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Halo Movie Script in the Works 65

Posted by Zonk from the just-don't-hire-uwe-boll dept.
Alex Garland, the writer of the script for 28 Days Later, has been retained to pen a script for a Halo movie. Voodoo Extreme has the story via Variety, and notes that Microsoft is keeping close creative control over the script writing process.
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Halo Movie Script in the Works More

Halo Movie Script in the Works

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  • zerg (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Lord Omlette ( 124579 ) on Saturday February 05, 2005 @05:44PM (#11585329) Homepage
    As long as Uwe Boll isn't involved, it's all good.

  • Oh Goody! (Score:1, Troll)

    by XopherMV ( 575514 ) *
    Maybe it'll be as good as the Street Fighter or Super Mario Brothers movies!

    When will they learn that video games do not have enough plot to transform into a 90 minute movie?
    • I dunno, there's a surprising amount of story in the Haloverse. Although I think an I Love Bees movie would be cooler, I'm willing to give the idea of a Halo movie the benefit of the doubt. :D
    • Or, in the case of the Final Fantasy movie, they have just enough of a plot, but not the movie-making expertise to create something that appeals to a wider audience than gamers. Saying that, I'll reserve judgement on the Halo movie until I see the final cut.
    • When will they learn that video games do not have enough plot to transform into a 90 minute movie?
      As soon as people stop paying to see them.
    • hmm? lacking a plot in the videogame is little excuse that a movie 'based' on the game doesn't have a plot. they could you know, have WRITTEN a plot for it.

      besides, there's PLENTY of videogames that have enough plot for a 24 episode tv series.

      knowing halo 2 and another popular new videogame it'll probably just stop in mid-explosion without any explanation.
    • To be fair, Resident Evil the movie actually had a good plot and some great ideas. Unfortunately it also had a laughably bad CG monster and dogs covered in prosciutto. Mortal Kombat the movie needed some help, but if it were in the hands of a skilled producer it could have been great. Tank Girl "could" have been based on a game, though there wasn't any game in particular that it was based upon. A Silent Hill movie could be great.

      Sadly, there was no helping Alone in the Dark, though Christian Slater rea
      • Actually, there is a (somewhat) technical reason why movie to videogame merchandising doesn't turn out well: creating a game typically takes longer than a movie, and both have a lot of reworking in script and technical areas, so the videogame is typically rushed very much so it can follow the finalized movie storyline somewhat and be relevant when it comes out (usually close to the time the movie opens). Rushed games typically don't make for good games.

      • Re:Oh Goody! (Score:3, Insightful)

        by dr.badass ( 25287 )
        The Matrix could easily have been renamed Shadowrun the movie.

        Meanwhile, Shadowrun could have been named "Neuromancer the Game".

      • Tank Girl was based on the comic. No game needed. =]

  • What do you think? (Score:5, Funny)

    by avalys ( 221114 ) on Saturday February 05, 2005 @05:47PM (#11585345)
    Given what happened with the Doom movie, this one will probably end up being set on Mars with invading demons from hell as the enemy.
    • Don't worry if M$ is keeping close watch on the script, the story line will have major flaws. Such as characters changing sex by accident. Plot leaving holes. Blue screens in the middle of the film for no apparent reason.

  • Microsoft... spreading... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Staplerh ( 806722 ) on Saturday February 05, 2005 @05:47PM (#11585347) Homepage
    From TFA, with the bolded text added for empthasis:

    Microsoft recently completed a million dollar deal to secure the services of Alex Garland, 28 Days Later and The Beach writer, who is now in the process of penning a screenplay for Halo The Movie.

    Is this a first for Microsoft, diversifying beyond simple computers to reach the unwashed masses, but moving into making some money off the big screen?

    Not that it's a bad thing, I'm not anti-Microsoft in the business sense (well, perhaps anti-Microsoft in the anti-craptacular products sense), but it's interesting.

  • Oh dear (Score:3, Funny)

    by Leroy_Brown242 ( 683141 ) on Saturday February 05, 2005 @05:54PM (#11585392) Homepage Journal
    I have high hopes, and low expectations for this movie.

    I hope it is not as bad as it probably will be.

