So it appears as though the hotly anticipated video game to film adaptation of the massively popular game, Bioshock, is actually set to happen. Just with a different director behind the camera.
Here's the deal. A few months ago, after getting the green light from Universal, production of Gore Verbinski's Bioshock adaptation was shelved due to a massively growing budget, and Gore proceeded to leave the project, at least as a director. Universal then went on to attempt to work out different ways, via the script, different areas to film, and other things of that ilk. However, nothing really came out of that, and the film has seemed to be DOA since about late April. That has DEFINITELY changed.
Here's what /Film has to say:
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, best known to American film goers as the writer/director of 28 Weeks Later [will direct]. Verbinski will remain involved in the project, but only as producer. I know a lot of people weren’t too excited about Verbinski’s involvement with the property, but I thought he would be one of the filmmakers who would be able to get the production design and tone right. I was actually one of the few people who didn’t like Fresnadillo’s 28 Days Later sequel, although I did enjoy some of the cinematography and terrifying action.
This is a very very interesting idea. Sure, I would have love to have seen a more seasoned director take up this very deep and very big project. Since day one of the games release, studios have been eyeing this project to move into the cinema, but the road has been bumpy. I personally would have liked someone like Verbinski as the director, as not only has he proven himself with the Pirates series (at least in the size and spectacle that this project will have to have and be), but is also a well renowned film maker.
Fresnadillo DOES have a lot of talent. I love 28 Weeks Later, and while it's not as good as it's previous iteration, it is one hell of a fantastic modern horror film. Sure, the message is very on the nose, and it's not the most subtle of Iraq War metaphors seen in cinemas recently, but it works as a whole. Also, his skill in creating horror is something that is a must have with a project like Bioshock, that maybe even more so than story, is renowned for it's mood and tone.
Here's the films synopsis:
Praised for its morality-based storyline, immersive environment and Ayn Rand-inspired dystopian setting, the game has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, and ranks as the thirteenth best video game on Game Rankings. Set in an alternative history 1960, BioShock follows the story of a plane crash survivor named Jack, who must explore the underwater Objectivist-dystopian city of Rapture, and survive attacks by the mutated beings and mechanical drones that populate it. Jack is drawn into a power struggle during which he discovers that his will is not as free as he’d thought.
What do you all think about this huge change?
Go see something good!
Showing posts with label Bioshock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bioshock. Show all posts
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
NEWS: Is The Bioshock Film DOA?
Early this year, news came out that it may be clear sailing for the much talked about adaptation of the 2007 hit video game, Bioshock. Well, that ship may have just sank.
In a recent interview with the LA Times, Gore Verbinski admitted that the production of BioShock has been halted, which isn't the new news, but then went on to say that Universal has felt that it may be best to move the production of the film outside of the US to lower the already rocketing budget, he said he wasn't sure he wanted to do that.
Verbinski, who is currently working on the animated film "Rango," isn't confident about "BioShock's" making it to the big screen. It's been previously reported that the film is on hold due to concerns about its escalating budget. Verbinski tells the Times that it could probably get made, if it is shot in one of those foreign countries that offer a generous tax credit. And he's not sure whether he wants to go overseas for the year-plus it would require to make it.
The film has been stalled due to huge rocketing budget costs since this past April, and it looks as though that film is nearly dead. I personally hope that this film DOES get made with Verbinski at the helm, but maybe it may be best to hold the film until his finishes Rango, his upcoming animated film, and maybe even after the much talked about Lone Ranger adaptation. I don't know exactly what the budget costs are due to, but it's obviously visual effects and location costs, so maybe given 5-6 years, it may be more viable. The game IS only going to be 2 years old this year, WITH a sequel to be released late '09. So who knows. As of this second though, the film is dead.
Go see something good!
In a recent interview with the LA Times, Gore Verbinski admitted that the production of BioShock has been halted, which isn't the new news, but then went on to say that Universal has felt that it may be best to move the production of the film outside of the US to lower the already rocketing budget, he said he wasn't sure he wanted to do that.
Verbinski, who is currently working on the animated film "Rango," isn't confident about "BioShock's" making it to the big screen. It's been previously reported that the film is on hold due to concerns about its escalating budget. Verbinski tells the Times that it could probably get made, if it is shot in one of those foreign countries that offer a generous tax credit. And he's not sure whether he wants to go overseas for the year-plus it would require to make it.
The film has been stalled due to huge rocketing budget costs since this past April, and it looks as though that film is nearly dead. I personally hope that this film DOES get made with Verbinski at the helm, but maybe it may be best to hold the film until his finishes Rango, his upcoming animated film, and maybe even after the much talked about Lone Ranger adaptation. I don't know exactly what the budget costs are due to, but it's obviously visual effects and location costs, so maybe given 5-6 years, it may be more viable. The game IS only going to be 2 years old this year, WITH a sequel to be released late '09. So who knows. As of this second though, the film is dead.
Go see something good!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
OPINION: Why Video Game Movies Suck, and Why Bioshock Will Be Different...
