Uwe Boll Talks Dungeon Siege Movie

[Evil Avatar]

Insomniac Mania has posted a short Q&A (http://www.insomniacmania.com/news_default.php?id=2638) with Director Uwe Boll, talking about the upcoming cinematic "Blockbuster", Dungeon Siege.

Question: What other games have caught your eye ? What about Splinter Cell?

Boll: Postal and Metal Gear.Even from the short answers, you can tell this guy is a complete moron. Giving him money must be some kind of a tax dodge.

[kizke]

Metal Gear needs to be directed by a sharp intelligent action movie veteran. Doug Liman comes to mind from The Bourne Identity: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258463/

In other news, I think I'm gonna check out Alone in the Dark to see what all the fuss is about regarding Uwe Boll being the worst thing to happen to cinema since Rob Schneider.

[Ailer]

Hideo Kojima could direct the metal gear movie. God knows the games are close enough as it.

Oh and Uwe Boll is still alive? I thought the last time we talked about him someone decided assasination was a good route....

[Draft]

Oh Jesus PLEASE let Uwe Boll make a MGS movie.

[kizke]

Hideo Kojima could direct the metal gear movie. God knows the games are close enough as it.

Oh and Uwe Boll is still alive? I thought the last time we talked about him someone decided assasination was a good route....

I worry that the feel wouldn't translate at all well between the game and movie formats though. Look at Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within, which was directed by the game series' director Hironobu Sakaguchi. Awful movie, not compelling at all, whereas the games have been fantastic (barring X-2 and arguably XI). I think there could be some merit to finding a director who cares about the source material on a level that the fans do, and would be willing to work directly with Kojima on the project.

[Eric_T_Cheng]

Hideo Kojima is the Uwe Boll of game design. How many times does the man need to break down the fourth wall? "Ooooh take me serious because I talk about the evils of nuclear weapons BUT I know you're just playing a game because you just switch controller ports!"

[EvilBob46]

A Postal movie...what a joke.

[kizke]

Hideo Kojima is the Uwe Boll of game design. How many times does the man need to break down the fourth wall? "Ooooh take me serious because I talk about the evils of nuclear weapons BUT I know you're just playing a game because you just switch controller ports!"

Note to people paying attention: Sorry, it looks like I'm trolling. :(

Eric, you do realize that you are ignoring the groundbreaking gameplay that has been created and renewed with every iteration of the series, right? Somehow my bullshit alarm is going off.

[StrifeSnake13*]

If Hideo kojima lets Uwe Boll make a metal gear move, I will shoot my self in the head. Uwe will ruin it like he has done in the past, kojima could do a better job with his eyes closed.

[mkelehan]

Giving him money must be some kind of a tax dodge.

That's quite literally the case.

I think that several people have approached Kojima about an MG movie, and he turned them all down. He said that if there was to be one, he wanted to do it.

[KarmaGhost]

I would be very suprised if Dr. Boll ever had an unique, original thought. Everytime he's asked to describe the different aspects of his movies he references other games/movies.

[B_Money]

I call shennagans. Nobody is this dumb, right?

[Xerxes]

It's like how walmart hires all the handicap and elderly... The government gives the movie stuidos a kick back...

[Adam Blue]

Didn't Ryuhei Kitamura do some Twin Snakes scenes? I might be wrong. Anyway Hollywood movies are so shitty we might as well let Uwe Boll try. Seriously. Movies are rarely good anymore, so who cares?

[Royal Fool]

I don't think Kojima has very much interest in making a movie out of MGS... his games already meet and surpass the traditional movie format in some ways. He and his team have paved the way towards interactive cinema.

Hideo Kojima is the Uwe Boll of game design. How many times does the man need to break down the fourth wall? "Ooooh take me serious because I talk about the evils of nuclear weapons BUT I know you're just playing a game because you just switch controller ports!"

So? Why can't games both have a deep and meaningful plot and also poke fun at themselves? Does that break the immersion, like the fact that it's all happening on your TV as you press buttons?

