PixlBit

I've often come to think about the whole games as movies. And with Need For Speed coming to theaters eventually I have wondered...Why hasn't it worked? It's a bit perplexing. You have these fantasy realms in which to explore and try to bring to film. But Hollywood has had a hard time bringing games to the big screen. Yes there are critical successes. Wreck It Ralph while not a video game, was video game inspired. And it seems to be that way with most things. One highly fascinating video game documentary is King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Or going way back we can take a look at Disney's Tron...a computer animated, technological feat. 

So, when it comes to movies inspired by video games or about video games there isn't much of a problem. However, when directly based off a game...well let's just say there hasn't been one universally well received video game based movie released in theaters. You have the Mario Movie, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Lara Croft, Final Fantasy, etc. All of these have failed to bring a hopeful sign for video games as movies. That's not to say it can't work...I believe that video games can work in the media.

Namco has a pretty successful series in Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures...I'm sure if they could do it on TV then they could do a movie as well. Or how about Metal Gear Solid. Most gamers have joked that the series has become an interactive movie of sorts and Hideo Kojima himself has expressed a great interest into seeing the series on film. And he's taken steps to do so whether it's getting Kiefer Sutherland to voice Big Boss/Snake in recent or talking to the Wachowski brothers about an option for them to direct should a studio want to get the rights to do a movie.

One thing I always thought would make a good movie is a less relevant video game. I mean people know the franchises of Mario or Tomb Raider, but why not give something that has more of a cult following a chance? A Boy and His Blob could work...it's a perfect formula for a Disney plot. A boy and his blob go off on an adventure to save Blobolonia with jellybean abilities. Or how about one of David Cage's games as a movie....I mean they mostly are anyways...If you can spruce up the glaring plot holes in Heavy Rain...it wouldn't be a bad movie....maybe kinda like Seven...who knows?

And then there is the flip side of the coin.What about games made into movies? Why are most movie based games crap? Or rushed? Most have the benefit of having to be released alongside the movie to tie in with whatever toy or happy meal promotions, but honestly they could be better. Batman is a good example. The caped crusader has some great games, especially the Arkham series. But if you look at licensed games like Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, etc. well they aren't good. Sure you have the hard as crap, but somehow still good original Batman from Sunsoft. It may have been the rockin music or the challenge, but it was actually pretty fun.

So, yes it seems there are decent or good movie based games as well as games into movies. Now this is a small margin...let's say if 9/10 movies into games or games into movies are crap...the other 1/10 isn't. But, I'm no expert. Maybe the Sly Cooper movie in the works will amaze me. Perhaps Halo is better as a TV series instead of a movie...perhaps direct to dvd was better for street fighter to venture into. Anyways what are your thoughts? Is there a game series you'd like to see become a movie? Or how about any good movie based games? Comments and feedback are always appreciated.