Could Great Video Games Finally Get Great Movies?

I have been waiting for nearly 30 years for the cinematic adaptation of the greatest video game of all time... Frogger. I'm picturing Wallace Shawn as "The Frog". Just don't let Boll near this project... Give it to Cronenberg.

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The WoW movie is actually a Warcraft movie, which features plenty of lore.

So yes, there will be a linear story.

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i think the majority of video game movies are horrible (1st Mortal Kombat being a guilty pleasure) because filmmakers and studios don't respect the material and there is just something that is lost in the adaptation process. a lot of video game movies just don't have the same tone and feel as the games which i feel is disrespectful to the fans.

maybe once there is a huge successful video game movie, then we'll start seeing the golden age of video game movies similar to what we are seeing now with comic book movies.

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it'll happen, someday. i think...

but it certainly won't come from Resident Evil or WarCraft.

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There's a new doc coming out (Second Skin): http://www.amazon.com/Second-Skin-Dan-Bustard/dp/B002AWM0SQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1248727306&sr=8-2

Obviously, it's not fiction, but it's something new for gamers to sink their teeth into.

Dead Space & Bioshock both are pretty scary games, thanks to jump scares and downright creepy looking characters. They're similar in tone, so I hope they don't end up dropping at the same time. I'm hopeful for both. I think they should adapt the stories directly from the games, if they want the movies to be successful though (Rather than making them sequels to the 1st iteration of each game).

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There's the uncharted movie coming as well... If done right, this should be better than the last Indy flick.

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Nope.

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also, book of eli, almost looks like it could be the "fallout 3" movie :)

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5) Darkstalkers
Synopsis:In a world where creatures of the night are at war with humanity, one girl can upset the scale of balance . A Wolfman, A ditzy singstress cat-girl, and an overszealous monster hunter must protect her from Dimitri, a powerfull vampire, and his evil henchmen before they use her to destroy all humanity.
The Pitch:It's Van Helsing meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, as monsters fight each other with impossible Kung Fu moves and the occasional expensive mystical CG fireball. Shadubrayd!
Deamcasting:Daniel Craight as Talbain, Georgie Henley as Anita, Monica Belluci as Morrigan Dwayne Johnson as Donovan, Steward Head as Dimitri, Jessica Alba as Felicia and Arnold Schwarzennegger as Victor. Directed By Sam Raimi and Produced by Cory Yuen.
Notabe sequences: The catfight(pun not intended fight between Morrigan and Felicia should be gold!
Why it could be cool:Unlike Street Fighter, this series is far less known and reknown. Most characters aren't even all that well known. Sure, most game enthusiasts know Morrigan and Felicia from the crossovers, but no one is going to cry at the portrayal of Lord Raptor or Hsien Ko...unless they get it REALLY WRONG! Though it needs a big budget. See, for movies like this, you can't think little. Go all out. But Darkstalkers isn't entirely serious, and neither should this movie. That's why I picked Raimi to direct.
Why it won't be cool:Unlike Street Fighter, this series is far less known and reknown. Wich means it's unlikely to gather enought support for a film. Although seeing the pimp job that is Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li, though, may it's better that no one WANT to do it.

4)Soul Calibur
Synopsis: A sword tears througt time and space bringing warriors who seek it. Some seek it for their own selfish desires, but the heros know the true nature of the sword's intent: SOULS-AH!
The Pitch: It's an epic story about the true nature of evil. There is also fighting with swords involved.
Deamcasting: Tom Welling as Kilik, Brian Tee as Mitsurugi, Kelly Hu as Taki, Jeniffer Love Hewitt as Sophitia, Russel Wong as Maxi, Michelle Tratchenberg as Cassandra, Rebeca Romijin as Ivy,Benicio del Toro as Cervantes, Kea Wong as Dalip Singh as Astaroth, and Kevin McKidd as Siegfiried. Directed by Roland Emmerich.
Notable sequences: When MItsurugi finally wins the guns v swords predicament that drives him by killing a nazi wielding a submachine gun. Also, in the end Siegfried gets the Sword, and I think we all know how THAT turns out.
Why it could be cool: If the movie can cram enought improbable weapon fights with nunchucks, giant axes and whipswords, that'll do. That's why I pick Emmerich for it. He makes epic movies, sense be damned. Wich is what we need for our blond white ancient greek short skirted warrioress vs gun era Japanese ronin battles to be fullfilled.
Why it won't be cool: While more likely to be done,(and rumor has it it still is) Soul Calibur needs really sleek swordfights. If you can't top the fights in the game by at least a LITTLE bit, then all is lost. Plus: who's gonna believe that a 3 meters long sword can be blocked by anything?