  • I wonder (Score:4, Funny)

    by LennyDotCom ( 26658 ) <Lenny@lenny.com> on Saturday February 05, 2005 @05:54PM (#11585397) Homepage Journal
    Microsoft is keeping close creative control over the script writing process.
    Will the movie be compatible with non M$ movie theatres?
  • Matt Damon as Master Cheif? I never played Halo very much in the storyline, but they would have to add in some kind of love interest in there. Jennifer Garner
  • Not that I'd want to give them more money, but I'll mostly go see this movie. If it flops I'll feel good walking out of the theatre knowing that they wasted their money, and if it's good, well at least I saw a good movie, right?

  • From the weekly what update: (Score:4, Informative)

    by skyman8081 ( 681052 ) <skyman8081NO@SPAMgmail.com> on Saturday February 05, 2005 @06:56PM (#11585807) Homepage

    Billions and billions asked,

    I heard Uwe Boll was directing Halo the movie and it was going to star the Taco Bell dog and Paulie Shore. IS THIS TRUE?

    Well, the statement above does sound like an "interesting" project, but as ever, if you didn't hear it officially from Microsoft or Bungie Studios, you didn't hear it confirmed. This is Microsoft's official line on the existence or non-existence of a Halo movie:

    "Halo is one of the most sought after properties and since the November launch of Halo 2, the interest level has exploded. Halo 2 has now sold more than 6.4 million copies worldwide, bringing the entire Halo franchise to a collective 12.8 million units in just three years' time. We have not, however, made any official movie announcements."

    Is that ambiguous PR talk for, "We haven't announced nothin'?" Yes! Why yes it is!

  • I would have been excited about this... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by NanoGator ( 522640 ) on Saturday February 05, 2005 @07:12PM (#11585913) Homepage Journal
    ... if the title was "Red Vs. Blue".

    • Re:I would have been excited about this... (Score:1, Insightful)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Rooster Teeth can barely hold a plot together, let alone try to string along an entire movie. Seriously, after the past two seasons, RvB has jumped the shark... or Puma.

    • Actually, I think RvB would make a better TV series than movie...

      Most of the story ideas would really flesh out well into the 23 minute format, and they include a grand JMS style arc for everyone that likes that sort of stuff.

      BTW: As much as I like this season, Epsiode 39 is still my favorite, just from a Gamers point of view!

  • The same guy who wrote The Beach and is a big fan of Digitiser? [mrbiffo.com]

    Ace.

  • microsoft overseeing the script? (Score:4, Funny)

    by Naikrovek ( 667 ) <jjohnson@ps g . com> on Saturday February 05, 2005 @07:24PM (#11586001)
    Microsoft is keeping close creative control over the script writing process.

    since we all know that microsoft is well known for coming up with ideas on its own and implementing them on its own, this script will be highly original and will feature new actors in very creative and intriguing scenes and scenarios....

    laugh, its funny.
  • From that directory, at least we can guarentee that the ending won't be a Turkey, just a Chicken

    Playaholics : Lightning Pool [playaholics.com]
  • The trailer text:

    What is a girl to do?

    Older sister is on her way home from Heaven, and little Mistress Chief, Goddess of the Multiverse, has misplaced Sister's favorite piece of jewelry! If you ever saw her sister angry, you'd see why it's not easy being a Goddess!

    Coming soon from Bungie Entertainment, HALO!!!

  • Comment removed (Score:4, Funny)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Saturday February 05, 2005 @08:51PM (#11586494)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • I think it's good. They had creative control over Halo 1. Sure it came out late as heck, but it became one the the greatest FPS games made. They know what they want. If Microsoft makes sure it's a good movie, then I have no problem whatsoever.

    But then again, I've yet to see a "game movie" that didn't suck...
    • No, Microsoft did not have creative control over either of the Halo games; they had timetable control over the first, and maybe that's what you were thinking of. I'm almost certain that Bungie made sure they kept creative control by the contract.

      As for the movie... I'm not holding my breath. Bungie has denied plans are in the works and MS has given a "no comment" statement.

