This is hard for me. Looking at this list made me realize how poorly done movies based on video games truly are. Poor casting, generic plots, and lame dialogue really have been the downfall of many of these movies. However, Ill always have a soft spot in my heart for both Max Payne and Resident Evil, as Ive played all the video games related to them and loved each. I eagerly awaited the feature films made loosely around the games from each series. Plus, Milla Jovovich is smoking hot in the 2002 RE film, and the same can be said for Mila Kunis in Max Payne. Both are a fun 2 hours of escapism, even if neither film is very good. But I can't bring myself to endorse, or vote for, a movie just because I loved the video game series and the heroine is smoking hot, can I?
I think my vote will likely go to
Final Fantasy. The movie was an absolute box office flop, and even caused the Square Pictures film division, its distributor, to fold. Still, it was the first photorealistic computer animated movie Ive ever seen, and may have been the first ever made. I remember seeing it in college with roomates back in 2001 because I had nothing better to do, and came away pleasantly surprised. The realism of the computer animated characters was a sight to behold, and the plot was better then I expected it to be. The movie got a lot of publicity about the fact that it was billed as the film that would trigger a whole new type of movie – those with no human stars- but publicity is all that it amounted to in the end. But there were still several positives that came from this movie.
First, the imagery in this movie is startling, imaginative, complex, and awesome at times. It's amazing that while the machines, vehicles, and mechanics in the movie are so realistic and detailed, so too are the organic forms such as the alien presence and the incredible landscapes. It is obvious how much imagination went in to so many aspects of this movie. Also, the soundtrack, while not exceptional, is very complimentary and captures the dark feel with the fast action and triumphant climaxes. The characters were distinct, like-able, and voiced very well, even if the digital mouths don't quite match up most of the time. The emotional scenes, while certainly not perfect and a bit awkward, should be given grand credit for achieving the level they do convey. If you let yourself go, it's not impossible to be entranced by all that this movie actually manages to pull off. If nothing else, then the effects alone are worth seeing, if the somewhat hokey spiritual elements of the plot turn you off.
In the end, it's quality work in most areas. Though many would argue otherwise, Im sure, this goes for the story and screenplay as well. I remember leaving the theater without being disappointed, something I cannot say for most of the movies on this list, which is why, unless swayed otherwise, Ill be voting for
Final Fantasy.
Without these options, I guess I'll go for DOAlite and vote for Mortal Kombat.