3)Mugen Senshi Valis
Synopsis: A schoolgirl recieves a magic sword wich she must use to save Vecanti, the land of Dreams, from the evil King of the land of Spirits.
The Pitch: It's the Chronicles of Narnia meets Sailor Moon as Magic, Wonder, lessons about growing up, Metal Bikinis and Short Skirts all collide!
Dreamcasting:Chiaki Kuriyama as Yuko, Kea Wong as Reiko, Alison Mack as Cham and Christopher Lee as Glames.
Notable sequences: When quick witted Cham tries to constantly steal the Valis Sword, like a fun loving version of Gollum.
Why it could be cool: It's got teenage girls in metal Bikinis! Fighting monsters! With Swords!
Why it won't be cool:Because you don't even fucking know what I'm talking about, do you? Even the company didn't care enought about Valis to not turn it into porn. And now they're dead. And so is Valis. Wich is the second reason why this beautifull but unremarkable plataformer will never be done. Well, maybe an Anime, someday...

2)Vigilante 8
Synopsis: War erupts in the American South as Oil Baron backed Mercenaries start wrecking havok with their armed vehicles! So a group bands together to form the Vigilantes, a squad that makes it's own justice!
The Pitch: It's Deathrace meets...uh That 70's Show, I guess...
Dreamcasting: Clint Eastwood as Convoy, Eric Bana as Sid Burn, Zoe Saldaña as Houston, Seth Rogen as Molo, Michael Clark Duncan as Torque and Topher Grace as Slick Clide. Put Michael Bay to direct.
Notable sequences: While the splosions are what most folks would enjoy about it, the drama of Houston having to choose between Slick Clide and Convoy, between the machine and the woman would be pretty awesome. Plus, her 'fro.
Why it could be cool: A volkswagen shooting missiles at a schoolbus loaded with machine guns that drops mines Isn't enought? For tongue in cheek "campy" fun with a retro flavor, Vigilante 8 is where it's at.
Why it won't be cool: Have you seen any movies based on Activision games lately? Neither have I.



1)Mario Bros.(A CG film)
Synopsis: A Princess, bored with not being able to leave her magical castle in the mushroom kingdom, clogs her toilet as to meet anyone from the outside world. The King sends forth his Mushroom Men to find the one who can solve it, wich is how the titular two plumbers end up meeting the princess. Soon she is kidnapped by Bowser of the Koopa Kingdom, but the pussies in Mushroom Kingdom are too scared. Only Mario, who is in love with the Princess at this point, and Luigi, who can't leave his bro to his foolish heart, take the call.
The Pitch: It's like Shrek, but instead of ripping on Fairytales, it rips on Videogames. Mostly the Mario series, though. IT SHOULD BE CG AND THAT IS LAW!
Dreamcasting:Voicing are James Gandolfini as Mario, Seth Green as Luigi, Amy Smart as Princess Peach, Dan Castellaneta as The King, Fran Welker as Toad, Jamie King as Daisy. CG by IMAGI
Why it could be cool: It's a simple recipe: Grab the age old tale of the damsel in distress, shower it in postmodernisms, cash the check. If made as an animated movie that is well written and done it could be great! I mean, what's so hard about this?
Why it won't be cool: Because where we see "simple adaptation" Hollywood execs see the need for clutter and changes in order to make things work, and as a way to justify their montlhy checks, they often push for such clutter and changes. Sure, the public and the fans can also be an unpleasable collective bitch at times. But if you can at least pretend to care, and make a movie that would be good without the name of the license, then the job is done.

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Im a past warcraft nut turned to FPS atm. But i still love the incredible story it holds. Now having a director anounced to it i cant hold my brain together because i just want it now.
When i think of video game based films, i cant think of a film that has been made off of a game that actualy even had a decent story line in the first place. No ones touched the quality games with the quality stories yet, imo.
And hopefully with talks of a Halo or Gears of War movies to come, there will be more quality game based films on the way.
I just hope Sam Raimi can polish it off. I know alot of the story but im no 100% on what time frame hes using, im dieing 2 here the cast.

