DOOM Movie...

[JsARCLIGHT]

If you ask me (which no one actually did ) Doom is a victim of yet another Hollywood boardroom brainstorming session. They had 10+ years to make this movie, as fanboys would say, the "right" way but they did not. They sat on the license. For what reason we may never know for sure, it could have been they were shy about the violence level... they might not have had a workable marketing plan for the movie... or today's catch-all excuse: they did not want to "offend" anyone.

My guess is that someone made the call that a Doom movie was too far behind the fad in the mid nineties... they missed their window of opportunity then and just back burnered it. Because after all, in a world of fanboy logic nothing ever "leaves" it just becomes "classic" but to the rest of america if it is not in their face 24/7 they forget about it and move on to the next best thing. Doom came and went. No one cared anymore. Then all of a sudden you have all the Resident Evil hubbub again with the movies coming out. The first did well enough to have a sequel and my guess is people noticed this. Then all of a sudden GOONK! Doom 3 comes out. Doom is suddenly marketable and relevant again. They break out the old license they still hold, shred the old scripts which most likely had some sort of bizzare Trent Reznor early '90s grunge dank and dark pre-SE7EN feel to them and replace them with something more "contemporary".

I for one will not be in line to see it but then again for all intensive purposes this movie is not being aimed at me, the original Doom fan... it is being aimed at the pre-teen and teen slasher flick audiences of today. You know, the people with more money than brains and a ravenous need for entertainment.

[mikeszekely]

Shadup yo mouth you fanboys.

If this thing is a hardcore violence  festival, it will rule.

So if they re-made Terminator without Ah-nold but there was far more gore and violence, it would rule?

BLASPHEMY

May CROM tear out your eyes!

You cannot compare the two... Terminator is already a movie, Doom is a game.

You still haven't answered the question...

Though if you need for me to clarify, the point of that question is that Doom without Hell is like Terminator without Ah-nold. It's just wrong no matter what.

Yeah, Agent... we're not trying to compare Terminator and Doom. What we're saying is that if you take Mars, Hell, demons, and Space Marines out of Doom, then you're stripping it of everything that defines Doom. Just like if you took Arnold out of Terminator, it strip the movie of everything that made it Terminator.

Action-packed gorefest entertainment it might be, but Doom it is NOT.

[Agent ONE]

Shadup yo mouth you fanboys.

If this thing is a hardcore violence  festival, it will rule.

So if they re-made Terminator without Ah-nold but there was far more gore and violence, it would rule?

BLASPHEMY

May CROM tear out your eyes!

You cannot compare the two... Terminator is already a movie, Doom is a game.

You still haven't answered the question...

Though if you need for me to clarify, the point of that question is that Doom without Hell is like Terminator without Ah-nold. It's just wrong no matter what.

I dissagree... I never though of Doom as a hell focused game.

[Agent ONE]

Shadup yo mouth you fanboys.

If this thing is a hardcore violence  festival, it will rule.

So if they re-made Terminator without Ah-nold but there was far more gore and violence, it would rule?

BLASPHEMY

May CROM tear out your eyes!

You cannot compare the two... Terminator is already a movie, Doom is a game.

You still haven't answered the question...

Though if you need for me to clarify, the point of that question is that Doom without Hell is like Terminator without Ah-nold. It's just wrong no matter what.

Yeah, Agent... we're not trying to compare Terminator and Doom. What we're saying is that if you take Mars, Hell, demons, and Space Marines out of Doom, then you're stripping it of everything that defines Doom. Just like if you took Arnold out of Terminator, it strip the movie of everything that made it Terminator.

Action-packed gorefest entertainment it might be, but Doom it is NOT.

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

[uminoken]

Shadup yo mouth you fanboys.

If this thing is a hardcore violence  festival, it will rule.

So if they re-made Terminator without Ah-nold but there was far more gore and violence, it would rule?

BLASPHEMY

May CROM tear out your eyes!

