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Video game movies don't need to suck

gamesradar.com — To state that most movie adaptations of videogames thus far have been crap is akin to pointing out that napalm doesn’t make a very good sandwich filler. It just doesn't need to be said. People don't even try to defend Street Fighter: The Ultimate Battle and nor do Subway do a footlong Vietnam Special. But it didn’t have to be this way.

Who dugg this? Made popular Nov 22, 2007

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  • atomicpoet, on 11/22/2007, -1/+46Video games based off of movies don't need to suck either, but they do. In any event, I believe we have found a phenomenon in the universe known as "cross pollination suckage".
  • Azimuth1, on 11/22/2007, -0/+24They suck because there is only one reason they are ever made - to cash in on the release of a movie. Therefore they're rushed, do nothing new (new = risk = bad), and have had no creative talent invested in them, because 99% of the time, they get put onto craptacular developers who have never made a decent game in their lives. Goldeneye was different because a talented developer that was used to creating high quality creative games took it on.
  • gudnbluts, on 11/22/2007, -0/+17Having RTFA, I'm now desperate to see Tarantino direct the Hobbit.

    "ELVISH *****! DO YOU SPEAK IT?????"
  • iamsamsamiam, on 11/22/2007, -0/+14Now there's a reason why video game movies generally suck and it's mainly the studios' fault. Like Fox, Universal, Miramax etc all have this mentality of a formula for movie revenue and they apply it to every movie they produce and always see returns on their investment.
    Now, if you were to have a video game narrative and translate it into a narrative in the form of a movie you must consider that the studios will still want to apply their money making formula on to everything.
    And after the movie is dragged through the formula make over the studios then take it to focus groups to 'refine' it's mass appeal so 'everyone' would approve and like the movie.
    Now after that all you have a steaming load of hollywood crap. Thanks again hollywood for destroying everything you touch.
  • Wiini, on 11/22/2007, -4/+17You know, for years I have thought that Half-Life (The entire thing, start to finish... Half-Life through HL2, and all the episodes.. and maybe even a little Portal) Would make an AWESOME movie.

    They'd have to do it way right to make it hardcore, though. It'd have to be 3 parts long at least. Can't do it all in 2 hours. I have never been able to figure out who I'd cast as Gordon Freeman, the G man, Barney, and Alyx... Comeon', I know you agree with me!! Who do you think Should play Gordon Freeman, The G Man, Barney, and Alyx?
  • spyrochaete, on 11/22/2007, -1/+13If you set up a website with a paypal link I'll donate 50 cents to buy you an Enter key.
  • inactive, on 11/22/2007, -2/+12The movie sucks. I've already forgotten every scene except the one where the hot russian chick gets naked and the hitman knocks her out with an amyl popper instead of ***** her. ...And one for the doctor...
  • creep303, on 11/22/2007, -0/+9It would help if that movie had a ***** storyline.
  • Azimuth1, on 11/22/2007, -1/+10He was replying to the comment about games based on movies.
  • Wiini, on 11/22/2007, -3/+11Doom: Worst Game-To-Movie conversion ever.

