Console to Screen: Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden was the first
game that made you feel
like you were playing
a movie.

In 1988, Ninja Gaiden appeared on the Nintendo Entertainment System and changed the way games were played forever. Sure "cutscenes" (as they were called) were used in various games for years, but this was one of the first video games to have 20 minutes of cinematic cutscenes. You didn't just jump from board-to-board without rhyme or reason. You progressed in the game to find your father and help the FBI find a criminal mastermind known as the Jaquio. It was among the most torturous games to NES gamers as losing to the final TWO villains sent you back to the beginning of the stage to work your way back just to face the enemies. If you lost again...yup, right back to the beginning of the stage. Try to find three people you know (and don't meet at an E3 show) that finished any of the Ninja Gaiden series. Ninja Gaiden had two sequels and a rebirth on the Xbox 360, but most gamers remember the days you'd face statues coming to life and cracked open your Nintendo Power for helpful hints.

This is the duel your father "loses"
in the game's intro.

Story: This game that had TWO incarnations in the late 80's. In arcades, Ninja Gaiden was a bloody action game. In homes (and some arcade NES machines), Ninja Gaiden was a story-driven game where you play as Ryu Hyabusha is on a quest to find his father, who disappeared after a duel. On his quest, he meets an archeologist friend of his father's that tells him about his sword's origin and a demon statue that cannot fall into the wrong hands. He tells Ryu that his sword was made from the fang of a dragon... and that the demon statues could result in the end of the world. Along the way, he befriends a female FBI agent Irene Lew- though their friendship didn't start out well since she shot him. They're all after the cult leader called the Jaquio, a man trying to revive the demon called Jashin. The Jaquio was the other man Ryu's father (Ken) fought in the duel. Eventually, the government enlists Ryu to help the defeat the Jaquio and reclaim the demon statues.

The Bloody Malth was an example of
story and cheesy dialogue that
Ninja Gaiden sports.

As the story progresses, you fight the Bloody Malth- the first character with a pre-fight cut scene. Through Ninja Gaiden's cheesy dialogue, the Malth tells you that "you're not as good of a swordsman as your father." After you defeat him, he insists that your father is still alive and you'll see him, but it'll be the last thing you see. The next boss you fight is the Masked Devil- your father controlled by an orb on the wall. Once you destroy the orb, the Jaquio kills your father and awakens the demon with the statues reunited. Ryu gets his revenge against the floating son-of-a-bitch final boss before taking on the awakened demon that seems more fitting for Contra than a ninja story, but by the time you fought this guy you're willing to buy into anything. As you escape, Irene is told to kill Ryu and refuses for a little tongue from the heroic ninja.

Cast:

Josh Hutcherson could be
a budding action star.

Ryu Hyabusha's face is only scene at the beginning of the game when he reads his fathers letter and at the end, but his twenties-look eyes and covered face could make him anyone. They also need to be able to pass for a NINJA so Channing Tatum is out. Unlike some of the other games written about here, Ninja Gaiden isn't dependent on needing a good actor, but which would you rather have: an actor that learns martial arts for the role (Matt Damon, Bourne series) or a martial artist that you get to act (Ray Park, X-Men and Star Wars: Phantom Menace)? I'd always prefer the actor. Perhaps a Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) could be Ryu. Ryu's father is named Ken and his look is pretty American. That pretty good considering it's tough to find a young actor that could grow into this role.

Fiennes did the Titans series,
so he could do a video game
movie.

The Jaquio is a little easier since he doesn't have to fight a hundred men. All the Jaquio has to do is look sinister, laugh maniacally (though better than Chris Cooper in The Muppets) and shoot fireballs. If pressed for a name, Ray Fiennes would be great here. Doesn't have to do much. His voice alone can make people tremble and after the forgettable Titans series, he can't get much worse. Why not chalk up another good villain to his resume?

What's Already In Place:

The scenery in Ninja Gaiden was
used better than any game of it's time.

A good story- not exactly a great one. This could be a very action packed series, done in the typical old kung-fu style movie. It has the usual elements: secret organization, double agents, government involvement, supernatural powers, twists and demons. Sure, there's really no explanation for statues coming to life, but nonetheless it's easier to buy into for this story than other crappy films out this year. The scenery of these games is amazing. Whether it's seeing the Jaquio's castle at the top of a cliff or Ashtar's fortress in the sequel, this game captured it's scenery perfectly. This was the first game that treated the gamer to more than just stage 1-1. It gave you plenty of eye candy. Ninja Gaiden made Off The Marc's list for Best Music in Video Games and it wasn't just great for the action, it was great for the storytelling.

Who could pull this off:

The Jaquio was one of gamers most
hated villains- particularly because
you had to replay the level if you lost.

Normally I say, "Don't sacrifice quality for a flashy direction," but in this case Wanted's Timur Bekmambetov wouldn't be a bad choice.  His action would be welcomed in this type of film and it's not like there's an Oscar winning moment in it. If anything the campiness can work out in his favor. Not many directors maybe good with a sword style combat, though Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was awful, Timur's action style used in the terrible movie could work here.

Bottom line:
This one's a bit of a cult favorite, but it's not out of the realm of possibilities that it could get it's number called. It's was a ground breaking game, but for a movie could be a massive swing-and-miss if done by a hack...which I recommended- oops. It could fit from cinema scenes to cinemas, but it'll need respect by Hollywood in it's development.

Console to Screen: Metroid

Metroid was released in
1986. Could it make it
to the big screen?

