Putting together a game-based film is a challenging task. For starters, capturing the genuine spirit of the original game in a feature film is never simple. Many of the games have a one-dimensional storyline, which does not promise well for a feature-length film.
Despite the odds, attempts to produce a film based on a popular video game have been made on a regular basis. Who wouldn’t want to profit from the cult following that some of the classic games have?
It’s easier said than done, and many such films have failed miserably. Despite the difficulties, there are a few good game-based films that have struck a chord with the public. Unfortunately, reviewers have not been sympathetic to such efforts, and these films have often been unjustly criticised.
We’ve got some of these really fun movies based on popular games for you in this video, and while the critics didn’t love them, they’re definitely worth a look!
SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (2020)
The world’s fastest hedgehog is an alien blue hedgehog who comes to Earth to start a new life. He joins forces with his friend Tom, a local cop, to thwart the wicked intentions of Dr. Robotnik, who seeks to rule the globe.
This evil genius wants the hedgehog to perform certain experiments on it that might help his mission. However, Sonic the hedgehog and his new friend on Earth have enough ammunition to keep Dr. Robotnik at bay!
It’s easy to criticise this film as another cash grab designed to capitalise on our fondness for the game. What comes ahead, however, will pleasantly surprise you! We appreciated the adjustments they made to Sonic’s look in this live-action, family-friendly film. The creators weren’t satisfied with Sonic’s look when they first released the teaser, but the redesign corrected that.
The film contains far too many lovely moments, such as Tom and Sonic’s bond. When Sonic is going through his emotions, you will be able to experience some touching moments. Jim Carrey is brilliant as usual, and he is perfect in the role of the twisted genius Dr. Robotnik. James Marsden has also done a fair job as Sonic’s friend, and overall, you are bound to notice the charming ambiance around this film.
The animation is a joy to watch, and the production quality takes the movie to a whole new level. Together with a decent plotline, it entertains the young and old alike. Do not miss out on this nostalgic ride, and you will end the movie beaming from ear to ear!
TOMB RAIDER (2018)
When Lara’s adventurous father went missing on one of his excursions, she was barely a teenager. She has matured into a fiercely independent young girl, yet she lacks direction and concentration in her life. Everything changes when she abandons everything to hunt for her father’s last known whereabouts.
It was a fabled tomb located on a strange, remote island. The island is a perilous adventure, and all Lara has to brave this challenge is her determination and sharp mind. Can she survive the adventure and become the tomb raider?
Angelina Jolie’s incredible performance in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider wowed audiences when it was released in 2001. Later, in 2009, Warner Brothers wanted to relaunch the franchise with Megan Fox reprising her role as Lara Croft, but the idea fell through. It was a tall order to live up to Angelina Jolie’s high standards, but the filmmakers discovered an eligible character in Alicia Vikander, who did an outstanding job in this picture.
She possesses the charisma and allure required for this character, and she even did several of her own stunts. The movie starts off with some quick character introductions, and it hypes you up for what is about to come. Yes, the plot does get predictable, especially for those who have played the game, but we were intrigued by the idea of portraying a younger Lara Croft and a different side to her character.
The special effects are decent, and the tomb sequences will give you some heart in your mouth moments. Overall, the terrible reviews do not tell a true story about this entertaining film, and it certainly deserves a chance from the fans.
RAMPAGE (2018)
Davis is a primatologist who has had a particular relationship with George, a silverback gorilla he has cared for since he was a child. George is transformed into a dangerous super-creature after a genetic experiment undertaken by a nefarious organisation goes awry, wreaking havoc across Chicago.
Several other animals are also influenced by this experiment, and Davis looks to find an antidote that can end this catastrophe and save his friend George. Dr. Kate Caldwell, who was one of the brains behind the gene-mutating program, also lends a helping hand, but they face an impossible challenge in front of them!
There’s some good news and some bad news for fans of the game! The bad news is that the plot has shifted significantly. In the game, for example, mutated people transformed into massive, dangerous creatures, but in the film, genetic engineering causes the animals to grow in size and hostility.
The good news is that the filmmakers handled the adjustments admirably and produced a compelling film. Dwayne Johnson, who portrays Davis in this action film, is a potent element, and he entertains as always. His interaction with George is entertaining to witness and almost propels the film along.
It was initially planned that George would look like any other gigantic gorilla, but the makers chose to make him an albino gorilla to separate him from King Kong! You do have some mindless CGI spoiling the party, but the movie still manages to deliver some brainless entertainment.
There are some insane action sequences where monstrous animals destroy everything around them. Enjoy it as just another monster flick, don’t expect Academy Award-winning stuff, and you would love what you will be served!
MORTAL KOMBAT (1995)
Mortal Kombat is a long-running tournament in which combatants from many realms participate. The winner of 10 consecutive victories can seize control of the other realm, and the Earth realm has already lost nine to the Outworld realm. Lord Rayden must prepare his three fighters to defend the planet from impending destruction if the Emperor of Outworld wants to clinch the agreement with another victory.
