Plastic figure of Mario and Yoshi. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
By Jasmine Sanchez, Staff Reporter
Throughout the entirety of the existence of the genre, game-to-film adaptations have accumulated a discouraging reputation. The impossible balancing act of achieving the approval of the more established fans and creating a digestible medium for a new audience has contributed no favors to Hollywood.
In light of the vast amount of praise the HBO hit show, The Last of Us, has gained, it seems a new spark of hope has risen for the genre. As Hollywood celebrates this recent victory, it is pivotal to reminisce about the past mishaps and staggering successes that were significant to the genre.
Super Mario Bros. (1993)
The game adaptation genre, with the potential to be a gold mine, has graced the big screens and left audiences confused and disappointed. It was promised to be something magnificent but began disastrously. Being the first of its kind, Super Mario Bros. was a shot in the dark and never reached its full potential. Moviegoers were promised a 90-minute adventure with Mario and Luigi but were left with remnants of the world and characters they so deeply cherished and loved.
The games became popular because of their simplicity, vibrant colors and welcoming world. Directing duo, Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, more commonly known for their work on The Max Headroom Show, strayed away from the happy and colorful atmosphere from the game into a more gritty and somber one in film. The presence of the game was non-existent. Fans of the franchise could barely recognize the game within the adaptation. A bleak start for the genre.
Mortal Kombat (1995)
Unlike its predecessors, Super Mario Bros. (1993) and Street Fighter (1994), Mortal Kombat decided to take a more faithful approach to its source material. Working in the bloody tournament and creating beautiful sets, producer Larry Kasanoff and director Paul W.S. Anderson rectified the misjudgments of previous productions. Instead of changing the game’s storyline, the movie embraces it.
The movie itself is awful but it treads the line of being so bad that it’s good— awfully good. There are, without a doubt, prominent flaws in the film but they don’t overshadow the world, the games or the beloved characters. The film was successful at the box office, greenlighting the potential for a sequel, and it fundamentally showed Hollywood executives and gamers the genre, if done correctly, could be prosperous.
Doom (2005)
The Doom franchise was thought to be able to lift the curse most game-to-film adaptations fell prey upon. The first-person shooter game should have been seamlessly transferred onto the cinema screen but somehow was lost in translation. Doom (2005) included some major changes to the plot, turning it into a generic sci-fi flick. The film overlooked the intense and chilling atmosphere the games managed to cultivate, leaving fans discontent as the film failed to capture what was so adored by the community.
Detective Pikachu (2019)
The Pokémon franchise is no stranger to film adaptations. Its anime is one of the longest airing but Detective Pikachu is Nintendo’s first attempt at a live-action that portrays the world as expansive as the anime. The film’s primary audience is kids and teens but it can be enjoyed by all ages.
The film finds the right balance between nostalgia for more knowledgeable fans and appealing to new onlookers who may not be that familiar with the plot and characters. The storyline is a simple mystery however, that is not the selling point of the movie. It is the comedy and the goofiness that makes it enjoyable to watch. Detective Pikachu (2019) also did an incredible job at designing the CGI for the Pokémon. The blend between the realism of the characters and what they would look like in the real world allowed the audience to almost transport into the movie.
Sonic The Hedgehog (2020)
‘Oh, the horror!’ The internet was left horrified at the official teaser trailer for the movie. The character design for Sonic was one of nightmares. While the realistic take had worked well for Detective Pikachu (2019), it did not have the same effect for this title character. There was a vague resemblance of the loveable speedster but not enough. Three months of intense backlash led to the delay of the movie and a much-needed redesign for the character. Confidence sprouted as the new design was shown and audiences were once again excited to appreciate the film to its fullest extent. The new character design fits nicely with the essence of the movie. A fun and enjoyable watch, audiences reveled in watching both Sonic and Dr. Robotnik flourish on the big screens.
