Videogame movie adaptations

[Johnny Novgorod]

To all those wondering why videogames are looked down on as trashy time wasters, have you considered videogame movies have a lot to do with the medium's infamy? Most adaptations are either generic and mediocre - yet ultimately reliable - like Tomb Raider, Max Payne and Hitman, or shitty B-stuff like Uwe Boll's thing or the latter day Resident Evils & Silent Hills. To everyone who doesn't play games, let alone the source material, this is what games are all about: over the top action movies where you get to shoot the guns yourself.

I'm doing all this brainstorming because I watched the Need For Speed movie this weekend and I left the theater thinking the exact same thing I had walked in with: isn't it just a racing movie with a recognizable brand name stamped on it for added appeal? I know some NFS games have actual plot, conflict and characters, but if you're going to make an NFS movie that is "based on the franchise", all you have are cars to go on. And then what? You could replace The Fast and the Furious 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 with "Need For Speed" and the claim of being based on the videogame would be just as valid.

Don't you think videogame movie adaptations do games a disservice by portraying them as mere source material for bland, over the top action movies? Or, to a lesser extent, horror movies that behave no differently than other horror movies? Wouldn't it be nice to have a videogame movie that actually has something to say about itself and videogames, rather than just mimic crap action/horror movies with complete disregard to its own inherent appeal? So far all movies that have paid any kind of respect or observation towards videogames have been ABOUT videogames rather than directly based on them... Wreck it Ralph, Scott Pilgrim, even Her to a certain extent.

So what do you think about videogame movie adaptations? Can you envision a good movie that would adapt the gaming medium in ways that we've never seen, or are they just reliable brand names for sale - and you're OK with it?

PS I'd do a poll about what's your favorite videogame movie adaptation but there's more than just 8 so feel free to comment about it.

 

[Drummodino]

I liked Silent Hill, it was a decent horror flick. I haven't played the games though.

I think there are two big challenges with adapting a video game to the big screen.

1. Condensing a 10-20 hour game into 1.5 to 2.
2. The removal of user input.

The first point is something many book adaptations face as well - there simply isn't enough room in a movie for everything, so you have to cut stuff out (e.g. Tom Bombadil). Fans will almost certainly get angry about it, and if done poorly the movie's plot will suffer. It's impossible to include all the cutscene content, some regular action AND boss fights, something has to give.

The second point is the big one for me. The first can be overcome with skilled writers and directors, but the second can't. This is why I think video game fans react poorly to a lot of movies. In games, you are part of the story, sometimes almost literally (e.g. Fallout NV, Mass Effect), and sometimes indirectly (e.g. The Last of Us, Assassin's Creed). In a movie, it is no longer you involved, you're just watching someone else. I'd rather be playing the game and getting involved personally than watching it play out completely out of my control.

To use a personal example, I'm not going to watch The Last of Us movie unless it's getting something like Oscar buzz. This is because over the 18 hours I played that game I slowly developed a bond with the characters and learned more about the world. Playing as Joel and Ellie immersed me completely, and by the end I genuinely cared for Ellie and him. Would I get the same reaction from a two hour film just playing out in front of me instead of in my hands? It seems unlikely, it would just seem like another generic zombie story of a man protecting a girl.

Maybe it's my own bias showing through since I prefer games to movies, but that's why I think adaptations almost never work. If they take some new characters and a new plot and put it in the same world? That would be much better for me as you're not tied down by the source material and have much more freedom to work with. A direct adaptation though? No thank you, I'll just go play the game.

 

[shogunblade]

MY MOVIE SENSE IS TINGLING!

If you want a videogame movie about videogames, I think Wreck it Ralph is the closest thing to that benchmark, while also not being inherently about videogames, just using a universe in which characters exist. Scott Pilgrim is less about videogames as much as its about the minutiae and pop culture references video games can provide to stem inspiration and idea. It's Quentin Tarantino of the video game era, but with more creativity in it than just constant spouting of video games.

