Screw Comic Books! What about Video Game Movies?

[Sam Fisher]

Max Payne was a disappointment for me as most video game adaptations have been. Overall, I still think the Resident Evil series has been the best but that could be simply because I like watching Milla Jovovich.

I am looking forward to this one:

XIII

Synopsis


XIII: The Conspiracy

VAL KILMER, STEPHEN DORFF, CATERINA MURINO, STEPHEN McHATTIE, JESSALYN GILSIG
This adrenalin charged event mini series begins dramatically as the first female US President is shot dead by a sniper during her Independence Day speech. Three months later, a wounded man is washed up on a beach with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck, 'XIII'.
Could his lightning reflexes and killer instincts betray him as the presidential assassin that the US is desperately searching for?

Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy which threatens to overthrow the entire government, XIII's identity becomes the key to unravelling a complex and dangerous truth that will shock and excite. From the first bullet, this gripping action-thriller will leave audiences gasping for breath.

VAL KILMER (D'j' Vu, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Alexander) plays The Mongoose and STEPHEN DORFF (Blade, Backbeat) stars as the eponymous hero in the two part thriller.

Movie Info


Starring:
Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Caterina Murino, Jessalyn Gilsig, Stephen McHattie

Theatrical Release Date:
01/01/2008

Run Time:
240 min.

Distributor(s):
Cipango

Production Co.:
Cipango

Director(s):
Duane B. Clark

Themes:
Amnesia, Race Against Time, Assassination Plots, Clearing One's Name



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I played the game not long ago and it should adapt very well to the big screen. Apparently it's going to be made for T.V. mini-series , which is news to me. Based solely on the game, I'd recommend checking it out. It's going to be on NBC February 8th and 15th of this year.

Here are some stills(couldn't find a trailer):

And here is the game trailer:
http://www.gamershell.com/tv/5581.html

Hmm....

 

[Jick]

I still want to see a Devil May Cry movie.

 

[Addendum]

Max Payne was a disappointment for me as most video game adaptations have been. Overall, I still think the Resident Evil series has been the best but that could be simply because I like watching Milla Jovovich.

I am looking forward to this one:

XIII

Synopsis


XIII: The Conspiracy

VAL KILMER, STEPHEN DORFF, CATERINA MURINO, STEPHEN McHATTIE, JESSALYN GILSIG
This adrenalin charged event mini series begins dramatically as the first female US President is shot dead by a sniper during her Independence Day speech. Three months later, a wounded man is washed up on a beach with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck, 'XIII'.
Could his lightning reflexes and killer instincts betray him as the presidential assassin that the US is desperately searching for?

Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy which threatens to overthrow the entire government, XIII's identity becomes the key to unravelling a complex and dangerous truth that will shock and excite. From the first bullet, this gripping action-thriller will leave audiences gasping for breath.

VAL KILMER (D'j' Vu, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Alexander) plays The Mongoose and STEPHEN DORFF (Blade, Backbeat) stars as the eponymous hero in the two part thriller.

Movie Info


Starring:
Stephen Dorff, Val Kilmer, Caterina Murino, Jessalyn Gilsig, Stephen McHattie

Theatrical Release Date:
01/01/2008

Run Time:
240 min.

Distributor(s):
Cipango

Production Co.:
Cipango

Director(s):
Duane B. Clark

Themes:
Amnesia, Race Against Time, Assassination Plots, Clearing One's Name



-------------------------------------------------------------------
I played the game not long ago and it should adapt very well to the big screen. Apparently it's going to be made for T.V. mini-series , which is news to me. Based solely on the game, I'd recommend checking it out. It's going to be on NBC February 8th and 15th of this year.

Here are some stills(couldn't find a trailer):

And here is the game trailer:
http://www.gamershell.com/tv/5581.html

Before it was a game, it was a comic book. If I could read French, I'd buy them in a heartbeat. It was a fun game though

 

[Addendum]

Video game films don't work for a few reasons.

Games are made for play, not narrative storytelling. Most video games only have 10 minutes of storytelling. The premise makes a great game and some people mistake this for a story.

While I agree that some videogames are sparse on the story, there are those that have a lot.

The script for the game Deus Ex

 

[JRPJCDJC]

While I agree that some videogames are sparse on the story, there are those that have a lot.

The script for the game Deus Ex

Yeah, I just finished that and there is definitely something there. What I think Deus Ex, Max Payne, and most other video game movies are lacking is some strong character relationships.

