Hot Topic: Videogame Movies
The team asks: are movies based on games any good?
Tim, Nick and Darran try to separate the good movie adaptations from the bad
This month’s topic comes courtesy of our designer Andy, who noted that with Ghostbusters II and Mortal Kombat in the issue, the connection between videogames and movies would be a rather interesting area to explore. With that in mind, we decided to discuss the often bungled art of cinematic videogame adaptations.
NICK
What was the last videogame movie you saw, and what did you think of it?
DARRAN
The last one I saw was Detective Pikachu. I thought it was largely forgettable nonsense but my kids enjoyed it.
NICK
Detective Pikachu was the last one I saw too, I was actually rewatching it, with my family who were seeing it for the first time. It’s got so many cool moments for fans, but the story really stops making sense in the final act. Still, that makes it better than most videogame movies.
TIM
I saw Monster Hunter. I was kind of looking forward to it because I wanted it to be great. But it’s not and now I’m cross.
NICK
What was it about Monster Hunter that you didn’t like? I’ve not seen that one.
TIM
There’s not enough space here to really get into it, but meh. There’s only really two monsters (and a quick cameo at the end). But worst of all there’s no flipping switch-axe! Stupid film.
NICK
So it wasn’t particularly authentic, then? I feel like that happens a lot, and it’s one of the big problems with videogame adaptations.
DARRAN
Agreed. Look at all that nonsense about the Uncharted film when its director said it was about a family of antique dealers. You what mate?
NICK
So which videogame movies would you guys actually hold up as being relatively good?
TIM
Umm… yeah Sonic was alright.
DARRAN
I actually think the first Mortal Kombat is pretty decent. That’s largely because they rip off Enter The Dragon though.
NICK
I enjoyed both of those. The Yakuza movie that was released in Japan was another one I enjoyed, though it’s mainly carried by a single character, Goro Majima.
DARRAN
I do think the first Silent Hill movie is pretty good as well. The atmosphere in it is terrific and it actually has acting in it which I’d say is passable, which is quite a big plus in those sorts of films.
TIM
I did not know the Yakuza one existed. And I thought I’d seen all the videogame films. Even that animated Tekken one. And the liveaction Tekken one. Urgh, I’ve also seen The King Of Fighters film.
DARRAN
Where does everyone stand on Super Mario Bros? I’m hearing more and more suggestions that it’s nowhere near as bad as many say, but I watched it about a year ago and it’s still utter trash that
largely takes a big dump on the game’s lore.
NICK
Oh boy, Super Mario Bros. I first saw it about eight or nine years ago at a bad film club I used to go to, and it was so bad that it went beyond amusing and straight back to awful. I spent most of the film drinking in the hope that I’d remember less of it.
TIM
I haven’t seen Super Mario Bros in a long time, and I’d like to keep it that way, thanks.
NICK
That’s the one thing Sonic fans will always have over Mario fans – at least our film was decent.
DARRAN
Which is about the only time they can say that in relation to Mario, lol. Why have we not mentioned Uwe Boll yet? He’s made some terrible films about videogames and keeps making them.
TIM
Because he’ll want to fight you.
NICK
Oh yeah, he did that boxing thing with his critics, didn’t he?
TIM
Yup.
DARRAN
That’s an impressive stance to take. He won the few fights that did happen I recall.
NICK
As far as I recall, he actually has experience as an amateur boxer. But man, those films. I can’t understand the decision to just randomly cut game footage into House Of The Dead.
DARRAN
What I find particularly impressive with his films is who he is able to attract. He gets big names at times.
NICK
Yeah, I was just looking and he
got Jason Statham as a star for Dungeon Siege. That’s crazy.
DARRAN
Let’s quickly talk about The Rock. He likes his videogames clearly. Or he is savvy enough to know their appeal. I was pleasantly surprised by just how much fun Rampage was. It did a better job than the recent Godzilla and King Kong movies I thought. What about you, Tim?
TIM
I’ve seen it, thought it was bollocks. Looked nothing like what I played on the C64.
NICK
That’s a funny thing, few films ever try to achieve the look of the games – though there was that first-person bit in Doom, which The Rock was also in.
DARRAN
Good sequence that. Also I can’t believe we’ve hardly mentioned Sonic. This must be killing Nick.
NICK
If anything was going to kill me, it was going to be that first trailer. They did a top-class rescue job on that film, for sure.
DARRAN
Maybe I should give it a go. I do like Jim Carrey being Jim Carrey.
TIM
He is the Eggman.
DARRAN
So the big takeaway from this is if you have to watch a videogame movie it’s best not to bother. You’ll only end up disappointed.
TIM
Assassin’s Creed, Prince Of Persia, Tomb Raider and so on… yes, disappointment all round.
NICK
Maybe, but between Sonic and Detective Pikachu I think they’re definitely improving. Just, y’know, keep Uwe Boll away from your projects, Hollywood.