Written by: Kevin Berge
What an incredible filmography. How could you not take the idea of video game movies seriously? (Image Courtesy of: playstationenthusiast.com)
Hollywood loves to utilize brands. A fresh idea for a film will always be more risky than simply reusing something that already exists. This is why so many blockbusters are adaptations, reboots, or sequels. This film trend has wildly limited the way people view Hollywood.
Particularly in the social media world we live in, generalizations are king. Thus, despite filmmaking options more plentiful than ever before, we are on the edge of a cultural regulation that is more frighteningly limiting than ever before.
It is so easy to generalize. "Just another superhero movie", "the latest YA film", "one more fantasy trilogy". Quickly, everything gets boiled down to its label by genre, and no matter what the quality of the film actually is, it will only be seen by those willing to give the genre a chance.
Particularly in the social media world we live in, generalizations are king. Thus, despite filmmaking options more plentiful than ever before, we are on the edge of a cultural regulation that is more frighteningly limiting than ever before.
It is so easy to generalize. "Just another superhero movie", "the latest YA film", "one more fantasy trilogy". Quickly, everything gets boiled down to its label by genre, and no matter what the quality of the film actually is, it will only be seen by those willing to give the genre a chance.
I've already talked about how Hollywood limiting its scope by genre can be a bad thing in my article about how YA movies are hurting current cinema. Simply put, because audiences are coming for a certain genre and tropes, there's no reason for the filmmakers to create quality, just attach a label and sell.
This is an issue most notably because it kills a genre. Hollywood runs it into the ground by throwing out rushed attempts to replicate the successes. However, there is another side to the story, the lack of diversity in genre that comes from limited labels.
Recently, there have been a flurry of attempts to adapt forms of media that have failed spectacularly. In particular, two adaptations styles being widely panned are based on video games and anime. Because of the low to non-existent success rate, fans have already begun writing off the concept of these type of adaptations.
My hope is that this generalization does not succeed. I don't want to see two fledgling genres fail and disappear before they get a real chance to thrive. I honestly believe both avenues are viable for success. It is not the problem of the genre but rather the direction of the adapters.
I have a personal connection to both video games and anime as they are just as much a part of my entertainment cycle as American film or TV. Because of this, I am invested in the idea of the styles crossing paths. However, there is not doubting they have entirely failed to date.
This is an issue most notably because it kills a genre. Hollywood runs it into the ground by throwing out rushed attempts to replicate the successes. However, there is another side to the story, the lack of diversity in genre that comes from limited labels.
Recently, there have been a flurry of attempts to adapt forms of media that have failed spectacularly. In particular, two adaptations styles being widely panned are based on video games and anime. Because of the low to non-existent success rate, fans have already begun writing off the concept of these type of adaptations.
My hope is that this generalization does not succeed. I don't want to see two fledgling genres fail and disappear before they get a real chance to thrive. I honestly believe both avenues are viable for success. It is not the problem of the genre but rather the direction of the adapters.
I have a personal connection to both video games and anime as they are just as much a part of my entertainment cycle as American film or TV. Because of this, I am invested in the idea of the styles crossing paths. However, there is not doubting they have entirely failed to date.
Jake Gyllenhaal can pull off just about anything, just not being Persian. (Image Courtesy of: thegg.net)
I love video games. I don't talk about it much on this site because I have more than enough to write about as it is, but I played more video games in my teens than I ever watched TV or movies. The balance has significantly shifted lately, but I still think video games at their best are just about the best form of storytelling.
I have discussed the idea of "art" before, but there is a beauty to a video game that cannot be matched by other purer forms of artistic creation. The game is not just asking the viewer to watch and enjoy a product but interact with it.
At their simplest, a game can be just about giving the player something to enjoy playing. However, there are layers to that interactivity. Other games are intentionally frustrating to spark growth and strategy. Some games even use their interactivity as part of a story, whether it means giving them choice or forcing them to face a difficult situation head on.
Movies will never be able to replicate the video game ability to immerse the viewer in the experience. Hardcore Henry was a recent attempt to try, but that just comes off as a knock-off. A film adaptation though does not need to replicate the game but rather the world of the game.