You cannot compare the two... Terminator is already a movie, Doom is a game.

You still haven't answered the question...

Though if you need for me to clarify, the point of that question is that Doom without Hell is like Terminator without Ah-nold. It's just wrong no matter what.

Yeah, Agent... we're not trying to compare Terminator and Doom. What we're saying is that if you take Mars, Hell, demons, and Space Marines out of Doom, then you're stripping it of everything that defines Doom. Just like if you took Arnold out of Terminator, it strip the movie of everything that made it Terminator.

Action-packed gorefest entertainment it might be, but Doom it is NOT.

Actually (if you still wanted the Terminator analogy) it'd be like a Terminator movie without time-travel and killer robots that was turned into Arnold vs. aliens movie....although the movie's still gonna be Arnold blowing the bejeezus out of things, it doesn't retain it's original intent

[Jemstone]

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

Have you ever played a Doom game in your life?

[agass4u]

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

All I have to say to that is:

House of the Dead.

[wolfx]

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

All I have to say to that is:

House of the Dead.

OMG....was this supposed to be the video game conversion? The trailer looked like a teeny slasher film....

[Agent ONE]

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

Have you ever played a Doom game in your life?

yeah... why?

[Jemstone]

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

Have you ever played a Doom game in your life?

yeah... why?

Because I'm having a hard time getting why you can be so confident that this film won't be lame. So far the plot has nothing to do with games.

[mikeszekely]

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

All I have to say to that is:

House of the Dead.

OMG....was this supposed to be the video game conversion? The trailer looked like a teeny slasher film....

Oh, the blame for that one falls squarely at the feet of Uwe Boll... and no offense to the guy, but EVERYTHING he does sucks. It's like he's from Bizzaro world or something, and everything we think so cool, he thinks is lame, and everything he thinks is cool, we think is lame.

Uh, they didn't tap Uwe for Doom, did they?

[Graham]

Heh, I was already an adult when the original Doom game came out, so I can't complain about this movie raping my childhood .

But I think even with a good director, the original premise of the game, i.e. a lone Marine on Mars running around a maze, fighting monsters from hell is a little too skimpy really to lend itself to much of a movie.

With this bare outline, you could get some good action scenes sure, but do you really want to sit through 90 minutes+ of pure FPS action with no additional story or character development? If your answer is yes, then just plug in your console/power up your PC and play the damn game as you sure don't need to see a movie .

So yes, certain parts of the game need to be changed and additional elements would need to be added to make a watchable movie, but I do agree that adding the virus plotline and changing the Marine to SWAT type guys is a little too cliched.

Graham

[Zentrandude]

i remember in the game they was bunch of the dead marine sprites in places, maybe they can expand on that in the movie, instead of just one lone marine theres some info on the marines trying to fight/escape and get horrible killed with the main hero left.

also would they add in others things from the other games like doom2 and the others (only remember the little story from 2 rest got blurred with all the fps boom).

[Agent ONE]

I see what you are saying, however I am sure that no matter what decision is made they wont make it lame.

Have you ever played a Doom game in your life?

yeah... why?

Because I'm having a hard time getting why you can be so confident that this film won't be lame. So far the plot has nothing to do with games.

I am crossing my fingers so it at least embodies the same feeling.

[JB0]

i remember in the game they was bunch of the dead marine sprites in places, maybe they can expand on that in the movie, instead of just one lone marine theres some info on the marines trying to fight/escape and get horrible killed with the main hero left.

also would they add in others things from the other games like doom2 and the others (only remember the little story from 2 rest got blurred with all the fps boom).

That was done in the manual.

Your guy was the comm officer or something. Everyone else went in while he stayed behind in the landing ship.

Everyone else got maimed/mauled/killed/posessed/turned to shotgun-wielding zombies before you ever set foot on the ground.

He peeked out to see WTF happened. Then went on a homicidal demon-killing rampage.

