Movies and Games are almost alike in popularity. They are also very, very, entertaining. So when movies based on video games started, there was much anticipation from gamers everywhere. One of the first video game movies, Super Mario Brothers, was released in 1993. And, as most game movies are today, it wasn’t very good at all. Today, I will take a look into the past gaming movie flops of yore. I will also express my ideas to film directors how to actually make a GOOD movie based on a video game (yeah, wacky concept, isn’t it?)
Ok, so back to the Mario movie. It wasn’t very good at all. Instead of being an animated action movie, they turned it into a real-life action movie. Mario isn’t supposed to be brought to life, people. And then the clash of the Mario Brothers Movie and Super Mario Brothers stories. Bowser never kidnapped Daisy in a Mario game. Seeing that I would have preferred a story based on ONE of the Mario games, I didn’t like that concept one bit. The enemies seen in the movie sucked and looked nothing like the enemies you would see in a regular Mario game. Oh, and by the way, whoever came up with the idea to make Bowser look like a half human, half reptile looking creature, go write a science fiction novel. It better suits you, trust me.
Actually, there was one gaming movie that I actually, somewhat liked. And that would be the original Mortal Kombat movie, which was released in 1995. Yes, I know your all gasping in shock. But hey, I liked it. It actually followed the story to the game, and that’s Liu Kang and the rest of the crew facing people like Goro in a tournament. It also has some good fighting sequences. Plus the ending battle between Kang and Shang Tsung was pretty ok. If there were ever a gaming movie that was actually good, this would be it.
But a year before, Street Fighter tried to make its way to the silver screen..with disastrous results. Even celebrity (well, back then, she wasn’t) Kylie Minouge couldn’t save the movie from sucking. While some of the story was based on the game, most of it wasn’t. I mean, Guile as the main character? And Jean Claude Van Dam playing as him? AHHHH! Ryu should have been the main player in the story, period. By the way, when did Dee Jay become evil and work for Bison? I thought he was pretty cool. Thanks to whoever wrote the script for this movie. Now I have to hate Dee Jay. And also, Dhalsim was a doctor. That makes no sense, whatsoever.
While I haven’t seen most of the recent game movie flicks like Final Fantasy and Resident Evil, I can surely say that now directors are trying to make the game movies like they should be. While I hear that Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was ok, it had nothing to do with Final Fantasy. Whatsoever. That’s what turned me off, and I think that’s what turned off most gamers. I guess that’s why it bombed. While Tomb Raider had star power (Angelina Jolie played Lara Croft), it too didn’t do that good at the box office (but better than FF). So even with top celebrities and a big game franchise, gamers will be turned off by the lame storylines that go along with the perks of a movie.
Now, whoever wants to direct a movie based on a game, read this. First off, write a story based on the game. None of this crap like in Street Fighter. Then, once you come up with a story that follows the game, make the environments seem like you’re in the game. That’s what made Super Mario Brothers utter garbage. Then, after doing that, find some actors that can actually act a little. They don’t need to be mega celebrities, however. Once you have all that, go ahead and show it. It might actually be good! Even if it isn’t good, at least it will be better than Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. What im trying to say is, just make the movie actually BASED on one of the games. It might do well.
But I doubt that anyone in the business right now will follow my advice. The next movie coming out based on a game is House of the Dead. From what it looks like, it's going to suck. But don’t give up on the future. Resident Evil 2 will actually follow the games story. Hey, that’s got to be good news. There are also rumors that Zelda and Crazy Taxi are going to the silver screen as well. But then again, in the newest EGM issue (February 2003), a live action Pac Man may be in the works. Scary. And even more scarier, a sequel to the crappy Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is also in the works. The title? Mortal Kombat: Domination. Wow, that’s sounds good. Wait, no it doesn’t. Whatever the case, there will be some crappy movies based on games in the future. But sometimes, an actually good movie like Mortal Kombat will come along. And that’s sure to please the gamers out there in the coming years.
Bryan Rose
