mass effect movie 10 ways to make it not suck - gamebasin.com

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Mass Effect Movie: 10 Ways To Make It Not Suck http://www.gamebasin.com/news/mass-effect-movie-10-ways-to-make-it- not-suck With Universal  Pictures announcing recently that they’re working on an unannounced project  for 2016, the internet has been abuzz with speculation that this might finally be the moment when the Mass Effect movie finally travels through a mass relay and hits a Citadel  near you. It’s a scary time to be a Mass Effect fan. On one hand, it may well be awesome  to see Commander  Shepard and friends in movie form,  but on the other, we’ve all been burned by gaming movies before. That is aside for Street Fighter and Mortal  Kombat, which have epic cheesiness  and   in the case of  the latter   a great theme tune that’s perfectly  acceptable  for playing whenever epic tasks  are accomplished.  Whoever  takes on the Mass Effect film has a lot to prove; it’s an extremely  popular franchise (one of  the most successful  of  the last gaming generation)  and the expectations  from gamers are high. There’s also already an extremely large universe within Mass Effect, as everything from planets to alien races with full backstories  already exist. Since there’s so much to plunder already, it’s concerning  to think how the take on this extremely expansive  series can be condensed into a few hours of  movie magic. Fortunately  there are some things that the director  can take note of  in order to not make the Mass Effect movie a complete failure.  Let’s  just hope they read this, eh? 10. Add Generous Dollops Of Fan Service

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Mass Effect Movie 10 Ways to Make It Not Suck - GameBasin.com

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  • Mass Effect Movie: 10 Ways To Make It Not Suck http://www.gamebasin.com/news/mass-effect-movie-10-ways-to-make-it-not-suck

    WithUniversalPicturesannouncingrecentlythattheyreworkingonanunannouncedprojectfor2016,theinternethasbeenabuzzwithspeculationthatthismightfinallybethemomentwhentheMassEffectmoviefinallytravelsthroughamassrelayandhitsaCitadelnearyou.ItsascarytimetobeaMassEffectfan.Ononehand,itmaywellbeawesometoseeCommanderShepardandfriendsinmovieform,butontheother,weveallbeenburnedbygamingmoviesbefore.ThatisasideforStreetFighterandMortalKombat,whichhaveepiccheesinessandinthecaseofthelatter agreattheme tune thats perfectly acceptable for playing whenever epic tasks areaccomplished.WhoevertakesontheMassEffectfilmhasalottoprove;itsanextremelypopularfranchise (one of the most successful of the last gaming generation) and the expectationsfromgamers are high. Theres also already an extremely large universe within Mass Effect,aseverythingfromplanetstoalienraceswithfullbackstoriesalreadyexist.Sincetheressomuchtoplunderalready,itsconcerningtothinkhowthetakeonthisextremelyexpansiveseriescanbecondensedintoafewhoursofmoviemagic.Fortunatelytherearesomethingsthatthedirectorcantakenoteof inordertonotmaketheMassEffectmovieacompletefailure.Lets justhopetheyreadthis,eh?

    10. Add Generous Dollops Of Fan Service

  • Partoftheproblemwithalotofvideogamemoviesistheytrytodoafilmaboutthegame,butcompletelydeviatefromthewholestructurethatmadethegameawesomeinthefirstplace.InMass Effects case, theres been so many memorable moments throughout the three gamesreleasedso far that theresabsolutelyno reasonwhy thedirectorcantput innodswithin themoviethatfanswilltotallynerdoutover.HowaboutGarrusatleastoncementioningthathesinthemiddleofcalibrations?ShepardpassingMordinSolusroomaboardtheNormandyandhearinghimsinginghisScientistSalariansongintheshower?OracrewenteringashopintheCitadel,onlytobegreetedwith: ImCommanderShepard,andthis isfavouritestoreontheCitadel!?Allofthesereallyneedtobeinthemovie(s)atsomepointalongsideothermemorablemomentsfromthe franchise.The fanserviceshould reallyseep throughout theentire film;everythingshouldremindusofthegameweallloved,fromthecharactersdowntotheteenytinyeastereggsonlythosereallylookingforthemwouldsee.ThisfilmisbeingmadetoappealtobothMassEffects,sowhyshouldntitbefullofthisstuff?Youallknowyouwanttosingalongunderyourbreathinthecinema. IamtheverymodelofascientistSalarian,IvestudiedspeciesTurian,Asari,andBatarian

