How do you know when an as-yet-unreleased video game is rrrreally good? When a production company gets started on the movie version -- six months before the game hits the shelves! (OK, that's not even remotely true, but it sounded like a good intro.) But I can tell you one truly promising piece of news regarding the upcoming Electronic Arts game Dead Space: It's science fiction AND horror! Yeah, just like Galaxy of Terror!

Anyway, the game isn't due to hit stores until after summer, but that hasn't stopped Starz (and its Film Roman animation division) from snatching the property up and organzing all sorts of nifty little "tie-ins." For example, first will come a graphic novel from Image Comics. Then the Starz movie. And then the game. The assumption is that if you digest this media in the proper order, it will amplify your Dead Space experience tenfold. Or something. All I know it's it's full of monsters and it takes place on a deserted spaceship. Somebody sign me up.

For more on the (mostly likely Anchor Bay DVD) movie, check out the news at Variety. For more on the game, check out the official Dead Space website. For a peek at an early teaser trailer, just look below!

I have no idea why the word "documentary" has somehow been connected with the word "boring" over the past several decades, but I see lots of VERY entertaining docos as part of my festival exploits. Oh sure, the Oscar-givers like to focus on the "important" documentaries that deal with stuff like war, sex, religion, abortion and the Holocaust, but if you know where to look, you can find stacks of docos that are more than content to focus on issues that are A) light, B) amusing, or C) musical. (Here's a hint on where to look: Film festivals like SXSW.)

Paul Owens' Blip Festival: Reformat the Planet covers A, B and C, although it's focused mainly on the third option: Music. Specifically, music that is created by a small but passionate group of misfits who create some fantastic tunes using nothing but (ready for it?) old-school video game consoles! Yep, that goofy old Super Mario Bros. jingle can be turned into one kick-ass techno tune in the right hands, and these unapologetic gaming geeks seem to be having a great time turning great old games into funky new tunes.

Collider recently caught up with blockbuster producer Jerry Bruckheimer during a press junket for National Treasure 2, when the subject of the big screen version of Ubisoft's Prince of Persia came up. Bruckheimer tells Collider that Persia is set to begin shooting this June. Unfortunately it all hinges on whether the writer's strike has been resolved, since Bruckheimer admits that the script is far from complete, saying, "we have a screenplay, we're just starting to develop the look of it" -- which roughly translates to "my assistant has made some notes while playing the game," I'm guessing. The original plot of the game centered on Prince Shahraman, who is tricked into unleashing a plague on his land and gains the power to control time. Of course, there is also the usual video game goal of rescuing a princess.

Back in November, Chris had reported that Harry Potter director Mike Newell had been offered the job. Well, it seems that Newell is officially on board since Bruckheimer told the site, "We hired a very interesting director, Mike Newell, who did one of the Harry Potter's and also did Donnie Brasco and he's a very inventive, ingenious director and I think he's going to bring something really special to it." The film is expected to work in some of the plot elements of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

The third person action game released by Ubisoft back in 2003 was a huge fan favorite. Combined with the outright suckiness of most video game flicks, there is a lot for Newell to overcome if he wants to make sure that audiences are happy with the final product. Two more sequels to the game were released in '04 and '05, so there is plenty of opportunity for additional films. Considering Bruckheimer's fondness for franchises, there is a real possibility we will be seeing more of the Persian Prince in the years to come.

When I think back on my 'video game memories,' spending countless hours playing Namco's Tekken is at the top of the list. Well, that and Mario Brothers, but I might be dating myself a little there. So imagine my surprise that a live-action film based on the classic fighting game was not only in the works, but that a teaser poster for the flick was already here (courtesy of ComingSoon.net).

Here's a brief synopsis for Tekken, in case you don't remember its awesomeness: "A worldwide martial arts tournament is nearing its final, with a large purse of prize money to the fighter who can defeat Heihachi Mishima in the final round of competition. The contest is sponsored by the giant financial group, the Mishima Zaibatsu. There are eight fighters that remain after winning death matches all over the world. The winner of the tournament will receive The King of the Iron Fist title. Only one will have a chance at defeating Heihachi and taking home the prize money and fame". Dwight H. Little directed the Michael Colleary and Alan B. McElroy script that follows a similar storyline to the original game franchise.

