Is There Any Chance the 'Devil May Cry' Movie Won't Bomb?

Movies based on video games rarely amount to little more than shameful disappointments. You can count the good ones on one hand and the 'great' ones are non-existent. Far too often either executive meddling or the game's vocal minority end up ruining the experience. From mediocre ones like "Super Mario Brothers" to absolute bombs like "Resident Evil: Afterlife," it's hard to put much confidence in video game movies. It is for this very reason that so few people have much, if any, confidence in the upcoming "Devil May Cry" film.

Now the question falls to both gamers and film buffs. Do we really need another cringe-worthy Hollywood adaption of a popular game franchise? Surely we do not, but Capcom seems set on licensing out its intellectual properties to the highest bidder for these awful movies. If the hatred Capcom enthusiasts direct at the "Resident Evil" series is any indicator, this is looking like an absolutely dreadful idea. What more could be in the future for this "Devil May Cry" movie than an overhyped, plot-less piece of cinematic garbage?

With many gamers still disgusted by the "Twilight" inspired emo Dante in the upcoming Devil May Cry game, the sword of Damocles is already over the head of Capcom and its developing teams. The lukewarm reception to the previous Devil May Cry game is an equally bad omen. With so much negativity surrounding the series right now, is a movie deal a wise investment right now?

It's hard to say whether or not Kyle Ward will do the series justice. There were much worse choices, but it is worth noting that his involvement in Hitman 2 will lend some much needed experience in the field. It is a shame that a better Capcom series isn't getting the chance to hit the big screen like Megaman or Monster Hunter. As long as the casting for Dante doesn't turn up someone like Robert Pattinson or Michael Cera, his portrayal should be at least decent.

Considering the unapologetic 'hack & slash' gameplay found in the series, two concerns are certainly present. The film could very easily sacrifice its integrity and become little more than two hours of mindless violence and stunts. If this is the case, you risk not only alienating casual movie goers, but also gamers that play Devil May Cry games for their story- few as they may be. The other possibility is that in an effort to keep the movie somewhat youth-friendly, it will instead neuter the combat and infuriated fans.

Is it likely that a Devil May Cry film will be a commercial success? Unfortunately, no. The odds are somewhat stacked against it. There are too many disgruntled fans hurt over the most recent game release and the upcoming one. Making matters worse, the franchise itself isn't anywhere near the upper echelon of gaming to begin with. Unless someone really performs some magic on this likely disappointment, a failure at the box office is looking all to likely. Let's just hope Dante hasn't bitten off more than he can chew.