Other than the odd web-distraction game, I haven’t written about gaming much in here lately, but I have most certainly been busy playing them.
I’m always a bit behind the curve on video games, but that’s out of a choice not to plunk down $500 on a new system and $80 a game. So, I’m still getting a lot of use out of our old PS2 and games like Shadow of the Colossus.
I still think it’s one of the most beautiful and well designed games out there and sometimes I just fire it up to hop on my horse, Agro, and run through the endless sprawling landscape. (For more on why this game rocks check out what Mel has to say on Colossus.)
So, I was very happy when I saw this story on Kotaku about the game’s role in the new movie Reign Over Me, starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle. Unlike the usual movie/video game tie-in crap that we’re exposed to, the game actually serves a thematic role in the movie.
The movie is about Charlie (Adam Sandler), whose family was killed in the 9/11 attacks. To avoid dealing with his grief he hides out playing video games. In the original script Charlie plays a “typical fake game that you see in TV and film.” Then the script landed in the hands of Jeremy Roush to give it an edit. Roush is a gamer and he immediately saw connections between the script and Shadow of the Colossus:
That’s when it hit Roush. Refusing to accept the death of loved ones. Seeking out an escape from that truth. Giants falling in slow motion. “You could see where someone who was dealing with 9/11 would be engrossed by a giant that keeps collapsing over and over again,” he says. Charlie’s therapy was Shadow of the Colossus.
From then on, the game became a visual and thematic element to tell story of Sandler’s character. Fight sequences are used throughout the game and Sandler and Cheadle play the game together on screen.
Normally, ads for synergistic (is that a word?) products (both the movie and the game are produced by Sony) make me queasy. But the thing about Shadow, is that it’s an old game on an out-dated platform. The game will definitely benefit from exposure in this movie (not that it needs it) but this isn’t part of some multi-pronged marketing initiative. This is definitely a case were pop-culture actually fits nicely into the creative.
It’s also a big step toward recognizing the thematic value behind the video games and their potential to tell or represent intelligent stories that can touch us all, whether you’re a hardcore gamer or a total n00b.
Normally, I’d pass over a movie like Reign Over Me but now I’ll definitely check it out to see how it all works together.
I’m looking forward to Reign Over Me because of Adam Sandler. I’ve heard good things. Is it just me, or by looks alone could he also play Bob Dylan?
He looks TOTALLY like Bob Dylan – with blondish highlights. Yeah, it should be an interesting movie, but I think much of the appeal is seeing Sandler play it straight for a change – should be interesting.
Man you told me about this game, yet for some unknown reason my memory sucks – mmm too much coffee maybe?
I bought a PS2 had it for a month, came to the same conclusion I had with the first one I bought; that all the games suck – then sold it on – didn’t even try Colossus..! Doh! or Neverwinter nights – ah I just hate all that repetitive crap anyways.
Yeah Jonny, since I got the new computer, the ps2 has languished as I play the PC games. Ideally, I’d prefer to play on a console – sitting on the couch is much more comfortable and I spend way too much time on this computer as it is. But there just hasn’t been anything that interests me in any of the platforms, even the new gen ones.
If you still have your ps2, I suggest getting colosus and katamari demacy – two games that definitely break free of the button mashing mode of other console games.