It was five years ago that news of a film first surfaced, but in the barrage of game-based movies in production, I guess it must have gotten lost in the shuffle. Back in 2002, Namco's chairman told IGN that, "Tekken was the perfect game to pursue our dreams together. The game has fun characters and is a wonderful story. Unlike some other games, this has a whole style of its own and is a really fun piece that is very commercial". Well forget 2002; I guess now the right time is 2009, since that is when Tekken is scheduled for release.

OK, I get it. Eventually every single video game will be turned into a film, and I mean every video game. Game Daily: BIZ reports that the classic 1982 platform game Joust has been selected for the big-screen treatment. The film is being produced by CP Productions, which is comprised of Area 51 producer Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie (Blackout). CP is dedicated to producing films for the "under-25 filmgoer", and their slate is mainly horror and sci-fi, along with some other classic video game adaptations. Joust centered on an ostrich-riding knight who would do battle with waves of bad guys on a series of platforms suspended over a pit of lava. It might have been simplistic, but is still considered one of the best by fans of classic arcade games. Released in 1982 by Williams Electronics for Midway Games, Joust has made its way to most video game platforms even as recently as for the Xbox 360.

Since there isn't all that much to work with in terms of story and character, Peters told Daily, "We took one element of the game and the brand itself and built a whole new world around it for the film". Matt Gotleib has already finished a script for the film and it is being described as "Gladiator meets Mad Max". The film would be set in a futuristic Las Vegas, but there is no word on whether our hero will still be astride an ostrich (or emu) this time around. CP is also planning on releasing a graphic novel by Steven Elliot Altman of DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics fame, that will be based on Gotleib's script. There is also the possibility of a new series of games that would build off his story. Paramount Pictures has been reported to have a first look deal with CP Productions for the film, so stay tuned for any updates that come our way.

[ Thanks to RottenTomatoes.com for the tip. ]

Just when you thought the big screen version of Eidos Interactive's Hitman was finally on its way, you'll have to wait a little longer. IGN is reporting that 20th Century Fox has pushed the flick's release date back just a little. The first teaser trailer premiered back in June and there's already been some glimpses at photos and poster art for the film ... everything seemed to be on track. Directed by Xavier Gens, this is his first Hollywood film and the script was written by Skip Woods (Swordfish). Timothy Olyphant stars as the elusive killing machine Agent 47: A genetically engineered assassin trying to unravel his past while bringing down the bad guy (Dougray Scott) and aiding a damsel in distress (Olga Kurylenko).

Originally the film was set for release on October 12, which would have slated the film to open against Elizabeth: The Golden Age with Cate Blanchett and Kenneth Branagh's Sleuth update -- neither of which was really in direct competition, so a lack of studio confidence probably was not behind the switch. Hitman will now open closer to Thanksgiving, on November 21, the same weekend as Frank Darabont's The Mist, which in my mind might present more of a challenge for Agent 47 in a competition for audiences. But there's plenty of box-office to go around during a holiday weekend, so Fox is probably hoping to cash in on that fact. IGN reports that Fox should be making an official announcement later this week, so I hope this is the last delay for the film before it hits theaters this November.

Sony Pictures has launched the official site for Resident Evil: Extinction. This time around: Alice, our genetically enhanced heroine (Milla Jovovich) is lost in the wastelands of Nevada while fending off the evil plans of the Umbrella Corporation. Joining Jovovich as fellow plague survivors are Heroes' Ali Larter and R&B singer Ashanti. Also returning are Oded Fehr as Carlos Oliviera and Mike Epps as L.J. Last month we had gotten word of a new R trailer for the film and another gallery of photos released to the web. The arrival of a web site might not seem like such a big deal, especially in the current climate of viral fever, but there's plenty of cool content. There are wallpapers, screen savers, and loads of media gallerie, as well as a pretty decent online game -- but be warned; it's armed with one of those age-verification login pages.

Resident Evil: Extinction was directed by Russell Mulcahy; according to this piece over at Movies Online, Paul W.S. Anderson's script has reportedly taken elements from the RE: Code Veronica. Anderson has written his share of video game flicks, including all three of the Resident Evil flicks, and directing the first one back in 2002. There had been some debate over whether Extinction was going to be the last film in the series, but Sony refers to the film as "the third and final installment", so I guess it really is the end for Alice -- I can only hope she will go out in style. Extinction hits theaters September 21st.

