Producer De Luca eases our fears on MGS movie
by Kyle Orland 
{ Mar 27th 2008 at 12:00PM }
In the interview, De Luca assures us that he knows the difference between what makes a good video game and a good movie. "You're immediately disadvantaged in the theatre because you're not feeling anything," he said, "you're not going to get the excitement or the adrenalin rush of doing it yourself, so we have to do it for you in a way that makes up for that."
That said, De Luca thinks the deep Metal Gear Solid universe has silver screen potential that a game-movie like Mortal Kombat just doesn't. "I think we have a leg up already in that it's such a rich universe... what it says about war by proxy in this kind of future where war has been outsourced to private companies I think can be almost very topical and also kind of satirical in like a Robocop kind of way." As far as we're concerned, you can be as topical and satirical as you want as long as the movie is also entertaining in a Robocop kind of way.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kewlrats @ Mar 27th 2008 12:10PM
He mentioned Robocop.
FAIL.
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 27th 2008 12:11PM
Robocop was awesome. Is awesome. And always will be awesome. I'll teach you about good films one day, kid.
Justin Hopewell @ Mar 27th 2008 12:17PM
Robocop is one of the best films for a lot of reasons, two of which are its satirical writing and over-the-top action. There's a reason its included in the Criterion Collection.
Just because it has a silly name doesn't mean its a stupid movie. Do yourself a favor and pick up the uncensored cut sometime. Watch it with an open mind and you might change your opinion.
FOXHOUND @ Mar 27th 2008 12:17PM
"I'll buy that for a dollar!"
Fernando Rocker @ Mar 27th 2008 12:24PM
Robocop fail?
Robocop is one of the best 80's films (really).
Kewlrats @ Mar 27th 2008 12:35PM
Ok, geez. Don't call OCP on me.
Co @ Mar 27th 2008 12:37PM
I dunno man, I'm with Kewlrats. In the 80's it was Michael Jackson, and it was Ninja Turtles. Everything else never stood a chance.
Kewlrats @ Mar 27th 2008 1:15PM
RoboCop made a pseudo-statement, but it was also high-fantasy.
I think MGS can focus more on realism and make a statement that way... That's what I meant.
Or, with giant cybernetic women. Whatever makes more sense.
The Stig @ Mar 27th 2008 2:10PM
Robocop was AWESOME.
Robocop 2 and 3, not so much.
hvnlysoldr @ Apr 19th 2008 12:18PM
Robocop is seriously an awesome movie. One of the first movies my dad made me watch with him.
Nigeria: Cody ChesnuTT Defense Force @ Mar 27th 2008 12:10PM
There's a Metal Gear film?
Ok.
Will it be coherent? And will they explore the relationship between Otacon and his mother. I'd like some visually arresting footage of that.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:17PM
No. See that's the thing. Regardless of who's directing it, they're going to leave out Kojima's quirky sense of humor.
jcd @ Mar 27th 2008 4:17PM
It was his step mom so it's ok!
FOXHOUND @ Mar 27th 2008 12:12PM
Nice to hear, but until more news develops...
I'M STILL WARY.
Travis @ Mar 27th 2008 12:16PM
not a big anime fan...but this would be better off as anime...
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:19PM
I actually agree.
Kujel @ Mar 27th 2008 12:16PM
MGS Movie = flop. It doesn't have a rich enough plot to make a half decent movie and game to movie conversions don't work, it's like converting a fraction to a decimal you're almost guaranteed to lose some precision. Now movie to game can work if the director/writer puts some effort into it (looking at that lame germen director here, what's his name again?)
WiiSports Machine...Fernandos in disguise PSN: Killjebus @ Mar 27th 2008 12:21PM
so you have read the script then?
i do not know how much of the MGS series you have played, but back here on planet Earth the MGS plots have so many twists and quirks in 'em that most of us cannot FULLY understand what the hell Hideo Kojima is really trying to say.
So for ME, I hope the movie does NOT have as complex and convoluted plot as his games have.
And pray to the Lords of Kobal that this movie does not suck.
Please dont suck, please be awesome. Please?