In 1986, Nintendo released Metroid for the NES. The game was an instant hit as Nintendo continued an impressive run of games that couldn't stay on the shelves. It was about a bounty hunter named Samus Aran that fought against the Space Pirates and a cybernetic life form called Mother Brain on the planet Zebes. In the early part of the decade, Nintendo was the first video game company to use story to drive the game. Metroid was another example of it, but there was a twist that shocked gamers in the mid-80's: the hero was a woman. Suddenly most gamers felt like they had to shower and impress their female heroine, but alas that would be the closest some of the gamers got to a woman. Metroid stopped dead in the 90's, but returned in 2002 with a new look and a more in-depth story. Years ago, Metroid was rumored to be attached to John Woo to direct a feature, but since then Metroid has developed three more games with good stories and great action. It was one of the first games that showed the Wii's potential, but what pitfalls would Metroid cross before hitting the big screen?

Story:

Metroid Prime revamped the
dormant series in 2002.

If you use the Metroid Prime story, Samus Aran is called to Tallon IV to stop the Space Pirates from growing an powerful and volatile chemical called Phazon. Through the process, Samus stops a Space Pirate mining operation only to discover that there was a plan to create an ultimate weapon called Metroid Prime. Unlike it's brethren that would attach to a life form and drain it's energy, Metroid Prime was a larger creature that could adapt to different environments and different attack weapons. Samus destroyed the creature, but in a secret ending it's revealed Samus gave life to something much worse. The Metroid Prime trilogy is one of the most successful franchises released by Nintendo and could spawn a series of films.

Metroid: The Other M was the first
Nintendo game that let the lead talk.

However, if Hollywood follows the latest edition -Metroid: The Other M- the series could go in a different direction. In The Other M, Samus details that she used to be a member of the Galactic Federation Army, but left after a dispute with her commanding officer to become a bounty hunter. After defeating Mother Brain and watching the baby metroid that saved her killed, Samus is "cleaned up" by the Federation doctors. After answering a distress call, Samus travels to "the bottle ship" where she finds that the planet Zebes was recreated in this structure. Through her adventure, she re-encounters the rest of her old platoon -including her superior officer Adam Malkovich. Little-by-little, Samus finds out that the Federation "cleaned up" Samus by taking all of the DNA off her suit to make these creatures- including Ridley and Mother Brain. As a result, Samus must defeat her enemies- including the enormous Queen Metroid- while she tries to find out who killed the members of her old platoon. The story was crafted well and Samus was flushed out as a character better in this edition.

Samus is as attractive as she's deadly. Who could play her and do her justice?

Jennifer Lawrence has two
franchises going right now.
She'd be perfect for this one.

Casting:

There's really only one character to cast in this series- Samus Aran. In all editions, Samus looks the same; blonde hair, blue eyes, athletically slender build and perfect looks. She has the look of Kate Upton, but the attitude of Alien's Ellen Ripley. Now, Hollywood would love to get another heroine to the screen as they're hard to come by. In recent years, they got The Hunger Games, Twilight and Prometheus but one more couldn't hurt. As a matter of fact, one of those films has the ideal actress to play Samus Aran: Jennifer Lawrence of X-Men: First Class and The Hunger Games. Lawrence has two aspects that would make her perfect: she looks the part and can act. A former Oscar nominated actress for Winter's Bone, Lawrence has proved herself over-and-over again in various films over the last couple years and proved she could be an action star in the last two years. Give her a good script and Lawrence will deliver.

Mother Brain was a powerful enemy,
but Hollywood would need to expand
her character.

Hurdles:

Metroid never really clarified their story until Metroid Prime, but that's not the major hurdle. In most Nintendo games, their heroes (or heroines) were mute. In Metroid: The Other M, Samus finally spoke. To hard core fans, Samus was too sensitive and too overcome by feelings, but some found the story compelling and moving. The scenes between Adam, Anthony and Samus were good, but the feel for the other members will have to improve. Another problem that arises is Samus' enemies are mute. There's no feel for what the Space Pirates, Dark Samus or Mother Brain's motives are, unlike the atmosphere you get with the Legend of Zelda or Super Mario series. Perhaps that's why The Other M would make a better film, but executives wouldn't like starting a series at what's essentially part 3 of the story. Without a good supporting cast, even with great action, Metroid would be doomed.

What's Already In Place:
A great sci-fi angle and a good main character, but Metroid's action sequences could be impressive. With several different creatures and bad ass bosses like Ridley, film adaptation should be great. The scenery is impressive and gives you a different feel for the areas. The presentation of Metroid through the years makes it interesting how to deliver it. It began as a side scrolling game, then first-person shooter and then a 3D interactive side-scroller. All those presentations will not matter if adapted to the big screen, but it's still important to understand the feel of the series.  However, the music is what separates Metroid. It's style was more like a techo-score and mix that in with flashy action and it'll get your blood pumping. The Metroid Prime series was listed on my Best Music in Video Games.

Who could pull this off:
Renowned action director John Woo would have been a decent choice, but it's not the only option depending on what you want out of this franchise. If you want better story, Ridley (no pun intended)  Scott or James Cameron would be a homerun, but the chances of them taking on a Video Game movie is unlikely. The horror would be that Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov gets the gig, which would make fans clammer for Woo again. Perhaps a studio could discuss Jon Favreau as a possibility after his success with Iron Man and mixed reviews of Cowboys and Aliens.

Will we ever see a Metroid film? Hard to say. Nintendo was burned by their Super Mario Brothers movie and they tend to shy away from the big screen. That said, sooner-or-later, Nintendo is going to give it a shot and it's more likely that Metroid would get it's number called before any of their other franchises. That way, fans of Zelda don't get mad if their movie sucked or another black eye if Super Mario movie failed again. Metroid is just popular enough to take the chance without alienating it's fans if the results are... well... Resident Evil-esc.