The Mass Effect Movie...Thoughts?

So im sure most of you know that Legendary Pictures picked up the rights to produce a Live action film to the Games...so in my personal opinion its probably gonna stay in development hell. But in case it does see the light of day...what do you all think of this?...is it a bad idea or a good idea? will you reamin cynical..or optimistic? Legendary pictures said that it's going to be based around the first game...so what do you guys think is the most important parts to be kept and what can get left out...how would you like to see them condense the film and how long do you think it should be in order to reach mass appeal?

Just wanted to geek out =)). Im very interested to see what everyone thinks about the idea

It's been in development hell for ages and I hope it stays there.

RavenEyry wrote:It's been in development hell for ages and I hope it stays there.

Yeah...the got a new screenwriter back in october, but still no word on it...However, it would be difficult to condense the story into a two hour movie. Espically since the first game has so much back story and lore introduced. Although considerably less then the second game.

RavenEyry wrote:It's been in development hell for ages and I hope it stays there.

I don't quite get this stance. It's not like the possible movie would touch the games in any way. As long as the movie would retain the spirit and the feeling of the universe, I think I would be able to have a good time, no matter how streamlined and bare-bones it would turn out.

Which it obviously would, since they would have to change the plot quite a bit to fit the whole first game to two hours, so I think it would be interesting to see a slightly different take on the IP.

I´m good as long as it stays away from the trilogy, adapting a choice based game isn´t a good idea ^^

It's a film for the sake of a film. It's completely unnecessary. I hope it stays in development hell to avoid wasting peoples time and money on this nonsense.

ViolentSound wrote:So im sure most of you know that Legendary Pictures picked up the rights to produce a Live action film to the Games...so in my personal opinion its probably gonna stay in development hell. But in case it does see the light of day...what do you all think of this?...is it a bad idea or a good idea? will you reamin cynical..or optimistic? Legendary pictures said that it's going to be based around the first game...so what do you guys think is the most important parts to be kept and what can get left out...how would you like to see them condense the film and how long do you think it should be in order to reach mass appeal?

Just wanted to geek out =)). Im very interested to see what everyone thinks about the idea

Legendary Pictures isn't a bad producer. However, I hope they do not use the set of characters we have in the games, except for some cameos. They especially shouldn't try to have something like a canonical Shepard. Keep it vague and tell the story from a different perspective.

Although I'm sure that entirely different people would be involved in the production of a live action film, Paragon Lost didn't exactly augur well for the cinematic future of the franchise.

While I'm not totally averse to the concept of a Mass Effect movie, knowing how it ultimately ends would dampen my enthusiasm.

RavenEyry wrote:It's a film for the sake of a film. It's completely unnecessary. I hope it stays in development hell to avoid wasting peoples time and money on this nonsense.

I like your open and optimistic attitude.

I'd really like to see a decent film made out of a videogame for once. Introducing more people to this universe is a good thing in my book, regardless of the entertainment form. If it stays in development hell, the only thing the project ever accomplishes is wasting peoples time. With the right and competent creative team behind it, it could be worthwhile.

Besides, the stories in this trilogy have always been fairly linear (especially in the first one), it's the flavor of the journey which changes based on the player.

I guess I just don't have a problem with seeing someone else's vision of what a Mass Effect movie should be like.

they should get JMS to script it. Just dont let disney make it.

Restrider wrote:

ViolentSound wrote:So im sure most of you know that Legendary Pictures picked up the rights to produce a Live action film to the Games...so in my personal opinion its probably gonna stay in development hell. But in case it does see the light of day...what do you all think of this?...is it a bad idea or a good idea? will you reamin cynical..or optimistic? Legendary pictures said that it's going to be based around the first game...so what do you guys think is the most important parts to be kept and what can get left out...how would you like to see them condense the film and how long do you think it should be in order to reach mass appeal?