[Scar]

For those who didn't know, the "tax dodge" aspect is apparently some loophole in german tax law. If the production takes place in germany or has enough german people/companies behind it the initial funder can immediately apply for a tax rebate/return on the monies invested in the project, instead of waiting for much later as is the case with the american system. So if good old Uwe keeps the budget under a certain amount (which he invariably does) and the movie makes a certain amount (which they unfortunately do; I'm blaming YOU for this), the funding partner makes cash right away. Basically it's the german government subsidizing shitty movies.

[Kyle Jones]

Perhaps the Dungeon Siege movie is the most elaborate April Fools joke ever...

[Draft]

Hahaha. What would you say the most meaningful part of MGS is? When you fight the giant robot? or when you play dead using a bottle of ketchup?

[Kefkataran]

If boll gets a hold of the MGS series I will disregard all my claims of genius towards Kojima for good. *shudder*

Hahaha. What would you say the most meaningful part of MGS is? When you fight the giant robot? or when you play dead using a bottle of ketchup?

Because anything involving robots or ketchup cannot have meaning. Either that or you're ignoring like 95% of the games.

[camberiu]

Uwe Boll rocks. I can't wait for him to direct the Half-Life and GTA movies.

[Wyrm]

The reason they go to Canada to shoot is because the actors (extras) arent in a union up there, so they can pay them whatever they want. Hell, they can make them volunteer up there, where as here in America, for certain things, you are required, by law, to use the Actor's labor union. Uwe Boll loves to make em cheap and walk away with a profit, even from a horribly shitty film.

Directors like Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarintino need to pick these games up and roll with them. Just think what a good director could do with a movie like Max Payne for example. Or even Blood Rayne could go from horrible to good in a hurry with a good director behind it. Of course, Max Payne already had great writing to begin with...

They just dont seem to understand that there ARE video game stories worth telling. They dont NEED to be changed to fit a larger target audience. If the movie is good, people will see it. It's that simple.

[Crispy951]

Question: What other games have caught your eye ? What about Splinter Cell?

Boll: Postal and Metal Gear.


Is it just me or does anyone else feel like repeatedly beating your head on your desk when you read what this guy says?

[Cupelix]

17. Will Jason Stratham have a cockney accent?

Dr Boll - He talks normal
The hilarity of this man never ceases. He talks "normal" - what the hell does that mean?

[Adam Blue]

The hilarity of this man never ceases. He talks "normal" - what the hell does that mean?

Probably his normal voice.

Before I judge Peter Jackson I need to see King Kong. As far as I can tell, New Line made LotRs. It told the story...but where's the hint of Peter? Dead Alive was good, but in that case just grab Sam Raimi.

[Deadend]

Wow... Postal... and Metal Gear, I have never heard those 2 games used in a sentance before, well aside from "Metal Gear is a great game series, while Postal is a bad one."

Really good directors will not direct video game movies.

They will simply make their own damn ideas, instead of regurgitating Max Payne which was based on a mix of The Matrix and Noir film, why would anyone make a movie based on it for artistic merit?

It would be a 3rd generation material, based on a game based on movies. Metal Gear would be a poor choice as it is a creative game, yet the pacing and length would not function as a good movie.

I hate to say it... but Uwe Boll seems to have the right idea for picking games... for the most part, as most of the franchises he grabs are games... not cinematic stories that are interactive, or famed for being like a movie.

Game stories are poorly formated to work as a 2 hour film, thus, the more the movie is based on the game story, the more it will suck.

Devil May Cry... good potential for a movie, as it has a bare-bones story.
Shadow Hearts... BAD, lots of dialoge and a long story, bad for movie.
Legend of Zelda... good, simple story where dungeons can be replaced with plot.
Halo ... Damn Good, cool character, and a very basic plot outline.
Ninja Gaiden... Bad, boring characters and odd story do not mix good.

[JazGalaxy]

To be on topic, I think the reason his answers were so short is because he was trying to avoid making quotes that people will laugh at. He really cares what people say about him on sites like this, and by all accounts, he reads them. He's not one of those bizzarre athletes who somehow isn't aware that the world hates him, he knows people dislike him and his work. Somehow, though, remarkably, he actually thinks his work is good. Not perfect, but good. And somehow, also remarkably, he managed to get a DOCTORATE in LITERATURE. The mind boggles...