    Tomb-Raider: Not bad at all. They couldn't have found a better Laura Croft.
  • navster15, on 11/22/2007, -1/+9What's with the jab against the Mortal Kombat movie? That movie kicked so much ass. Personally, I think Mortal Kombat is the textbook example of doing a videogame movie right. It adhered to the basic story of the games but it didn't take itself too seriously. It was a fun movie that had enough game reference to keep gamers engaged.
  • doshindude, on 11/22/2007, -3/+11that was a game based on a movie.
    those usually suck too but 007 was an exception.
  • Pake, on 11/22/2007, -1/+8I agree. When you think about the year that the Mortal Kombat movie came out and compare it with other movies, it did exceptionally well with the actors, storyline, and fight scenes. Obviously it won't live up to today's standards, but when it came out, it was amazing. The second movie however did suck.
  • spyrochaete, on 11/22/2007, -1/+8Many people have pitched scripts to Valve and they've all been turned down. Valve says they'll consider a movie when they see a good script.
  • BlackJackJester, on 11/22/2007, -0/+7Yea...the movie ONLY made sense for real fans. If you hadn't played FF7, the movie would make no sense at all. It had a very specific audience, unlike what Hollywood usually puts out
  • spyrochaete, on 11/22/2007, -3/+10Doom: best 5 minute first person sequence ever!!! I bought the movie (used) just for that one scene!
  • shcforward, on 11/22/2007, -0/+6I always told myself that I would love any movie that was 98% sword and gun fights and 2% dialog. Then I saw Final Fantasy Advent Children, and had an existential crisis.
  • whatthefu, on 11/22/2007, -0/+6Hitman could've easily been good. The games aren't action packed really, and neither should the movie be.
  • Ryancwa, on 11/22/2007, -10/+16DIGG ME DOWN!!!!
  • ciano, on 11/22/2007, -1/+7It would have been great if it actually had A PORTAL TO HELL.
  • Puppetfunk, on 11/22/2007, -2/+7Hey! I liked the Mario Brothers movie.
  • swanny89, on 11/22/2007, -0/+5I think that a lot of hollywood execs also assume that a videogame movie will only appeal to mountain dew-drink fourteen-year-olds who will dread crap like "dialog" "plot development" since they get in teh way of the explosions. The truth is, some of the most compelling stories I've encountered in a long time have been in video games. Give those stories to capable writers and directors and you'd have a great movie.
  • BlackJackJester, on 11/22/2007, -1/+6Except he really dropped the ball on Death Proof...that movie was 1:45 of suck, with :15 of cool.
  • iVision, on 11/22/2007, -0/+5The Max Payne movie will be great because it had a great storyline.
  • Shaflugi, on 11/22/2007, -0/+5Actually, Spiderman 2 was a really fun game.
  • spudnic, on 11/22/2007, -2/+7I pretty much gave up all hope for the Hitman movie when I saw the trailer.
    The Hitman series is all about sneaking around and killing quietly, professionally, and for money. Trailer looks like they got the whole feel wrong, looks like another action film
    Got my fingers crossed the full film isn't like that though.
  • spyrochaete, on 11/22/2007, -0/+5Sorry, I meant to post this on another tab.
  • alexforcefive, on 11/22/2007, -0/+4So was moonwalker
  • spyrochaete, on 11/22/2007, -1/+5Those movies are beautiful and brainless.
  • luskin, on 11/22/2007, -0/+4True, but they do anyway.
  • etnu, on 11/22/2007, -0/+4What really annoys me is this insistence that video games should be made into movies. What do movies have that video games don't, other than a giant screen?
  • Pake, on 11/22/2007, -2/+6Forgot to mention music as well. It had Fear Factory's Zero Signal play for the Scorpion fight scene (mega badass), KMFDM did an awesome theme song, and even Stabbing Westward was involved. The theme music is quite possibly the best selection for a video game to movie adaptation ever created.
  • inactive, on 11/22/2007, -0/+4Half -life is awesome as is, we don't need a movie.
  • riverstyx, on 11/22/2007, -0/+4"The Wizard" was the only one that sticks out, and it wasn't technically a straight video-game-to-movie.
  • noots, on 11/22/2007, -0/+4still waiting on the deus ex movie.
  • dannyboy3020, on 11/22/2007, -3/+7Keep him afloat, guys!
  • hackiavelli, on 11/23/2007, -0/+3I think Edward Norton would work pretty good as Freeman.
  • ponycat, on 11/22/2007, -2/+5LARA Croft
  • inactive, on 08/11/2008, -1/+4Hmm, Roger Ebert gave the Hitman movie a positive review, and he hates video games
  • Ryancwa, on 11/22/2007, -2/+5Why are you getting dugg down? I agree. Half-Life in three 2 hour movies would be awesome!!!
  • vdog, on 11/22/2007, -0/+3The article doesn't even mention the problem that a lot of game-based movies have (let alone how to fix it)- the lack of story. When you play games (especially FPS and fighting ones) you often don't notice the lack of a plot because you're immersed in the action.

    Watching a movie that uses little more than the game's basic plot is like watching someone else play a game for two hours and not give you a turn.
  • ciano, on 11/22/2007, -1/+4What makes you think they'll keep it that way?
  • Radan, on 11/22/2007, -0/+3Because I will personally go and rip their heads off with a crowbar if they don't. You simply can't fail with Max Payne. You can't. Even if Uwe Boll would be to direct it, he would instantly die of a massive heart attack, and then explode and then get eaten by a mountain goat.
  • Sornos, on 11/22/2007, -0/+3I think Alfonso Cuaron would make a great director for the series. Half Life is never meant to be the big action popcorn flick and should be directed accordingly (however that doesn't mean there shouldn't be some nice effects).
  • rashboy, on 11/22/2007, -0/+3It's a sad reality that lots of people don't like to face, but Hollywood is not in the game of pleasing fanboys. Seriously people, think of the numbers. This guy is talking about James Cameron for "Doom"? Really? James Cameron doesn't make movies for under 150 million dollars. If every person who ever bought Doom 3 (there's one million of them) went to see the movie TEN TIMES you wouldn't come close to that budget. The reality is, as much as gamers like to think they rule the entertainment universe (not that they're not a big chunk) they don't carry much sway in film. Hollywood doesn't owe gamers a great adaptation, and they sure as hell aren't going to pay for one until they see some ticket sales that reflect the kind of rabid interest and mass appeal gamers keep shouting about. "Eragon" sucked serious balls, but it made money because the readers of the book showed up by the millions. Once gamers actually sell tickets at a blockbuster rate, they'll get the blockbusters they want. Until then, take your grievances to the game studios who keep selling the rights to their precious properties. Also, take a serious look at the structure of the stories in your favorite video games (Street Fighter 2 would make a great tournament film? Really? Has there ever been a great tournament film? And don't say anything that involves Van Damme) before you ask how Hollywood could mess it up. It was screwed to begin with.
  • inactive, on 11/23/2007, -0/+3worst? i'm pretty sure it's mk2
  • zeroEDGE, on 11/23/2007, -0/+3People liked Final Fantasy: Spirits Within?????
  • carpespasm, on 11/22/2007, -0/+3exactly. When a studio buys the rights to a video game they already know they have an audience for it that'll go see the movie just because it has something to do with the game they already have an interest in. There's no need to promote trailers to try and endear the public to a character or intrigue them with a story because it's already going to get fans of the game to shell out for the 9 dollar ticket even when they know it's going to dissappoint them.
  • Keitosha, on 11/22/2007, -1/+3I see you've never played Half Life, Final Fantasy, Star Ocean, Metroid, Phoenix Wright, Zelda, Max Payne, Deus Ex or any Elder Scrolls game. :)
  • ZenMojo, on 11/23/2007, -0/+2And Escape from Butcher Bay. ***** *****.
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