Its that time of the month where I give my Top Ten on ANYTHING!
We have seen video-games acting more like theatrical movies nowadays, but were there any movies that act like video-games? Any movies that take on the same mannerism and elements as you would see in a video-game. And I'm not talking about adaptations of a video-game franchise/series, I'm talking about movies that the whole central theme and behavior was video-games. Whenever you see characters using power-ups or that the whole world feels pixely in the movies, you step into the world of videogames You will see what I mean when you read along. I'm listing the ten best films that behave like video-games. Remember: no video-game adaptations like Super Mario Bros. or Prince of Persia.
Lets get on it shall we?
10.
AVATAR
Don’t tell me this film doesn’t look like a video game to you. The graphics and visuals really looks like a Halo game and already puts in the concept of controlling a manufactured body with the same facial features as the controller. Hell the hint was already in the title “Avatar”, the same concept many gamers are into now with World of Warcraft and Nintendo Wii.
9.
DEATH RACE
The original already contains the film’s concept, but the remake really looks more like a video game. It is no surprise since this is directed by Paul W.S Anderson, responsible for video-game adaptations like Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil. So no wonder this is treated like a video game, similar to Twisted Metal. Already you have racers with different abilities and car models and have power-ups or traps on the road that would allow them to use their weapons or have them killed in a horrible and brutal way. As a movie itself, its not bad and it is one of those "turn-your-brain-off-and-enjoy-yourself" mindset when you get into it.
AVATAR
Don’t tell me this film doesn’t look like a video game to you. The graphics and visuals really looks like a Halo game and already puts in the concept of controlling a manufactured body with the same facial features as the controller. Hell the hint was already in the title “Avatar”, the same concept many gamers are into now with World of Warcraft and Nintendo Wii.
9.
DEATH RACE
The original already contains the film’s concept, but the remake really looks more like a video game. It is no surprise since this is directed by Paul W.S Anderson, responsible for video-game adaptations like Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil. So no wonder this is treated like a video game, similar to Twisted Metal. Already you have racers with different abilities and car models and have power-ups or traps on the road that would allow them to use their weapons or have them killed in a horrible and brutal way. As a movie itself, its not bad and it is one of those "turn-your-brain-off-and-enjoy-yourself" mindset when you get into it.
8.
COMMANDO
COMMANDO
Hmm, let's see... Schwarzenegger goes into the jungle to face off against a giant military army with only a vest and a mini-gun, as well as having unlimited ammo and picking off one by one without having a single scratch on him... Sounds like a video-game to me. It was
7.
SPEED RACER
SPEED RACER
This is Mario Kart if Mario was smoking on crack and LSD. I wasn't so sure if I was watching an Anime movie, but I was sure this feels like a video-game. You have bright and colorful characters and their cars with different abilities and weapons, racing through the most ridiculous and ludicrous race tracks to ever be built. Watching this, I really wish I had a controller in my hand. It is, to me, a fun film and I kinda like it. Worthy to be curious and check it out.
This film, while having an ambitious intention, tries to make a statement on isolated gaming and technology running your life. It would have been an interesting intellectual film if the story wasn’t that hokey and not frequently filled with breasts and asses. Though the clever thing about it for geek gamers is there are some spots that reference first-person-shooters multiplayer elements such as Halo and Counter-Strike as well as gamer behaviour like the good ol’ Teabagging. Another thing that is satires is the concept of simulation/society games like The Sims, Second Life and IMVU, where players actually controls real humans as their own avatars and they can do whatever they want with them.
5.
BATTLE ROYALE
BATTLE ROYALE
I have been arguing with myself whether this looks like a video-game or not. Though I have concluded that it may be a video-game movie. These kids are pitted themselves on an Island to kill each other with machine guns till the last one stands. Not to mention they wear a neck bracelet that explodes their heads whenever one of them are in a restricted zone or when the time runs out. I don't know if you people would agree with me, but for now it is. And what a awesome film it is! If people think Kick-Ass is totally controversial, they really haven't see Battle Royale.
4.
CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE
The first Crank movie was crazy enough, but the sequel to Crank was COMPLETELY straight-up-the-wall insanity. Right from the beginning, you can tell they were so influenced by video-games and designed the character, Chelios as if he was on God-Mode. There are many behaviors of video-games such as pixels and power-ups, but other than that, its a kick-ass movie! If you are that geeky enough, you might reference this from the video-game Infamous, where the character sucks up electricity.
4.
CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE
The first Crank movie was crazy enough, but the sequel to Crank was COMPLETELY straight-up-the-wall insanity. Right from the beginning, you can tell they were so influenced by video-games and designed the character, Chelios as if he was on God-Mode. There are many behaviors of video-games such as pixels and power-ups, but other than that, its a kick-ass movie! If you are that geeky enough, you might reference this from the video-game Infamous, where the character sucks up electricity.
3.
THE MATRIX SERIES
THE MATRIX SERIES
Loading yourself up into a simulated world and hook up with all the power-ups and skills you need = video-games. You won't care so much about the philosophical stuffs this movie is jamming your throat in, you can tell this is the stuffs of video-games. And once again taking the themes of avatars and simulations as well as all the fighting and shooting games we all know of like Max Payne. Now this film series could have gone to greatness if it weren't for the colossal disappointment that was "Revolutions"... sheesh..
2.
TRON
TRON
This is the granddaddy of video-game movies. Literally zapped into the digital world full of neon and bits, Tron was filled with so many video-game elements like avatars/representations of their users, geometric-shaped environments and death-match games like holo-disks and the cool light cycles. And even the soundtrack sounds so video-gamey. And even if the movie looks outdated now, it is such a visual-pleasing film to look back on. But I'm excited for the upcoming Tron Legacy. Daft Punk for film score = MOTHAFUCKIN WIN!
And my number 1 is...
1.
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
I know this is a very recent film to add in, but this is my list! So bite me. Besides this movie, to me, is the best metaphorical representation of video-games in a movie, merging with real-life situations. This is the BEST video-game movie EVER... yet. Everything about video-games is there: power-ups, exp points, health bars, leveling up, boss battles, pixel graphics and the list goes on! All to narrate a story about a guy dealing with his relationship with his new girlfriend and evaluating his own personal issues. Not to mention the giant dump of video-game references from visuals and sound clips used for sound effects like Sonic and Mario and all of this is done so clever and intelligent. And that is why I considered this the BEST! This is one movie, geek or not, you should not miss!
So that is my top 10 list. What's your opinion?
So that is my top 10 list. What's your opinion?
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