There is the good, the bad, and the downright ugly regarding video game film adaptations. Some, like the absolute travesty of Borderlands, miss the mark entirely. Despite the collective PTSD we all now suffer from this massacre, there are still a few games out there that could do with a good movie adaptation.
Games that should be films
A couple of core elements need to be in place for a video game to be adapted into a good film. One of the most important things for the team, especially the director and writer, is to be familiar with the source material. Too many movie adaptations have failed at even the basics of fan service by recruiting a team that never touched the game. So, take this list as though they are game adaptations being made by a film crew who love their source material and know how to put a production together.
Shadow of The Colossus
Think what you will about Michael Bay, but he made the best Bad Boys movies and the best Transformers movies, too. Set him loose on the beautiful and epic tale of Shadow of the Colussus and see those hulking giants come to life. One thing for this film to work is to have a director who knows how to give a sense of scale.
The silent, almost wordless game tells a deep, heartfelt story of love and determination as the central character battles odds stacked so far against him that it seems impossible. Yet, he prevails through long, desolate searches through barren landscapes punctuated with battles against old gods the size of buildings. The solitude and grandeur of the game would translate beautifully to the big screen.
NieR: Automata
With a complex and winding storyline, Nier: Automata could make a fantastic standalone movie, exploring the dystopia/utopia left behind by humans. There is a TV series already, but a much more condensed and concise film would also do a fantastic job. The interweaving storylines of the three central characters would create an exciting and expansive delve into the world of Yoko Taro.
Nier: Automata has moments of heartwarming intimacy as the machines begin to connect with their humanity against their better judgment. The characters’ journey of self-discovery is a running theme throughout the game. However, these are broken up by some of the most intense, high-octane action scenes of any game.
Half-Life
Alien invasion, teleportation, evil government marines—Half-Life has everything you need for a fantastic science-fiction action thriller. Gordon is the perfect hero, struggling against all odds, hiding from the authorities, and eventually saving the Earth from a monster from outer space. Half-Life revolutionized gameplay and storytelling with a plot that gripped a generation.
With some good direction, the first Half-Life game’s fear, excitement, and thrills could be brought to life. The game itself is a non-stop thrill ride, as Gordon Freeman darts from an underground facility to a garbage compactor and through portals in the quest to figure out how he alone can save humanity from destruction. Half-life could be the perfect video game movie adaptation with some vision and good direction.
God of War
Father-son coming-of-age films are always a hit with audiences. Everyone loves to watch a distant widowed man reopen his heart as he realizes his son needs his love as much as his wife once did. The slow and difficult emotional journey shared by Atrius and Kratos digs deep not only into Kratos’ grief and struggles with past actions but also the grief of his son and his need for his father’s approval and support. Oh, and obviously, there is that whole thing about turning their enemies into a paste with a massive axe.
God of War—The Movie could try to capture the beautiful journey, emotionally and visually, the father and son make through the various worlds. There are many moments of connection and contemplation between them that would leave space for stunning shots and melancholy. However, it wouldn’t be a God of War film without including the absolutely mind-melting fight scenes. This video game adaptation would need an Iko Uwais touch for its choreography.
GTA IV
Why would I want to adapt the GTA IV video game into a movie rather than one of the other much more loved ones such as Vice City or V. Well, as fantastic as those games are, their story has kind of already been told in movies like Scarface and a host of heist films. However, unless you’re familiar with the Pusher films of Nicolas Winding Refn, GTA IV hasn’t been told quite so many times.
GTA IV is a gangster story set in the gutters of the city. There is little fame and glory in Niko Bellic’s hard life and very little redemption throughout his story. He arrives on a boat, seeking the man who betrayed him as he committed war crimes, and things never really get much more prestigious from there. The grey, wet streets of GTA IV are a pathetic fallacy for the sorry lives of Nico and those around him. GTA IV would make a bleak and depressing film, and I love those.
Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption would be the perfect video game adaptation to bring back the Western movie to a modern audience. Some of the all-time American Hollywood greats are in the Western genre, but they have slipped from favor of late, with only a few directors paying homage to the classics like Tombstone and The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly. However, I think the success of Red Dead and the love for its themes and storyline signify a public need for a video game movie adaptation.
Whether you’re choosing to adapt the first or the second video game, Rockstar has done a fantastic job of creating an amazing storyline wrapped up in their immersive and action-packed games. Both games have many moments that could be straight from the silver screen already. The development team never shies away from creating cinematic pauses that force the player into simply taking in the majesty of a scene or the heartbreak of a situation.
