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What are your thoughts on a LIVE ACTION Earthbound movie?

posted 18 years ago by BlueEyedValenzuela
33 replies | jump to latest

With all the stuff today, we know that movies based off of origional ideas has been a big thing for a while, more than usual, such as the rebirth of comic book heroes such as Spiderman, superman, Batman, X-Men, etc., Old TV shows like Starsky and Hutch and Charlies Angels, even novels, Lord of the rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. But most of all, there is video game based movies, such as DOOM, Halo will come in a couple of years, as will Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell,and Metal Gear Solid. A game that should definitely be made into a movie, is of course, EARTHBOUND.

I've never played MOTHER 1 or 3, but the second game in the MOTHER/EARTHBOUND series is what blew my mind. I don't want to ramble on, so I'll get right to the point. I believe that If this game were to be made into a LVE ACTION movie, It would definitely need an outstanding director, one who will present it in his own way, but not tamper with any of the origional work of genious, and who understands the material he is handed. People I have in mind are Peter jackson, James Cameron, Robert Rodriguez, only to name a few. Second, I Personally think, that in order to be made in its entirety, this would have to be made into at least two more sequels, that are at least as long as the Lord of the Rings, which we all know how long the were. There would have to be four movies IF the time was to be shortened in the series. The third thing of course is a lot of time and money put into the making of it. And of course, last, and most important, a great cast.

One of the things that can make a movie do really good, is a cast of characters, that fit the audiences minds who originally have witnessed at first hand the original presentation of the movie's origin (Such as someone who read the Lord of the Rings, has a specific thought/imagination of that character in their mind. An when it appears on a movie, it can be totally different from what they imagined.) One movie that had this problem, in my opinion, was The Alamo. Great interpretation of those events, but not a good choice for the cast of characters (Dennid Quaid seemed more to me of a Davy Crockett than Billy Bob Thorton).

That's all I have for now. Any thoughts on a cast would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.

[–] ubsey_movies 18 years ago

It's a sucky version, but someone all ready did it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_RfpecI10I

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] paperbullet 17 years ago

Nah. Ness looks messed up without a head bigger than his body.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpXwPdJIOJY

Best thing ever.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

(No offense, but if someone made a movie like that, it would suck)

Be more specific.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

I agree that, pretty much all video game movies suck. Mario Bros., though I liked it as a movie in general, was not a good adaptation of the videogame. Doom sucked, and Bloodrayne was by far the worst video game movie of all time.

Allow me to retort. The fault of that though is not only the director, or the writer, but the film company that produced the movie. I believe that they will get better though. Halo will soon come out, which I believe will be a big hit.

It's all about the people who make the magic happen. I believe that if you get the right people, it could happen.

EarthBound wouldn't work as a live-action film because of its art style, quirky story arc, and largely mute hero

Dude, in the film industry today, anything is possible. Ness would have dialogue. I know that Ness is the character played by the player, thus making him subject to many different interpretations in the player's mind.

What does the art style of the game have to do with anything? Because the kids have oversized heads? Come on man! You must not have that great of an imagination. As quirky as the story is, some changes to the dialogue would have to be made. Not what they're saying, but how it is said... TONE.

Who knows, someone like Hayao Miyazaki could make a claymation film work, but any live action attempt would look and feel like some ridiculous, cheesy (and not in a good way) fan film

Claymation. . . I don't think so. CGI maybe, but claymation?

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

Point taken. And I understand where you're coming from. However, I must clarify some things.

In a game you can get away with a long storyline, hell, a certain amount of longevity is a must. However, in film, you don't have that luxury; you have only a couple hours to tell the story, develop the characters, and get the point across.

That is why this movie would have to have sequels. It would have to be either three 3 1/2 hour movies, or four 2 1/2 hour movies. I would like to stay underneathe the 3 hour duration, but if the movie is a smash hit like LOTR was, time would fly, and it wouldn't even seem too long. When I saw LOTR, it didn't feel like 3 1/2 hours of sitting there staring at the tv, because I enjoyed it.

But when I saw Dances with Wolves, I couldn't sit through that thing, because I didn't enjoy it. I know that for King Kong, people felt that 3 hours was unnecessary, but it didn't bother me.

So basically the point is, if it's to be a lengthy movie, then it's to be a lengthy movie. It's a lengthy game.

Lastly, I picked claymation over CG because of the clay models in the strategy guide that came with the game, and owing to the deluge of CG-animated movies in recent years, CG is now the norm rather than an interesting, exciting new frontier like it was 10 years ago. After last year's 472,505,000 CG-animated movies, 95% of them starring talking animals, I think there may be a resurgence of more traditional animation in movies in the near future

The problem with claymation, is that you are limited in the things you can do. Their Psi attacks and such, even though they would be added with CGI later on in the claymation, would not have a good look, or feel to it. CGI would be faster too. Even though it might be more expnsive, the quality would be better.

