Top 10 Videogame Movies
Videogame movies (almost) always get a lot of unfair criticism. Because most of them are being poorly translated in the big screen, those that have actually worked are being ignored by snobbish critics and those who self-proclaim to be videogame aficionados.
Yet the majority of these so called critics forget something important: It is hard to cram a minimum of 40 to 50 hours of game play and world building into a normal running time. In addition, you have an even harder job to do: attract the gaming fan base as well as a mainstream audience that does not care about source material. And here lies the problem: certain adaptations are too faithful to their videogame origins resulting in an experience that only an avid fan will know (and certainly understand) (e.g., “Warcraft” (2016)) while others introduce unrelated concepts, characters and plotlines (e.g., “Super Mario Bros” (1993), “Resident Evil Extinction” (2007)) or changing the tone of the game to match something entirely different (e.g., “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” (2009)) begging the question of why you even bother in the first place to make an adaptation.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Several attempts (among many) have ended up with various degrees of success with few reaching enjoyable status as actual movies. Certain adaptations have made quite an impression which has lasted decades and achieving cult status (“Mortal Kombat” (1995)) while others get re-evaluated with diminishing criticism (“Alien Vs Predator“ (2004), “Silent Hill” (2006)) due to their insistence on practical effects and novel visually sequences that do the videogame counterparts justice. And then you have the only game adaptation that managed to generate more than a billion (!) dollars worldwide, establishing an original heroine as an action icon (Milla Jovovich as Alice) and spanning a total of six movies; all of this from humble (almost independent) origins (“Resident Evil” (2002)) demonstrating that videogame adaptations can be critic proof and successful much like in the tradition of the slasher films of the 80’s.
Here is my top ten best videogame movies adaptations with a bonus mention thrown in there for good measure.
Bonus mention: Street Fighter (1994)
Director: Steven E. de Souza
Starring: Jean Claude Van Damme, Raul Julia, Kylie Minogue(!)
Despite a generous budget of 30 million dollars, you would expect that translating a game around a fighting tournament would be a walk in the park. Yet, a myriad of reasons (too many to state) affected the final outcome delivering an adaptation that belongs to the it’s-so-bad-it’s-good flicks. Suffering from poor action, terrible casting choices and anemic direction, “Street Fighter” can’t decide what tone it should follow. Yet, Raul Julia’s grandiose (and unfortunately final) performance as M. Bison, is the stuff that legends are made of. Delivering ridiculous lines with Shakespearean gusto and panache, he manages to create an exciting character from a banal script, devouring the scenery and stealing the show from the rest of the cast who simply are not up to the task to do the same.
Following story game:
2.5/5
True to character outfits:
3.5/5
True to character arcs:
2/5
True to game designs:
4/5
Game inspired sequences:
4/5
Casting:
4/5
Best moment: Jim Carrey’s Dr Robotnik’s ‘evil plotting‘ montage. Brilliant
10. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Director: Jeff Fowler
Starring: Jim Carrey, James Mardsen, Ben Schwartz, Natasha Rothwell
Genre: Adventure comedy
Following a massive backlash on the design of Sega’s most famous and iconic videogame character, “Sonic the Hedgehog” was a solid family adventure, better that most thought it had any right to be. Although Jeff Fowler relies heavily on expiring visual clichés (right after “X-Men: Days of Future Past” (2014) and “X-Men: Apocalypse” (2016) with Quicksilver), he is being supported by a solid cast, good (if pedestrian) jokes and a true delight in the form of Jim Carrey as Sonic’s nemesis, Dr Robotnik. Their on-going cat and mouse game is perhaps the highlight of the story but there are feelings of a missed opportunity here with the script relying on a simplified characterization of Sonic as a typical American teenager.
Following story game:
2/5
True to character outfits:
5/5
True to character arcs:
1/5
True to game designs:
5/5
Game inspired sequences:
4/5
Casting:
4/5
Best moment: Baby birds trying to get the eggs back
9. The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019)
Director: Thurop Van Orman
Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Leslie Jones, Bill Hader
Genre: Comedy
“The Angry Birds Movie 2” managed something that few films have done. Surpass the original both in terms of quality and storytelling. With a bigger cast, an expanded world and more creative freedom for hilarious jokes, “ABM2” fires on all cylinders and rarely missing the spot. The addition of the baby birds and their on parallel with our main story adventure to retrieve the eggs will bring a smile even on the most cynical viewers. But it is Leslie Jones who steals the show as Zeta - another angry bird for different reasons altogether with excellent line delivery.