And Doom2's story was as simple as the first. You didn't blow the poo out of the demons in time, and they invaded Earth. You must go on another homicidal rampage.

[Agent ONE]

You guys are really funny... Of all the years I played that game I never really found it crucial that it be taking place on Mars, or that it be involved with hell. I mean think about it, if they re-released the game and left out the words "Mars" and "hell" would it be any different?

The game is really all about this guy:

Beyond that, Doom aint much. As long as this movie is 2 hours of extreem Sci-Fi violence it will meet my expectations.

[JsARCLIGHT]

From what I recall I don't think ID ever came right out and actually said the bad guys were from hell. Sure it's implied with their demonic nature, all the demonic symbols and imagery but if I recall correctly the "story" of Doom all they really said was "... something evil came out of the gateways...". Seeing as there is no actual dialogue in the game it was the players that came to the conclusion that the baddies were "from hell" and that they were "demons". The closest they ever got was the name of one character, the boss from the end of the first world in Doom 1 the "Baron of Hell".

I'm finding myself agreeing with Agent ONE on this that the whole concept that these baddies are "from hell" is not neccessary. Look at movies like Virus and Hardware (yes yes I know bad examples) but both of those movies had icky biomechanical critters that you could call "demonic" yet there was no direct connection to anything "hell" related. I think AO's point is that as long as the baddies are grizzly and ghoulish, the hero hard-boiled and trigger happy and the general "gist" of the concept: one man versus the horde is kept then the "Spirit" of Doom remains.

[lord_breetai]

From what I recall I don't think ID ever came right out and actually said the bad guys were from hell. Sure it's implied with their demonic nature, all the demonic symbols and imagery but if I recall correctly the "story" of Doom all they really said was "... something evil came out of the gateways...". Seeing as there is no actual dialogue in the game it was the players that came to the conclusion that the baddies were "from hell" and that they were "demons". The closest they ever got was the name of one character, the boss from the end of the first world in Doom 1 the "Baron of Hell".

Admitidly I've only played part of Doom 3 (I've played a lot more Quake then Doom)... but Doom 3 is what I've played and um...

"The devil is real... I know... I built his cage..."

says... something about hell to me. but meh! whatever.

-- Lord_Breetai

You know... from Wolfenstein, to Satan's Hollow to Sakura Tasien 1... Satan has been the end boss of more video games then I'll ever care to count.

[JsARCLIGHT]

That is Doom 3 though. Doom 3 is a completely "different" game with a different story than Doom 1 and 2. Doom 3 is built on the evloved lore of the first two games. Doom 1 was just this simple shooter with a cut and paste story to hold the game together.

[Vostok 7]

A1 and Js', I hear your points. My point is, if you're going to make a movie called Doom, and associate it with the game, then make it about Doom the game. Edit: more than just throwing in a few cameos like the chainsaw and the "bio force gun" and a few baddies.

If they had called it "Swat type dudes kill virus infected undead guys: The Movie" we wouldn't be having this discussion. But because they called it "Doom" and chose to associate it with the imagery of space marines on Mars killing demons, then they should at least keep true to what people think of when they think of "Doom".

That's my point.

Vostok 7

Edited December 13, 2004 by Vostok 7

[JsARCLIGHT]

And my original point was that to hollywood it is irrelevant. The "movie" to them is simply someone else's take on the story of Doom. Why was the Resident Evil movie not about Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine fighting in an old mansion? Because it was some hollywood corn-hole's "revisioning" of Resident Evil, his "take" on it. Same thing goes for every other video game movie that has been made... they never match what actually happens in the game. Just look at Mario Brothers the movie... ugh.

Hollywood, to the people there, is about artistic expression and personal vision... even if it is just porno or mindless shooter movies. They pride themselves on taking a good starting idea and totally screwing it up into something they think "speaks". Just look at all the good books that became terrible movies, all the great comics that became horrid movies... the old rule still stands: if you want something done right do it yourself. And until the original makers of games themselves turn to moviemaking the movie adaptations of games will be just that, someone else's adaptation. I believe that is why games today like GTA have become almost cinematic in their presentation... the game makers are blurring the line between cinema and game. Think just how screwed up a movie about Vice City would be.