I also feel that claymation would give it tto much of a cartoony, kindof quirky feeling, just as you said was the artstyle of the game was. But my movie would be for audiences over 10 years old. To me, there is no IMMATURE audiences nowadays, since even in PG movies there is strong language, implied sexual themes, etc. It can still go too far, but all I'm sayin is that most 4 year olds nowadays, no what's going on in Star Wars, they know what's going on in LOTR, and violence, cursing, and everything else does not affect them like it used too.

The point being, that giving this movie a PG 13 rating will not change the game's awesome, fun, and kid friendly core, but there'll be less limitations to the movie in what is allowed if the rating was a PG 13 than a G rating, or even a PG rating. It would not go to R though, I wouldn't allow it.

As far as art style, I understand that your interpretation of the games style is YOUR interpretation, and not mine. Thus, you not being able to see it turned into a liveaction movie, and I being able to see it. It's all about our interpretations, and the interprtation of the game to screen I think, if done right, would blow people away.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jonbrence 17 years ago

I personally have been pushing for about a year now to direct a motion picture adaptation of "Earthbound". It would be a dream of mine as a director to work on the story, and hope one day it may happen. Just need to get the right studio/producers behind the project.

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

That would be something.

As an aspiring young writer/director my self, I'm working on a screenplay of my own adaptation of Earthbound. I still have a long way to go, however.

[–] winpinball 17 years ago

Why don't they make a 3D version of it? Like Toy Story.

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

It would have to be a very very very good 3-d comuter animation. It would have to be better than shrek and cars combined. I think a realistic cg animation would be better than an edgy cartoony kinda look. I'd stick w/ live action though. But, your idea's still a pretty good one.

[–] felipe_o9 17 years ago

I think a anime would be much better.

[–] DrWorm2000 17 years ago

I had always had an anime in mind. It seemes that it would actually fit the genre. The quirkiness of the game would blend in well with the anime art style.

The only problem is, anime does not appeal to eveyone. There are people who just down right hate it. It doesn't bother me.

But you have to look at the big picture. An anime will only appeal to the anime fans, and no one else really. Everyone goes to the movies, even if they don't know what it's about -- still speaking of live action movies -- will check it out.

I would want this movie to appeal to all audiences, not limit it to a few.

If not for that reason, an anime would definitly be the best option.

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

Very well put Matt.

[–] mariomaniac2 17 years ago

They havent made another Earthbound game in over 10 years. Chances of a film bring made are preeetty slim.

"He who laughs last thinks slowest."

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

Well, thank you for stating the obvious. Let me rephrase the main idea of this board. "If there was one to be made, how do you think it should be?"

[–] mariomaniac2 17 years ago

OK, sorry for being obnoxious.

And I think it would be cool... although children aren't very good at acting. And I bet Dekota Fanning would end up being in it, annoying the crap out of me.

Also, I think Earthbound's homour succeeds because it constantly makes fun of games, and you can't really do that in a movie unless it makes fun of movies, which is way too overdone nowadays, so if it was any good it would take itself too seriously, making it bad. A Catch 22 indeed. I think I'll stick with the game.

Now a METROID movie on the other hand; that could be a winner.

"He who laughs last thinks slowest."

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 17 years ago

Well, I agree to a point, especially about the Metroid movie. But, I'm going to say again what I said earlier on this board. IF you were to find the right people to take on a challenge such as this, it would just blow people away. I understand, that this is a unique game. Its humor, its characters, it plot itself is unique. But then again, so was the Lord of the Rings. No one said it could ever be made into a live action movie. It was too long, it was too complicated to think about, and it was a monster. So many characters, so many things that would make it impossible to make it live action.
But, Jackson is now the most powerful man in Hollywood for doing it. He was anyway, I think that changed after he did King Kong. But, that's not the point.

The Point is, that the humor succeeds, not because it makes fun of other games. But because its reflects what was once modern day society. When I played it, I enjoyed it because there were so many things I recognized. Whether it be The Blues Brothers or the Beatles.

I also would like to state, that if this movie were to be made, in my mind, it would not be a comedy. There would be plenty of humor in it, even though it is and adventure epic. We must remember, the first priority of this movie, is for it to be an epic. Ther can be jokes, but it can't turn into a comedy. There can be a love story, but it cam't be a romance movie with all this smooching and kissing. There will be lots of music, but it can't turn into a musical. You get the picture.

