Games to Movies - Hollywood's Ventures into the Video Game Industry

We will start out journey into the world of Video game to Movies with the ever popular "Resident Evil" saga (rated R). It is impossible to choose only one of these titles to add to this list as they are all incredible. This venture is now in its 4^th installment. In 2002 "Resident Evil" made its big screen debut, much to the delight of the games fans. I was among those excited to see a beloved game hit the screen. To my delight it didn't follow the exact story line of the original video game. To have followed the storyline exactly, in my opinion, would have resulted in a very predictable movie.

This film begins with our heroine, Alice, waking in a house she can't remember. It turns out she was an employee of Umbrella Corp. and this was her cover house. The house is actually the entrance to a super secret research base where a biological agent has been released. The computer, The Red Queen, has locked down the facility to prevent the spread. Alice must enter and disarm the supercomputer to escape the horror that is developing below. Rain, the male lead, and Alice must lead a commando squad to contain the virus. They are soon confronted by zombies and the like of which no film has ever brought to life.

Part 2, titled "Resident Evil Apocalypse" ($50 Million+ box office sales), continues where the first ended. Alice awakens to find that the zombie horde has been released on raccoon city. She and the S.T.A.R.S. team must defend themselves and escape the city. The plot thickens when Ashford, a scientist for Umbrella, offers to help Alice and the S.T.A.R.S. team to escape f they find his daughter, Angie. This movie is interlaced with deceit, drama, and horrifyingly great cinematography. A must see for any gamer.

"Resident Evil" did not stop with just one film. Rather, because of the phenomenal response ($39 million+ in box office sales) in 2007 they released "Extinction" ($50 million+ in box office sales). This story picks up where the 2^ndfilm left off. Alice is now in hiding in the Nevada desert. Alice has been subjected to genetic testing and experimentation and is now biologically altered. She now has increased strength, dexterity, and senses which add to her ability to dominate the onslaught of zombies and monsters that menace her and her new team of would be heroes. Non-stop thrills and chills from beginning to end.

The latest chapter, "Afterlife," released in 2010 was the biggest in sales for this franchise so far. Making over 60 million dollars in US box office sales it is sure to bring a 5^th installment soon. This film again starts where the 3^rd ended. One of the appeals, to me, of this film series is that it is a continuing story rather than different tales. It gives you the feeling of old friends and allows you to relive some of the past memories every time. This time the virus has spread through the entire world. Humanity is at its end. Alice, and her new friends, are lead to believe there is a safe haven in Los Angeles but when they get there they find the whole city over run by zombies. The team is about to step in to a whole new diabolical trap.

"Alien vs. Predator"

Again a great video game turned into a series of movies. While this one only has two films to its credit one can only hope there are more on the horizon. This film has it all, The aliens from the original "Alien" movies, the Predators from the "Predator" franchise, and humans fighting for the survival of their world. Non-stop action, great special affects, and awesome weaponry make this my number 2 choice.

"Alien Vs Predator" (2004) follows a group of scientists who find themselves suddenly in the middle of a training battle between the Aliens and the Predators. Lex, our lead heroine, finds herself fighting side by side with one of the predators. She, and her predator companion, must fight their way deep into the alien lair and confront the Queen! Non-stop violence and action and great traps make this one of my top 5 movies by far.

"Alien vs. predator: Requiem" (2007): This time the battle on earth takes place in a Colorado town. Unsuspecting towns folk must band together to save their town and stop the onslaught. While not as good as the original (in my opinion) this film does deserve a look and view.

"Doom"

Who could exclude "Doom" (2005)? This movie takes place on a distant planet where space marines, led by Sarge (the Rock), to investigate strange happenings at a research lab. They soon find themselves locked in battle with genetically enhanced monsters. Great special effects and the BFG make this an awesome movie.