I think it is all in the scripting, honestly. One of my favorite video game movies is Street Fighter, and as much as that movie fails (but I still love it to death, bought it on Blu-Ray literally the other day), it tries its hardest, due in no small part to its director/writer, to try and craft a video game movie that feels just a little bit more, say, deeper, while acknowledging that it is still a video game movie.

The way the film cuts back and forth between the hostages and the war-torn Shadaloo civilians in a very brief scene tries to make a better attempt than many do to make something resembling less an action movie and more something serious, though it ends up becoming an action movie after the 1st act.

Videogame movies have to be observed to be as much as any novel can just translated into a movie, something will differ in the translation, but in the end you have to say whatever you can in whatever way possible. I think a VG Movie has to follow a certain genre, just as any movie has to follow a set genre, and differing from it, you will get the diehard fans complaining about it, and nonfans becoming utterly confused by it.

There can be a flow, and sometimes I think I have it pinned down with certain games (if anyone asked my opinion about to make a videogame movie work), but then something happens in a movie and fails to meet my standards. There will be a better videogame movie someday, but for right now, it's more of a pipe dream, and everything so far has to be just a "Guilty Pleasure".

 

[Casual Shinji]

You might also wanna check out eXistenZ by David Cronenberg. It has fleshy game consoles and everything.

OT: Here's the thing about game-to-movie adaptations; Opposed to something like comic-to-movie or book-to-movie, you're not adding anything to the experience, you're only subtracting something; Interactivity. Videogames can usually get away with having a dodgy story and/or characters, because the interactivity will pick up the slack. Without that, all we're left with is usually a watered down version of a better movie. Even classics like Silent Hill will ultimately feel like a Jacob's Ladder rip-off. And I'm sure I don't even have to mention Mass Effect.

Also, with good games anyway, the interactivity is generally the biggest reason why we love these worlds and characters. Because we get to interact with them and share their adventures so intimately. That's why the very mention of a Shadow of the Colossus movie is such a slap in the face. The entire emotional journey in that game was achieved through gameplay.

The irony of it all is that most of these game-to-movie adaptations are made seemingly so that they can earn the respect of Hollywood, only to end up getting less respect then if they had been presented in their original medium.

 

[kilenem]

Well if you look at Marvel they didn't get comic book movies right until 1998 with Blade. Plus DC didn't do that great in the 90's either so. It takes a lot of trail and era to get movie adaptations correct.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

You might also wanna check out eXistenZ by David Cronenberg. It has fleshy game consoles and everything.

I saw it, I'd forgotten about it. I liked it even if it was just a re-skin of Videodrome with games instead of TV.

I'm keen for the Assassins Creed movie. Solely for the Fassbender.

Who is he playing though? Desmond?

 

[MXRom]

As long as they aren't directed by Uwe Boll I don't care.

 

[senordesol]

Watch some fan-made short films adapting or 'inspired by' video games, and you'll see a lot of brilliant material, actually.

So, no, I'd argue that games are not done a disservice by having their material adapted to another medium. That happens to books and plays all the time and while (in a very interesting parallel) there was a LOT of resistance to that initially, we've come to regard that as standard practice now.

The key factor is, of course, respect for your material. The reason the LOTR trilogy turned out so amazing is because Peter Jackson respected the material and demanded that it be done *right*. So too must it go with videogames. Imagine a Zelda movie done with a little self-awareness and respect for the source; someone who grew up with the games and really wanted to translate the experience of adventuring in Hyrule.

Hollywood's biggest threat to its own legacy (and the videogame industry's, quite frankly) is it's own cynicism; the attitude that it can squirt out whatever tasteless grey sludge the 'charts' say they should, and the drooling audience will lap it up. I was all set to call 'I am Legend' one of my favorite films until the third act...and then I found out that the third act was actually not *in* the original script, but tacked on at the last minute because the test audience thought the original ending was 'too sad'; thus the message of the film (and story that inspired it) was ruined for the sake of a vapid, inoffensive, cheesecake ending where not a single challenging thought or idea was ventured.

