Video games have existed since the mid 1900s, but they didn’t make that big of a splash until Nintendo came out with Super Mario Bros., a game that completely changed the industry. I’m pretty sure you know the rest. Other companies wanted a piece of that pie so they made their own games. From the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog, to the Grand Theft Auto series.
Many of these games had and still have so much potential to be brought onto the big screen, pulling hundreds of people that could wind up getting invested in those same games, and there’s been so much to choose from. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, for starters, movies like Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, and Super Mario Bros. (1993) were received negatively. Now that’s not to say they all suck, but they do have flaws, a lot of them. If I were to speak personally, it’s just that some games don’t even follow a linear story; some split into routes, good, and bad endings and that causes some difficulties for movie producers.
NoHo student, Luis Bernal commented on this issue saying, “I feel like companies who develop movies based on video games fall off the bandwagon because they try to adapt already existing stories. The Last of Us show worked because they took elements from the game but didn’t directly adapt the game, they did their own thing.”
Despite their rough transition into the big screen though, some movies, and TV show adaptations, actually saw success as of recently. The most significant example I can think of is Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, which was released in 2019..“I liked the voice Ryan Reynolds did for Pikachu; I think it was a pretty great asset to the movie that contrasted the rougher voice with the normally cute and cuddly Pikachu,” said Sebastian Gopar.
Following Pikachu was Sonic the Hedgehog, which, if I may say, was pretty good. And its sequel was even better. Similarly, The Super Mario Brothers movie was colorful, Chris Pratt played everyone, it was fun, it was great. Luis also commented on these movies stating, “The Super Mario movie and Sonic movies worked because they explored new concepts that weren’t originally in the game. Mario explored Bowser’s love for peach and Sonic was placed in the real world where he was able to find a family.”
Additionally, the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie was met with great success despite a few hiccups. “I watched the FNAF movie and enjoyed it, but it wasn’t really a good movie. As a movie about Five Nights at Freddy’s, it was great, but by itself, it’s not a very critically acclaimed movie,” said Al Fishbein when giving their opinion on the movie.
As of today, the latest video game adaptation that’s been announced was the Minecraft movie, which will be taking the beloved childhood game and turning it into a live-action movie, with Jack Black starring as Steve. I have some hope, but am also confused.
I don’t know what the story might be about, and being live-action would probably serve as more of a detriment to it than if it were to be animated. Alessandro Aviles commented on this announcement, saying, “I don’t think it should be a live-action movie, especially with the actor they have, Jack Black. I just don’t think it’s a good idea overall. It might still end up making a lot of money though.”