Following story game:
3/5
True to character outfits:
4/5
True to character arcs:
2/5
True to game designs:
5/5
Game inspired sequences:
4/5
Casting:
3/5
Best moment: Pikachu’s choice is revealed.
8. Detective Pikachu (2019)
Director: Rob Letterman
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Katherine Newton
Genre: Mystery
“Detectice Pikachu” came out of nowhere and for a videogame adaptation, it boasted something that the audience rarely witness: an actual plot. With a surprising emotional core at its heart and a big budget that does not restraint its visual motifs, “Detective Pikachu” displays all your favorite pokemons in superb digital design. Taking notes and successful cues from “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” (1989), the cast is having a blast while Reynolds as Pikachu - an unusual choice, manages to insert the appropriate dose of humanity in the most famous yellow pokemon.
Following story game:
1/5
True to character outfits:
3/5
True to character arcs:
1/5
True to game designs:
5/5
Game inspired sequences:
3/5
Casting:
1.5/5
Best moment: The alien queen gets loose.
7. Alien Vs Predator (2004)
Director: Paul WS Anderson
Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen
Genre: Science fiction action
“Alien Vs Predator” has aged like fine wine. Despite a minimalistic rating which was understandably disappointing back in 2004, Anderson makes the most of his gigantic sets and monsters. Following a less is more approach, his idea of bringing two of the most famous aliens together is a catchy one. With Lovecraft’s “At the Mountains of Madness” as a clear influence, Anderson creates a solid storyline that smartly expands on the originals’ mythology without falling into camp territory. While the one dimensional characters and the lack of suspense can be bothersome, it is hard not to a love a film that puts so much emphasis on practical effects, fantastic production design and brilliant cinematography to showcase its “real” stars in all of their glory.
Following story game:
1/5
True to character outfits:
3.5/5
True to character arcs:
1/5
True to game designs:
5/5
Game inspired sequences:
4/5
Casting:
3/5
Best moment: A fight between Alice and zombies on a white led corridor that maximizes the axis on film is John Wick before Wick was even a thing.
6. Resident Evil Retribution (2012)
Director: Paul WS Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Sienna Guillory
Genre: Action horror
This is (probably) the least favourite among fans of the franchise, but “Resident Evil: Retribution” hits more than it misses. Playing like an actual videogame with exquisitely staged set pieces, Anderson maximises his medium sized budget to craft a sandbox for hyperstylized slow-motion action sequences in interesting locations (Red Square! Times Square! Shibuya Crossing!), propelled by Jovovich’s charismatic presence in dom clothing. Lacking a complete sense of continuity and populated with humans ready to be sliced and dices, it has a strong visual style arounds its fun explosions, car chases and shoot outs. Its particularly inspiring opening sequence in reverse is fantastic.
Following story game:
1.5/5
True to character outfits:
5/5
True to character arcs:
1.5/5
True to game designs:
4/5
Game inspired sequences:
3/5
Casting:
5/5
Best moment: The set piece in Cambodia - awe inspiring production design
5. Tomb Raider (2001)
Director: Simon West
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Iain Glen, Daniel Craig, Noah Taylor
Genre: Action adventure
In a post “Matrix” world, action films tried really hard to be edgy and “Tomb Raider” was not an exception with a complementary soundtrack that after 20 years sounds terribly outdated (Moby! Basement Jaxx! Fatboy Slim!). Plagued by a myriad of rewrites for a story that should not require much thought, “Tomb Raider” wins the million dollar lottery in the casting department. Angelina Jolie is pitch perfect as Lara Croft, her gorgeous physique taking her from an extravagant set piece to another in unique and exotic locations. Accompanied by a great score from Graeme Revell that emphasizes atmosphere, a deliciously villainous turn by Iain Glenn and exquisite production design, “Tomb Raider” does not reach the heights of “Indiana Jones” but for a first try, it is a solid debut.