Ya' know, Riggs had Murtaugh. Sarah Connor had Reese. Neo had Trinity AND Morpheus. There has to be some type of strong relationship in a movie for it to work. Most of these video game adaptations lack that. That's probably why Resident Evil is the best so far - strong relationships built in the first one. It's why Silent Hill kinda worked and Max Payne, Doom, and Streetfighter didn't. Max Payne's only real relationship was with himself and the vengeance he sought.

And there's your problem with a Metal Gear movie. If the movie is 120 minutes long is 100 minutes of it going to be Snake killing people? The other characters would really need to be developed and given sizeable roles for it to work better than other video game adaptations.

It seems casts in these movies aren't really being given a chance to develop any onscreen chemistry.

 

[SuBe]

And there's your problem with a Metal Gear movie. If the movie is 120 minutes long is 100 minutes of it going to be Snake killing people? The other characters would really need to be developed and given sizeable roles for it to work better than other video game adaptations.

It seems casts in these movies aren't really being given a chance to develop any onscreen chemistry.

In reference to Metal Gear Solid, what about Campbell, Mei Ling, Naomi, Octocon and Grey Fox? I don't know if I played the same game as you, but there was a lot of character interaction with them.

 

[JRPJCDJC]

In reference to Metal Gear Solid, what about Campbell, Mei Ling, Naomi, Octocon and Grey Fox? I don't know if I played the same game as you, but there was a lot of character interaction with them.

But will the potential filmmakers remain faithful? That is the big question.

 

[U.S War Machine]

Here's a Legend of Zelda trailer. It looks so legit but it's not real

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1a_YuTomTuo

 

[Addendum]

In reference to Metal Gear Solid, what about Campbell, Mei Ling, Naomi, Octocon and Grey Fox? I don't know if I played the same game as you, but there was a lot of character interaction with them.

There was some interaction, but a good chunk of it could be ignored without affecting the story.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

I disagree. Some video games DO tell a story, just in a different way that makes it very difficult to translate to film.

That and they tend to pick certain games not based on their story, but on how well it can be marketed. And those that could work have no talent involved in the production.

Some I would like to see, if done well:

Suikoden
Disgaea
Persona 3 or 4
Final Fantasy Tactics
Xenogears
Metal Gear Solid
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Starcraft

 

[Alchemyst]

That and they tend to pick certain games not based on their story, but on how well it can be marketed. And those that could work have no talent involved in the production.

Some I would like to see, if done well:

Suikoden
Disgaea
Persona 3 or 4
Final Fantasy Tactics
Xenogears
Metal Gear Solid
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Starcraft

Nice list, one thing though, alot of those games have a very expansive storyline that I'm sure Hollywood would ruin. More films based on games I would like to see:

Double Dragon (done properly)
Ninja Gaiden
Killzone
Super Mario (done just as proper as Double Dragon)
Metal Slug
Legend of Zelda (I think we all want that)
Castlevania
Soul Calibur
Devil May Cry
Onimusha

 

[Project862006]

i want legend of zelda trilogy it can be as good as lotr imo

 

[dude stannis]

More proof...Singer and Superman. In one interview he's quoted as saying he wasn't familiar with Luthercorp. And we all know how well THAT movie turned out.

Yes, it turned out great. Find a movie that people actually hated.

 

[Alchemyst]

i want legend of zelda trilogy it can be as good as lotr imo

As long as they throw in "well excuuuuuuuse me princess" then i'm good

 

[JRPJCDJC]

As long as they throw in "well excuuuuuuuse me princess" then i'm good

There are alot of themes that can be shot like Lord of the Rings.

Legend of Zelda
World of Warcraft
Dragonlance

They did make an animated version of Dragonlance but, after seeing it for the first time last night, I think that was done as a potential marketing ploy to big name studios for a live action version. They really, really butchered it.

 

[Jick]

Nice list, one thing though, alot of those games have a very expansive storyline that I'm sure Hollywood would ruin. More films based on games I would like to see:

Double Dragon (done properly)
Ninja Gaiden
Killzone
Super Mario (done just as proper as Double Dragon)
Metal Slug

Metal Slug!
how could I forget that?

 

[Matt]

I think that's a lie. We should look at video games more like interactive novels. Many games have good storylines with actual character development. Prince of Persia features no name prince saving a damsel in distress. But Sands Of Time is being made into a big budget movie (with Jordan Mechner's full involvement no less) which means they actual saw something interesting about the characters. The story is different but that happens in POP a lot. We are currently in the third trilogy of games....

