Bež
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Hi,
Movies and games are the oil and water of the media world. Books have made great movies, movies have made great books, television has made both great books and great movies, and so on.
But games, it seems, just don’t seem to translate well to other formats. There are fairly obvious reasons...
Movies, television and, to a lesser extent, books rely on the inaction of the viewer or reader, while games rely entirely on their interaction .
Still, games increasingly carry well thought out, well rounded plots, proper characterisation and enough set pieces for even the most stunt-happy of directors to get their teeth into.
Indeed, movie producers have come back time and time again to games for their themes and plots – with a number of game-inspired cinematic rubbish, including the likes of Street Fighter, Super Mario Bros and Dead or Alive, failing to put them off.
So, without further ado, I’ve picked out three games that I believe should be made into movies.
1. Half-Life
Plot: MIT graduate arrives late for work and plays a pivotal role in the experiment that manages to rip open a portal to another world, sparking an alien invasion. Escape from the Black Mesa facility takes on a new twist when it becomes apparent that the army has been sent in not to help but to cover up the situation…
Why it could rock: What’s not to like? Man battling against both aliens and the army, some of the best scripted set pieces ever known to gaming – including a giant hydra-like plant that reacts to noise – and, of course, the prospect of an amazing sequel.
Why it could suck: Unfortunately Gordon Freeman never speaks, which might make the dialogue a little tricky. If the movie stays true to the film the last third would largely consist of charging up the Gauss gun and jumping around islands in an alien world. And you just know that they would cast someone wholly inappropriate as Barney.
Possible director: Steven Spielberg. One of the all-time great directors taking on one of the all-time great games is a mouth-watering prospect.
Could it be a reality? Perhaps the Spielberg bit is a bridge too far, but this is a game that is an absolute certainty for the silver screen. Early overtures to game-makers Valve have not brought about any firm commitments and rumours of Quentin Tarantino directing a couple of years ago proved utter nonsense.
2. Warcraft
Plot: Though the exact plot would depend on which in-game era is picked, Warcraft’s is a rich world of the eternal struggle between good and evil involving the undead, dwarves, elves and magic.
The phenomenal power of World of Warcraft may suggest that focus would be on that title’s particular era, although perhaps the story of Arthas Menethil, running as it does through the entire Warcraft series, would most appeal to Hollywood.
Why it would rock: This is a much-loved series that has been built in great detail over many years. If someone could bring to the big screen both the excitement of the series and hint at the depths beyond, this could be an epic in the same mould as The Lord of the Rings.
Why it could suck: Warcraft is so dense with story that it would take a very skilled film-maker indeed to actually bring out a key storyline without ruining the whole series. Plus, this is a big budget film and anything less than major investment would bring a whole host of disappointments.
Possible director: Peter Jackson – a man who knows how to bring the best out of dense plots involving dwarves and heroes.
Could it be a reality? It already is. Production company Legendary Pictures is already aiming at a 2009 release for the film with movie producer Thomas Tull saying, “It’s not so much a quest movie as a war movie.”
3. Grand Theft Auto IV
Plot: Eastern European man arrives in Liberty City looking for the American Dream but soon realises that to get out of the gutter he will have to abandon his morals. His talent for violence soon takes him into the big leagues…
Why it could rock: A rags to riches with a twist, a main character that is at home in the gritty modern world and a healthy dose of social satire on all that is bad in Western society. It’s Scarface.
Why it could suck: Hollywood and decent satire is possible, but getting a director on board that wants to do a game title and make a gangster film and try to make it satirical would face problems. Plus, someone might hire Guy Ritchie…
Essential nod to gamers: Would they dare include a hot coffee reference? You would imagine that the hilarious dialogue of one of Liberty City’s radio stations would need to feature to keep fans happy.
Possible director: Not sure
Could it be a reality? The Grand Theft Auto series is already the ultimate money-making console franchise and who would bet against Hollywood eagerly bagging a massive fan base and one of the best known names in gaming?
Though the game already has an awfully large debt to the gangster classics of the silver screen, the prospect of GTA: The Movie is looming large.
So, do you think these 3 games would make good movies?? Also, suggest anymore games that could possibly be transformed into a good movie.