As I originally said, I'd go see this movie if it was free and I had time to kill but even if it was a fanboy wet dream of exact representation I'd still avoid it. I played the game and thus I "lived" the movie... no need to go back and watch someone else's thoughts on the subject.

[lord_breetai]

That is Doom 3 though. Doom 3 is a completely "different" game with a different story than Doom 1 and 2. Doom 3 is built on the evloved lore of the first two games. Doom 1 was just this simple shooter with a cut and paste story to hold the game together.

I thought Doom 3 was supposed to more or less be a remake of Doom 1... with a PLOT... like what a Doom 1 movie would really be. I didn't think it was a different story but a remake with an expanded story... is that wrong?

Edit: and am I wrong or... I think I remember friend telling me that in one of the earlier doom games... there was this part where you have to die... cause then you die at that part of the game and it moves into hell... is that wrong? Was he BSing me? Am I thinking of a different game? Am I crazy?

Why was the Resident Evil movie not about Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine fighting in an old mansion? Because it was some hollywood corn-hole's "revisioning" of Resident Evil, his "take" on it. Same thing goes for every other video game movie that has been made... they never match what actually happens in the game. Just look at Mario Brothers the movie... ugh.

Well wasn't RE supposed to be a prequal of sorts? (Thats what I belive the director/writer guy said in one interview).

Mario Brothers and Double Dragon both.

You know what... Mortal Kombat is probably one of the best Video Game movies in the North American market for staying faithful to the source material.

Edited December 13, 2004 by lord_breetai

[JB0]

Edit: and am I wrong or... I think I remember friend telling me that in one of the earlier doom games... there was this part where you have to die... cause then you die at that part of the game and it moves into hell... is that wrong? Was he BSing me? Am I thinking of a different game? Am I crazy?

I DO seem to recall wading into Hell.

I don't recall having to die first, though.

...

Wait... you DO get killed at the end of episode 1. Unless that's shareware only...

It's been AGES since I've played Doom. Much less the full version.

[JsARCLIGHT]

The shareware version of Doom 1 kills you after you beat the first boss... so you can't go on to the next level... but the real version of the game just starts the next level. My point was that despite all the imagery I don't think they ever come right out in the first Doom game and call the "other side" "hell".

[Jemstone]

You guys are really funny... Of all the years I played that game I never really found it crucial that it be taking place on Mars, or that it be involved with hell. I mean think about it, if they re-released the game and left out the words "Mars" and "hell" would it be any different?

The game is really all about this guy:

Beyond that, Doom aint much. As long as this movie is 2 hours of extreem Sci-Fi violence it will meet my expectations.

You sure you wouldn't rather prefer Duke Nukem?

[HWR MKII]

the only way Duke Nukem will work is if Bruce Campbell plays duke. they used his "Hail to the king baby " line from army of darkness in it anyway. he also does the other lines for duke as well.

[wolfx]

The shareware version of Doom 1 kills you after you beat the first boss... so you can't go on to the next level... but the real version of the game just starts the next level. My point was that despite all the imagery I don't think they ever come right out in the first Doom game and call the "other side" "hell".

I'm quite sure there was Hell mentioned in the episode names. Or maybe that's 2. But yes there was "Hell" mentioned after you kill the spiderdemon mastermind. Something along the lines "you stopped hell from invading" or something like that. Then i remembered seeing happy happy scene with rabbits, and it slowly scrolls the side showing a burning building with rabbit's decapitated head.....GAME OVER.

[lord_breetai]

Wasn't "They Live" starring Rowdy Rody Piper... enough of a Duke Nukem the movie?