My favorite video game movie is Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, an innocuous and annoyingly white-washed film that is certainly helped by being led by Jake Gyllenhaal. It is a trope-heavy adventure flick that is enjoyable because it is fun. The movie engages with the games' world and concepts with some enjoyable parkour action.
That movie is far from a pinnacle of success, but it proves there's an avenue for exploring video games. With better writing, direction, and certainly production, it could have been the next Pirates of the Caribbean. The problem was that even if the creators here were having fun, they simply were not engaged enough in enhancing the material.
There is not one video game that has a story that can get close to living up to the best of cinema, but it makes up for it by engaging the player. Film can take the elements and enhance them, embracing the manic excitement but adding more dynamic storytelling. Until that happens though, the concept will keep failing.
I have discussed the idea of "art" before, but there is a beauty to a video game that cannot be matched by other purer forms of artistic creation. The game is not just asking the viewer to watch and enjoy a product but interact with it.
At their simplest, a game can be just about giving the player something to enjoy playing. However, there are layers to that interactivity. Other games are intentionally frustrating to spark growth and strategy. Some games even use their interactivity as part of a story, whether it means giving them choice or forcing them to face a difficult situation head on.
Movies will never be able to replicate the video game ability to immerse the viewer in the experience. Hardcore Henry was a recent attempt to try, but that just comes off as a knock-off. A film adaptation though does not need to replicate the game but rather the world of the game.
My favorite video game movie is Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, an innocuous and annoyingly white-washed film that is certainly helped by being led by Jake Gyllenhaal. It is a trope-heavy adventure flick that is enjoyable because it is fun. The movie engages with the games' world and concepts with some enjoyable parkour action.
That movie is far from a pinnacle of success, but it proves there's an avenue for exploring video games. With better writing, direction, and certainly production, it could have been the next Pirates of the Caribbean. The problem was that even if the creators here were having fun, they simply were not engaged enough in enhancing the material.
There is not one video game that has a story that can get close to living up to the best of cinema, but it makes up for it by engaging the player. Film can take the elements and enhance them, embracing the manic excitement but adding more dynamic storytelling. Until that happens though, the concept will keep failing.
I can't imagine why American filmmakers would struggle so much with this portraying Japanese culture. This culture is clearly so simple. (Image Courtesy of: cheatsheet.com)
While anime or manga are not strictly more separated from film in construction, consistently the film industry has struggled more with these adaptations than video game ones. The reasons are multiple though they start with the culture.
There may not be a more misunderstood concept than anime. Those who have never watched it likely often look down upon the concept with a scowl. In American society, animation is primarily a format for kids to enjoy. Even the most impressively crafted cartoons are written with a younger audience in mind.
Moreover, anime is often weird. The tropes that define Japan's most popular entertainment are troubling. From rampant masculinity and exploitative femininity to heroes defined by their boyish innocence, it can be tiring to look over anime's base level product.
There is however a wealth of Japanese content that is well worth revisiting, defined by a medium that is the most diverse use of animation in the world. American film studios adapting these stories though have to first be able to find a balance of pulling from the source material and creating a compelling product.
Anime cannot often just be repackaged as a movie and put on screen because it is too ridiculous. Japanese film studios have tried it and come off as cosplay shows. This is because anime's aesthetic is driven by the animation. Live action lessens the experience if you are not adapting properly to the medium.
However, of the greatest importance is finding the heart and soul of the anime that is worth adapting. Death Note and Ghost in the Shell this year were both failures because they failed the balancing act. They could not find the core of the concept and keep its heart.
The best example of properly utilizing Japanese source material properly may be Edge of Tomorrow, a fun action flick (that interestingly takes noticeable inspiration from Prince of Persia) that was based off the Japanese light novel All You Need is Kill. It uses the core principles and even the oversized aesthetic to create a complete sci-fi romp.
There may not be a more misunderstood concept than anime. Those who have never watched it likely often look down upon the concept with a scowl. In American society, animation is primarily a format for kids to enjoy. Even the most impressively crafted cartoons are written with a younger audience in mind.
Moreover, anime is often weird. The tropes that define Japan's most popular entertainment are troubling. From rampant masculinity and exploitative femininity to heroes defined by their boyish innocence, it can be tiring to look over anime's base level product.
