Lost Planet to become a very expensive movie?

One of the top 10 most underrated stories in video game history is about to get a movie. Capcom has been pushing to make this movie forever and ideas have went around on how this would be possible. Finally we got an interview from Toshirio Tokumaru on the the future of Warner Bros. big screen adaption, Lost Planet.

“Speaking of “Lost Planet”, that project will cost somewhere between 150 and 200 million dollars to make. The producer on the project is Avi Arad, producer of Spider-Man. I think that it is because of our original IPs that we are able to try something so ambitious. When the game creators at Capcom develop a game, they think about everything from the main characters to the setting, which makes it easy to bring our games to the big screen. In game-making, we consider the main character’s upbringing, interpersonal relationships, and their place in time. But in a game we can only show a cross-section of that. In Lost Planet for example, we can show the game’s protagonist on a distant planet fighting against various foes, but we can’t really show his interpersonal relationships. By developing that part of it on the movie screen, we can add substance to that world and expand it.”

Last time I checked, 150-200 million dollars was a lot. The history of movies in that budget range have came out to be successful in the box office but will Lost Planet follow that?

The Dark Knight- $185m

Batman Begins- $150m

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- $150m

Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix- $150m

All these movies did well at the box office but Lost Planet is based on a video game and sadly those don’t make it far these days. We can thank Hitman, Doom and Max Payne for that.

The script is still being written by David Hayter(Voice of Solid Snake, Screenplay writer for X-Men and co-writer for X-2) for Lost Planet, which will revolve around an ice planet that harbors an energy source that can possibly save mankind.

Source

Max Payne was not what I was expecting. I went into the theater looking for a passable story with some in your face violence and a typical Mark Wahlberg solid performance that would be worth watching – but not worth owning on DVD. I came out of the theater totally excited to see this movie again.

Wahlberg brings the video game character Payne to life in this gripping story of murder and mayhem in New York. If you’ve played the game, you’ll be pleasantly surprised that, contrary to the trailer depiction, this movie follows the storyline pretty well.

Max Payne is on the hunt for justice after the killing of his family. His sparse clues lead him to some junkies and some crazy dudes spouting Norse mythology. Combine this with other murders that are taking place, mix in some mob complications and add a dose of demons and you get one hell of a ride.

From the opening scenes you’re struck with an acute sense of anticipation that never really lets up throughout the movie. Whether Max is figuring out a new connection or running in a rain of bullets, this movie doesn’t slow down.

With a great cast including Mila Kunis (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), Chris O’Donnell (Vertical Limit) and Beau Bridges (Stargate series) the movie is produced and directed by John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines and Flight of the Phoenix). Filming is dark and has the graphic novel feel you would expect. It also has some amazing special effects that were introduced in the game that really come alive in the movie and leave you wanting more.

I appreciated a couple things in particular about this movie that I had questions about when I saw the trailer. The first was that there was no nudity. There was the opportunity and even an expectation in one scene and yet the director left it out. I think it’s refreshing to see movies like this stand on their own without the need to add something they think the teens and twenty something men this movie is aimed at will be drooling for. And the second thing is the way in which the demonic presence is included. While I still had some questions as I left the movie about their portrayal and purpose, it wasn’t the overwhelming storyline that it looked like it might be. Instead it was intriguing and left me hoping for a sequel.

If you’re a fan of the game or of action movies in general, Max Payne won’t disappoint. And don’t be disappointed in yourself later for leaving the theater before the credits finish…

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆ 

Based on the largely popular video game, Max Payne, staring Mark Wahlberg is set to hit theaters on October 17th.

I don’t think this movie can do much more than come off as a Matrix wannabe, but we shall see soon enough.

The latest istallement to Monday Morning link love is in the house! And I must say its nice to be on vacation while writing this. Whatever vacation may be with a 2.5 year old and a 5 week old. Anyway, I have snuck downstairs to give you the latest in Movie News from the weekend past.

Here we go!

24 production stops due to a horrible script. What else could you expect from a show that once ruled the planet only to vomit into our living rooms once a week. 24 sucks and will continue to suck from now until they get it!

There seems to be quite a Religious uprising going on in Hollywood. It seems Bill Maher and his antics are really making some folks mad. See the link above for a video of it.

Nick Cage and his ever receding hairline is NOT dangerous at all. Bangkok Dangerous is a flop to say the least. Are you surprised?

Max Payne received an R for the ever changing MPAA and boy is John Moore pissed off. It seems the movies that need the R or NC-17 don’t get it and the ones that don’t do. MPAA is screwed up in the head if you ask me.

The worst movie of all time just got a cast and crew for its 4th and 5th installment. Check out the Spiderman 4 and 5 news over at FSR. Spiderman 3 was so bad, I don;t think I wathced more than 30 minutes of it.

Iron Man DVD clips galore. What more can a man ask for besides grainey clips from YouTube?

Enjoy the rest of the week – stay tuned for some more Movie News and other Hollywoo details along the way.

The newest trailer for the upcoming Max Payne film featuring Mark Wahlberg has hit the net in a fury. With the statement from Wahlberg that he could kick The Dark Knight‘s ass with his hands, this movie better live up to the video game series. If it doesn’t it will hit bottom very very very hard.

While I think it looks to be a solid film, that may not live up to the standards set up by the video games. These games really brought something new and fresh to the gaming world and I hope the producers and directors did their job in sticking to the storyline of the games.

We shall see. Enjoy the trailer below.

[flv:/trailers/maxp.flv 540 325]

Max Payne is directed by Irish filmmaker John Moore, of Behind Enemy Lines and Flight of the Phoenix. The film is based on the popular Max Payne series of third-person-shooter video games. Max Payne is kicking ass in theaters on October 17th.

You can also watch the final Max Payne trailer in HD on Yahoo

Max Payne for all of those with a real life, is a very popular video game. With hard core Matrix like gun action, a dark script and a unique look to it, it is a very hot game. Now the folks over at Abandon Entertainment along with John Moore bring us an awesome looking trailer to a game that excites the inner geek of most of us.

Check out the trailer below.

The plot synopisis over at IMDB is as follows:

Coming together to solve a series of murders in New York City are a DEA agent (Wahlberg) whose family was slain as part of a conspiracy and an assassin (Kunis) out to avenge her sister’s death. The duo will be hunted by the police, the mob, and a ruthless corporation.

Check out some photos of the movie also. Spot on with what I recall from my gaming days. Photos from over at first showing!