[Bloodcat]

Ehh.. so it will suck. Ive got the Id Anthology with every official Doom scenario on it, and of course http://www.doomsdayhq.com/ and the various texture and model packs that not only allow me to play it in high res, but add mouselook, jumping, and 3d models with damage mapping so I have an idea when those blasted Hell Barons are about to die from double barrelled justice. Besides, when folks are making Doom look this good..

Who cares about some lame bastardized movie? Not to mention they are coming out with a Space Hulk like Doom boardgame for some fun multiplayer tabletop monster bashing...

And if I need extra goodness the same sorts of upgrades have been done to Quake (Tenebrae: http://tenebrae.sourceforge.net/ ) and Duke Nukem 3D ( http://dukenews.fragland.net/portal/ , Links to model and texture packs at http://forums.3drealms.com/ubbthreads/post...ukesource&page= ) . Heck, I not only don't care if the Doom movie is true to the game, or if it even sucks or not, I don't even need Doom 3!

[JsARCLIGHT]

A guy at work just showed me the "end game" screens from Doom 1 and 2 and I stand corrected that indeed they do say you were in "hell" and that you "beat hell" only to return to earth to find it taken over.

[JsARCLIGHT]

Seeing as how I was wrong about Id intending the enemy to be hell itself in the original Doom that brings my thoughts on the movie context into sort of a new light... well not really. More or less it makes me think that the cop-out excuse of "they don't want to use a touchy subject like hell in a movie" holds no water. Just even a short search reveals many recent movies that featured satan, hell and demons prominently and as key story elements. Heck, Agent ONE will even remember the Arnold movie End of Days... that had the devil himself in it. With all these big name movies featuring serious depictions of hell and demons in recent times I'd think that excuse as for why the theme was not used for the Doom movie holds no water.

All of this points to basically them redoing the context of the story to fit someone else's vision of "Doom"... someone who watched too much Resident Evil Apocalypse and like the rest of us said "this is crap! I can do better!" but then got handed the Doom license and said "so? I'll make it work..."

[Agent ONE]

Trailer for DOOM the live action movie.

DOOM

To see it, right click and "save link as"

Edited January 28, 2005 by Agent ONE

[Kin]

Yeah I agree with some points posted here... every sci-fi horror movie is the same and that's gonna be boring. Especially when you are watching someone "play in the movie" (boring spectator mode )

(lol funny trailer agent:P )

Edited January 28, 2005 by Kin

[Dan Palacios]

Has there ever been a sucessful movie based on a vidio game?

[JsARCLIGHT]

Has there ever been a sucessful movie based on a vidio game?

That depends on your definition of "successful"... a "successful" movie to hollywood is one that, when it is all said and done, the movie breaks even. No loss, no real profit, just breaking even. It means all the bills are paid, no one is left holding the bag and production can start on the next piece. Boffo is when the movie turns a profit above and beyond production costs.

If your definition of success is the same as hollywoods then yes, several video game movies have been successful. Give me a minute and I'll pull some numbers.

EDIT TO ADD:

Just some numbers from some video game movies to put this in perspective...

(all numbers source: "the numbers")

Mortal Kombat 1 cost an est. $20 mil to make, it made over $70 mil at the box office.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider cost an est. $90 mil to make and grossed well into $270 mil worldwide box office.

Resident Evil 1 cost $35 mil to make at had a worldwide box office take of just under $60 mil.

Resident Evil Apocalypse had a budget of $50 mil and made about a $78 mil worldwide box office take.

And the new "Alone in the Dark" movie has a $20 mil budget... it will earn that back in the first two weeks of release I bet.

The only real notable video game movie "flops" are Final Fantasy: Spirits within which suffered a whopping $60 mil loss worldwide and doomed Square's movie division to death... and the abysmal Wing Commander movie which had a budget of $30 mil and barely squeeked an $11 mil domestic box office take.

So, by rule of the hard figures (only box office numbers mind you), Video game movies are good business for hollywood. Their successes outweigh their failures.

Edited January 29, 2005 by JsARCLIGHT