Just wanted to geek out =)). Im very interested to see what everyone thinks about the idea

Legendary Pictures isn't a bad producer. However, I hope they do not use the set of characters we have in the games, except for some cameos. They especially shouldn't try to have something like a canonical Shepard. Keep it vague and tell the story from a different perspective.

Legendary did produce Lord Of The Rings right? and that game out pretty good...i think with enough pressure from fans to make it good, they would do their best to make it good. at the same level even.

Can't I give a simple opinion without being bashed over my 'attitude'?

I think this whole cynical idea that video games cant be made into movies and cant be good, needs to change...tv shows and books get turned into movies all the time, not all of them are good, but i think video games are capable of getting turned into good movies...Really all its gonna take is one critically acclaimed and blockbuster video game movie adaption to make all the studios follow suit. Hollywood follows trends. If this year is any indication we will be seeing more franchises and adaptions more and more as time goes on...its like video games.

Films that are only loosely inspired by the game can work, but direct adaptations in no way interest me because they can only subtract from the source material.

I think they should Take our Feros and Liara's Dig site out, and keep Noveria in. they can find a different and quicker way of getting Liara into the Normandy...Noveria too me is the most interesting planet that they visit in the first...just becuase it shows a completely different side to the workings of the galaxy,Plus it has the biggest turning point in the plot,and one of the major plot lines...the Rachni should the choose to spare the queen

RavenEyry wrote:Films that are only loosely inspired by the game can work, but direct adaptations in no way interest me because they can only subtract from the source material.

Resident Evil movies do this....and they're awful. Alot of the movies, based on games do that...and they turn out awful. Tekken the movie is another example...and that was unwatchable.

ViolentSound wrote:

RavenEyry wrote:Films that are only loosely inspired by the game can work, but direct adaptations in no way interest me because they can only subtract from the source material.

Resident Evil movies do this....and they're awful. Alot of the movies, based on games do that...and they turn out awful. Tekken the movie is another example...and that was unwatchable.

Yeah, I said they 'can' work, not that any have. It's more likely something good would be produced just taking the premise.

Also I consider the first Resident Evil and Tomb Raider movies to be entertaining if not good.

RavenEyry wrote:

ViolentSound wrote:

RavenEyry wrote:Films that are only loosely inspired by the game can work, but direct adaptations in no way interest me because they can only subtract from the source material.

Resident Evil movies do this....and they're awful. Alot of the movies, based on games do that...and they turn out awful. Tekken the movie is another example...and that was unwatchable.

Yeah, I said they 'can' work, not that any have. It's more likely something good would be produced just taking the premise.

Also I consider the first Resident Evil and Tomb Raider movies to be entertaining if not good.

The entire resident evil series are considered my guilty pleasures...they're awful...but watching Milla go kung fu on zombies...just does it for me. I haven't seen tomb raider in forever...i remember liking it...tho i was 11 at the time.

ViolentSound wrote:I think they should Take our Feros and Liara's Dig site out, and keep Noveria in. they can find a different and quicker way of getting Liara into the Normandy...Noveria too me is the most interesting planet that they visit in the first...just becuase it shows a completely different side to the workings of the galaxy,Plus it has the biggest turning point in the plot,and one of the major plot lines...the Rachni should the choose to spare the queen

You forgot the most important things about Noveria:

1. Lorik Qui'in
2. The music
3. The chief mechanic

And of course Gianna Parasini, Ophold, Benezia and the scientists on Peak 15.

Restrider wrote:

ViolentSound wrote:I think they should Take our Feros and Liara's Dig site out, and keep Noveria in. they can find a different and quicker way of getting Liara into the Normandy...Noveria too me is the most interesting planet that they visit in the first...just becuase it shows a completely different side to the workings of the galaxy,Plus it has the biggest turning point in the plot,and one of the major plot lines...the Rachni should the choose to spare the queen

You forgot the most important things about Noveria:

1. Lorik Qui'in
2. The music
3. The chief mechanic

And of course Gianna Parasini, Ophold, Benezia and the scientists on Peak 15.