Vegnagun bwf @ Mar 27th 2008 1:33PM
"It doesn't have a rich enough plot to make a half decent movie"
That is the stupidest fucking thing I've ever read on this site in the past 2-3 years. You're an idiot. MGS has an immensely rich plot that ties in characters and real/game events better than any game developer could ever dream of doing. I don't even need to elaborate on that, because there isn't a single thing I could say that would make an ignorant jackass like you understand. Fact: you haven't played MGS, don't talk about it, because you sound like a prick.
kbomb1upc @ Mar 27th 2008 2:03PM
@Kujel
"It doesn't have a rich enough plot to make a half decent movie and game to movie conversions don't work,..."
I guess you have never played MGS and had to sit through a 45 mins cutscene. Snake...Snake...Snaaaaakkkkeeee
propanol @ Mar 27th 2008 3:02PM
@Vegnagun whatever
The overall plot is complex and detailed, but far from coherent and/or well written. B-movie quality. Had it originally been planned for film it would've been one of those straight-to-video releases, but as it's a game and the standard for narratives in games is pitifully low, it gets away with bad structure and writing (as commented on by the MGS2's translator, for instance).
Hyams @ Mar 27th 2008 12:17PM
My main concern is who will play Snake. If they can't immitate David Hayter's Solid Snake growl, I will be most upset.
Actually, can't Hayter play Snake?
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a126/kid88/Hayter-David.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b78/golffranchise/dhayter1.jpg
Give him the bandana, hair, sneaking suit, get him to pump up a bit, and he'll fit the role fine.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:18PM
Kurt fucking russle. I mean Snake is inspired by Plissken.
Justin Hopewell @ Mar 27th 2008 12:19PM
Agreed. I was just talking to my friend about this the other day. I can't really picture anyone else's voice at this point.
Hyams @ Mar 27th 2008 12:20PM
You don't think he's a bit ... to old?
(He'd make a wicked Big Boss though.)
Justin Hopewell @ Mar 27th 2008 12:22PM
Actually, okay, I agree with that, too. Kurt Russell would probably be the most realistic choice.
merf1350 @ Mar 27th 2008 4:51PM
Kurt FTW!
I can't wait to see him in MGS: Escape from Shadow Moses.
samfish (Brawl: 2793 0291 2277) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:17PM
Oh, don't worry. They'll screw this one up, too...just like every other videogame movie in history.
FOXHOUND @ Mar 27th 2008 12:19PM
Though both are doing other projects, my alternates were Eric Bana or Christian Bale for Snake(if Hayter isn't considered).
FOXHOUND @ Mar 27th 2008 12:20PM
blarg... that was supposed to be a reply to Hyams.
ThePremierAssassin @ Mar 27th 2008 12:20PM
LMAO...the average person will bored out of their f*cking minds watching MGS on the big screen. Hell even if they tried to pay attention it would probably frustrate them just how complex and retarded the storyline is.
Even if its the best quality "game to movie" adaptation ever made it won't do good at the box office simply cuz the story itself isn't that compelling or interesting to draw a huge crowd in.
Now I'm admittedly a 360 fanboy and so my next comment on this will be fanboyish in its nature but I REALLY do think objectively that Gears of War would be PERFECT for the big screen.
Except for Marcus Fenix potty mouth it has all the elements that a big Hollywood feature has these days...
But good luck to them...which studio is producing/releasing this? sony I'm guessing?
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:25PM
No it's not. You're absolutely right. Gears of War is a much better choice for a movie. Not because it's better, but the plot is simple enough that anyone(gamer or not) can enjoy it. The problem with MGS is that it has to many insane plot twist and other incoherent bullshit that while it works in the video game medium, it will not turn out great in a movie.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:23PM
It's either going to mediocre or it's going to suck. Why? Because it's going to be targeted towards the people who have never played or heard of MGS. This is of course the same audience that made Meet the spartans #1 at the box office. It's going to be strip down to a generic action thriller. And the only connection to the game is some of the characters and the name.
Hyams @ Mar 27th 2008 12:26PM
Your attitude makes me sad and frustrated. Mainly because I know you're right.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:41PM
MWHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
CYNICISM FTW!!!
colinbell @ Mar 27th 2008 12:36PM
Why dont they just join all the cutsenes from MGS1-3 and release them as a movie? Only thing is, would robably be too long.
My vote goes to Uwe Boll as director, and the movie to be released exclusively on XBOX Live.
