of super mario bros discourse Coming thick and fast like the first trailer was Unveiled this weekall from . mario voice The film’s premise is currently being debated, but this brings back an age-old question: What makes a good video game movie?
To answer this, we look back at the video game adaptations of the last few decades and celebrate the ones that worked.
Mortal Kombat (1995)
Rhiannon, News Editor
It’s no joke to say that Mortal Kombat is the perfect movie. Paul WS his Anderson has managed to strike a balance between not being ashamed to direct a movie of his video game and not letting the source his material limit it. Here, he embraces the game’s over-the-top violence and pointless lore, allowing the cast to really screw it up and throw themselves into the fight scenes. Hell, it looks like a good time. His Annihilation, the sequel, was too faithful to the game and completely the worst as a result. Meanwhile, the latest Mortal Kombat 2020 was embarrassed to be a video game movie. Give me this cheesy classic anytime – it’s pure gold.
Final Fantasy: Spirits Within
Helen Ashcroft, Evergreen Editor
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within may have been a box office bomb to blame for Square Pictures’ demise, but that doesn’t prevent it from being the most memorable video game movie to me.
I still remember the awe I felt when I saw it in the cinema. The visuals are very nice, and the story could have been improved in some ways, but the whole thing is so carefully crafted that I was completely hooked from the start. Despite being named Final Fantasy, it bears little resemblance to the game. Perhaps this is the key to its success.
Super Mario Bros. (1993)
James Kennedy, Specialist
Modern video game movies are generally are you OKDetective Pikachu was okay, the Sonic movies weren’t bad, and Rampage was a lot of fun. They are usually observable. However, being passable is not something to be admired. But what about 90s Mario movies? Sure, it’s a mess, but it’s full of creative sparks. This ridiculously surreal nightmare is vaguely reminiscent of an unpolished, unsubversive version of Brazil. It’s not as good, but it has a similar energy and enthusiasm.The people behind the film were clearly trying to do something interesting.And in that, they succeeded. Super Mario Bros. doesn’t just fade into the background. And when it comes to the stark landscapes that are video game movies, that might be enough to make it one of the best.
inner werewolf
Joe Parlock, desk editor
A great way to get around the usual video game problem of being a bad adaptation that upsets fans is to make a movie based on a game that very few people have played. It took an obscure VR social reasoning game and turned it into a fun camp horror movie full of gags, blood, and inevitable betrayal. You can’t cock up something that has very little material to adapt to in the first place.
Street Fighter
David W. Duffy, Evergreen Editor
Now you’re all reading this thinking I’m going to the seminal Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. It’s so hilarious. I always recommend giving a watch for a classic Raul Giulia performance, but it was impressive considering he was terribly ill during filming. , the choreography by the founder of the K-1 martial arts series was spot on. It helped solidify our love for the series and inspired us to go to the arcade every weekend when our grandfather took us to Berwick’s caravan.
detective pikachu
Stacey Henry, Editor-in-Chief
There are no good video game movies. There is none. Video games seldom have great stories when they’re at their best, and when movies try to change these stories to adapt them faithfully, the results are seldom good. See what the picks are. There are some great movies that incorporate video games (Scott Pilgrim, Wreck-it-Ralph, Guns Akimbo), but the video game movies themselves aren’t great. Detective Pikachu is also not good, but Pokemon is beautiful and interesting, so I expected that much.
Yakuza (Like a Dragon)
James Troughton, Cross Division Editor
Stacy already has Detective Pikachu in, so she throws her yakuza hat into the ring. It’s a video game movie in the literal sense of the word. Kiryu uses potions and heat attacks to gain the upper hand, defeating enemies with combos and absurd set pieces like random fist fights at the grocery store. It doesn’t make much sense, but it captures the spirit of the game like no other, as it’s a fun way to kill a few hours.
sonic the hedgehog 2
George Foster, Chief News Editor
I can’t believe we’re this low on the list, but no one has mentioned Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The first Sonic movie was surprisingly okay, but the second one has more heart, with love and respect for the series it’s based on. Kind of a Sonic cringe and a lot of fun to watch, I hope the third one is even better.
Mortal Kombat (1995)
Amanda Hurych, Evergreen Content Lead
I’m on Rhiannon’s side. If I’m being totally honest with myself here, I don’t think I’ve seen a perfectly done video game movie yet. Are you horny? absolutely. At this point, having the ability to cringe at you in theaters is kind of a must for a movie based on a game. It’s the most hilarious kind of corny you could hope for when it’s a story based on an otherworldly multidimensional being that hosts it. And come on, that theme song? You can’t even hear the words “Mortal Kombat” without chasing that iconic track in your head. (Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Du-Du-Du-Du-Dun!)
