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Why Are Video Game Movies So Awful?

An article at CNN discusses why big screen interpretations of video games, even successful ones, often fail to succeed at the box office. Quoting: "The problem with successfully adapting video games into hit Hollywood spin-offs may lie in the way in which stories for both mediums are designed and implemented. Game makers chasing the dream of playing George Lucas or Steven Spielberg will always strive to coax human emotion and convincing drama from increasingly photorealistic virtual elements. The Hollywood machine, in its endless chase for big bucks, can't help but exploit the latest hit interactive outing, often failing to realize it's often a specific gameplay mechanic, psychological meme or technical feature that makes the title so compelling. Both sides may very well continue to look down in disdain on the work that the opposite is doing, which can doom any collaborative efforts. But where the two roads truly diverge is in the way stories are fundamentally told. Films offer a single, linear tale that's open to individual interpretation, whereas games are meant to be experienced differently and in a multitude of ways by every player." On a related note, reader OrangeMonkey11 points out that an 8-minute short has showed up online that appears part of a pitch for a potential Mortal Kombat reboot movie. Hit the link below to take a look.

3 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. Two Words: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Uwe Boll.

  2. The Original Mortal Kombat Movie by mogness · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey I dunno why everyone's hating, the original Mortal Kombat movie was awesome.

    --
    that's teh shizzle bizzle
  3. Re:Plot and script-writers by Fallus+Shempus · · Score: 5, Funny

    OK here's the plot for Doom:

    Scene - Mars, night time, gloomy lab.

    Sciencey type bods - Hey lets experiment with teleporters, what could possibly go wrong
    Other random bod - Oh noes you've open a gatewya to HELL!!
    Monsters - GRRR ARRGH GURGLE
    Our Hero - OMFG Monsterz, where am my bulletzes

    BLAM, BLAM, ZAP, GURGLE, SQUELCH

    And they couldn't even get that right!