The Doom movie is already dragging up more controversy than anyone might have predicted, with fans of the game beginning something of a pre-emptive campaign to keep the motion picture in-line with id’s originating narrative.
So much so in fact that screenwriter, Dave Callahan has sent an open letter to Doom’s loyal, often worryingly obsessive fanbase.
It reads, “The screenplay I wrote DOES differ in a number of ways from the games. I want to be very honest and forthcoming in saying that, and I know that I won't make any friends amongst the fans of the game in doing so. But it should be mentioned that it was never the goal of anyone involved in this film, from myself and the producers to the studio to the guys at id, to make a direct film adaptation of the game(s).” Ouch. We can hear the tattoo needles already abuzz, etching images of Callahan as Satan.
He bravely continues, “The thought process has always been to create an extension of the Doom universe that will give fans an interesting new take on the themes that they've come to enjoy in the game. Because let's be honest here: as far as a completely immersive and cinematic experience, we were never going to top Doom 3 anyway, and we all knew that. Instead, we have toyed with some elements of the game, and yes, I am pretty much solely responsible for that, since it was my pitch and my screenplay that got made. Let me assure you, though, that the themes and elements that you love about Doom are ALL represented strongly in the film... just with some new twists.”
So much so in fact that screenwriter, Dave Callahan has sent an open letter to Doom’s loyal, often worryingly obsessive fanbase.
It reads, “The screenplay I wrote DOES differ in a number of ways from the games. I want to be very honest and forthcoming in saying that, and I know that I won't make any friends amongst the fans of the game in doing so. But it should be mentioned that it was never the goal of anyone involved in this film, from myself and the producers to the studio to the guys at id, to make a direct film adaptation of the game(s).” Ouch. We can hear the tattoo needles already abuzz, etching images of Callahan as Satan.
He bravely continues, “The thought process has always been to create an extension of the Doom universe that will give fans an interesting new take on the themes that they've come to enjoy in the game. Because let's be honest here: as far as a completely immersive and cinematic experience, we were never going to top Doom 3 anyway, and we all knew that. Instead, we have toyed with some elements of the game, and yes, I am pretty much solely responsible for that, since it was my pitch and my screenplay that got made. Let me assure you, though, that the themes and elements that you love about Doom are ALL represented strongly in the film... just with some new twists.”
Read More Like This
Comments
mrnull 14 Dec 2004 16:02
1/10
Sorry, but when have they not completely goosed up a videogame-to-movie plot? Final Fantasy? House of the Dead? By completely corrupting the plot they try to make it appeal to people besides us nerds. We'll see it anyway.
Joji 14 Dec 2004 16:35
2/10
I kind of giving up on these movies adaptions because these Hollywood lot are not good at meeting fans wishes. Granted, it's easier for them to adapt a comic than a game.
Even comic adaptions have their purists who don't want things changed and I can see both sides of the arguement. Studios etc need to recoup their costs so appealing to a larger audience helps them and us. Compromises must be made.
The idea of a Doom film was good once upon a time, but now sitting next to the majesty of potential films like Devil May Cry and Metroid it looks really lame.
FF: TSW was just a bad decision by Square and was not sure what it wanted to be. One thing it did though was show that CG movies can be done with a degree of detail and bend live action rules. Game based movies would be better done this way, (FF: AC will clean up hopefully with similar film to follow) since I'm sure it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than an expensive live action film with A list actors and varying expenses.
Even comic adaptions have their purists who don't want things changed and I can see both sides of the arguement. Studios etc need to recoup their costs so appealing to a larger audience helps them and us. Compromises must be made.
The idea of a Doom film was good once upon a time, but now sitting next to the majesty of potential films like Devil May Cry and Metroid it looks really lame.
FF: TSW was just a bad decision by Square and was not sure what it wanted to be. One thing it did though was show that CG movies can be done with a degree of detail and bend live action rules. Game based movies would be better done this way, (FF: AC will clean up hopefully with similar film to follow) since I'm sure it would be a hell of a lot cheaper than an expensive live action film with A list actors and varying expenses.
more comments below our sponsor's message
vault 13 14 Dec 2004 16:51
3/10
mrnull wrote:
Sorry, but when have they not completely goosed up a videogame-to-movie plot? Final Fantasy? House of the Dead? By completely corrupting the plot they try to make it appeal to people besides us nerds. We'll see it anyway.
Yeah I agree. They are going to get our money no matter what. It's kind of a win/win for producers with us gamers. But the thing is, if movies like Double Dragon and Super Mario Brothers come out, it doesn't help the niché movie genre at all. And then we'll have the Tomb Raider movies which do really well and kind of suck. I suppose it held the same principles of the games, but then again I hate the Tomb Raider games with a passion.