It's been a slow news week this week. Outside of some minor stuff, probably the biggest, or most interesting news coming out of the world that we like to call Hollywood, is this:
It looks as though Gore Verbinski has decided to ditch the franchise he helped boost, the Pirates series, to go work on the video game adaptation, Bioshock.
Before I get into what makes this news interesting, here is the VERY brief plot synopsis of the Ayn Rand influenced survival-horror video game.
The story of Bioshock places you in the mind of Jack, a regular guy. You are on a airplane crossing the Atlantic Ocean, when suddenly the plane crashes into the sea. Your only hope for survival is a large tower on a small island near the crash site. You make your way inside and take a small submersible down to the under water city of Rapture. You must fight the inhabitants of the underwater hell in order to survive.
Now what makes this news interesting, outside of the fact that Pirates 4 is now in limbo (will be done, just don't know by who), but it's because of this little coda.
Video game movies suck, and always have.
Just take a look at the track record of films. Double Dragon, Mario Brothers, Street Fighter, Wing Commander, Tomb Raider, House of The Dead, Doom, DOA: Dead Or Alive, and the people in Hollywood even messed up Hitman.
Yes, there have been quite a few bright spots, particularly Silent Hill. Probably my favorite video game franchise, this film left me frightened, and most importantly I think, wanting to put in the disc and start up the game. Great performances, alright script, and a great score all were amped up by the most important thing about that franchise, the mood. However, where this one succeeded, many, well, most, have failed. And there is a distinct reason for this.
The biggest thing hindering this medium from making the jump to feature film, is the lack of narrative storytelling within the game. Yes, there are a few games series that rely heavily on plot and plot movement. Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, and yes, Bioshock. Bioshock has a very deep and compelling plot, yet it may not be enough to make the jump to the silver screen.
The best example of a film without a plot stinking up the cinemas is Hitman. Basically a game about a guy who goes around assassinating folks sounds like an interesting game, right? Yeah, it does, and it really is. However, take that to the film studios, you throw in a newcomer director, religious cults, and a hot Russian, and you get a schlock fest to end all schlock fests. Want another example? Max Payne will give you one. Basically a game about a man who wants revenge for the death of his family (sounds like our favorite caped crusader, right?), yet you take out any interesting concepts about the act of revenge, or any plot turns that happened in the game, and throw in Mila Kunis, and you get a gorgeous failure.
Yet, go back to Silent Hill. In my humble opinion, the creepiest game in the history of video games, not only has a brilliant visual style, but the storyline is so deep within the series that it allows the player to not only chew on the visual style, but get their appetite fulfilled by omnomnoming one hell of a great plot line, that balances their distinct sense of horror, religion, and creative narrative.
That smaller, yet influential, thing hindering video games from making the jump is one simple thing. Participation. Video games, with the huge influence of sandbox games like GTA and the like, have become heavily open ended. Almost to a point where they can be comparable to chose your own story books. Games like the aforementioned GTA could never work, as they are based to heavily on our imagination to fill in voids in the plot, and also what we do as the character in the game.
That is one thing going for Bioshock. Not only does it have a great and compelling story, but it's also, while the game-play is influenced by upgrades, is rather heavy in narrative game-play. Another thing as well is that the main character is compelling. Games like Halo wouldn't work, as the main character isn't truly a part of the narrative in any interesting way.
The one thing not boding well for Bioshock, is the medium in which it's being adapted. Modern film makers are not simply attempting to adapt something. Sure, Watchmen was basically a straight adaptation, but that leads me to my point. Modern films, or at least ones that are worth watching, are striving to say something more than simply a storyline. Yes, there are your Slumdogs, but even that film had the subplot of what it takes to come out of poverty. The Wrestler had the poverty subtext, Benjamin Button was about aging, love, and a thousand other things that I could, but won't list, and you have the aformentioned Watchmen, which tried to say just about every thing but the blue, atomic kitchen sink. That is where video games falter. In that respectable medium, it's simply about the interactive narrative, no subtext, leaving not much to be said for either discussion, or multiple viewings. What makes a film successful is not the box office, but the amount of times one is willing to subject themselves to the film, and if it leaves you feeling something. Anger, sadness, or happiness, all make films worth spending 8 dollars.
So sure, there is a great history of craptastic video games, but you know what. Here's to Bioshock. Here's to hoping a great game can be turned into a great film.
Actually, on that fact, I have a question, or more a series of questions.
I want to hear from you guys, on the following:
I want you all to go ahead, pick a video game, cast the leads, give me a director, and think of a one, two, or three sentence plot synopsis. Be creative!
Go see something good!
It looks as though Gore Verbinski has decided to ditch the franchise he helped boost, the Pirates series, to go work on the video game adaptation, Bioshock.
Before I get into what makes this news interesting, here is the VERY brief plot synopsis of the Ayn Rand influenced survival-horror video game.
The story of Bioshock places you in the mind of Jack, a regular guy. You are on a airplane crossing the Atlantic Ocean, when suddenly the plane crashes into the sea. Your only hope for survival is a large tower on a small island near the crash site. You make your way inside and take a small submersible down to the under water city of Rapture. You must fight the inhabitants of the underwater hell in order to survive.
