[ad_1]
Apple TV+’s Tetris critical success further proves that the “video game adaptation curse” is dead. Coming off the heels of the massive hit series The Last of Us, Tetris truly helps end the tired phrase with a punch. Starring Blackbird and Rocketman actor Taron Egerton, Tetris follows the exciting true story of Henk Rogers, who helped popularize Tetris with his collaboration with Nintendo in the late 1980s. While the film is not an adaptation of the game itself but about the story of its rise to popularity, it still shows how the video game universe is a large pool to adapt from.
The “video game adaptation curse” has largely been attributed to flops, such as Super Mario Bros (1993) and Mortal Kombat (1995). However, in recent years, there has been a rise in compelling video game adaptations, such as the League of Legends adaptation of Arcane and Detective Pikachu. In addition to multiple financially successful video game adaptations, such as the Resident Evil series and Sonic the Hedgehog, Tetris rounds these recent video game adaptions out with its focus on video game history.
Why The Tetris Movie Truly Ends The Video Game Adaptation Curse
In recent years, there has been a rise in biographical films, such as Spencer and Bohemian Rhapsody. While these recent biopics typically follow huge celebrity figures, Tetris follows a less-known historical figure who had a significant impact on the cultural legacy of Tetris. With video game stigma fading with each passing year, Tetris picked a good time to revisit the public’s interest in video games. Tetris presents itself as a typical biopic but is full of nods to the video game industry.
Those familiar with Nintendo’s history will recognize Tetris’ place in Nintendo’s fame, but many people aren’t acquainted with Tetris beyond its gameplay. Adding to the public knowledge of the cultural giant of Nintendo was a smart move for Tetris. Using a household name to discuss the significance of video games in the late 1980s was needed to place it in the cultural context. Tetris aims to be as fun as its core subject and mostly succeeds, with some inconsistencies in tone, but ultimately the film is held together by a fantastic lead performance from Taron Egerton.
The Tetris Movie Plot Was A Risk (& That’s Why It Works)
Casting Taron Egerton who won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Elton John in the 2019 biopic Rocketman was beneficial to the financial and critical success of the film. However, since Tetris is about the history of the game, it was a risk to adapt and needed publicity. Additionally, Tetris doesn’t have a plot to follow, like The Last of Us or Arcane, so it would’ve been strange and nearly impossible to adapt the game to film. Using the biopic as a vehicle to explore video game history, Tetris occasionally struggles to balance the tone of its dramatic scenes and its campy humor, but ultimately it is an entertaining film.
Using 8-bit animation to divide up the scenes, Tetris succeeds in keeping the film grounded in a lighthearted tone, even if these transitions fade as the film becomes darker. Tetris is a fun ride providing insight into a crucial time in video game technology and history. Tetris is streaming on Apple TV+.
[ad_2]
Source link
Armessa Movie News