    9. A Director Who Knows Their Mass Effect

  • Themostimportantinitialdecisioninmakingagoodgamingmovieistohiresomeonewhoactuallyknows,lovesandcandojusticetothesourcematerial.IfyouhiresomeonewhohasntevendelvedintoMassEffectoncebefore,thereseverychancethatthemoviethatfollowsitwillbeacompletestinker.Atthetimeofwriting,nodirectorhasbeenattachedtotheproject.WedohoweverknowthatBiowaresRayMuzyka,GregZeschukandCaseyHudsonwereallrumouredtobeinvolvedatsomepoint,witheachgiventhe labelExecutiveProducer.Iftheseguysare involved,hopefullytheycannegotiateadealwiththerightdirectorandmakesurethatthedecisionsmadegoingforwardareasgoodforthefansastheycanbe.Literallythefirstthingthatshouldbeaskedofthedirectorofthismovieisiftheyknowthesourcematerial.TheresalottolearnaboutMassEffect(particularly since the universe has been extended in other mediums such as books) so it isimportant to have an understanding of the backstory, the presentation of the galaxy, thepersonalitiesofthecharacters,thewaytheplotdevelopsandabsolutelyeverythingbeforethisperson isgiven free reign tomakeamovieon it.Dont letusdownUniversalwedemandadirectorwhoknowshiherReapersfromtheirRachni.

    8. Hire Matthew Fox To Play Commander Shepard

  • AlthougheveryonesCommanderShepardlooksdifferentandmanyarefemaletheleadinthemovieisprobablygoingtobethedefaultmaleShepard.Ifthisisthecase,therehardlyseemstobeamorefittingactorfortherolethanMatthewFox,wholooksalmostidenticaltothestandardcharactermodel.MostwellknownforrunningaroundanislandbeingchasedbySmokeMonstersandbeingallheroicinTVseriesLost,MatthewFoxisnostrangertotheworldofacting.HehashowevermaintainedsomethingofalowprofilesincehisLostdays.ItstimethatthiscametoanendbycastingFoxasCommanderShepardintheMassEffectmovie,givinghimhisN7armourandbringingdownhisfuryupontheReapers.TheonlyproblemwiththisisFoxisprimarilyaTVactorandapparentlymoviesareawholedifferentballgamealtogether.Doeshehavetheexperiencenecessary to convey Shep to themasses?Can youpicture FoxutteringCommander Shepardsfamouslines?

    7. The Right Scriptwriter

  • ThisgentlemanisnoneotherthanDrewKarpyshyn,themannotonlybehindMassEffect1and2splot,butalsothescribeofthreeoftheMassEffecttieinbooks.Inotherwords,heisprobablythegotoguyforwritinganythingtodowithMassEffectsincehepracticallycreatedmostofit.Heis,however,primarilyavideogamescriptwriter,buttheresnoreasonhistalentscantbetransferredovertomakingamovieaboutafranchisehesbeeninvolvedwithforyears.Ifyouhaventreadthetieinnovels,(Revelation,AscensionandRetribution),theyreareallygreatreadandfillinagreatdeal about theuniverse andpopular ingame characters such as Saren.Unfortunately, ifearlyrumours are to be believed, Universal may be hiring Morgan Davis Foehl, who has writtenscreenplaysforfilmssuchasINowPronounceYouChuckandLarryandAdamSandlersClick.DontdothisUniversalwellhavethemastermindbehindMassEffectwritingourmovie,thanksverymuch.

