Let the 'Game-To-Film's Begin
As you all know, (actually no... you probably dont know) I'm have one particular interest in a genre of Hollywood creation. Actually, its much less an interest as it is a guilty pleasure. It is of course that largely disputable, never commended sub-genre of movies, the 'Game-to-Film'.
The 'Game-to-Film' category, which is a running genre yet to be acknowledged by the Acadamy, has rules that its adhering films must abide by. The first rule is: It must be a film based solely on a video-game franchise. Movies such as the dreaded 'Pokemon' films apply, as the franchise began in video-game form. Movies such as the announced 'Vampire: The Masquarade' film, whilst having a famous video-game series of its own, do not apply, as the franchise originated as a table-top board game (of the pen and paper variety, if my geek knowledge serves me).
And the second, and final rule is: The films but garner a theatrical release. This discludes all those straight to DVD Sonic the Hedgehog adventures, and any Street Fighter animes that have cropped up over time. This also alienates the recent Final Fantasy: Advent Children.
The entries to this niche category have been far from satisfactory, one might even say "unpleasant". I'm sure we are all familar with the level of quality of the most recent 'Game-to-Film' release, Doom. A critical and commercial letdown, Universal's tired attempt at breathing life into the 'Game-to-Film' genre failed quite significantly.
Don't believe that every film in the genre have been getting increasingly worse, never better? Try them for yourself, I've tracked down every 'Game-to-Film' released in the Western world.
Super Mario Bros.
Lara Croft in Tomb Raider
Lara Croft in Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life
House of the Dead
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Resident Evil
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Street Fighter
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat: Annhilation
Double Dragon
Wing Commander
Pokemon The First Movie
Pokemon The Movie 2000
Pokemon The Movie 3
Pokemon 4Ever
Pokemon Heroes
Alone in the Dark
Doom
Mmmmm. They are fascinating, each and every one.
And one final note, here's a heads-up on an upcoming 'Game-to-Film' based on Tecmo's fighting game series 'Dead Or Alive'. The movie's called DOA: Dead Or Alive, and it looks to be keeping that 'Game-to-Film' curse close to itself, and holding on to it as if its life depended on it. I wish it well, but somehow I feel it has a very bad future.
The 'Game-to-Film' category, which is a running genre yet to be acknowledged by the Acadamy, has rules that its adhering films must abide by. The first rule is: It must be a film based solely on a video-game franchise. Movies such as the dreaded 'Pokemon' films apply, as the franchise began in video-game form. Movies such as the announced 'Vampire: The Masquarade' film, whilst having a famous video-game series of its own, do not apply, as the franchise originated as a table-top board game (of the pen and paper variety, if my geek knowledge serves me).
And the second, and final rule is: The films but garner a theatrical release. This discludes all those straight to DVD Sonic the Hedgehog adventures, and any Street Fighter animes that have cropped up over time. This also alienates the recent Final Fantasy: Advent Children.
The entries to this niche category have been far from satisfactory, one might even say "unpleasant". I'm sure we are all familar with the level of quality of the most recent 'Game-to-Film' release, Doom. A critical and commercial letdown, Universal's tired attempt at breathing life into the 'Game-to-Film' genre failed quite significantly.
Don't believe that every film in the genre have been getting increasingly worse, never better? Try them for yourself, I've tracked down every 'Game-to-Film' released in the Western world.
Super Mario Bros.
Lara Croft in Tomb Raider
Lara Croft in Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life
House of the Dead
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Resident Evil
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Street Fighter
Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat: Annhilation
Double Dragon
Wing Commander
Pokemon The First Movie
Pokemon The Movie 2000
Pokemon The Movie 3
Pokemon 4Ever
Pokemon Heroes
Alone in the Dark
Doom
Mmmmm. They are fascinating, each and every one.
And one final note, here's a heads-up on an upcoming 'Game-to-Film' based on Tecmo's fighting game series 'Dead Or Alive'. The movie's called DOA: Dead Or Alive, and it looks to be keeping that 'Game-to-Film' curse close to itself, and holding on to it as if its life depended on it. I wish it well, but somehow I feel it has a very bad future.
posted by Ryan at 1:21 am
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