So, if Hollywood *continues* to pump out corporately formulated 'videogame movies'; then that is a disservice, but corporate formulates tend to be a disservice to everything they touch. But when people have a vision, and are willing to stick to their artistic guns...well, like I said, check out the fan-made stuff and see the difference for yourself.

 

[QuicklyAcross]

There are games that tell good stories but inherently its incredibly difficult to translate a few core game mechanics that some consider to be essential for the franchise for example, and then the lack of user input and that each players has somewhat of a different experience, regardless if the story of the game changes or not.

Take that hitman movie for example
Why didnt i like the movie?
Because it tried to put depth into a the main character that was never needed.
47 is just that, an emotionless superclone who cares about the job and performing it rather than some random girl because reasons.

Hitman absolution does this to some extent aswell.

Therein i guess lies the problem, not everyone perceives each character the same.

Think about doing a Fable movie for example, that would be incredibly tough to pull off

 

[krazykidd]

I liked the prince of persia movie. While not true to thebsource meterial it was pretty entertaining.

I'll be honest, i know next to nothing about movie making. But i'm sute if the follow the source meterial close enough the movies could be more than great.

 

[josemlopes]

I think the best a movie can try to achieve with a game is to tell a movie story set in that universe. Just that.

A Deus Ex movie could work as long as it wasnt just a retelling of the original Deus Ex or Human Revolution. A few years ago when Human Revolution didnt exist that story could have been the Deus Ex movie story.

Also, those Halo novels for example, they work as expanding the story of the games, a movie could do that too. A novel telling exactly what the player did in the game would be retarded.

I think a big problem here seems to be that somehow we need to prove that the story in the game is movie worthy and that somehow it has to be seen on the big screen for legitimacy.

 

[Mylinkay Asdara]

I don't think video games should be adapted to movies for the same reason I don't like it when books are adapted for movies or movies are adapted to books or any of that. I think things should be what they are and stay what they are and picking the right medium for your IP in the first place should be an obvious priority.

Now - the IP having multiple outlets is not really a problem for me - if they are meant to mesh with each other and aren't just copies of the same thing in a different form, for the record. A movie that has a complimentary book series or video game set in the same universe, or a video game with a book series or a movie set in the same universe - yeah, alright - don't expect me to buy it all up to be able to understand the other parts please, but I can see the validity there where different stories in the same IP's scope might be better told in different mediums.

 

[Redd the Sock]

Video games were more often than not inspired by movies, so it makes sense that going back isn't going to add anything. You just can't expect anything but another zombie movie from resident Evil, because the games were pretty much interactive zombie movies. Still, adaptations serve some purposes:

1) To bring a better visual flair. We're always going to get film adaptations of books just to expand words that can't convey everything into something more full, and video games suffered that problem until rather recently. Even ignoring graphics, think of how a real boss battle in Doom would look if filmed: endless strafing and backward running. Or Tomb Raider: back flipping backwards while shooting until what's chasing you is dead. There's always going to be a desire for something a bit better choreographed.

2) Expend the universe. If there was ever a reason we got excited for game movies back int he day, ti was to fill things up. We wanted a voice and story for Mario, or more history and personality that can be glimmered from a couple of text screens in Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter. And, okay, yes they tended to fuck those up to hell and back, but for a while, it was the best way to give a character a personality, or provide exposition. Today that is far from necessary unless adapting older material. Now the best we can hope for is to expend the universe provided.

3) a Sedentary approach. Face it, cash grab aside, we're getting a "The last of us" movie for people that want to see the story without long periods of dodging clickers, either due to time or ability. We get book adaptations for people that don't want to read, and we'll be getting game adaptations for people that don't want to play. Noting wrong with that in moderation, just so long as you don't look a t a book or video game and say "I'll wait for the movie".