    6. An Original Tale?

    DuetotheopenendednatureoftheMassEffectseries,condensingitdownintoamovieseemsquitedaunting.Itsagameserieswherechoicesmatter(apartfromtheendingofcourseZING!),andtheplayerhasdirectchoicesthataffectthewaytheplotmoves,manycharacterscanliveordie,withmuchmorehappeningalongside.ThestorylineofMassEffect,while ithas its ricketymoments, isextremelypopularbecause itsgripping,expansiveandengaging. Itsabelievableworldwithbelievablecharacters,filledwithlore,ahuge,galacticthreatandisprimedandreadyfortheHollywoodtreatment.Unfortunatelytheproblemwithadaptingthegamesandcharacterssofaristhatitspracticallyimpossibletocreateanexperiencebasedaroundagamecenteredonchoice.OnecharactersShepardisnotthesameasanothersandtheressimplytoomuchplottocondenseintoafilm.Iftheydodecidetoadaptthegamesintothemovies,theyneedtomakesureitsdonerightandthepacing iscorrect.Ifnot,theresplenty intheMassEffectuniversestilltoexploreanditcouldbequiteexcitingtoexperiencethingssuchastheFirstContactWar(wherehumanitydiscoveredtheMassRelaysandannoyedtheTurians)orotherasyetunexploredfacetsoftheMassEffectuniverse.Whatwouldyouprefer?Anadaptationofthegames,oranewstoryaltogether?

  • 5. Hire Martin Sheen To Be The Illusive Man

    Althoughhesnotquiteaswellpresentedashiscounterpartduetotheinabilitytoaccessfuturetechnologythatmakesyou lookallshinyandnew,theresnobetterchoiceforthe IllusiveManthanMartinSheen.Physicallyhefitsthepartquitenicely(andcanbetouchedupbythemagicofHollywood), but the single most important thing hes got going for him at this point is heactuallywastheIllusiveManintheseries.Youcantgetmoreperfectthanhavingtheactualdudewhovoicedthisfamouscharacterplayinghim,canyou?SincetheIllusiveManissuchanintegralpartoftheMassEffectseries,theroleshouldgotoanestablishedactorwhoknowswhattheyredoing.Giventhathesplayedthecharacterfortwogamesandlivedthroughalltheexperience,youcantgetbetterthanhavingMartinSheen.Hesalsoanestablishedactoralready,mostrecentlypoppingup asUncleBen in theAmazing Spiderman.Whodoesntwant to seeMartin Sheenstanding in front of that lovely dying star backdrop and eventually descending into bonkersindoctrination?

    4. Do The Aliens Right

  • Iftheepicspaceoperafeelandexcitingmissionsarentenoughforyou,oneofMassEffectsareaswhere it really excels is creating a collection of different alien species that look, act and feeldifferentfromoneanother.Anyonewhohasplayedthefirstthreegamesknowsthedifferencebetween theRachniand theTurians,or thedifferencesbetween themethodicalElcorand theentirely femalerace,theAsari.Thealiens inMassEffect,unlike inmanyotherscifimedia,arebelievable.Theyhavetheirownsocietyandidealsandinabreakfromtraditionusuallydontwanttokilleveryhumantheyseeoutright(justdontthinkabouttheReapersandtheCollectors).Inthemovie,thealiensneedtobedonerightandfeelliketheyvebeendonetothesamestandardasthegames.GivenouradvancesinCGInowadays,theresnoreasonwhytheycantlookliketheirgamingcounterpartsandhaveeverythingfromtheTurianstrademarkfacialstructuretothejellysquidybitsoftheHanarbepresentedinbeautifulfashion.ItsalsoimportanttorememberthateveryalieninMEalsolooksdifferenteventhoughtheyrethesamespecies,itseasilyapparentthatindividualsaredifferentfromeachother,ratherthanuniformlylookingthesameacrosstheboard. Just like the games, the aliens should alsobe involvedheavily in theplot, forming thebackboneofthemaincharacterssquadandalsoformingabelievablesocietythatisntdominatedbyhumans(letusrememberthatinMassEffect,humansarethenewestracetotheintergalacticalienparty).Forbestresults,wedprobablyliketoseethealiensperformedusingmotioncapturebyestablishedactorsbeforethetechnicalwizardslayonthealienmakeup.AndySerkisforMassEffectanyone?