      ~UP
  • What Microsoft and Bungie should do is just make the movie themselves. Make the movie a 90 minute cutscene using the Halo 2 engine. It would cost a fraction of the cost and it would be on the same level as all the other [imdb.com] movies [imdb.com] made [imdb.com] from [imdb.com] games [imdb.com]. While we're at it, Namco [namco.com] should have done this too for Tekken instead of allowing this piece of shit [imdb.com] to be made. It shouldn't be that hard. If the Red Vs. Blue [redvsblue.com] guys did it with next to nothing for a budge someone with a serious budget should be able to make some good

  • Finally! A Game That Becomes a Movie! (Score:3, Interesting)

    by GaryPatterson ( 852699 ) on Sunday February 06, 2005 @12:01AM (#11587606)
    Finally! Now it'll join such brilliant game to movie adaptations as...
    * Mario Brothers
    * Tomb Raider
    * That fighting one with Raul Julia and Kylie Minogue
    * Final Fantasy
    * Mortal Combat
    * Another Tomb Raider, with the same plot devices

    And unless someone puts a plot into this one, it'll suck just like they did.

    Is it just that producers see dollar signs everywhere in games, so think they can cash in with minimal work, that the people buying the games are stupid enough to flock to a crap movie just because it ties to the games?

    I suspect they forget that games require less plot and character development than movies, as the players themselves supply either or both by the way they play. The result is that Tomb Raider was execrable, Final Fantasy (while having a plot) was dull in the extreme and that in general, games make really bad movies.

    The best thing that could be hoped is that the movie would be so action packed with whiz-bang effects that it would distract people from the lack of a plot, pacing or character development so typical of game movies.

    I'm not overly hopeful of this one. You can tell, can't you?
    • Halo is a very lucrative item for Microsoft. They knew better than to hand control over to another Uwe Boll, like so many of the other video game adaptations before it. That's why Microsoft is having someone else do the script but keeping close creative control over it, and only submitting it to holywood when it is pretty much finished.

      Granted, 28 days later may or may not be your cup of tea, but it's certainly better than any of those festering shitheaps like Alone in the Dark or House of the Dead. I'm

    • I suspect they forget that games require less plot and character development than movies, as the players themselves supply either or both by the way they play. The result is that Tomb Raider was execrable, Final Fantasy (while having a plot) was dull in the extreme and that in general, games make really bad movies.

      Why is everyone pointing out that game movies are all terrible? Although its true, it doesn't set them apart from all the Hollywood trash that isn't games related.

    • Wait a second . . . a fighting movie with Kylie Minogue and some girl named Julia? Sounds like my kind of movie!
    • People said the same thing about "comic book" movies and yet we've seen a good Batman film or two, some decent X-Men material, okay Spider-man movies (to others, I don't like them), and even a good Tom Hanks vehicle.

      Wait until the first really good video game movie comes out and makes $200m. Then they will pay attention.

      Keep in mind, Batman made over $350m*, X2 made over $200m, Spider-man over $451m. Sure these are "comic book" movies and not "video game" movies but the are similar in many ways: key audie
  • and before you mod Troll, here's the reason why: Halo's a war story, more or less; and I cannot envision a world where, after the script has been rung through upteenth million committees that it won't be a generic, explosion ridden, war-themed action fest. Really people, how could it possibly make it through production without having every warstory cliche in the book tacked on for good measure? I don't care what the original screenwritter wants, I don't care what the director wants. To maximize profits, The

    • Go back and watch some of the crap you watched as a kid and loved (Thundercats, anyone) and see how well it holds up.

      It holds up fine - the plot always sucked, but cheetarah's still hot.

  • Alex Garland is a pretty good writer. Not only did he write 28 Days Later, but Danny Boyle's other, underrated movie "The Beach", and the book of the same name that it was based on. I've read said book, and had a tough time putting it down.

    I don't know how he would deal with Sci-Fi, but it seems like the movie is in good hands
  • Considering that Bungie has apparently drawn out an entire century of storyline for the Halo universe, this movie might not be all that bad. They could make it a prequel to the first game, about the start of the war with the Covenant, and the establishment of the Cole Protocol.
    • Go pick up "Halo: First Strike" by Eric Nylund. Considering it's a book based off an Xbox game, it's not half bad. It covers the start of the Covenant/Human war, as well as the Spartan program that produced Master Chief. Turns out there were quite a few of those wacky Spartans, making it easier to turn into a movie. More characters = more character interaction = more entertaining. (In theory. There are obviously exceptions)
  • So how long into Judge Dredd did we get before Sylvester Stallone took off his helmet for the camera?

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