 

[Wintermute_v1legacy]

I think the best a movie can try to achieve with a game is to tell a movie story set in that universe. Just that.

A Deus Ex movie could work as long as it wasnt just a retelling of the original Deus Ex or Human Revolution. A few years ago when Human Revolution didnt exist that story could have been the Deus Ex movie story.

Also, those Halo novels for example, they work as expanding the story of the games, a movie could do that too. A novel telling exactly what the player did in the game would be retarded.

I think a big problem here seems to be that somehow we need to prove that the story in the game is movie worthy and that somehow it has to be seen on the big screen for legitimacy.

Which is why I'm looking forward to the Assassin's Creed movie. They can have Desmond in the "real world", but the animus is the perfect excuse to go to any point in history in the movie. Unlike something like Tomb Raider, where you have to have Lara Croft in there, Assassin's Creed can tell any story it wants.

Also, I think a Mirror's Edge movie could work. Think Run Lola Run on rooftops. And if I remember correctly (haven't touched it in years, sorry), the game is about citizens losing their privacy, shady government controlling information, and such, which is a relevant topic these days.

 

[Rattja]

No mention of Advent Children?
It's the best movie based on a game I've seen so far.

For other titles I think easily could work and I'd like to see is:

- Any Final Fantasy game, they are almost movies at this point anyway.

- Anything set in the Fallout universe. Just started on Fallout 1 and would really like to see this.

- Anything from Warcraft lore that are not in the games. (yes I know it's coming but should have been done years ago when WoW was in it's prime.)

- Something set in the Starcraft universe. Maybe not so much story to go on, but I am already watching games for hours to watch the three races fight, so why not make a movie about it?

I guess there are more, but those are the ones I'd like to see the most.

In any case, if they are done, I feel they should be all CGI, like one long cutsceene to keep that "game feel". A real actor trying to replicate the impossible thing a game character would do just looks wrong.
Also, it has to be a different story, not the same as in the game, but should have some connection to it. Like based on something you kept hearing about throughout the game but never got to see or something.

 

[GonzoGamer]

idk. Most movie games suck but I wouldn't exactly want to go to the cinema to see a live action lets play either. And some of my favorite game 'based' movies are the ones that completely deviate (like the Resident Evil movies) or just don't have anything at all to do with the source material like the Final Fantasy movie or Crank...that's based on GTA right?
And while writing in games has improved a little over the recent years, in terms of plot, it's still all pretty pedestrian, even by Hollywood standards. If you brought a treatment based literally on a video game plot (even one gamers like) to a producer, you'd probably get fired.

You might also wanna check out eXistenZ by David Cronenberg. It has fleshy game consoles and everything.

I'll embrace the new flesh!
I believe that film also has Willem Dafoe.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

Crank...that's based on GTA right?

Authentically Crank would be based on Sonic, since he has to keep up the speed going on.

 

[Sir Pootis]

Best Vidya Gaem based films?

The Live-Action Ace Attorney film.

Spoiler: Take That!

Seriously, that film is excellent. It stays rather true to the source material without making it feel awkward on the big screen.

Also, the actors clearly put a lot of effort into replicating the exaggerated animations of the original game's art style, with hilarious results.

And finally, the hair is just perfect.

 

[Kyrian007]

Watch some fan-made short films adapting or 'inspired by' video games, and you'll see a lot of brilliant material, actually.

This... without a doubt this. The amount of "fan" film based upon video games does mean there's a lot of poorly written tripe out there, but there's also loads of really well done short films and series showcasing just how good a project can be with some decent talent involved. Here's an example.

- Anything set in the Fallout universe. Just started on Fallout 1 and would really like to see this.

Here you go.
The Escapist hosted "There Will Be Brawl..." it was great. A Smash Brothers Brawl series set in a gritty, noir universe. Perfectly absurd.

And Tancharoen's "Mortal Kombat Legacy." Season 1 was really unbelievable. 2 had it's moments, but there was something lacking as compared to the first season. But still a fantastic effort.