Gaming Column: Top 5 wishlist for Games made for Hollywood

(andPOP) - Some of the greatest movies of my childhood were the ones based on video games. I remember going with my step dad to see the Street Fighter movie. It was playing at one of those really small theatres in which the screen is no bigger than a wide screen television. But you know what? That movie was great. Jean Claude Van Dame was at his finest, and Kylie Minogue as Cammy was a real treat. There was also Mortal Kombat, a fantastic movie accompanied with the greatest music of all time. The sequel I wasn?t too thrilled about, especially since they killed off Johnny Cage.

Getting down to business now, in recent years, we?ve seen video game movies such as Final Fantasy, Doom, Tomb Raider and Resident Evil. Obviously these movies are an attempt to pull middle-aged men and children away from their consoles and into theatres. While success with these movies has been fairly good, I think there are a couple of games out there that would make for box office hits. And so, ladies and gentlemen, I give you my top-five list for the ones I reccomend.

5. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit II
The latest need for speed games have obviously been influenced by the fast and furious movies. I have been rather content with EA changing the line-up of cars for this flagship title and that is why I?m not suggesting making a movie based on the newer games, but perhaps one of the older ones. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit II had a line-up ultra fast super cars such as the McLaren F1 LM, the Lamborghini Murcialago and the Aston Martin Vanquish. Now imagine having a movie in which gangs tear up the streets and leave the law in the dust in cars like those. It?d be free advertising for car manufactures, so it wouldn?t be that expensive I?d say. While gone in 60 seconds came close to a movie idea like this, it certainly was lacking and I think it?s about time we had another testosterone-charged, guys movie about sexy cars.


4. Half-Life
As I wrote a while back, the Half-Life series have been revolutionary by raising the bar in terms of graphics and computer A.I. The story line in Half-Life however is also incredibly intriguing. A scientist working for the government finds himself fighting a race of bloodthirsty aliens after an experiment goes horribly wrong. Meanwhile a powerful and mysterious corporate CEO watches your every move and seemingly looks to take advantage of the situation. On top of that it seems like the government?s deadly special task force armed with guns so big they can barely carry them, look to wipe out the aliens and anyone who?s seen them. I should also mention that the half-life series tends to be rather dark, gritty and downright terrifying. Indeed, there?s lots of potential with this one.

3. Killer 7
I hear this game?s about to become a comic book and I think that?s a great idea. However a movie, especially a Japanese anime one about this eerie tale of an assassin that can morph into six alter egos would be even better. Every time I?ve ranted about this game I?ve always mentioned how downright creepy the game is, yet at the same time, the dialogue and characters are deep and complex. It?s a utopian world in which world peace has been accomplished but a terrorist group looks to stir things up. The government sends the Killer 7 team to stop this terrorist threat before it happens.

2. Grand Theft Auto
This I think would also make a great comic book, but that?s a column for another day. While San Andreas did sell more, I think it?d be a good idea to run with the plot of GTA III first and see how it pans out. Perhaps a sequel based on San Andreas would come later. Another movie we haven?t had in a while is the Italian mafia one. While many find get their fill from the Sopranos I?m sure that a GTA movie has the potential for some fantastic action scenes.


1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Armed with a mystic sword and the essence of courage, a young hero embarks on a journey that takes him across a magical land of legend to take on a villain with the power of a god. Sounds kind of like a trailer doesn?t it? Seriously folks, the whole game would be too long, but if they figured out a way to get Link and Ganandorf slicing at each other on the big screen, masses of people young and old, all over the world would see the movie.