But the fact is, they are not interactive novels. Novels are dependent entirely upon their plot and characters (which include interactions with other characters, immensive character arcs, etc). While video games have these features they are often very toned down as in the end they are still games and thus a good portion of them are dependent entirely on the player's character, alone, going from point A to point B to accomplish a goal with no dialogue and no interaction with other characters.

The only video game I can think of that truly has enough plot to cover a full movie in Metal Gear. Otherwise, you can expect one of two things. 1) Massive changes to the stroy structure and game which often pisses video game fans off and can often still suck very much (Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Silent Hill, Doom, ect) or 2) It follows the game to a T and comes off as corny and crappy (Mortal Kombat).

 

[Infinity9999x]

That and they tend to pick certain games not based on their story, but on how well it can be marketed. And those that could work have no talent involved in the production.

Some I would like to see, if done well:

Suikoden
Disgaea
Persona 3 or 4
Final Fantasy Tactics
Xenogears
Metal Gear Solid
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Starcraft

Tactics has a very well written story actually, and that would transfer well on screen as a more epic style fantasy, like Zelda as some of you guys mentioned above. Of course, one thing I like about tactics is that while it could be epic, it's also very much about the personal developments of the individual characters.

I would really like to see FF7 or FF8 adapted, because those are more unique fantasy stories, combining magic and technology, and I think both would make for very interesting films.

 

[Matt]

It would be very, very hard to make an RPG into a movie that has mass appeal to a western audience. That is why very often, despite movies being made based on these games, they are usually animated and kept strictly in Japan.

 

[Infinity9999x]

It would be very, very hard to make an RPG into a movie that has mass appeal to a western audience. That is why very often, despite movies being made based on these games, they are usually animated and kept strictly in Japan.

Oh, I agree about that. It would not be easy, you'd have to have a good writer, and you couldn't try to do a strict adaptation, because to work in a movie you would have to drastically edit, and sometimes completely cut certain sub-plots, and in some cases the more complex parts of the main plot. FF7 for example. Focus the story on the relationship with Cloud and Sephiroth, Sephiroth's strange plan, and the murky aspects of Cloud's past. We don't need to get in depth at the complicated aspects of Materia or things like that.

However, I think if you get a good writer who knows this, a movie based off FF7 or FF8 could be very good, and very successful. They lend themselves to a director who likes visuals, with the complex visuals and scenery, and they both have interesting characters. You would just have to rework certain aspects to get rid of the stereotype feel to some of them.

I do think that it would probably be easier to do movies based off these stories in multiples. Two or three movies filmed in a LOTR format might work better.

 

[joshgonemad]

the only hope for a big budget video game movie that could possibly pull in big numbers anywhere close to THE DARK KNIGHT or IRON MAN would be HALO. it would have to be an origin story of master chief done in the same style as BATMAN BEGINS. explain where this soldier started out as a boy and see him grow to what he becomes as a soldier. you need a directer and script writer who cares for the material. actors who will do anything for there part, weather it be stunts or anything, they need to be devoted. take a page from BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT and apply it to HALO

 

[Infinity9999x]

the only hope for a big budget video game movie that could possibly pull in big numbers anywhere close to THE DARK KNIGHT or IRON MAN would be HALO. it would have to be an origin story of master chief done in the same style as BATMAN BEGINS. explain where this soldier started out as a boy and see him grow to what he becomes as a soldier. you need a directer and script writer who cares for the material. actors who will do anything for there part, weather it be stunts or anything, they need to be devoted. take a page from BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT and apply it to HALO

The movie was in the works, at one point I heard Peter Jackson was attached to it, but last I heard it got scrapped.

But, if they follow the storyline in the first Halo book, and detail how they create the Spartans, train them, and the fall of Reach, ending as they discover Halo, I think that movie would kick all kinds of major arse.

However, the only problem with this idea is that you have to show Master Chief's face. Still, I think it could be great.

 

[DDS]

Does anyone remember the Jak and Daxter series? I think it could have film potential, especially Jak 2. Though the fanbase has pretty much faded, so it would probably never happen.

 

[Orb]

Anybody here thinks LittleBigPlanet could have a great CGI movie if made by Pixar?? *ducks*

 

[Grievous]

The Gears of War movie I hope will be nice.