Movies and games are the oil and water of the media world. Books have made great movies, movies have made great books, television has made both great books and great movies, and so on.
But games, it seems, just don’t seem to translate well to other formats. There are fairly obvious reasons...
Movies, television and, to a lesser extent, books rely on the inaction of the viewer or reader, while games rely entirely on their interaction .
Still, games increasingly carry well thought out, well rounded plots, proper characterisation and enough set pieces for even the most stunt-happy of directors to get their teeth into.
Indeed, movie producers have come back time and time again to games for their themes and plots – with a number of game-inspired cinematic rubbish, including the likes of Street Fighter, Super Mario Bros and Dead or Alive, failing to put them off.
So, without further ado, I’ve picked out three games that I believe should be made into movies.
1. Half-Life
Plot: MIT graduate arrives late for work and plays a pivotal role in the experiment that manages to rip open a portal to another world, sparking an alien invasion. Escape from the Black Mesa facility takes on a new twist when it becomes apparent that the army has been sent in not to help but to cover up the situation…
Why it could rock: What’s not to like? Man battling against both aliens and the army, some of the best scripted set pieces ever known to gaming – including a giant hydra-like plant that reacts to noise – and, of course, the prospect of an amazing sequel.
Why it could suck: Unfortunately Gordon Freeman never speaks, which might make the dialogue a little tricky. If the movie stays true to the film the last third would largely consist of charging up the Gauss gun and jumping around islands in an alien world. And you just know that they would cast someone wholly inappropriate as Barney.
Possible director: Steven Spielberg. One of the all-time great directors taking on one of the all-time great games is a mouth-watering prospect.
Could it be a reality? Perhaps the Spielberg bit is a bridge too far, but this is a game that is an absolute certainty for the silver screen. Early overtures to game-makers Valve have not brought about any firm commitments and rumours of Quentin Tarantino directing a couple of years ago proved utter nonsense.
2. Warcraft
Plot: Though the exact plot would depend on which in-game era is picked, Warcraft’s is a rich world of the eternal struggle between good and evil involving the undead, dwarves, elves and magic.
The phenomenal power of World of Warcraft may suggest that focus would be on that title’s particular era, although perhaps the story of Arthas Menethil, running as it does through the entire Warcraft series, would most appeal to Hollywood.
Why it would rock: This is a much-loved series that has been built in great detail over many years. If someone could bring to the big screen both the excitement of the series and hint at the depths beyond, this could be an epic in the same mould as The Lord of the Rings.
Why it could suck: Warcraft is so dense with story that it would take a very skilled film-maker indeed to actually bring out a key storyline without ruining the whole series. Plus, this is a big budget film and anything less than major investment would bring a whole host of disappointments.
Possible director: Peter Jackson – a man who knows how to bring the best out of dense plots involving dwarves and heroes.
Could it be a reality? It already is. Production company Legendary Pictures is already aiming at a 2009 release for the film with movie producer Thomas Tull saying, “It’s not so much a quest movie as a war movie.”
3. Grand Theft Auto IV
Plot: Eastern European man arrives in Liberty City looking for the American Dream but soon realises that to get out of the gutter he will have to abandon his morals. His talent for violence soon takes him into the big leagues…
Why it could rock: A rags to riches with a twist, a main character that is at home in the gritty modern world and a healthy dose of social satire on all that is bad in Western society. It’s Scarface.
Why it could suck: Hollywood and decent satire is possible, but getting a director on board that wants to do a game title and make a gangster film and try to make it satirical would face problems. Plus, someone might hire Guy Ritchie…
Essential nod to gamers: Would they dare include a hot coffee reference? You would imagine that the hilarious dialogue of one of Liberty City’s radio stations would need to feature to keep fans happy.
Possible director: Not sure
Could it be a reality? The Grand Theft Auto series is already the ultimate money-making console franchise and who would bet against Hollywood eagerly bagging a massive fan base and one of the best known names in gaming?
Though the game already has an awfully large debt to the gangster classics of the silver screen, the prospect of GTA: The Movie is looming large.
So, do you think these 3 games would make good movies?? Also, suggest anymore games that could possibly be transformed into a good movie.
