News

Are Video Game Movies Art?

Roger Ebert, the legendary film critic caused quite a stir more than ten years ago. ArgumentEbert said that video games “can never be art”. Ebert did not mean, though NeverAs in, never, ever ever, ever. He also admitted that his opinions might be changed if the form developed. He insisted on the fact that games made before him were not art because they would fail to withstand the tests of time.

Online gamers are not known for being a chill group. Of course there are exceptions. However, the loudest gamers are those who are extremely demanding and hyper-focused on their games. Ebert’s column caused a flurry of online debate among gamers who supported their hobby and young culture critics keen to argue for the cultural importance of games. Games are, of course, artThen they pointed to one or more games as proof. This was a discussion I participated in on several occasions. I think the issue is settled. Video games Naturally art. art. Disco Elysium?() This matter has been settled.

Since digital games are deeply embedded within the cultural fabric, they don’t even matter if it isn’t. Virtually everybody plays some kind of digital game. You can log in even if your not signed up. A 19-hour drive through the last DestinyRaidIf you don’t know what this means, Wordle, or any other app-based triofle, will probably waste a few minutes. The game-like element of social media allows users to earn likes and share, which encourages them to use it more often. Los Angeles police ignore obvious robberies and catch Snorlaxes Pokemon Go. The mortar that holds the moments together is video games. You can use them to occupy and then waste your time.

Because games have been a common mode of cultural consumption, many others are also influenced by them, such as the films, about which Ebert had spent much of his life writing. Hollywood appreciates adaptability, particularly those with some cinematic elements like video games and comic books.

So the inevitable transition from the console screen to the large-screen has brought up a completely different question than Ebert’s: Videogame movies can be considered artThat’s why the answer seems to me to be an emphatic no.

Latest evidence is in the form UnchartedThe big-budget version of the PlayStation Game Series is called ‘The Big Bang Theory. It is possible to play the game in theory. UnchartedGames should be easy to translate onto the big screen. They must have strong characters, a well-written story and lots of blockbuster action. You don’t have to be a big gamer if you want to enjoy a good gaming experience. UnchartedIf you’re a new player to these games, it might surprise you at the cinematography. There is some gameplay. It revolves around stealth, shooting and complicated climbing. The gameplay is cinematic in nature, with intense buildups leading to spectacular, beautifully orchestrated Spielbergian sequences. This should not be. EasyThis franchise could be made into a movie.

Apparently, it’s not. Ruben Fleischer directs, having recently directed the comic-book movie Tom Hardy that was turgid and yet wildly successful. Venom, Uncharted It is boring, dull and witless. The big setpieces are CGI slogs that somehow come across as more video game–like than the games themselves, but without any of the cleverness or exuberance.

While the film’s middle section might be useful in solving environmental puzzles and treasure-seeking problems, in real life it looks more like an ensemble of people trying to find rare treasures. However, these are soundstage set-ups.

It sounds as if a screenwriter was stuffed with page upon page of “insert quppy banter here”, and never actually wrote anything. The result is lifeless and dull, lacking the joys associated with classic big-screen adventures as well as the games.

Instead it acts as a list of components that game fans might find interesting. The goal is to placate fans, not please them. Fleischer did indeed hint at this during an interview for gaming news site IGN. When Fleischer was asked about his experiences with IGN, he suggested that he might. VenomA comic movie film about a fan favorite Spider-ManHe responded to the villain by pointing out that both properties have a loyal, passionate fan base for which the source material “is precious and they are very protective of it.” This is not surprising, given the fact that sometimes it can be difficult to keep your hands off of precious source material. UnchartedIt seems to be almost scared of its fans, afraid to attempt to make it interesting for them, lest they revolt. The entire thing is defensive.

However, it is possible to convert video games into a scripted form: Netflix has this capability. Castlevania And Arcane Although both adaptations are excellent, both series are better than single features. Both are faithful to their source material but both serve as inspirations for stories that can be told in a way that is somewhat different from the game. Instead of repeating the same elements, they build upon them. 

In contrast, Uncharted comes across as desperate to avoid the wrath of gaming’s most obsessive, outspoken fans—the same cohort who responded so defensively to Ebert. However, this deference to gaming’s most vocal fans and their creative timidity has led to games-based movies that fail to respect them. Warcraft, Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Doom, and, yes, UnchartedAre all properties suitable for translation and adaptation? Instead, they are all garbage. It’s truly a shame. This is a weird thing to say but video games deserve better.