An egotistical martial arts movie star named Johnny Cage, Liu Kang, and Sonya Blade must master the ability to defeat the invincible Shang Tsung who fights for the Emperor of Outworld.
This isn’t a clever or academically challenging film by any means, but it’s exactly how game-to-film adaptations should be! It’s based on the original Mortal Kombat arcade game, but with some clever tweaks to fit the storyline. It’s a wonderful blend of jaw-dropping bouts and lighthearted moments to lighten the atmosphere.
Keep an eye out for battles between Sub-Zero and Scorpion. Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby, and Bridgette Wilson-Sampras are among the cast members that are a blend of intellect and raw talent. Van Damme was rumoured to be the inspiration for Johnny Cage, although he declined the job when it was given to him.
Chris Casamassa, the man who played Scorpion, was initially drafted in to be a stuntman, but his work was so impressive that he was given the part of Scorpion. One of the best things about the movie was the realistic locations in remote islands in Thailand that gave the viewers the ideal ambiance for such a storyline. Critics might smirk at the mention of this film, but it still remains the fourth highest-grossing video game adaptation movie ever released.
RESIDENT EVIL (2002)
The Hive is a top-secret research facility run by the Umbrella Corporation, where scientists are working on improving genetically modified medicines. The Hive, on the other hand, has been infected, and the crew has turned into hungry zombies.
To prevent the illness from spreading, the cyber system shuts down the base, and an elite military force is deployed. Alice awakens in a bathroom with no memory whatsoever, but slowly when her past comes back, she becomes an important member of the team of commandos that is struggling to escape from the Hive.
Paul William Scott Anderson has helmed successes like Mortal Kombat and is no stranger to video game adaptations. After George A. Romero departed the film due to creative disputes, he performed an excellent job with this one as well. To achieve the gaming mood, he employed lighting in precisely the perfect manner.
The film was a superb survival horror film that got right to the narrative after only a few character introductions. The acting was excellent, and Milla Jovovich’s performance as Alice stole the stage. She took her job extremely seriously, and during one of her stunts, she injured three cast and crew members. Apart from the pipe jump in the sewer, all other stunts were performed by her with adequate training.
In fact, the minor bruises and cuts on her character were all real, and no make-up was required to get the job done! Her brilliant performance is not the only thing she gained from this film because soon after, she got married to the director Paul W.S. Anderson. As long as you don’t mind the blood and gore, a wonderfully presented videogame adaptation awaits you!
DOA: DEAD OR ALIVE (2007)
DOA: Dead or Alive is an intense and elite martial arts competition that attracts the world’s finest warriors. The violent battles are staged in a knock-out style competition and take place on an island where the competitors are air-dropped.
Four female fighters start off as rivals, but soon they uncover the secrets of the organizer that changes their equations. Now, they must work together to team up against a superior force!
As you could expect, the narrative lacks the punch needed to produce a gripping thriller! After all, DOA was a mostly non-interactive video game with a rudimentary plot that only served to set up the battles.
This film is based on the sequel to Dead or Alive 2, Dead or Alive 2. In reality, the game’s audio announcers and screen layouts have been totally removed. Despite its exploitative nature, this flick is a great way to pass the time when you’re in the mood. There are also a few small modifications from the original game.
For example, Hayate and Ayane are romantically linked rather than half-siblings as in the game. This tongue in cheek action flick is in no way pretentious, and the makers don’t even try to be nice about it. A predominantly female cast promises some gorgeous moments where stunning ladies are fighting and frolicking on an island.
The actresses like Devon Aoki, Jaime Pressly, and Sarah Carter might be lacking in acting skills, but they surely make up for it with their oomph factor. Eric Roberts is decent, and there are some great fight scenes to make it worth your time. The Christie/Helene rain fight is an unforgettable moment and it took almost two weeks to film the scene. Grab a few beers and enjoy this action-packed madness!
SILENT HILL (2006)
Sharon, Rose and Chris’ adoptive daughter, has been having problems with her sleepwalking episodes. Sharon frequently speaks in her dream about a mysterious ghost town called Silent Hill, and Rose finally decides to accompany her there to seek treatment from a spiritual healer.
However, along the journey, they meet with an accident that knocks Rose unconscious, and she wakes up to find Sharon missing. It doesn’t take her long to realize that she is trapped in an alternate reality of Silent Hill, where monsters and cultists exist. Can she survive the losing battle against the forces of darkness?
It takes a lot of guts and drive on the part of the filmmaker to get a movie started, and Christophe Gans had to put in a lot of effort for this one. It took him around five years to get the rights to make the film, and he had to persuade Konami with certain scenes he shot on his own. The narrative of the game has been altered, particularly in terms of the characters.
The game’s protagonist was a male called Harry, and the director decided to gender-swap him. But the changes seem to have worked just fine, and we even loved the soundtracks used from the game. The eerie set-up is unnerving at times, and the acting performances by the likes of Radha Mitchell, Laurie Holden, and Sean Bean have been spot on.
