie was made. What were they going to do otherwise, have Mario and Luigi crawl through bright green pipes, stomp mushrooms on free-floating brick platforms, and kick turtle shells at giant beetles? Incinerate carnivorous foliage with flaming flowers? If they were, they'd have to be able to turn batshit insane into badass and that's a hard sell to anyone, especially someone you want millions of dollars from.

 

[ultrachicken]

The only way to make a good video-game movie would be to use the story of a franchise with a large universe, like Halo, Mass Effect, TES, etc.

That way you don't have to conform to the original plot of the game entirely, but still can stay in the same universe and rack in cash from brand recognition.

 

[Yoav Sterer]

really i think that the game they are making a movie about makes the difference. a protoype move would be AWESOME

 

[Pyode]

I think the key is to not just rip off the plot of a game and make it into a movie. The storytelling capacities of the mediums are just to different for such a callous approach. Use the setting of the game world, maybe some of the major or minor characters, but come up with a new story that takes place around the game's plot. This way it's tied in with the game, but gives directors/writers/producers the creative freedom to do what they want without desecrating the source material and angering fans.

This. This. This. This. This.

Why do so few movie makers not understand this.

Say what you want about the original Resident Evil movie, but at least they got this one aspect of it right.

Tell a new story set in the game universe (a prequel, a sequel, a side story, whatever). That way, not only do you sidestep the problem Composer pointed out of having to translate the story into a new medium, but you don't risk telling the original fans the abridged version of a story they already know (and telling it wrong on top of that). Instead, the fans get to experience an entirely new aspect of a universe they already love.

It will also make the universe more accessible to newcomers to the franchise who won't know all the details that will inevitably have to be cut when you try to make a 90 minute movie out of a 6-20 hour game.

Everyone wins.

 

[Mr.Amakir]

The Postal movie was an entertaining flick. It captured the humor from the games but managed to make a story that fits well into a movie. It is the only Uwe Boll that was actually enjoyable and i would say that Postal is way better as a movie than a game.