5 Video Game Tie-In Movies That Are Actually Good
Image Source: Den of Geek
Video game movies often have a hard time convincing movie critics of their worth. However, there are many that deserve the positivity and occasional cult following. Here are five movies that deserve the hype!
Honorable Mentions
Netflix’s Arcane and Castlevania are two of the best shows adapted from video games. Despite not being films, they deserve a watch from movie and video game fans alike!
5. Resident Evil
Image Source: Eurogamer
Rating: 8/10
The Game: Created by Capcom, the Resident Evil franchise first began in Japan in 1996 with the release of the first game of the same name. Since then, fifteen major games have been released, including two remakes. The series consists of survival horror, third-person shooter, and first-person shooter games with players typically trying to survive environments filled with zombies and other creatures. It is the highest-grossing horror franchise.
RELATED:
The Movie: All six live-action Resident Evil films are written and produced by Paul W. S. Anderson (from 2002 to 2016) and have made over $1 billion worldwide. The films do not follow the same premise as the games but do feature some game characters. Alice, the film’s protagonist, is an original character portrayed by Milla Jovovich, who kicks some serious monsters and Umbrella Corp’s behinds. Advice: Don’t read the critic reviews. As a reviewer on IMDb rightfully explains, “Resident Evil was one of the first examples of how mainstream critics just don't "get" horror.”
4. Tomb Raider (2001)
Image Source: The Guardian
Rating: 8/10
The Game: Tomb Raider has had many games starting from the series debut in 1996. The franchise focuses on the fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft who travels the world searching for lost artifacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins. Gameplay generally focuses on an exploration of environments, solving puzzles, navigating hostile environments filled with traps, and fighting enemies. The Tomb Raider games have sold over 88 million copies worldwide.
The Film: The 2001 classic entertainment action film of the same name captures a great performance by Angelina Jolie, who brings the computer game heroine Lara Croft to life. The scenes are gorgeous to watch, and the action moves quickly. Jolie brings depth to the role of Lara Croft, especially since she impressively performs her own stunts. Although not a "riveting" story, it is a clever adaptation of the campy, cheesy-action video game. In a word, it is fun and definitely preferable to the 2018 reboot.
3. Silent Hill (2006)
Image Source: Gaming Bible
Rating: 9/10
The Game: Originally made for PlayStation, the first installment of Silent Hill uses a third-person view to follow protagonist Harry Mason as he searches for his missing adopted daughter in the eponymous fictional American town of Silent Hill. While the first game falls into the survival horror genre, the subsequent games follow a more psychological horror style.
The Film: Directed by Christophe Gans and written by Roger Avary, Gans, and Nicolas Boukhrief, the film is an adaptation of Konami's 1999 video game. The first Silent Hill movie may not have been game accurate, but it does capture the feel and atmosphere of the game's aesthetic. The concept of the film is based on the idea that the city of Silent Hill exists in four different variations, presented in metaphysical, mystical, and temporal aspects. The most captivating part of the movie is its monsters, some of which are present in the games. Most of the monsters encountered in the film are played by professional dancers with only a minority created with CGI. It is visually beautiful, and its ambiguous ending is intriguing for any psychological horror fan.
2. Sonic The Hedgehog (2020)
Image Source: The Verge
Rating: 9/10
The Game: Created by SEGA, the franchise follows Sonic, an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog who battles the evil Doctor Eggman who aims for world domination. Sonic the Hedgehog is Sega's crown jewel franchise and one of the bestselling video game franchises.
The Film: Sonic the Hedgehog is a visual adventure the whole family can enjoy! After much controversy, Sonic the Hedgehog becomes the highest-grossing film based on a video game in US box office history, surpassing Detective Pikachu. It is difficult not to enjoy the blast of nostalgia, especially as Jim Carrey brings Dr. Eggman to life in an over-the-top cartoonish performance. It is not the most sophisticated watch, but it deserves all of the positive reviews.
1. Mortal Kombat (1995)
Image Source: Mutant Reviewers
Rating: 10/10
The Game: Originally developed by Midway Games in 1992, the Mortal Kombat video games are known for their high levels of graphic violence —especially with the characters’ fatalities. The mainstay characters remain popular through many iterations of the game, and Mortal Kombat is perhaps the most quotable game out there.
The Film: The 1995 fantasy martial arts action film is directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and written by Kevin Droney. It brilliantly captures the spirit and tone of the game with sets that look straight out of the game and perfectly cast roles. The film depicts memorable fights, especially the ones between Liu Kang and Reptile, and Johnny Cage and Scorpion. It is a fantastic and unique mix of martial arts, fantasy, and sci-fi!
READ NEXT:
Source(s): Resident Evil Fandom, The Numbers, Square Enix, Forbes, All Movie