Following story game:
5/5
True to character outfits:
4/5
True to character arcs:
1/5
True to game designs:
5/5
Game inspired sequences:
4/5
Casting:
3/5
Best moment: A stand-off with Nerscylla is well-crafted and surprisingly tense
4. Monster Hunter (2020)
Director: Paul WS Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman
Genre: Monster
“Monster Hunter” is a lot of fun once you switch off your brain. Jovovich continues her action lead winning streak but this time around she is united with martial arts legend Tony Jaa to fight gargantuan behemoths on the peculiar and gorgeous environments of Namibia. Typically for a Paul WS Anderson flick, there is a strong production and sound design and pleasing to the eye aesthetics and while “Monster Hunter” might suffer from ADHD editing and a lack of a compelling storyline, it makes up for it with photorealistic monsters, fascinating skirmishes and a fun chemistry between its leads. It is undeniably stupid and exciting at the same time. Sometimes that is all you need.
Following story game:
2/5
True to character outfits:
1/5
True to character arcs:
1/5
True to game designs:
2/5
Game inspired sequences:
3/5
Casting:
4/5
Best moment: Our heroes attempt to shut down the Red Queen with disastrous results
3. Resident Evil (2002)
Director: Paul WS Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, James Purfoy, Colin Salmon
Genre: Action horror
Without the backing of a big Hollywood studio, Anderson wisely restrains himself (as opposed to the later more hyperbolic entries of the franchise) taking key elements of the first game to create his own universe with several successful nods to “Alice in Wonderland”. The best “Resident Evil” movie to date, the film is benefitted by sharp industrial production design, a truly unnerving score from Marco Beltrami and Marilyn Manson and a strong emphasis on atmosphere. There are several pulse pounding moments that play with our expectations and Anderson is making the most with his environment and zombies tackling as a vulgar auteur. While the (limited) CGI shows its age, the strength of “Resident Evil” lies and dies with the main lead; Milla Jovovich, a bona fide beauty that kicks ass on several fronts is officially an action icon.
Following story game:
2/5
True to character outfits:
2/5
True to character arcs:
2/5
True to game designs:
5/5
Game inspired sequences:
4/5
Casting:
3/5
Best moment: A corridor filled with nurses.
2. Silent Hill (2006)
Director: Christoph Gans
Starring: Randa Mitchell, Sean Bean, Laurie Holden, Deborah Kara Unger
Genre: Psychological horror
Christoph Gans - the man who created one of the most bonkers genre mash-ups in cinema history with the “Brotherhood of the Wolf” (2001), directs with visual finesse the big screen adaptation of “Silent Hill”. While the script by Roger Avary (“Pulp Fiction” (1994)) is tough to follow and its final act is plagued by heavy exposition, “Silent Hill” offers plenty of visual excitement that few horror films can match. Period. With an accurate depiction of its androgynous creatures (the use of dancers and mimes by creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos is a stroke of genius) and key moments from the first two games, Gans favors psychological terror instead of cheap jump scares, all scored wonderfully by Jeff Dana making “Silent Hill” a life like painting of Zdzislaw Beksinksi.
Following story game:
4/5
True to character outfits:
3.5/5
True to character arcs:
3/5
True to game designs:
5/5
Game inspired sequences:
4/5
Casting:
5/5
Best moment: Too many to choose from but Liu Kang’s fight with Shang Tsung is the highlight of the film.
1. Mortal Kombat (1995)
Director: Paul WS Anderson
Starring: Robin Shou, Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa, Linden Ashby
Genre: Martial arts fantasy
Combining aggressive Hong Kong inspired choreography (yes, even before “The Matrix” (1999)), flawless casting, an iconic soundtrack and score, incredible opening credits, a cheeky tone and an accurate depiction of Outworld and its kombatants, “Mortal Kombat” succeeds where so many others have failed. It captures the atmosphere and tone of the source material effectively, follows an actual story and does include few philosophies to avoid rendering the proceedings mindless. While the infamous gore is missing, the film compensates the viewers with a feel good attitude, the now iconic performances (Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa IS Shang Tsung) and with an energetic direction by Anderson which embraces brilliant Babylonian sets and beautiful exotic locations illustrated expertly by the colourful cinematography of John R. Leonetti.