As I've stated before, they would not be little kids, they would be teens. This would not be a rated G movie. It's really not a rated G game. I'm sure you've seen the original Japanese version, un-edited. It's more like a PG-13 game.

But the high rating would not take away from the fun of the original material. I understand also that a game is much different from the movie, and that time would definitely be an issue. You play the main character, make his decisions, choose his path, etc. So, I understand that he will have a different image in many peoples minds.

I'm sorry if I sound like I'm rambling. It's just, I have this picture, in my mind, on how this movie could work. So I'm having trouble putting it into words.

And don't worry about sounding obnoxious. I should probably start a new board with a more specific main idea.

[–] cbaile 16 years ago

Earthbound was more of a cult game than a mainstream classic, and in that way I feel it would be much more relevant to the material for a film adaptation to maintain its oddball quality than lurk in the generic waters of a mainstream hollywood movie. I much prefer the idea of claymation because A) It has a charm similar to the flatness 16 bit quality of the game B.) CGI mostly looks outdated the year after it is made, and it is simply too slick for a game that revels in a particular clunkiness. If it was anime it might be nice for it to embrace the more classical style of something like Astro Boy or Speed Racer, but that is neither here nor there.
I don't want to get into a Peter Jackson rant, but if Earthbound were made in the vein of King Kong it would just be more lame Frighteners-esque psychic power attacks and self indulgent slow motion. Earthbound doesn't sell because of it's mind boggling special effects; hell you have to imagine the battles in motion instead of being shown fancy cookie cutter animations repeated for each attack. Earthbound garnered its cultish fanbase because it has an immense amount of heart and imagination. Of course there is an epic to be told, but it feels like a homespun epic, one that a kid living in the suburbs can identify with because life is boring when you're in grade school and you want a meteor to crash down and plunge you into a magical reality, and this game makes you feel like it can or at least should happen.
If a japanese director were to take it on; I agree pretty strongly with a previous post about Miyazaki because he is more or less a genius. But on the other hand, if Earthbound plays the part of a Japanese fantasy of America then it might be funnier to have an American director do a film that is an American take on a Japanese vision of America. A writer/director combo like Charlie Kaufman and Spike Jones comes to mind because Charlie Kaufman was born for an epic as oddball as this, and Spike Jones has the casualness and stylistic restraint (I'm thinking about the memorable way magic was handled in Being John Malkovich) to let the characters and the story really guide the action the way they do in the game.

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 16 years ago

You bring up an excellent point. However, after all that, I still find myself skeptical about the idea of a claymation/plasticine animation, is that, like anime, it doesn't appeal to everyone. I myself am a fan of anime, manga, and old classics like Gumby, and the new classics such as the Wallace and Gromit series. But, still, to me, it seems too kiddish, too simple for a complex story such as Earthbound.

Also, back to the 'appealing' issue, sure the fans would like it, and nothing is more important than pleasing the fans, lest they go riot in the streets. But you also have to think about the people who are not familiar with the Mother/Earthbound franchise. Everyone goes to the movies, more to see live action than claymation. Hell, 'old school' cartoon Disney/MGM/WB animation with pencil and paper would appeal to audiences more than claymation. So for me, claymation is definitely out of the picture. Good idea, but there are better.

And a far as the anime issue goes, as far as it looking like Astroboy or Speed Racer, Speed Racer, maybe, Astro Boy, no. Speed Racer is being turned into a live action movie, so if it's possible for that, and so many others, then I'm sure it's possible for EarthBound.

Let us not forget, that the Chosen 4 are not little kids, but young teenagers. As would this movie be. I've stated before, it would not be a rated g (whice we rarely see anymore anyway), nor would it be pg. Like most anime/mangas, it's not a pg game. I'm sure you've played the original japanese version.

I fully understand your side of the argument, and I know where you're coming from. And I'm sorry if I sound curt, but you say the success of EarthBound comes not from it's special effects, but 'because it has an immense amount of heart and imagination,' which I completely agree with. Yet, you yourself seem to lack heart and imagination, since it seems near impossible for you to see this happen.

[–] cbaile 16 years ago

First of all, Earthbound is a cult classic which by definition means it does not appeal to everyone. In fact, things that appeal to everyone are generally watered down and boring. I'm suggesting a movie that dares to be as bizarre and personal as the game, which I think takes quite a lot more imagination than making a blander hollywood type film. And I'm sorry, but if your going to equate heart and imagination with cgi effects, then duds like Narnia and the Golden Compass are film masterpieces.

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 16 years ago

I understand where you're coming from. I am fully aware that cgi alone cannot make a movie. I never stated that. But you have to admit, it played a huge factor in Lord of the Rings. If the VFX in LOTR were crap, then the movie would be about as good as that crappy cartoon that was made of it years ago.

