September 4, 2009

A Look at Upcoming Games to Film Adaptations
By: Steven Hopper

With high-profile film adaptations of videogames on the horizon, could gamers finally be treated to a great one?

There was a time not too long ago when video-game film adaptations left a rotten taste in many gamers' mouths. Reminded of weak adaptations from beloved franchises like Super Mario Bros., Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and (ugh...) Bloodrayne, films based on video-games have become synonymous with crap. This extends to the very recent, with movies like Max Payne, Hitman, and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li all failing to live up to the vast potential of their subject matter. Like literature, video-games are ripe for film adaptations given their embedded fan base, deep stories, albeit in a much more visual way. Unlike literature, film producers haven't really found the proper way to craft these elements into great films.

However, that could all change very soon, as a number of high-profile films based on successful videogame franchises loom on the horizon. Video-games have seemingly gotten the attention of Hollywood in a very big way, and we gamers may finally see the ever-elusive great film based on a video-game that we've been so desperately craving.

Go ahead. Make my sequel.

With this week's release of the film Gamer, starring Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall, it appears that video-game culture at least has the eye of the film industry. While the cinematic virtues of the film remain to be seen, it at least shows that Hollywood is beginning to realize that the all-important young adult/twenty-something demographic that the film industry covets is, in fact, composed mostly of gamers. With that in mind, more producers and directors seem to be focusing on established franchises from the video-game industry and attempting to not only try to capitalize on the audience via shoddy versions of the games we know and love, but actually make some decent films that non-gamers might like to see.

While the Peter Jackson-produced Halo film seems to be caught in development hell, you can't deny the potential that the film presented. With directors like Guillermo Del Toro (director of the Hellboy film franchise as well as the critically-acclaimed Pan's Labyrinth) and Neil Blomkamp (director of the great Halo: Landfall shorts and whose first feature film, Section 9, is currently garnering plenty of acclaim and box-office success) attached to the project at one point, the level of talent that is being thrown at the film, whether it happens or not, is indeed impressive.

Additionally, the Bioshock film has been turning quite a few heads. Prior to his departure over budgetary concerns, the film was to be directed by Gore Verbinski, director of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (and let's face it, if he can turn a Disneyland ride into a billion-dollar earning film franchise, then imagine what he could do with a video-game). It's easy to see why a director would be excited about a Bioshock film; the game has a great story teeming with atmosphere and the art direction is superb. Unfortunately, this is yet another case of a games-to-film adaptation being stuck in limbo following Verbinski's departure. Luckily, another quite capable director, Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (director of 28 Weeks Later) is currently in talks to direct the film, breathing some life into the project yet.

Big Daddy...In IMAX???

A much more real film adaptation on the horizon is the Jerry Bruckheimer-produced Prince of Persia film. Aside from boasting a king's ransom in acting talent (Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina), the film is also directed by Mike Newell, who has done quite well with character-driven fare (Donnie Brasco, Four Weddings and A Funeral) as well as large-scale "popcorn" films (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). Additionally, the presence of Bruckheimer cannot be denied. Bruckheimer has made a name for himself producing large-tentpole films (Beverly Hills Cop, the aforementioned Pirates of the Caribbean franchise), and while many may not agree on their artistic merit, with his push, you can guarantee that the film will put butts in the seats and should be an action-packed film that gamers might actually be proud of.

So, after over a decade in disappointment, gamers could actually be on the precipice of getting some decent film versions of their favorite titles. While some of these films may be suffering from the studio system of budget problems and shifting production crews, you can't help but appreciate the amount of film talent that is finally showing an interest in what video-games have to offer. And hey, it beats Uwe Boll.

Share | Digg This | Glink It

---