I think the whole reason to do a video game movie adaption is BECAUSE the story is sooo engaging or if a story isn't really present BECAUSE it's a really cool concept. I think if they did a Mario movie all in CG and got big star talent to voice actors AND KEPT all the good Mario magic, it would be a great kids movie.
Other properties I'd like to see movies made of: Fallout, Starcraft, Warcraft
fluffstardx 14 Dec 2004 17:14
4/10
You can't dismiss all films of games as bad, though; Resident Evil (first, not second) did actually fit in the game plot, the anime films of Street Fighter are awesome, and there are (granted, a very few) others as well. Heck, the Pokémon films are great to kids...
And they should never try RPGs. Let's face it, most of them take 40+ hours to play, if you don't skip plot. That's a minimum film length of, say, 5 hours...
The problem is with the studios the scriptwriters have to pitch to. Frankly, games films are hard to sell, as gaming is still seen as a minor media and therefore such a film would have a relatively small target audience. So, they have to alter the plot to suit the studio's views, and hope to heck it sells well to balance the screams the fans emit.
Of course, this one does sound awful. It's a bit soul-rending, but at least they're not wrecking Wolfenstein as well.
Games i'd like to see them try:
Ninja Gaiden
Dead or Alive
Donkey Kong Country
Super Mario Sunshine
Jade Cocoon.
And they should never try RPGs. Let's face it, most of them take 40+ hours to play, if you don't skip plot. That's a minimum film length of, say, 5 hours...
The problem is with the studios the scriptwriters have to pitch to. Frankly, games films are hard to sell, as gaming is still seen as a minor media and therefore such a film would have a relatively small target audience. So, they have to alter the plot to suit the studio's views, and hope to heck it sells well to balance the screams the fans emit.
Of course, this one does sound awful. It's a bit soul-rending, but at least they're not wrecking Wolfenstein as well.
Games i'd like to see them try:
Ninja Gaiden
Dead or Alive
Donkey Kong Country
Super Mario Sunshine
Jade Cocoon.
LUPOS 14 Dec 2004 17:34
5/10
fluffstardx wrote:
Games i'd like to see them try:
Ninja Gaiden
Dead or Alive
Donkey Kong Country
Super Mario Sunshine
Jade Cocoon.
NOOOO!!!!!
no ninja gaiden! that game barely has a story to follow and if they made a movie itagaki wouldnt give to s**ts what the story of the movie was so it would be a complet basterdization! i woudl love to see real life ninjas beeating up giant demons and all butt, actully now that i think fo it, maybe thats what the doom movie will be?
either way, i preffer not knowing to much about ninja gaiden and the whole team ninja line up, 5 years of playign their games and i barely know any story, why ruin it.
Joji 14 Dec 2004 17:45
6/10
True, you'll find that the best representation of games on film would be found in anime series and films.
Pokemon anime series is true to it's game design, as is Street Fighter 2 and Street Fighter Alpha anime movies, amongst plenty of others. Apart from this anime direction, the only other way I could see game movies going to keep costs down is CG movies like FF: AC. The japanese are good at anime but also live action film, and I think a lot of game to anime movies are made in japan to feed the existing fans.
A similar sort of thing needs to be done for game movies outside of japan. Giving the fans what they want while not going the big studio way of things. I hope Advent Children does well for Squareenix, as it will show that doing things on a small controlled scale can help give fans what they crave while making lots of money.
Games I'd like to see in CG/Anime
Devil May Cry
Metal Gear Solid
Onimusha
Castlevania
Panzer Dragoon (there was an anime OAV but it wasn't very good)
As for using RPGs, LotR books proved it can be done somewhat, so long as you have time and money.
Pokemon anime series is true to it's game design, as is Street Fighter 2 and Street Fighter Alpha anime movies, amongst plenty of others. Apart from this anime direction, the only other way I could see game movies going to keep costs down is CG movies like FF: AC. The japanese are good at anime but also live action film, and I think a lot of game to anime movies are made in japan to feed the existing fans.
A similar sort of thing needs to be done for game movies outside of japan. Giving the fans what they want while not going the big studio way of things. I hope Advent Children does well for Squareenix, as it will show that doing things on a small controlled scale can help give fans what they crave while making lots of money.