    3. Weighty Plot Decisions Are A Must

  • Scifitendstohaveaproblem;quiteoftenitgetssowrappedupinthespectacle,ittendstoavoidtheactualsubstance.MassEffectsuniverse isallaboutsubstance. Ifamovie is tobemade, itneedstofocusnotjustoncreatingavisuallystunningexperience,butalsoneedstocraftatalethats just as plotheavy and weighty as the games. While the choice element of the gamesnaturallygetstakenawaybyhavingamovie,theresabsolutelynoreasonnottohaveemotionallyinvolving sections where the viewer will genuinely have feels. The games felt grounded andbelievableenoughtohavethesemoments;forbesteffect,soshouldthemovies.Ifthemovieistofollowtheplotofthegames,weneedtoseethemomentsthatreallydefinedthatexperience.HowaboutwhenCommanderShepardhadtodecidetosacrificethecouncilforthegreatergoodattheendofthefirstgame,orthedecisiontodestroyanentireraceinthethirdgame?TheresalwaysafearthatthemoviewillcompletelyforgotheplotofMassEffectinfavourofabigbudgetspaceepic;itcandothis,buttheresgottobeabalance,anditsgottoultimatelyfeeljustlikethegamestosucceed.Iftheymanagetopullbothoff,thiscouldverywellendupbeingthenewscifimoviefranchisetowatchoutfor.

    2. Kill Some Characters

  • Unfortunatelyduringyour journey throughBiowaresepic trilogyyoull leavemore thana fewbodiesinyourwake.Someofthesearecriminalswhoprobablydeservenothingmorethanbeingoneofthem,oralienswhotrytoshootyoutodeathbutsomeofyourcompanionswillalsolosetheirlivesdependingonyouractions.Inthemovie,theresnoreasonwhythistrendcantcontinue.CommanderShepard,orwhichever characterwere journeyingwith, shouldhave tomake thetrickiestofdecisions,andhis/hercompanionsshouldconstantlybeinjeopardy.WhenweplayedtheclimacticmomentsofMassEffect2,battling through theCollectorbaseon theaptlytitledSuicideMission,manyofushaventfelttensionlikethatingamesbeforeorsince.Itfeltlikeatanymomentyourcompanionscoulddieandthankstothecharacterdevelopmentofthegameslosing one of them had the emotional impact it should have. In themovie, there should beelementswherethedeathofacharacterhasthesameweightitdidinthegame.Withouttheplotdevelopmentandgenuinefeelofthreatestablishedwithinthegamingfranchise,theredbelittlereasontogetemotionallyinvolved.Pluskillingoffthecharacterswouldbeagreatwaytoshockthosewhowillbewatchingthefranchiseasamoviewithoutexperiencingthegames.Justmakesureitsdoneright.

    1. Have A Tie-In TV Show

  • Amovie,onaverage,lastsanywherebetween1andahalfto3hours.ThatsnowherenearenoughtimetogeteverythingaboutMassEffectcondensedintoatrilogyofmovies(ifindeeditcomestothat!).Thesolution?Simple;youhaveaTVshowwiththesamecastthatrunsinthetimeperiodbetweenmovies.ThisTV/moviethinghasbeenbandiedaboutinthepastbythoseinterestedinadaptingStephenKingsTheDarkTower,butitnevercametofruition.ItsalsoworkedtoadegreewithMarvelsAgentsofS.H.I.E.L.D,aspinoffoftheMarvelcinematicuniverse.WithME,thisideawould work brilliantly. The areas that the film doesnt have time to explore could easily beaddressedontheTVshow,openingupthepossibilityofmorecharacterdevelopment,agreaterlookattheuniverseitselfandperhapsmostexcitinglythepossibilityoftheaudienceskewingthedirectionoftheshow.HowaboutthoserunningtheTVshowasktheaudienceatcriticalpointsinthenarrativehowtoproceed?Thisway,gamerswholoveMassEffectwillbeinvolvedjustlikeplayingthegame,withthemajorityvoteskewingwhichoftwofilmedsceneswillairthefollowingweek. You can just picture it now cant you? What will happen to Shepard and co as theycontemplatethefateoftheRachni?Findoutsoon,sameShepardtime,sameShepardchannel!

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