Video Game Adapted Films

Turned off by the suckage that is the Resident Evil film franchise, and sworn off the forth film all together, I somehow found myself in queuing up to buy my ticket to RE 4. Maybe it was the promise of a Redfield reunion, or the big, shiny previews that conveniently feature in bold the name James Cameron (with smaller writing that said something about using the same tech he did in Avatar). Anyhow, despite suspecting another let down, I was hooked.
Hooked and gutted like a fish that hasn’t learnt its lesson for eating that worm that keeps randomly dangling in the water (takes breath), I was. To be fair it wasn’t completely bad, but to be fair it wasn’t that great either. And sadly this is a problem that plagues majority of video games adapted into films. So what exactly is the deal?
The prime word in my opinion is adapted. As mentioned in the first lecture, video games are defined by their agency, cinema by their lack of. So many films become tedious with their constant attempts at trying to maintain a video game, forgetting that it is in fact a film. As these films are action based, time is often wasted on fight scenes that don’t have an overall point, lack any impact, or just seem out of place. Don’t get me wrong, action films are and always will be my favourite genre, but the way in which many video game films are ruined by the nonsensical or convenient fight scenes, lack of characterisation, and a general lack of a convincing plot is so often repeated. What makes this even worse is that these films often come from games that have great characterisation and narrative, awesome games not given justice on the big screen.
You know that feeling in a comedy when the guy is caught doing something stupid and you feel embarrassed for him? Well you know that feeling when a Chimera is shooting at you, and you’re getting really nervous because you’re super low on blood? Films make you feel for the character, games make your heart pound because you’re taking a journey with/as the character; his/her lack of ammo, low blood count or death a result of your own actions. You are much more invested in the outcome. Films just haven’t to date translated this well.

(P.S. If you haven’t already, DO NOT watch the Tekken movie, complete waste of time . . . and there’s no King! :( )