It has as much story as you can expect from a video game adaptation, and that is pretty heartening to see. There was a sequel titled Silent Hill: Revelation that was released in 2012, but it was nowhere as good as this version.
WARCRAFT (2016)
Warcraft is set on the planet Azaroth, where a group of orcs join forces with a group of human heroes to topple a corrupt leader who is the source of all the trouble. With the assistance of a traitor, a gateway has been established in Azaroth, and the evil forces are utilising it to launch their attacks. The human-Orc alliance is set to meet with a deadly foe that must be subdued to bring peace to the land!
For gamers, this fantasy video game series has been a delight, and the feature film version hasn’t disappointed either. Duncan Jones, the filmmaker, thought the Warcraft universe was a little too fantasy-oriented, so he tweaked the original script to make it more realistic and balanced.
The cast delivers some fantastic performances and some out-of-this-world sights. The motion capture of the orcs was excellent, and the special effects in general were flawless. Warcraft fans will love the end-result, and the director deserves a bow for his efforts. However, his version was abruptly edited out at times, and the final footage is almost forty minutes lesser than what Duncan had shot.
He was working alongside Blizzard all the time, and although the project was incredibly delayed, the wait paid off. If we get some nice sequels for this movie, it can well become this generation’s equivalent of the iconic The Lord of the Rings franchise!
SUPER MARIO BROS. (1993)
When someone attempts to produce a full film out of Mario, you know people are anxious to profit from a successful game. For this film, the game with the most one-dimensional narrative was converted into strange storytelling. Mario and Luigi are Brooklyn plumbers who become aware of a parallel reality in which dinosaurs still live.
A paleontologist named Daisy uncovers some strange dinosaur bones that are relatively new, and soon, she is kidnapped by the evil King Koopa. Mario and Luigi must travel to the other dimension and fight the diabolical lizard king and his thugs to rescue Daisy and save the world from an invasion!
One of the first things we noticed about this film is that it has a more harsher and gritty tone to it than the game. It’s still a corny narrative that shouldn’t be taken seriously, but the transitions between imagination and reality are entertaining to watch.
Mario is played by Bob Hoskins, who is entertaining and looks the part, although he had no idea the film was based on a videogame until his son informed him. You will get some exciting action sequences, and the use of the flamethrower or jumping on monsters are delightful to watch.
Although this is quite the entertainer, it didn’t have a great run at the box office. In fact, the failure prompted Nintendo to stop projects relating to live-action flicks based on video games for a pretty long time!
HITMAN (2007)
Agent 47 or Hitman is a genetically engineered assassin recruited by a group known as The Organization. He becomes embroiled in a political plot and is sought by the Russian military as well as Interpol.
He travels across Eastern Europe, and surprisingly enough, there is a slow but steady awakening of his conscience. A Russian woman helps in stirring up sensations inside him that he was previously unaware of, and his life takes a strange turn!
If you didn’t experience the thrills of the various Hitman games that have hit the market, your childhood was incomplete. This is a respectable adaptation, especially when compared to the other Hitman films that we’ve seen! Much of this was due to the tenacity of filmmaker Xavier Gens, who refused to transform the film into a PG-13 film as the studio requested.
Timothy Olyphant is fantastic as the protagonist, and his portrayal is one of the film’s best features. Agent 47 is intriguing, with his lack of emotions and ruthless fight scenes. Timothy trained hard and gained about twenty pounds of muscle for the role. The gunfights are entertaining as well, and blood and explosions run throughout the movie.
You also have the mandatory hot chick dropping her clothes, but nothing will take your mind off Olyphant’s portrayal of the anti-hero character. The fans of the game have loved the characters and narrative, and it is certainly one of the better video game adaptations that we came across!
STREET FIGHTER (1994)
Col. William Guile leads a global military force fighting for the Allied Nations against the wicked warlord General Bison. Bison has taken the lives of a number of individuals, including three troops. He’s even turned one of them into a horrifying mutation.
Now, he threatens Col. William that he would start killing the hostages if he is not paid $20 billion within three days. Things are ripe for a final showdown where Col. William will try with all his might to stop Bison in his act!
The significant change in the plot may have already been noticed by the players. The 2D fighter game featured a diverse cast of characters from various continents battling it out. The film adaptation appears to have changed a few details, but it all comes together to make a compelling gritty plot.
We consider this film to be a genuine fan service, as it features the majority of the game’s characters and features two hours of subplots and action. When it comes to the acting performances, Raul Julia does a fine job as the crazy villain. He died soon after the filming was complete, and the film was dedicated to his memory.
Jean-Claude Van Damme is the enigmatic Colonel Guile, and his muscular physique surely makes him look the part. Yes, there are some ridiculous moments, and the dialogues are cheesier than a four-cheese pizza! But, it all works out for the best, and this is the perfect guilty pleasure for a fun movie night!