Now I'm not saying EarthBound should be made in the same fashion of LOTR, but, the special effects need to be top notch, lest the movie turn into some joke of a comedy, which EB is not. Understand, this game is an epic on so many levels, so the movie should deserve an epic treatment. Great cast, great producer and director, great acting, great writing, great cinematography, great special effects, and the most important, intense heart and imagination/ attention. That's the bottom line.

[–] solidgameboy12-1 15 years ago

As a person who writes movies, I play video games all the time, to see how in the world this could work as a movie. Having played Earthbound quite recently (last night) I can see how cool it would be for a video game movie for it.

But the problem with VGM's is you have to ask yourself a question: How can you make this work? 95% of the time, the answer is a saddening "You Can't."

If you put too much video game influence into the movie, fans won't always be pleased; in fact, those who watch as many movies as they play video games will tell you it just didn't work because they tried to transfer too much of one thing for another.

Look at Final Fantasy: Spirits Within. I love it. I am a Final Fantasy fan, and I think as a standalone project, not including anymore of the classic games canon than Sid, Biggs or Wedge, I think it works.

But Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, however, incorporated so much plot and tried to make it a movie game, that a lot of people I know who love FF7 really didn't like it. I am glad it was a straight to DVD release, unless fans wanted scathing reviews to the prodigal son of Postmodern Playstation Video Gaming.

I look at Metal Gear Solid, and as much a fanboy as I am of that, I tear the plot apart and stack it back together, but I'm still convinced even if Christian Bale is in it will make it any better of a movie. In Fact, the only video game movie I could really see ever happening, but not with a big fan base is "Final Fantasy Tactics", just because if you imagine the entire game in a realm similar to Lord of the Rings, you can make it work really well, I think.

But this is my opinion. In order to make Earthbound work as a VGM, you would have to widdle away the fun task managing stuff that makes the game have a 20+ hour gameplay time, you'd have to make all the characters come together in a few minutes, at most, an half an hour, and then you'd have to explain the whole game to non fans, and somehow lead into the story that there is a villain called Gigyas, who is trying to destroy the world. It's not a matter of actors, special effects, filming styles or Directors, the script would need more work than than the Golden Gate Bridge to make it please fans and audiences without leaving fans with an imaginary sequel.

Please Turn Me Over ~ Mr. Blue Sky

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 15 years ago

This is very true, as I am very aware that most video game movies, suck. EarthBound would definitely need plenty of work, way before writing the script would even begin. The video game is really broad and packed full of so much material, it would be very hard to flesh it out, even if you were to give it a 4 hour time limit --which people really wouldn't want to sit through.

Of course the script is one of the most important parts of the filmmaking process --if not THE most important part. If the script doesn't work from the beginning, it's more than likely doomed.

I of course first wrote this thread almost 3 years ago, and since then I have grown in my knowledge of movie making, in all aspects from writing to directing. So, a lot of the stuff you are writing about I understand differently then I would have back then.

In any case, I stand by my idea, and the notion that a LA EarthBound movie would definitely be possible. Not that you never said it wasn't possible, but also be aware that I am aware that a LA EarthBound movie, would be highly unlikely.

Thanks for your reply though, nice to have someone who knows what they're talking about, comment.

Curiosity killed the cat,
Satisfaction brought him back.

[–] solidgameboy12-1 15 years ago

I'm glad you responded with a satisfactory response with something more than "BUMP" or something of that nature.

I never stated an Earthbound Movie wouldn't be possible, and I kind of started thinking about it as if I was working on a screenplay how it would work... I'd set mine in the '50s... and That's about all I'm willing to talk about.

Please Turn Me Over ~ Mr. Blue Sky

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 15 years ago

Sounds like a good start, I wouldn't ask for anything more. Thanks again.

Curiosity killed the cat,
Satisfaction brought him back.

[–] noseytheelf 15 years ago

Anime would suck. Seriously. Earthbound has a Charlie Brown-like quality to it. That would be funny. Earthbound in Charlie Brown style cartoon graphics.

[–] BlueEyedValenzuela 15 years ago

Agreed. Or Calvin and Hobbes. I swear, Calvin looks alost exactly like Lucas.

I would rather it be more cartoony than anime. It has anime potential, but I fear that if an anime developer were to get its hands on the EarthBound property, they would either make it really creepy, or really weird, or both.

Not that anime is creepy or weird, mind you. I am a huge anime fan. But I don't feel anime fits EarthBound.

[–] skatewithnomercy 13 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCZsNCwvSNg

someone made a badass trailer atleast

[–] watcher101 10 years ago

I think an anime series would be better than a movie.