5 Films Based on Videogames

The following article lists five films based on popular video games. Characters and settings we’ve loved, music that made us shudder and captivating stories, are presented to the audience through a live-action prism. It seems like a gamer’s paradise. Is it like this though? Well, the opinions tend to ...differ.

So, who’s the good, the bad, and the ugly? Allow me to elaborate!

5) Assassin’s Creed

By the terms of this list, Assassin’s Creed is definitely *drum rolls sound effect* … the bad one. The live-action film, based on the homotitled video game, was released in 2016 -and we’re still trying to forget it. Directed by Justin Kurzel, it stars some quite notable actors and actresses, such as Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, and it -relatively- follows the script of the game. However, it proved to be disappointing. The dialogs are unsatisfying, the CGI is OVERUSED and, basically, everything looks kinda misplaced. 

Considering all of the above, it’s not a surprise that Assassin’s Creed live-action film experienced a great financial failure. It disappointed all those who worked and invested in it and the gamers worldwide were left down. However, despite all its negatives (which are a lot), you could still give it a try. At the end of the day, it still manages to offer some beautiful shots and interesting interpretations. 

4) Silent Hill

Silent Hill, based on the cherished, homotitled videogame series, was released in 2006 and is directed by Christophe Gans. Being an atmospheric thriller -or at least trying to be one, it revolves around Rose. Rose is a young woman who loses her daughter in the city of Silent Hill and is confronted with the dark secrets of the haunted area. 

You’d think that a live-action film, based on the most legendary horror game of all times, would respect itself. Ha, you’re fooled! Yes, the atmosphere might be somewhat creepy and eerie, there are a few decent interpretations and some special effects of good quality here and there, but that’s it. That’s all you get. This movie should have been a masterpiece; an ode to horror, capable of haunting you forever. But, what we got instead, is tiring dialogs and a film with such a long duration, that tests the limits of patience. Silent Hill live-action movie tends to be consumed in plenty of meaningless scenes. And that’s why it wins the ugly one title: Because it managed to turn a legend into a ...lullaby. But, due to its appeal to nostalgia, I can’t help but suggest you give it a try -if you’re a fan of the videogames!

3) Resident Evil

The horror/action movie series Resident Evil is influenced by the legendary, homotitled video game. Having already released six films, and with the seventh in the works, it has written history; for both the right and the wrong reasons. The script follows Alice, who tries to save the world from a virus that turns humans into zombies; Pretty much it is loosely based on the videogame’s plot. But let’s take a closer look at all the six titles!

The first two films of the series, as well as the last one, are of great interest and worthy of your attention. However, the rest of them are dull and monotonous. There’s not a glimpse of flow in the dialogues and the storyline is so lifeless, that words don’t manage to describe. However, on the bright side, there’s Milla Jovovich. Her performance is iconic, a breath of fresh air. In short, I’d suggest you watch only the three Resident Evil films mentioned above, since they manage to keep the interest alive and, well, Milla Jovovich is there. But, what about the rest of them? Well, I’m sure you can always suggest them for watching to someone you dislike!

2) Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Ah, Tomb Raider; The first videogame I ever played. 

Ah, Lara Croft; The first girl-crush I ever had.

Thus, it’s not a surprise that the homotitled films managed to reach second place in this list. 

The first film, titled Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, based on the classic and favorite Tomb Raider, was released in 2001 - at a time when the homotitled video games were a huge success. Directed by Simon West, this film lacks coherence and flow, while its events have no emotional impact on the viewer. Although Angelina Jolie is a perfect fit for the role of the hardcore archaeologist Lara Croft and her performance is memorable, she fails to save the day. The second title of the film series called Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life, is slightly more remarkable and the plot is more interesting. Although none of them can be considered perfect -or even decent to be honest, they manage to convey strong, videogame-like feelings. In addition, Angelina Jolie has the raw dynamism and is such a badass, that you'll end up falling for her. And that’s why they conquer second place on this list.

1) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

And the title of the good one goes to *epic drum roll sounds* ...The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Before you raise an objection, you should know that I’m a huge PoP fangirl, so I was quite strict and had high expectations of this film. And, fortunately, it exceeded my initial expectations. But allow me to be more specific!

The movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, is inspired by the homotitled, fabled, videogame. Directed by Mike Newell, it was released in 2010 by Walt Disney Pictures. Although its script deviates from the original story, its core remains the same, with Prince of Persia trying to protect the world, by securing the Sands of Time. The actors have astonishing performances, with Jake Gyllenhaal (who is dreamy as always) and Ben Kingsley proving once again their enormous acting talent. Full of humor, adventure, and action, this film is a must-watch for everyone. It lacks originality, it might be a little bit cheesy and quite predictable, but it remains an amazing adventure. Full of fantasy and Arabian-nights elements, it manages to win its audience. It really worths your time, either you’ve played the game or not!