My Opinion of Video Game Adaptations - Anthony McMenemy
I feel that videogames have had a raw deal when it comes to film
adaptations. Whilst some have been major box office hits, and some have turned
into franchises, they still lack the passion and the immersive ingredients of
the worlds that the games were set
in.
Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic
have a list of the ‘best and worst’ reviewed videogame adaptations, in those
lists are films like; Mario Bros. (1993),
Street Fighter (1995), Mortal Kombat
(1995), Double Dragon (1995), the Tomb Raider films (2001,
2003), the Resident Evil franchise (2001
– Present) and a plethora of Uwe Boll ‘films’.
Here, check them out;
These films, however successful
they might, or might not have been, have let down fans of their respective
audiences, by not alluding to the underlying messages and themes that the Game
Directors were trying to get across.
I understand that everybody perceives
videogames differently and will receive different messages when they experience
them, but betraying the audience by completely changing the genre, lead characters
or setting is insulting.
Critics cite the player
interaction as a problem in videogames for adaptations and to me this means that
there is too much focus placed on the gameplay and not enough on the characters’
physical and mental journey through a fictionalized problematic universe.
When Michael and I started Loftworks
Pictures, we set ourselves a goal; to improve the standard in which video game
adaptations are made. And whilst we may not be established and have very little
or no reputation, we have no delusions in being household names or Academy
Award winners, we just want to see videogame adaptations be given the same
respect as novels or comic books, this means with passion and creativity
without betraying the majority of the audience.
Our new short film will be our first
step towards attaining that goal, as we tackle one of the most beloved and
critically acclaimed videogame franchises of all time, Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear (1987).
Now I can’t disclose too much
information as to what we are doing with the short film, but I can tell you
that we are following the exact principles that I have been writing about. We
want the audience to experience the physical and emotional turmoil that Solid
Snake must endure during his mission, as well as maintaining the state of the
world created for him by Mr Kojima.
We hope that you support our
cause, and that you feel compelled to interact with us during this project,
because after all, this is a Metal Gear film, made by Metal Gear fans, so any questions
or comments you would like to send our way, by all means do so.
We recently started a Crowdfunding
campaign in order to complete the building of Solid Snake’s costume and as you
can see by the draft poster we have few pieces to show, but what we have, look’s
incredible.
We are asking for the help of
gamers, film goers, or anybody that are interested by the potential of this project
to help us raise the funds and bring this passion project of ours to life.
Here is the link to the campaign,
please take a look and share the link with your friends.
Thanks for reading, hope to speak
soon.
Ant @ Loftworks Pictures