I havnt played much Fallout 3 but lots of people say its pretty much The Book Of Eli which just looks awesome and is awesome any way since its got Denzel Washington.

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Another one I'm excited about is the upcoming Castlevania film which will be directed by James Wan.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006505.html?categoryid=1079&cs=1

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I don't think Silent Hill gets the respect it deserves. It wasn't just a strong adaptation it was a great film. None of the mentioned upcoming ones (especially that hack Caruso's latest crapfest) really seem especially promising.

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A Fallout 3 film? So we'd get one-dimensional characters, a heavy-handed sense of humour and a whole lot of pointless fights?

On a less ranty note, video game movies can easily go the route of comic book movies. All it takes is one good one that does well, and we'll be set!

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I'm working on a video-game screenplay right now, just to see how easy/hard it is (actually, a few). Granted, it's a game geared perfectly for a movie, but one none-the-less.

Honestly, considering how well its coming along, I think making a decent VG movie is indeed possible.

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Why make movies out of games? Personally, I think that the two media are different enough that a lot would be lost in translation. Books and movies can benefit from some cross-pollination because books are primarily an intellectual experience and movies are primarily a sensory experience, so moving from one medium to the other has potential for looking at the story from a different perspective, but games are also sensory experiences. There's less to be gained.

A film version of a game would, pretty much necessarily, be a dumbed-down, two-dimensional caricature of the game with flat characters and less immersion. Games are much longer and much more patient; there's just no way to convey the complexity in film form. Pretty much the only advantage of a film version would be to provide a social experience for fans of the game to enjoy together. Which is fun, but...artistically I think it's a dead-end.

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I always thought if they couldn't make a good movie out of Max Payne then they could never make a good video game movie.
The game was a ready-made gritty hard boiled detective movie, with lots of action, bullet-time, pain-killers and trippy nightmare scenes thrown in.
Looks like Hollywood proved me right.

Batzarro's idea of a CGI Mario Brothers movie in the style of Shrek (but taking off videogames rather than fairytales, and including plenty of jokes for the adults who played it back in the day) seems like an instant money-maker.

I also have a few ideas that I would like to see one day:
1. Full Throttle - An awesome motorbikers revenge-tale. Being a LucasArts game though, the story could be matured a little for the screen with some biking violence (players will remember weapons ranging from a metal chain, to a chainsaw)

2. Monkey Island - Pirates of the Carribean has brought pirate movies back to the mainstream, so this could easily work as a child-friendly adventure with lots of humour and adventure.

3. Grim Fandango - Another LucasArts game, back in the day they were one of the leaders in videogame storytelling. Would probably have to be CG, or half and half, for it to work well.

4. Deus Ex - Probably my favourite game ever, it has an immense plot dealing with everything from rogue government agencies, cybernetic body parts, robots, the Illuminati and aliens. To condense it into one movie would be hard, it would have probably have to be a trilogy, or even a television series.

5. Splinter Cell - Could easily be made into a trilogy in the style of the Bourne movies, and I really think it could be done well.
The first movie shows us Sam Fisher realising not everything is quite right at the agency, whilst doing some missions from the first games and eventually getting the terrorist at the end.
The second movie would be similiar to Double Agent, in that he is still working for the NSA, but also for a terrorist organisation. Whilst having to keep his cover while doing more missions, he works out that the NSA are actually the bad guys and kills his boss at the end of the film.
The third film would show Sam as he will be in the new game Conviction, a fugitive on the run, trying to work out who has actually been double-crossing him the whole time. Maybe at the end he has a choice to kill both himself and the bad guy, or let him go, but because he has suffered so much and does not care anymore, he gives his own life to get the bad guys.

and finally, a Call of Duty branded television show in the style of Band of Brothers and Modern Warfare, where each week we see a military squad in a war in the near future. One week they have to defend a town square and get the wounded to a rogue hospital, next week they have to infiltrate a compound, defuse the bomb inside, and escape without being noticed. It could also be told in a real-time 24 style.

Long comment I know, but if anyone can actually get these made then I will be very happy.

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