Why Do Movies Based On Video Game Constantly Suck?
Time after time, Hollywood fails to craft great films based off popular video game franchises. Why are Batman and Harry Potter successful transitions to the big screen, while Mario and Chun-Li let us down?
Since the early 90's, Hollywood has been trying to create successful film franchises based on popular video games. With few exceptions, most of these have been poor films. While they can be enjoyable for their 'so bad they're good' factor, its hard to argue that many of them are more than obvious cash grabs by film studios who have little respect for the source material.
So why do movies based on video games almost universally suck?
Lost In Translation
Most video game adaptations stray too far from the source material. Stories and characters are changed to the point where fans of the games are served something vastly different from what they expect.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was almost universally hated by fans of the Final Fantasy franchise because it was seemingly Final Fantasy in name only. It felt like a bait-and-switch; with the name tossed on an unrelated project to fill the seats with gullible fans of the franchise.
This does not still well with us. We want to see the games we love represented, not re-interpreted. The most faithful video game to film adaption I've seen has been Silent Hill, and it was apparent that the people involved had a respect for the games from the beginning.
Low Expectations
Its obvious that many video game movies are rushed out to capitalize on the popularity of the game they're based on, and that the studios assume that standards gamers are willing to accept are really low. Look no further than the cinematic diarrhea we've gotten from Uwe Boll, with bombs like House of the Dead, Alone In the Dark and Bloodrayne.
We expect more and we deserve better.
Reliance On Fan Support
I have no doubt that the studios believe that gamers will see adaptations of their favorite games, regardless of the quality. Last year's Warcraft should have been a massive success, based on the massive built-in fanbase of the worldwide phenomenon. However, the movie was a flop, earning $47 million and suffering massive week-over-week drops. By its 3rd weekend, it was dead in the water. Why did this happen?
I have to assume word of mouth killed it. While it looked like a beautiful and faithful adaption from the trailers, it ended up having the same sorts of problems that other video game films have. The story was confusing and boring. The human characters felt miscast and forgettable. The orcs were awesome and completely overshadowed the characters we should have felt the stronger connection to.
How can film studios start getting it right?
Pretty simple. Respect the film's intended audience.
Give us video game movies that are faithful to the source material, are well written, acted and produced and don't coast on a popular property. Treat it with respect and we'll come see it.
We've been waiting to get good video game films for over 2 decades now. We're starting to lose faith that Hollywood will ever serve us good video game movies. If you want us to keep buying tickets, you need to start getting it right.
The same reason that video games based on movies suck. Just people chasing money -- all formula no passion.
Mortal Kombat is my first go-to example for how to make a fun game-to-film movie that doesn't suck. I know it's not a great movie, but it did everything I wanted in a Mortal Kombat-type film while taking itself seriously but not too seriously (which was the sequel's biggest downfall, in my opinion, after losing so much of the principle cast from the first).
The main problem movie makers face, I believe, is the issue of interactivity. Video games are an interactive medium, and films are non-interactive. Translating one medium to another is very difficult to pull off while making a successful movie: pander to the players, and you lose any hope of the non-gamer audience enjoying themselves; pander to the non-gaming audience, and the people who actually care about the property will boycott your film in droves.
Ironically, my second go-to example of a film that got it right is Postal. For all of Bolle's cinematic sins, and they are legion, Postal is simultaneously enjoyable as a gamer film and a non-gamer film. It's Falling Down copied on Silly Putty and then stretched to absurdity, and I think that's exactly what the story called for.
I'll also give props to both the first Silent Hill and the first Resident Evil films. Both manage to be enjoyable, watchable films in their own right, despite drastic departures from the source material. The sequels, on the other hand...? Yeah...no thanks. :)
Edit: I also loved Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within but I feel it would have ultimately been far more successful without the 'Final Fantasy' label. Square created a breathtaking CG world with an awesome futuristic story of science, technology, and nature all intertwined. Divorced from the 'Final Fantasy' name, it's a technological marvel. Weighed down with the RPG license, however, it was almost doomed from the start. Such a shame...
I agree completely about Mortal Kombat. Its one if the few that I feel were done right.
Though I think non gamers can enjoy video game movies, just as people who have not read the book a movie was based on can enjoy that.
A compelling story should be able to work when translated to another medium. I doubt Harry Potter would have worked if they changed Hogwarts into a government agency, made Harry a grizzled 45 year old wizard cop and turned Voldemort into a space vampire.
I dunno, man, I'd have watched the shit out of that Harry Potter... :)
Resident Evil 2 is my all time favourite game and these films were a massive let down. The fact they had the zombies disappear after they were killed and you leave the room because the makers of the film thought that was part of the game. Not knowing it was simply because the Playstation couldn't keep the dead zombies in memory so removed them when you moved out the room. There are so many mistakes in these films.
You are totally right when you say they need to stick to the source material.
Mortal Kombat!
Not because it's a particularly good movie, but because I was a kid when it came out and back then it was the shit. I liked the Street Fighter movie too, but not nearly as much.
This is a funny post because I just recently showed my 8 year old the Mario Bros movie because she's a huge Mario 3 fan. She ended up liking it overall but there were parts that confused her after many hours playing the various titles in the series. She loved Bob-omb though!
I want them to make a movie legit like a ps1 title with tank controls I want it to be well done.
i enjoyed Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
The CGI graphics where extraordinary !
thoughtful @retro-room
This post has received a 4.70 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @retro-room.
u talkin down on my nigga spongebobs name?? lmao jk pretty much all of your points are valid. good post
I think it's because they try to recreate the feelings we have during the game instead of going for a movie experience. And Uwe Boll has certainly a role in it as well.
Great post! Would you mind if I included it in today's "best of gaming"?
I wouls wager that Uwe Boll's films are at the center of many drinking games.
Yes I would love to have you feature this post.