Now what makes this news interesting, outside of the fact that Pirates 4 is now in limbo (will be done, just don't know by who), but it's because of this little coda.
Video game movies suck, and always have.
Just take a look at the track record of films. Double Dragon, Mario Brothers, Street Fighter, Wing Commander, Tomb Raider, House of The Dead, Doom, DOA: Dead Or Alive, and the people in Hollywood even messed up Hitman.
Yes, there have been quite a few bright spots, particularly Silent Hill. Probably my favorite video game franchise, this film left me frightened, and most importantly I think, wanting to put in the disc and start up the game. Great performances, alright script, and a great score all were amped up by the most important thing about that franchise, the mood. However, where this one succeeded, many, well, most, have failed. And there is a distinct reason for this.
The biggest thing hindering this medium from making the jump to feature film, is the lack of narrative storytelling within the game. Yes, there are a few games series that rely heavily on plot and plot movement. Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, and yes, Bioshock. Bioshock has a very deep and compelling plot, yet it may not be enough to make the jump to the silver screen.
The best example of a film without a plot stinking up the cinemas is Hitman. Basically a game about a guy who goes around assassinating folks sounds like an interesting game, right? Yeah, it does, and it really is. However, take that to the film studios, you throw in a newcomer director, religious cults, and a hot Russian, and you get a schlock fest to end all schlock fests. Want another example? Max Payne will give you one. Basically a game about a man who wants revenge for the death of his family (sounds like our favorite caped crusader, right?), yet you take out any interesting concepts about the act of revenge, or any plot turns that happened in the game, and throw in Mila Kunis, and you get a gorgeous failure.
Yet, go back to Silent Hill. In my humble opinion, the creepiest game in the history of video games, not only has a brilliant visual style, but the storyline is so deep within the series that it allows the player to not only chew on the visual style, but get their appetite fulfilled by omnomnoming one hell of a great plot line, that balances their distinct sense of horror, religion, and creative narrative.
That smaller, yet influential, thing hindering video games from making the jump is one simple thing. Participation. Video games, with the huge influence of sandbox games like GTA and the like, have become heavily open ended. Almost to a point where they can be comparable to chose your own story books. Games like the aforementioned GTA could never work, as they are based to heavily on our imagination to fill in voids in the plot, and also what we do as the character in the game.
That is one thing going for Bioshock. Not only does it have a great and compelling story, but it's also, while the game-play is influenced by upgrades, is rather heavy in narrative game-play. Another thing as well is that the main character is compelling. Games like Halo wouldn't work, as the main character isn't truly a part of the narrative in any interesting way.
The one thing not boding well for Bioshock, is the medium in which it's being adapted. Modern film makers are not simply attempting to adapt something. Sure, Watchmen was basically a straight adaptation, but that leads me to my point. Modern films, or at least ones that are worth watching, are striving to say something more than simply a storyline. Yes, there are your Slumdogs, but even that film had the subplot of what it takes to come out of poverty. The Wrestler had the poverty subtext, Benjamin Button was about aging, love, and a thousand other things that I could, but won't list, and you have the aformentioned Watchmen, which tried to say just about every thing but the blue, atomic kitchen sink. That is where video games falter. In that respectable medium, it's simply about the interactive narrative, no subtext, leaving not much to be said for either discussion, or multiple viewings. What makes a film successful is not the box office, but the amount of times one is willing to subject themselves to the film, and if it leaves you feeling something. Anger, sadness, or happiness, all make films worth spending 8 dollars.
So sure, there is a great history of craptastic video games, but you know what. Here's to Bioshock. Here's to hoping a great game can be turned into a great film.
Actually, on that fact, I have a question, or more a series of questions.
I want to hear from you guys, on the following:
I want you all to go ahead, pick a video game, cast the leads, give me a director, and think of a one, two, or three sentence plot synopsis. Be creative!
Go see something good!
NEWS: Verbinski to Ditch Pirates...For Bioshock?
It looks as though Gore Verbinski has decided to cut something out of his rather busy schedule. Along with being attatched to the US remake of The Host, a part of Heavy Metal, an adaptation of Clue, and some romantic comedy about a guy who plays MMORPGs to much, he's also been tapped to helm an adaptation of the hit XBOX 360 game, Bioshock, and Pirates 4. So that begs the question, what is up next on Verbinksis hit list? /Film has the heads up on what it may be...
Variety reports that Verbinski is going head first into the big screen adaptation of the popular video game BioShock which was announced almost a year ago. Verbinski informed producer Jerry Bruckheimer that he will not be in the director’s chair for the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film, which is expected to go into production in 2010. At the Walt Disney Presentation in September, it was announced that Johnny Depp was signed on for a fourth Pirates of the Caribbean film, and while it was widely known that Verbinski wasn’t interested in doing another Pirates film, everyone just assumed he would return for one more.
Sometimes assumptions are wrong, and this looks like that may be the case. So, no director set for Pirates 4, and now it looks like Bioshock is set to go into motion, or at least get the wheels turning.
Who should take the helm of the Pirates series? Is Bioshock going to be good? What Videogame WOULD work as a film?
Go see something good!
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