Gears perfect for the big screen? Someone out of his or her mind, there is NO story in that game - unless you count "kill all ugly aliens" as a story. Besides it will simply look like Starship troopers 3 (though even that had a much better story)
Hyams @ Mar 27th 2008 12:40PM
"kill all ugly aliens" sounds like the perfect Hollywood action-movie script.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Mar 27th 2008 12:41PM
Yep. Perfect.
Worst Review Ever @ Mar 27th 2008 1:06PM
That plot worked for Predator 1 & 2, all of the Alien movies, Starship Troopers and Independence Day. We're probably due for another one.
Booxatron @ Mar 27th 2008 1:17PM
I think they already did that; I haven't popped it in and watched it yet, but MGS3 Subsistence came with a bonus disc with all the cutscenes from 1-3 I believe mashed up together.
What I would REALLY like to see come out of an MGS movie is something new and canonical, and not just a dumbed-down, Hollywood blockbuster retelling of MGS. I'd really like to see a script that expanded on Frank Jaeger's story, Ocelot's life from the end of Snake Eater to the beginning of MGS, or Big Boss' actions from the end of Portable Ops until his death at Zanzibar (I think the first two MSX games retold cinematically would be really damn cool).
Of course, something like this would really only be acceptable if Kojima was directly involved. Why in the hell is he choosing to tell canonical parts of the story on freakin' cell phones?
CryingTheAnnualKingo @ Mar 27th 2008 12:52PM
If this BS eases your fears...wow...talk about gullible...
In the end, it is the writer/director who will have most influence on how the film will turn out, and if it's Paul W.S. Anderson, or someone like him, your fear levels should remain high.
The MGS series is so dense and bizarre that, unless Kojima is heavily involved at the highest creative level, this film will be complete trash.
rikimaru @ Mar 27th 2008 1:12PM
I hope it's got a plot that's thick and confusing, like almost David Lynch confusing. Make a lot of anti war comments and reflections on today's world. Use a lot of symbolism with the characters and the cinematography. And have a good message to walk away from, or multiple messages, maybe leave some things for interpretation. I'd love this to be a film for fans and newcomers that entertains, and also makes you think.
The worst thing that could happen is making this into a hollywood action movie, or a movie that has nothing to say to us. If it's just a mindless action thriller, I will be very disappointed.
The bottom line, I'd like to see a MGS movie that makes you listen very carefully, think, and interpret. You'll leave the theater with feelings of hope and awareness.
primetime4 @ Mar 27th 2008 1:59PM
If they recorded someone playing through the game and called it a movie I would probably watch it. The MGS series and storyline has been that good.
propanol @ Mar 27th 2008 3:09PM
They could just take out all the gameplay from any of the MGS games, add some shitty written exposition on screen ("meanwhile, on deck B" etc.) in between the cutscenes and market that as a movie. It'd be crap, sure, but the point is that it'd convey the same sense of the plot as the actual games do. The gameplay in MGS has very little to do with the advancement of the plot and that's sad given the advanced technology at today's game designer's disposal.
Rich @ Mar 27th 2008 3:39PM
As long as there's no naked Raiden in it, I'll be happy
Phil @ Mar 27th 2008 4:40PM
I could POSSIBLY tolerate Kurt Russel, he was in Death Proof, wasn't he? That flick was fucking awesome.
That being said, I really hope David Hayter gets the offer, I think we all just wanna see him bring the character to life not just through voice anymore. Plus, he's fit enough to perform the role right? It's not like they're gonna have him do any stunts but he's build like snake last I checked.
Phil @ Mar 27th 2008 4:42PM
Also, I'd like to make an agreement with rikimaru, this does NOT need to be an action flick. MGS should be a good balance of espionage and drama, that's what the games are about after all.
Fullmetal Salchemist @ Mar 27th 2008 4:53PM
So, why aren't they letting David Hayter write it?
Alex S. @ Mar 27th 2008 5:18PM
You could throw a rock at the cast from 300 and hit a good candidate for Snake.
See
http://imdb.com/media/rm872192256/tt0416449
Antonio @ Mar 27th 2008 5:21PM
Kurt Wimmer? As in directed celluloid-diarrhea Ultraviolet Kurt Wimmer? No. FUCK NO. Keep this guy away from MGS at all costs. UltraViolet sucked so hard it's unforgivable and it's quite possibly the worst movie I've ever seen. He must be stopped. Now.