Not Another Vampire Movie

Out of the hundreds of films made a year, good sums of the movies have been adapted from well-known novels, book series and old television shows. These books turned movies have either been about the latest vampire love story, or the new Nicholas Sparks heart-breaking novel and even another Stephen King thriller. However, as of June 2014, a lot of movies under production aren’t based on books anymore. Instead, they’re being adapted from several well-known video games and video game franchises around the world. The movies under production have some pretty big shoes to fill. In the past decade, theaters have been graced by surprisingly successful video game adaptations such as Tomb Raider, The Prince of Persia and Resident Evil. But what exactly made these films so successful? Tomb Raider Director Simon West worked on the video game adaptation of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. It was based on the popular video game series that starred a female, Lara Croft, as the main character. The video game character has made a name for herself in the video game industry. She’s one of the business’s most proficient and prosperous icons. Since the game was first released 18 years ago, Croft has been featured in a dozen games, comic books as well as a couple of Hollywood big-budget films. Released in 2001, the movie made $48.2 million opening weekend. It was Paramount’s second-best debut. It surpassed the opening record for video game adaptations, set by Pokemon: The First Movie. Tomb Raider is the third most successful video game adaptation. The movie is said to have sold more than 20 million movie tickets up to date. It grossed $274.7 million dollars at the Box Office. The production profited $167.7 million.

Angelina Jolie stunned audiences with the physically demanding role. Her portrayal of Lara Croft was received well by video game lovers and critics alike. The sequel, “Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,” was released a couple of years later. It didn’t have quite the same success in the U.S. as the first installment, but it earned $156.5 million worldwide. In 2006, the Guinness Book of World Records dubbed Lara Croft “The Most Successful Human Virtual Game Heroine.” The film was also known as the highest-grossing action film that starred a female lead. There aren’t any blockbuster success movies featuring female superheroes as the lead role. However, is a superhero movie all that different from an action movie? Jolie leads the pack of successful female lead action movies. Many believe that Jolie’s ability to carry such a big role contributed heavily to the movie’s success. There are currently several rumors concerning the possible reboot of the franchise in the near future, focusing on a younger Croft. Prince of Persia The first “Prince of Persia” video game production was released for Apple Computers in 1989. It’s been published several times since then. Walt Disney Pictures gained rights to the project and released a cinematic adaptation in 2010—“Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time,” with Jake Gyllenhall starring as the main character. The big budget movie had a star-studded cast along with an experienced production crew. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer has been in the business for years, and director Mike Newell is no stranger to film adaptations—he also directed “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.” The Prince of Persia video game has received several awards. It gained recognition from the Guinness World Records, earning six. Just to name a few, it was the “First Motion-Capture Animation in a Video Game,” and the “Highest-rated Platformer on PS2 and Xbox.” When it comes to adapting a video game into a movie, not everything will transition smoothly. Inevitably, changes will be made to make it pleasing for box office profits. One thing many noted seemed to transition well into the movie was the relationship between both main characters (Prince Datan and the Princess). The characters are known for bickering and partaking in a clever repartee in the videogame. Fans of the video game appreciated this consistency. Several critics believed the movie was a success because of Jerry Bruckheimer’s input. Between sand, sorcery and the swordplay stunts, it hit all the ingredients needed for success in theaters. The movie is fun and many claim it “didn’t take itself too seriously.” There’s been no confirmation about a second installation. Since the release of the Disney film though, there has been another Prince of Persia game released featuring a new character design of the prince. The new video game character is incredibly similar to Jake Gyllenhall’s physical portrayal in the movie.

Resident Evil The “Resident Evil” franchise is owned by Capcorn, and was created by Shinji Mikahmi. The game was first released in 1996. The theme: surviving in an apocalyptical world. Eventually it was turned into a comic book series. The game also inspired several figurines and children’s toys.

The “Resident Evil” video game franchise is highly successful, and has sold over 61 million units since it first debuted. Since then, it’s spawned off 5 movies, and currently awaiting the release of a 6th installment. Milla Jovovoich landed the lead role of Alice. Jovavich, a model/actress, has performed all her own stunts but one since starring in all five “Resident Evil” films. Interestingly enough, the lead role almost went to Gwenyth Paltrow. Many wonder where the franchise would be had that decision gone through. The movie franchise has since grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide. So why and how has the film franchise lasted so long? With the final installation being released next year, many have started dissecting several contributing factors to the franchise’s success. Experts say, “the truth is in the numbers,” according to Paste Magazine. In the U.S. the first two films showed the most promising box office numbers. However, as a franchise, the productions put up stead and consistent numbers. Truthfully though, the success of the movie doesn’t come down to the writing, action-packed scenes or acting. Die-hard fans of the video game, and lovers of the action-horror movie genre have led the success of the Resident Evil franchise. Much like books and television shows that are adapted into movies, video game cinema has a major following of loyal fans. While the risk is big, fans look forward to seeing their favorite characters brought to life. It goes without saying that some films have been significantly more popular than others. While some movies flop, it doesn’t look like this trend is going to be slowing down any time soon. According to several video game blogs, there are at least two-dozen video game adaptations in the making right now. Will any of these surpass the ass-kicking Lara Croft or Resident Evil’s Alice? Powerhouse Animation is a traditional 2D animation studio based in Austin, Texas with offices in Burbank, California. Since 2001, Powerhouse has been making ideas come to life through animation, illustration, and motion graphics. With a staff of 35 in-house artists, animators, videographers and designers, Powerhouse works on a wide variety of projects and has created animation for companies including Disney, Sony, Marvel, DC, Old Spice, Coca Cola, Miramax, the USO and more. To learn more about some of these projects visit PowerhouseAnimation.com.