There have been a lot of crappy video game adaptations both in film and TV and I’m sick of it. When I hear about an adaptation of one of my favorite gaming franchises, like Resident Evil or Pokémon, it’s hard not to get excited, but sadly, excitement tends to turn to disappoint when the final product rolls around. On paper, most video game adaptations seem like they get the basics in bringing iconic lines, looks, and concepts onto the big screen. But they never also come with the heart or care behind them to really bring the game to life on the big screen. Look, maybe I’m just a bitter Resident Evil fan that hates how Paul W.S. Anderson’s films focused more on action than horror and used popular franchise characters as glorified cameos — but frankly, video adaptations need to be better.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there are movies like Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog that are able to go in their own direction without losing the heart and identity of their respective franchises and characters. It’s even great to see Netflix pump out some anime adaptations of series like Castlevania, Dragon’s Dogma, and Dota, which have garnered some good buzz which makes the Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness series coming in July seem incredibly promising. However, for every Detective Pikachu or Sonic there’s a Rampage, Hitman, Assassin’s Creed, and more recently Monster Hunter. Frankly, many fans, including myself, are wondering when video games will find the same success that comic book movies have had after overcoming some of the same issues.
Believe it or not, there was a time – quite a long time honestly – where comic book movies were the same kind of unremarkable cash grabs attempts that video game movies have been. They might have brought a fun reference, solid casting choice, or pulled some iconic visual from the comics, but the story and characters always fell flat, and the dialogue was usually a mess. Whenever I think of a movie that defines the pre-MCU era of comic book movies, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is that movie. It’s corny as hell and makes certain choices that reflect both the budget and creative restraints that many comic book movies faced because studios weren’t confident in pumping them out.
Then 2008 came around and delivered two movies that set a new standard for what comic book movies could be: The Dark Knight and Iron Man. With their financial success and great reception across the board, comic book movies began to get a greater backing that allowed them to become something more. Cinematic universes became the goal after Marvel’s was conceived and there was greater effort to improve the storytelling, characters, and themes of comic book adaptations. Not only did comic book movies become some of the highest grossing movies of all time, with 14 of them within the top 50 (nine Marvel movies, four DC films, and Incredibles 2), but they even saw attention from awards bodies that would generally ignore them altogether. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some comic book movies that come out that feel like they’re a blast from the past in a bad way (Bloodshot immediately comes to mind), but the good now heavily outweighs the bad.
So, back to the big question at hand, when will video game movies make that turn and what movie/TV show will help turn the tide? At first it seemed like Detective Pikachu could’ve been that movie, but audiences just didn’t bite like expected. Then Sonic the Hedgehog showed a lot of promise after it listened to fans and redesigned the character. It found financial success and had a solid reception at the start, but then COVID-19 came and halted all its momentum. Now, the hopes of a great video game movie fall on the shoulders of a franchise that has definitely disappointed fans in the past but shows new promise with its latest film: Mortal Kombat.
Yes, this franchise has had a rough film history. The 1995 original is remembered fondly enough, but mostly because it was such an early video game adaptation that lacked a real budget and its sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, is seen as one of the worst movies of all-time. However, there was always news about this film that felt promising as a fan. With James Wan backing as a producer and director Simon McQuoid constantly instilling hope that this movie was going to spill blood, it was impossible not to be excited. Then came the trailer and damn what a trailer it was.
Everything that McQuoid had promised of the movie being a faithful adaptation and gory as hell was there and that “finish him” stinger at the end was just immaculate. All the characters looked like their gaming counterparts and this reboot makes the great decision to end the whitewashing of Lord Raiden by casting Tadanobu Asano in the iconic role. Sub-Zero and Scorpion look freaking perfect and Sub-Zero’s ice abilities look incredible. It’s clear that this reboot got the budget and care that the original didn’t and it’s no surprise that fans, including myself, rallied so hard around it. It actually went on to break the record for highest views for a red-band trailer in a week previously held by Deadpool 2 and Logan—of course until James Gunn’s Suicide Squad broke that record shortly after. There was a genuine sense of change that came with that trailer and kicked off the great momentum this film needs and can definitely capitalize on given its release strategy.
While Legendary got upset when Warner Bros. delivered the news that their entire 2021 film slate would debut on HBO Max the same day it hits theaters, it actually worked out really well for them with Godzilla vs Kong. The titanic rematch revived the long dormant box office in an unexpected way, but also got a lot of extra visibility from premiering on HBOMax. The biggest issues that a lot of video game movies have had, even the good ones, is getting people in seats to see it in theaters. If you’re not a big fan of the game, then there’s not much reason to go see the movie version in theaters. However, with the film hitting theaters and HBO Max on the same day, it has a great chance to gain a greater reach than ever before. Hardcore fans who want to see their favorite game be brought to life on the big screen can support its traditional box office while curious newbies can see what it’s all about from the comfort of their own home for no extra charge. It’s a win for everyone, but possibly an even greater win for Mortal Kombat.
Look, I know we’ve been burned by good trailers time and time again and there’s no way that Mortal Kombat is going to be the next The Dark Knight, but it certainly has the potential to be an Iron Man. A movie that can get people interested in a property through a fun, action-packed adventure and make them want to know more about the games they’re based on. Mortal Kombat has shown a sense of authenticity, great casting choices, promises being fulfilled, and, possibly more importantly, the potential to gain a wide net of viewers unlike ever before. Everyone knows the name Mortal Kombat because of the game’s long, iconic lineage and if there’s a video game movie that could turn the tide for video game adaptations as a whole, it’s going to be this reboot. Even if it’s not, a change is coming for sure when you look at what’s coming after Mortal Kombat.
47 Meters Down director Johannes Roberts’ reboot of Resident Evil continues to look better and better with it bringing the series to its Racoon City roots and featuring a great up-and-coming cast. Illumination is still working hard on their Mario animated movie that’s supposedly coming out next year. PlayStation is bringing two of its biggest gaming franchises, Uncharted and Ghost of Tsushima, to the big screen while HBO is underway on their adaptation of The Last of Us for the small screen. News continually pours out about big casting choices for Eli Roth’s Borderlands movie. Even IFC Films, yes you read that correctly, is releasing an adaptation of Ubisoft’s 2016 VR game, Werewolves Within, at the end of June. There are even sequels to Sonic the Hedgehog and the 2018 Tomb Raider reboot, which I’m actually sort of fond of, on the way. A turning of the tide is coming for video game adaptations and if Mortal Kombat can live up to the hype and find a greater audience to get behind it, it could be at the forefront of a new era.
Mortal Kombat hits theaters and HBO Max Friday.
Comments are closed.