There is however a wealth of Japanese content that is well worth revisiting, defined by a medium that is the most diverse use of animation in the world. American film studios adapting these stories though have to first be able to find a balance of pulling from the source material and creating a compelling product.
Anime cannot often just be repackaged as a movie and put on screen because it is too ridiculous. Japanese film studios have tried it and come off as cosplay shows. This is because anime's aesthetic is driven by the animation. Live action lessens the experience if you are not adapting properly to the medium.
However, of the greatest importance is finding the heart and soul of the anime that is worth adapting. Death Note and Ghost in the Shell this year were both failures because they failed the balancing act. They could not find the core of the concept and keep its heart.
The best example of properly utilizing Japanese source material properly may be Edge of Tomorrow, a fun action flick (that interestingly takes noticeable inspiration from Prince of Persia) that was based off the Japanese light novel All You Need is Kill. It uses the core principles and even the oversized aesthetic to create a complete sci-fi romp.
We do not and never will take about this movie. (Image Courtesy of: geekoutpost.com)
It was not that long ago that "comic book movies" was also a bad word, dominated by adaptations that just tried to portray the wild and crazy action of the pages of comics. All it took was a few concerted efforts though coupled with an understanding of characters to make these films these most popular of the modern era.
More than focusing on the Marvel Cinematic Universe though, the real standouts that showcase the potential of any adaptation are the comic book movies that barely feel like comic book movies. Films like The Dark Knight, Logan, and Captain America Winter Soldier all are defined more by separate film genres.
These superhero films have been used to update older genres, making them feel new again. From Batman the noir antihero to Logan the western gunslinger, these are fundamental stories that use their adaptation to make the old new again. This is not exclusively a concept for comic book adaptations though.
The Netflix Death Note almost had this idea, but it wavers between genres, never settling on whether it is action, mystery, or horror. Assassin's Creed got so bogged down in the Abstergo side of the canon (the games have always made that same mistake) that it failed to be the fantastical adventure film set in 15th-century Spain that is much more interesting.
Returning to Prince of Persia, that movie knows what it is, a swashbuckling adventure flick, and that is why it sometimes works. The Resident Evil franchise found success even with terrible scripts and acting by focusing simply on creating horror action set pieces that are fun diversions for those watching.
There are still many hurdles for filmmakers to jump before finding success with either type of adaptation, but it is woefully simplistic to look at what came before and make generalized statements that what came before proves nothing will work in the future. It is just a matter of creators coming along with the passion and drive to make it work.
I still await the day the film industry gets it, and we can have a blockbuster season that includes a Cowboy Bebop and Legend of Zelda movie in the same year that people enjoy. Maybe that never comes, but I see no reason to believe it cannot.
More than focusing on the Marvel Cinematic Universe though, the real standouts that showcase the potential of any adaptation are the comic book movies that barely feel like comic book movies. Films like The Dark Knight, Logan, and Captain America Winter Soldier all are defined more by separate film genres.
These superhero films have been used to update older genres, making them feel new again. From Batman the noir antihero to Logan the western gunslinger, these are fundamental stories that use their adaptation to make the old new again. This is not exclusively a concept for comic book adaptations though.
The Netflix Death Note almost had this idea, but it wavers between genres, never settling on whether it is action, mystery, or horror. Assassin's Creed got so bogged down in the Abstergo side of the canon (the games have always made that same mistake) that it failed to be the fantastical adventure film set in 15th-century Spain that is much more interesting.
Returning to Prince of Persia, that movie knows what it is, a swashbuckling adventure flick, and that is why it sometimes works. The Resident Evil franchise found success even with terrible scripts and acting by focusing simply on creating horror action set pieces that are fun diversions for those watching.
There are still many hurdles for filmmakers to jump before finding success with either type of adaptation, but it is woefully simplistic to look at what came before and make generalized statements that what came before proves nothing will work in the future. It is just a matter of creators coming along with the passion and drive to make it work.
I still await the day the film industry gets it, and we can have a blockbuster season that includes a Cowboy Bebop and Legend of Zelda movie in the same year that people enjoy. Maybe that never comes, but I see no reason to believe it cannot.