Games I'd like to see in CG/Anime
Devil May Cry
Metal Gear Solid
Onimusha
Castlevania
Panzer Dragoon (there was an anime OAV but it wasn't very good)
As for using RPGs, LotR books proved it can be done somewhat, so long as you have time and money.
vault 13 14 Dec 2004 17:58
7/10
fluffstardx wrote:
Games i'd like to see them try:
Ninja Gaiden
Dead or Alive
Donkey Kong Country
Super Mario Sunshine
Jade Cocoon.
Wow, way to make it nigh impossible to make a successful movie out of those games.
And I do think RPGs are possible. Remember that most of RPGs are random battles that pad up the game time to 40+ hours. Most games you can run through in 20 minutes if your good. And also the older RPGs had alot of nescessary text to get certain points across. Actually I wish someone would do a Final Fantasy VI adaption, giant magitek and all. Actually in the gamingforce.com forums, there's a group of people who are working on it. They say someone high up from Square would license it out if they got a script together. I hope it happens.
DoctorDee 14 Dec 2004 18:42
8/10
But imagine if they DIDN'T change the game plot, but instead stayed 100% faithful to DOOM!
Wander around a bit, shoot a demon. Wander around a bit more, shoot some more demons, and a floating head/ball thingy.
Wander around a bit, careful not to go in that poisoned liquid - thankfully it was bright green. Find a gun - BONUS!
Shoot some more evil-looking things.
Find some armour.
Shoot a great massive beast-man thing with horns.
THE END.
Admittedly, it's a bit more creative than the plot of "SWAT" but it's hardly celluloid heaven.
For a start, name ALL the women in Doom.
Wander around a bit, shoot a demon. Wander around a bit more, shoot some more demons, and a floating head/ball thingy.
Wander around a bit, careful not to go in that poisoned liquid - thankfully it was bright green. Find a gun - BONUS!
Shoot some more evil-looking things.
Find some armour.
Shoot a great massive beast-man thing with horns.
THE END.
Admittedly, it's a bit more creative than the plot of "SWAT" but it's hardly celluloid heaven.
For a start, name ALL the women in Doom.
fluffstardx 14 Dec 2004 19:58
9/10
Hey, if they can make Tekken and Street Fighter, they can make DOA. Both Sunshine and DKC have a good plot, the latter good enough to make a CG TV series of. Gaiden and Cocoon would be hard, but if they can do Pokémon the plot of Cocoon is a cinch.
As for the Doom film being "true to the game"... it'd be a shorter Doom 3. And let's face it, you can already play Doom 3. We don't need a supplemental.
Heck, the only way it'd work is if they made the books into films. Yeah, that would be worse, wouldn't it... But hey, there's plenty of "token strong independant chick" action.
As for the Doom film being "true to the game"... it'd be a shorter Doom 3. And let's face it, you can already play Doom 3. We don't need a supplemental.
Heck, the only way it'd work is if they made the books into films. Yeah, that would be worse, wouldn't it... But hey, there's plenty of "token strong independant chick" action.
SPInGSPOnG 15 Dec 2004 10:17
10/10
DoctorDee wrote:
But imagine if they DIDN'T change the game plot, but instead stayed 100% faithful to DOOM!
Dude, that would suck.
What they need is to completely re-write the story, with barely any concern for the "plot" of the game. But remain true to the underlying sub-text of finding big f*cking guns and shooting things. Plus lots of monsters and blood.
They also need badly to add cars. Doom world was sadly diminished in its guy-appeal by the lack of vehicles. Sure, you wouldn't see a Baron of Hell scooting round in a Clio. But surely the players could have some Hummer H3s (it's new, specially made so it can fit on British roads) for mobility's sake.
And women. A Doom movie would require many scantily clad women, who had been captured and possibly molested by the the Mancubi. It would give the hero-protagonist something to do... freeing chicks, who would then display their gratitude by offering lots of gratuitous gratitudinous sex.
Plus, the hero should have a strong independent gun-toting psycho-sex-bitch on his side. Preferably played by Milla Jovovich in her Alice character from Resident Evil, displaying a spectacular disregard for any separation of the two games' respective unverses. Seeing his interest in the freed slave women she would have competitve meaningless sex with the hero, just because she can't stand to be second in ANYTHING. Then she'd shoot the him (because he's been bitten by an Arch Vile and was about to metamophose, zombie movie style, into a Cyberdemon) in a dramatic praying mantis style sex-then-death denouement.
OK, so the Doom books may have been stacked with strong independant women... but then I didn't even know that there were Doom books. They sound a bit sad and goth fan-boy ish to me. But this begs the question, if they aremaking a film, why base the story on the plot-less games, rather than the (presumably) comparatively plot-loaded books?