Summary
In the early ’90s, the first-ever live-action video game adaptation was released in the form ofSuper Mario Bros., which wisely capitalized on Nintendo’s immense success with theSuper Mariofranchise. It was ridiculously campy, but immensely fun, and kick-started the trend of bringing video games to the big screen. There have been glorious hits and woeful misses, the latter of which contributed to the origin of the “video game curse,” and the best of the bunch have since tried to break it.
Over the last few decades, some movies have managed to take audiences by surprise and tick off all the boxes for a faithful adaptation. They have since made history as some of the more memorable and enjoyable instances whereby a video game was translated into a fully realized cinematic experience.
In the early 2000s, Simon West—director of Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” music video—took on the demanding task of bringing archaeologist Lara Croft to life for the first time. Angelina Jolie was cast as the titular character, who reprised the role in a sequel,Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — The Cradle of Life.
Although the sequel paled in comparison to its predecessor, Jolie’s first outing as Croft became one of the highest-grossing video game adaptations of all time. DespiteLara Croft: Tomb Raiderbeing criticized for a senseless plot and overuse of inconsequential action sequences, fans and critics alike have alwayspraised Jolie for doing Croft justice.
At the time of its release,Lara Croft: Tomb Raiderwas the highest-grossing video game adaptation, overtakingPokemon: The First Movie, but it wasknocked off its pedestalbyPrince of Persia: The Sands of Timealmost a decade later. Although it isn’t considered groundbreaking by critics' standards,Prince of Persia: The Sands of Timebecame a hit among fans, which solidified its status as an immensely enjoyable swashbuckling adventure.
Many defenders ofPrince of Persiawere also likely young when they first watched it, so it retains an air of nostalgia, as many projects from the early 2000s and early 2010s often tend to. There may have been some grievances with how certain elements from the game were translated, but audiences still had a blast.
Paul W. S. Anderson’sMortal Kombatwas undoubtedly a relic of its time, cemented as one of the director’s more memorable projects alongside theResident Evilfranchise. Many video game adaptations before the 2010s are considered B-movies by definition, as this was before the industry truly found its footing with modern-day special effects.
However,Mortal Kombatstands on its own two feet with impressive FX and stunt coordination for thefight sequences that were well ahead of their time. It’s cheesy, but in the best possible way.
Resident Evilis another passion project of Anderson’s, which places Milla Jovovich’s Alice—an original character outside the traditional lore—at the heart of the zombie outbreak orchestrated by Umbrella.Some of the sequels received mixed reviews, but Jovovich’s debut as Alice has always been lauded as a genuinely fun and engaging adaptation of Capcom’s best-selling franchise.
All in all,Resident Evilsuccessfully captures some of the vibes of the original game, even if it isn’t a conventionally “well-made” movie by the industry’s standards, and there’s always an established space for effortlessly entertaining flicks that allow audiences to switch off their brains for a while.
As one of the newer Pokemon spin-offs,Detective Pikachuearned a cult following as a Nintendo 3DS release. Four years after it hit the shelves in 2016, it received a live-action adaptation starring none other than Justice Smith as Tim Goodman and Ryan Reynolds as the titular crime-solver. It was the first live-action Pokemon movie, which secured it a special place in the hearts of the community.
Besides that, it’s chock-full of references and callbacks to the games, and it feels like a love letter to a fanbase that has been unwaveringly loyal since the ’90s. Detective Pikachu doesn’t need to try hard to be anything more than it is, which isa faithful action-adventure romp with engaging worldbuilding.
Although it fumbled right out of the starting gate with Sonic’s blasphemous design, the live-action Sonic the Hedgehog pulled out all the stops to ensure the fans were satisfied. After an uproar denouncing Sonic’s inaccurate appearance, Paramount made amends by taking the feedback and reworking Sonic’s final design in time for the movie’s release.
It’s immediately clear thatSonic the Hedgehogwas made with a deep love and respect for the source material, but it’s also just a high-octane flick that’s bundles of fun for all ages. It serves as a nice preamble for theSonictrilogy, which also defied expectations bybringing back some memorable characterswith top-notch performances.
While the opinions onSilent Hillare divisive, the movie captures the vibe of the games to an uncanny degree, succeeding in bringing the world and its inhabitants to life in the most eerily unsettling way possible. Critics found it middling due to its weak plot points, but the atmosphere is nailed so well that some of its transgressions can be forgiven. The monster designs were scarily accurate, particularly Pyramid Head, and the sense of dread that builds throughout truly takesSilent Hillto the next level.
It works as a standalone horror flick as well, since the music, characters, and kills are all reliable in line with the genre’s tropes and ideals. Maybe it loses its ties to theSilent Hilllore at times, but it’s an all-round solid movie regardless.
A lot of fans can afford to have shameless fun withThe Super Mario Bros. Movie, particularly if they are familiar with the many easter eggs hidden throughout. One of the biggest gripes would be the misplaced pop songs during montages, which may have benefited from a remix of theSuper Mariotheme. First and foremost,it’s a kids movie that appeals to kidswith its simple story, dialogue, and character arcs.
However, there are enough “remember that” moments to keep the adults thoroughly invested as well. The references and nostalgia bait are the biggest wins, alongside the fact that it introduces a whole new generation to theSuper Mariofranchise.