[via ComingSoon.net]

Old news is still good news. That said ... When Fox made the somewhat disappointing decision to pull out of ComicCon , it put the brakes on our chances of getting another look at the big-screen version of the stealth video game, Hitman . Well, at least Movieweb IGN is hosting the first look at the domestic art for the film (click on the pic for a larger version). Although, I have to admit, it's not quite what I was expecting -- it looks like they decided to keep the iconic pose from the original game art. In fact, it's pretty difficult to distinguish the poster from a video game cover, since we don't even get a look at Timothy Olyphant as Agent 47 in this one-sheet. And since they probably want to tap into the game's massive fanbase, I guess that was the point.

The best-selling Eidos game was shopped around as early as 2003, but it wasn't until 2007 that a deal was struck with Fox. And as you probably remember, casting the role of Agent 47 proved to be more difficult than you would have thought. Joining Olyphant are Dougray Scott and Olga Kurylenko (who I would presume plays the damsel in distress). The film was directed by Xavier Gans, with writer Skip Woods in charge of adapting the original story. Shooting began back in March, and the film is still in post-production. It was just over a month ago when France got a teaser poster for the film, and they couldn't be more different. So take a moment to compare; I know which one I prefer, how about you? Hitman is set for release on October 12.

Hey, I have an idea! Let's make a movie ... based on a video game! Seriously! I mean, the story and the characters are already done, so that's half our work right there. Plus we can use the game to design the sets, the props, everything! It'll be so easy! ... What's that? It's been done a couple dozen times already? And the result is nearly always disastrous? Hmph. That kinda stinks, because the game series I was thinking of would be perfect for a movie! It's called Painkiller, and...

Ah. Someone beat me to it, huh? OK, so what's the deal? It's the story of an otherworldly assassin who must do battle with the forces of evil, right? Yep, so was mine. And of course it will be based on the PC game Painkiller and its Xbox sequel Hell Wars. (I knew I should have written this script last year!)

Lame humor aside: Variety reports that Jon Berg & Todd Komarnicki's Guy Walks into a Bar production shingle has landed the rights for the movie version of DreamCatcher Interactive's dark-yet-popular first-person-shooter series. Needless to say, plans are already afoot to have a third game ready in time for the movie's debut. The producers have hired busy newcomer Ben McCaw to turn the game into a screenplay (lucky jerk!), and here's why the game-makers gave up the rights to this particular team: "Partly because of the shingle's plans to blend the fast-paced action, the wide array of weaponry and cast of demonic characters in the feature adaptation." Weapons and demons! That's what they should call the movie!

Fingers crossed for an R rating?

The last we had heard from Resident Evil: Extinction was the release of the concept art for the film and a short teaser back in February. Blackfilm.com now has a batch of new pics from the latest film in the franchise. Directed by Russell Mulcahy (who has the dubious credit on his IMDB resume of directing a video for 80's band Human League), the story picks up right where the last movie left off, with Alice, (Milla Jovovich), the butt-kicking genetically enhanced anti-hero out hiding in the wastelands of the Nevada desert. There, she joins up with some new fellow survivors to fight off a virus that turns people into the living un-dead. Of course, the infamous Umbrella Corporation is behind it all. Along with the additions of Ali Larter from TV's Heroes and R&B singer Ashanti, also back for the film are Oded Fehr (The Mummy) as Carlos Oliveira and Mike Epps as L.J. Extinction will be the third film written by Paul W.S. Anderson for the series, and it's apparently not put him off making video-game movies -- he's already on to the next, directing the big-screen adaptation of Spy Hunter.

This latest batch of pictures for Extinction give us another look at Milla in action, with plenty of pouting looks while brandishing a variety of weapons. We also get to see both Larter and Ashanti in their best "bad-ass" stance. Since this is expected to be the last film in the series, fans are probably hoping that Alice is going to go out on a high-note. Extinction is set for release on September 21st, but we'll be keeping you in the loop as soon as there is any news out of this top-secret production.