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Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

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Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#131

Post by watwut »

baby wrote: post #88
dfxm12 wrote: post #26

Mostly because videogame plot lines aren't as good as we give them credit for. Videogames are great at being interactive diversions, but their stories leave a lot to be desired and are really just thin background dressing for the real reason we play videogames: for the gameplay. The most successful videogame movies tend towards genre films like Mortal Kombat (the film) and Resident Evil (the series). Of course, let's…

> Mostly because videogame plot lines aren't as good as we give them credit for Same with movies, books, comics, ... but the top is good. The Last Of Us ffs...

I would argue that average mainstream comic, book or movie have much better plot, characters etc then mainstream game. They however completely sux if judged by standards we normally judge games. (By which I want to say that games are not inferior all things considered, just that plot is not their strong part.)

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#132

Post by Thimothy »

badloginagain wrote: post #115
probably_wrong wrote: post #110

They did make a good video game movie: it's called "Pirates of the Caribbean", and it's an adaptation of Monkey Island. I know, I know, it's the other way around. But it should be proof that a good videogame movie is at least possible - you would have to change surprisingly little.

Actually its an adaptation of the Pirates of the Caribbean disney ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCkl1eGmxTM

Actually, both Monkey Island and Pirates of the Caribbean are inspired by the same attraction.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_Island_(series)

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#133

Post by C7H8N4O2 »

sirmarksalot wrote: post #44

So many video game movie projects are missing the simple question, "why?" So many of these games are inspired by movies in the first place, and their stories are mostly just cliches based on their source material. It's fine in the context of the game, because the player is doing something, but when you put that into a non-interactive medium, the flaws become obvious. If you take Indiana Jones, turn it into a game wit…

> There needs to be some reason to do it. Some idea that the source material does that hasn't already been done to death in film.

Or some capability of the new format.

Pulling standalone creative works forward into modernity is interesting. Some of my favorite movies are adapted from plays written before film. The timeline is shorter with video games movies, but AAA games are already cinematic and VR is basically here (needs lower hardware cost).

How would your favorite composer have used a synthesizer?

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#134

Post by auntienomen »

baby wrote: post #96
auntienomen wrote: post #64

To be fair, Hollywood is improving. Their first attempt was the Super Mario Brothers movie, which was so bad that it's difficult to understand how they finished it.

Super Mario Bros was fucking awesome

Try telling that to Dennis Hopper.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#135

Post by classichasclass »

CodeMage wrote: post #90
dfxm12 wrote: post #26

Mostly because videogame plot lines aren't as good as we give them credit for. Videogames are great at being interactive diversions, but their stories leave a lot to be desired and are really just thin background dressing for the real reason we play videogames: for the gameplay. The most successful videogame movies tend towards genre films like Mortal Kombat (the film) and Resident Evil (the series). Of course, let's…

I think that's close to the mark, but not quite there. To quote Sid Meier, "A game is a series of interesting choices." It's hard to make a good game with a great plot: the better the plot, the more you restrict the player's choices. It's not impossible, but it's hard. Plenty of games have great characters and excellent world-building. Quite a few pose interesting questions, make you face hard dilemmas and leave you…

I think BioShock Infinite probably proves your point, too. Compared to the other two entries it limits the player's choices even further and simplifies gameplay even more, but has a much more compelling story. Unfortunately, the story would probably not be as compelling were the player not led by the nose through it.

FTR, I had the most fun playing BioShock 2, but I still like Infinite the most.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#137

Post by ralfd »

humanrebar wrote: post #82
mwexler wrote: post #65

Actually, in some ways, Hardcore Henry ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3072482/ ) was a great video game movie. It has lots of problems, but it captures both the feel of a video game with the power of film. While not based on a specific game, it's easy to see many gaming cliches (intentionally) in the film.

I'd say Scott Pilgrim, Jumanji, and Edge of Tomorrow are better video game movies in that sense.

⌘F Edge

"Edge of Tomorrow" is a fantastic video game movie in spirit. The Groundhog-Day-Formula is not new, but it nails the game experience of having a "savepoint" and getting better and better until you master the bullet hell level.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#138

Post by PowerRangError »

VikingCoder wrote: post #119
fmj wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think calling Wreck-It Ralph a video game movie (at least in the context of this discussion) is a bit of a stretch.

I don't think it's a stretch. They even made an actual arcade game for the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cvErIWbwZI And the way it shows other characters, especially Q-Bert and Zangief, was hilarious.

Demonstrating how you're wrong (movie then game based on it???) as an argument, makes you look like an idiot.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#139

Post by imglorp »

krapp wrote: post #52
craftyguy wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a great point. The real question is "Why is Hollywood trying to make video game movies?"

They think it's easy money.

Yes, because someone else already paid to get all the branding and name recognition. They're just drafting off it, via higher reward with lower risk than an un-branded new thing.

Re: Why Can't Hollywood Make a Good Video Game Movie?

#140

Post by omg_ketchup »

gknoy wrote: post #73
sirmarksalot wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even as a teenager, I found it pretty cringy.

I think that, like Mars Attacks and Starship Troopers, it's a movie that one benefitted a lot from expecting a B- or C, and being pleasantly surprised by a B (or B+)-ish experience.

Starship Troopers was an A+ movie masquerading as a B movie.
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