I review bad movies all the time but always before I review a bad movie I grit my teeth and tighten my colon as I sit down and watch it again. I want the wounds to be fresh.
Recently, that was my task while sitting through "Street Fighter" a second time. This is one of those movies that doesn't club me over the head with badness, it breaks my fingers on the alter of the routine. Video game movies you see are a little easier to swallow then a movie like say "Barn of the Blood Llama" or "Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter". It is nearly impossible to go into a video game movie and not know what you're getting into.
Does anyone agree?
"It is nearly impossible to go into a video game movie and not know what you're getting into."
So true, but then again, it depends on the game, and the quality of the movie.
When you sit down to watch a movie based on a fighting game you expect, duh, fighting: Double Dragon, Street Fighter and The Two Mortal Kombats. Same can be said with the horror in Resident Evil [arguably though] And also, of course the whole jump around, I've got big tits and two guns Indiana style that Tomb Raider had going on. We all expect it.
But that still doesn't explain, by a long shot, what the hell happened with Super Mario Brothers. Someone must've had too many mushrooms with that one.
That film still defies explanation. But then again, greatness often does...
I so agree. Super Mario Brothers was actually a lot more painful. Recently, I reviewed Street Fighter after having seen Double Dragon, Resident Evil and SMB. Street Fighter came last in the marathon and my brain was so numbed by the experience that my review became a pain-filled confessional.
http://www.jerrydroberts.com/brokedowncinema/Reviews/Street.htm
http://www.jerrydroberts.com/brokedowncinema/Reviews/Super.htm
My biggest disappointment was that they didn't give Van Damme Col. Giles haircut, they pussed out and just gave him a regulay flat top. Ruined the character for me.
I think you're right. It has something to do with Expectations. Videogames aren't really well known for their storylines. It'll help sell games, but Game play/fun is more important. Afterall, there's a reason why simple story games like Pac-man/Galaga are still able to be found in laundrymats, theaters, arcades Everywhere. So When video game based movies come out they're easily forgiven for being bad. With the recent movies they've highlighted something else other than the story. With Final Fantasy "animation", Tomb raider "action", Mortal Kombat "fightscenes/music". So if you go in with low expectations, you won't be disappointed.
. . . . I caught SMB on HBO numerous times a few years ago, but besides being way different, I actually thought it was good. But perhaps I should watch it again. I caught bits and pieces of "Street Fighter" and it seemed very exagerated (then again I didn't watch the whole film) as opposed to MK 1 & 2. (No love for "House of the Dead" apparently, haven't seen it yet though).
. . . . Perhaps "Alien vs Predator" might change the anticipation--> let-down. Sorry I brought that up.
Post Edited (02-23-04 02:29)
>>Perhaps "Alien vs Predator" might change the anticipation--> let-down. Sorry I brought that up.<<
yeah, that brings up sore memories for me. I wished they based it on the game, but I think they are going for a more original approach. Anyway, wasn't AVP based on a comic first? And don't forget the two came from movies anyway. Not sure if that one counts as a video game movie.