The Top Five Best Video Game Movie Adaptations
Article by Justin T. Bowler
@IndyFilmTwittic
I will preface this entire article by saying that these movies are not great movies. They are not even great adaptations of video games. However, they are the “best” video game adaptations that were turned into movies. Understand, that still does not imply that any of these movies are good movies. They are just the best of the terrible video game adaptations that have taken place over the years. There still remains to be seen a really good video game adaptation that is also a good movie. Hopefully, the new Assassin’s Creed movie coming out this year will finally give video game enthusiasts, who are also movie enthusiasts, that prize.
Number 5.
Hitman (2007)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics – 14%, Audience – 47%
The best part about this film is Timothy Olyphant. He absolutely encapsulates Agent 47. The film is a little slow, but it’s very sleek looking and its action feels as if it is pulled straight from the video game. They definitely got the violence and nudity right in going with an R rating, much like the game.
Number 4.
Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life (2003)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics – 24%, Audience – 44%
The Tomb Raider movies are not good movies. But, like so many things on the list, these movies got just a few things absolutely right. There has never been better casting for a video game character than Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft. The smarts, the skills, the sexy… She has it all. It is 100% believable, and 100% awesome. Not to mention, she sure as hell looks the part. Sadly, once you get past this, there isn’t a whole lot to enjoy about this movie. It was clearly made for a younger audience. Perhaps 10 to 12-year-old boys. They could have had another Indiana Jones on their hands. Unfortunately, the movies became too silly. Like with many video game movies, the camera movements were picturesque and certainly reminiscent of the game, but that didn’t make it a good movie.
Number 3.
Resident Evil (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics – 33%, Audience – 68%
This is not a good movie. However, this list is NOT about good movies! It is about good video game movies. That is a very important distinction. Thank God they went for an R rating for Resident Evil. PG zombies tend not to be very scary. While this film is not a phenomenal one (even though it has launched an entire franchise (that has gone on far longer than anyone could have predicted)), the film is at times very, very creepy. Why is its rating so high among audiences? It has zombies, it has nudity, it has a hot girl KILLING ZOMBIES AND GETTING NAKED. It had everything that gamers could hope for. 🙂
Number 2.
Prince of Persia (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes: Critics – 36%, Audiences – 58%
Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Kingsley, and Alfred Molina. These are some of the name actors that add credibility to the film. Is it a great film? No. Is it a swashbuckling fun time? Absolutely. It captures the essence of the game, and while it doesn’t have a very high score on Rotten Tomatoes, it is one of the most enjoyable video game adaptations out there.
Number 1.
Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Rotten Tomatoes: critics 86%, audience 86%
This is a bit of a cheat (but come on, I can’t leave you with a movie that has a 58% on Rotten Tomatoes). It is not a movie based on a video game. It is a movie based on a thousand video games. Since we don’t really have any great movies that are adaptations from video games, this will have to suffice. With more references than Skyrim side quests, you will be laughing nonstop, enjoying the ride of a fictional game set to screen. Nearly every classic game is referenced in this movie. (By the way, just to point out, simply putting in a reference doesn’t make it funny. Pixels, anyone?)
Justin Bowler
IG @IndyFilmTwittic and @OhTheEffingHorror
Twitter @JustinTBowler