Yes, like i said...its more intresting

Speaking of Gianna...they dont even mention her in ME3 i felt like she could of been a bigger character in the 3rd one.

Eryri wrote:Although I'm sure that entirely different people would be involved in the production of a live action film, Paragon Lost didn't exactly augur well for the cinematic future of the franchise.

While I'm not totally averse to the concept of a Mass Effect movie, knowing how it ultimately ends would dampen my enthusiasm.

They can change the ending, make it more "Auidence" friendly. there is a certain kind of formula Hollywood likes when it comes to action movies

OK this is how they could make it work.

Take the storytelling structure of LOTR FOTR and make it a 'road movie' of sorts. Establish the baddie at the beginning of the movie in a 'prologue' involving the prothean extinction but keep it vague enough to allow for the information to be completed over the movie (s).

Keep all the major plotpoints from ME1 and work them into the 'road movie' narrative' establishing characters.

Make the ending pretty much like the ending of FOTR but instead of sam and frodo leaving on their own with the ring, have it where the SR1 is attacked by the collectors (do not reveal who they are yet) where shepard is seperated from his crew at the beginning of ME2 (cliffhanger)

Restrider wrote:

ViolentSound wrote:So im sure most of you know that Legendary Pictures picked up the rights to produce a Live action film to the Games...so in my personal opinion its probably gonna stay in development hell. But in case it does see the light of day...what do you all think of this?...is it a bad idea or a good idea? will you reamin cynical..or optimistic? Legendary pictures said that it's going to be based around the first game...so what do you guys think is the most important parts to be kept and what can get left out...how would you like to see them condense the film and how long do you think it should be in order to reach mass appeal?

Just wanted to geek out =)). Im very interested to see what everyone thinks about the idea

Legendary Pictures isn't a bad producer. However, I hope they do not use the set of characters we have in the games, except for some cameos. They especially shouldn't try to have something like a canonical Shepard. Keep it vague and tell the story from a different perspective.

It's about Shepard. It's always been about Shepard. They told us when they first announced the movie eons ago that it's about the first game. Shepard chasing Saren. And yes, it'll be ManShep. Which means the movie will be okay even if just because of the fun that we can have watching the Church of Hale rage out.

That's actually a good thing. If it sucks (Wing Commander anyone?) we can just blame it on broshep.

It can work. Needs to be 2.5-3 hours long to succeed. Will likely be Male Shep.

Also, need to cut and mix characters. So, take Tali having the info on Saren and mix her with Liara. The Rachni and Thorian need to mix together. Chemistry needs to be different, slightly. Wrex+Garrus=Gimli+Legolas. Garrus needs to disagree with Shepard more (sets up for bromance in ME2-3). "Kaidan" needs to be more of a second in command....kind of Shep's bro. "Ashley" needs to look up to Shepard as she learns to become a better soldier...somewhat akin to Eowyn and Aragorn.

It doesn't look like the devs will pursue a game that will affect ME3's endings. So honestly, the film trilogy is the only thing that can redeem the ending.

Also:

Legendary Pictures=$100 million dollar budget=successful blockbuster. Even 'bad' films like Resident Evil or Wrath of the Titans made a crap ton of money.

On that note, ME was made to be cinematic. The problem with other video game series (Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil) is that they don't exactly have stories that translate to film very well. They rely moreso on their setting and how the player reacts to the setting. That's why they can't work as full length feature films. The settings and functions were great but the characters were never three-dimensional enough to move the plot around. ME is all about the characters moving the plot.

So, it doesn't suffer from this because it borrows and relies heavily on myths+heroes. If you read Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces and understand the Hero's Journey, you can probably see why Mass Effect could become a cultural icon.

I mean, you thought the Star Trek movies were great? Well, a Mass Effect film would knock those out of the water. If done right, it could supplant Star Trek and Star Wars as THE sci-fi franchise of the decade.

It's very much a combination of Star Wars+LOTR+the Matrix....all films which understand the importance of myths and narratives.

It has a high, high, high chance of success.