Bioshock
When a scary underwater god complex goes awry, the claustrophobic tunnels of a city at the bottom of a sea become home to mutants, machines, and horrors beyond human comprehension. The Bioshock games cry out for a horror movie adaptation that could strike fear into even the most hardened horror fanatic. The games themselves are dripping with atmosphere and style, which would translate terrifyingly to the screen.
Bioshock has everything from intrigue to suspense and huge fight scenes. I, for one, would love to see the Big Daddies brought to life with their terrifying Little Sisters. The tight and often leaky tunnels of Rapture open up to beautiful Rocco architecture and decadent decoration. The city under the water leaves a lot of space for some beautiful set pieces that could play host to the insanity of the core storyline.
Gears of War
Post-apocalyptic, alien-slaying war movies are always a wild ride as long as they’re done right, with a fantastic amount of CGI, ear-bleedingly loud sound effects, and guns the size of small vehicles. Gears of War is the video game movie adaptation we all need. The over-the-shoulder duck and cover action in the game is already being mirrored by many war films already, and it leaves itself open to some epic, bullet-strewn set pieces.
Of course, at its core, Gears of War is a balls-to-the-wall action game, but it still has its own aesthetic. The various cities and fields of war in the game tell stories, like that of Jacinto, a once famous city reduced to a smoking hole. The war between humans and Locust is almost entirely the fault of humanity and its greed, giving the adaptation an interesting moral skew to season the gunfire and heavy artillery.
Majoras Mask
Everyone loves an underdog story, so why not make a movie about Link and his eternal struggles against the world? Adapting Majora’s Mask would be one of the most engaging simply because Link is fighting not only against time but also the moon. The surreal setting and wild level design would make for a truly gripping movie full of all the weirdness the original game contains. I feel like it could be a great title for Guillermo del Toro to get his hands on.
Really, the game has it all. It has four very distinct and unique biomes to set the game in with Woodfall, Snowhead, the Great Bay, and Ikana Canyon. It has a cute but incredibly devious antagonist, Skull Kid, who wants to destroy the world with the moon because he feels left out. And, of course, Link, the lovable hero with his fairy sidekick. As a video game movie adaptation, this could be geared towards kids or a wonderful Lord of The Rings-esque journey.
Bloodborne
Some of my favorite films are the ones that push the dark, bleak, and often visceral limits of filmmaking way beyond anything seen before. Think of a movie like Dark City or Mad God, where the aesthetic is as horrendous as the topic. If there were to be a movie adaptation of the Bloodborne game, it would have to be as miserable and hard to watch as the game is to play. The harrowing stories and hopeless creatures that exist within the narrative need to be portrayed as such; there can be as little hope in a Bloodborne film as there is in the game.
The aesthetic of Bloodborne is endlessly stylish. Vast gothic buildings and vistas are punctuated with medieval outfits and narrow streets. The setting is basically most European cities, but at night and with significantly fewer horrors. The film could probably be shot on the streets of most Belgian towns without props or extras. I think there is as much risk of death in most parts of London as there is in the game, too. Bloodborne is already a fantastic tabletop game if that’s your thing.
Dishonored
Worldbuilding is essential for a video game to translate into a great movie adaptation. As long as the world is unique enough and inspires enough in the imagination, then stories naturally form. Dishonoured, though, already has both fantastic worldbuilding and a brilliant narrative that would make for an exciting detective movie full of revenge and politics. As Corvo, the hounded protagonist, fights for what he believes, the unique city of Dunwall opens up.
Again, like Bloodborne, the setting of this industrial steampunk world makes a fantastic setting for the story of betrayal and revenge. The world of Dunwall is both gross and steeped in beauty and former grandeur. The cities show signs of once being prosperous, and the contrast between the rat-infested slums and decadent gentry makes for some great settings for Corvo’s stealthy murders.
Tony Hawks Underground
Who doesn’t love a rags-to-riches story? Tony Hawks Underground is a wild ride as the protagonist fights his way from the mean streets into professional skateboarding. Eric, the endlessly crooked antagonist, is the perfect bad guy. He causes problems at every turn and is a smarmy POS, constantly trying to steal and destroy any success the protagonist has. This is a game peppered with celebrity cameos, although they’re all a bit old now and may need a little bit of that Robert De Niro -in-the-Irishman de-aging CGI treatment, as terrifying as it is.
Tony Hawks Underground has a great storyline running through it, with the two street kids working their way into professional skating. It is a dream that, for me, was always something I had as a kid. Fighting against the odds to become the most famous skater in town is a heartwarming and exciting narrative. Tying it all together with the amazing tricks, competitions and photoshoots of the game would make for some fun action. The McTwist over the helicopter is something I would pay good money to see in a cinema.
Published: Aug 24, 2024 09:31 am