Off topic, anyone who thinks they would like a Metal Gear movie directed by Hideo Kojima has no idea what a movie by hideo kojima would even BE like. Also, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within isn't remotely bad. It's just very Japanese. The difference between Japanese film and american film is about the difference between Japanese candy and American candy. Americans like things so sweet your face crumples at the taste. Japanese like candy that has more depth to it. Almost an aquired taste. The aftertaste is almost more important than hte taste itself. A japanese movie isn't even to be determined good or not until WELL after you've seen it. Watch The Spirits Within again and forget about it being Final Fantasy for a second (IT's supposed to be called Gaia) and think about the concepts instead of watching for neat and interesting things. You might like it more. (andb you might not. It's not for everyone)

[Tyrant]

Wasn't the Postal movie gig confirmed to be false?

[Kentor]

Also, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within isn't remotely bad. It's just very Japanese. The difference between Japanese film and american film is about the difference between Japanese candy and American candy. Americans like things so sweet your face crumples at the taste.
Blah blah blah, Final Fantasy was a poor movie period. Maybe you didn't realize that "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" was a miserable failure even in Japanese box office. Not even the Japanese film going audience liked it.

Here's a little tidbit to put your comments into perspective: "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" barely scraped past the 1 billion yen mark at the Japanese box office. Miyazaki's "Howl's Moving Castle" made more than the entire Japanese theatrical run of "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" in its first day, and more than all international box office sales for "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" in the first month in Japan alone.

Sure "Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within" was very Japanese, but it also happened to be completely bland to just about everyone on the planet including the Japanese.

[sickfallout]

Part of my soul is dead at the thought of Uwe doing MGS, part of my soul wants him to make it to finally prove to the world what a fucking moron he is. His version of Solid Snake probably has the ability to use "bullet-time" and has to fight zombies.

[Eric_T_Cheng]

The reason they go to Canada to shoot is because the actors (extras) arent in a union up there, so they can pay them whatever they want. Hell, they can make them volunteer up there, where as here in America, for certain things, you are required, by law, to use the Actor's labor union. Uwe Boll loves to make em cheap and walk away with a profit, even from a horribly shitty film.

WTF are you talking about? There are a few actors unions here such as ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artist). The reason why studios come up here is because the lower Canadian dollar and tax incentives by the various levels of goverments.

[Evil Avatar]

Of course, Max Payne already had great writing to begin with...

Yes, because we all know that "Cops family is killed and goes seeking revenge." has never been done in movies, books or comics before.

[Evil Avatar]

I think we are all just jealous that Hollywood is stupid enough to give this guy money, and not dumb enough to give the money to me. ;)

I certainly wouldn't use the money to make video game movies, though. I think I would make a western.

[Zulu107]

Moron is too good of a word for use for him, He has mos def earned the title "The Movie Massacre Maker" I really hate this guy! Hate, Loathe...I could go on!

[Evil Avatar]

To be on topic, I think the reason his answers were so short is because he was trying to avoid making quotes that people will laugh at. He really cares what people say about him on sites like this, and by all accounts, he reads them.

If he reads Evil Avatar.com, we would love to hear from him. Heck, I would like to do a "real" interview with him discussing his movies and what he hopes to accomplish by making all these direct-to-video movies based off games. I'm sure a serious conversation about it would be really interesting.

[Mr.Green]

WTF are you talking about? There are a few actors unions here such as ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artist). The reason why studios come up here is because the lower Canadian dollar and tax incentives by the various levels of goverments.
You beat me to it. Way to come off as an arrogant and ignorant jackass Wyrm.

[mister_slim]

Didn't Ryuhei Kitamura do some Twin Snakes scenes? I might be wrong.
He did in fact recreate all the cinematics. They became very over-the-top, which I assume Kojima intended, but I don't think that style would work well for a MGS movie.

Personally, I think Kojima is waiting until the game engine is good enough to produce a movie with.

[Nikells]

I think we all just have to accept that Uwe Boll churns out these crappy game based movies to make money rather than doing them justice or creating any sort of art.

The fact that he is now Dr Uwe Boll is just hilarious to me though I have to say.

[JazGalaxy]

If he reads Evil Avatar.com, we would love to hear from him. Heck, I would like to do a "real" interview with him discussing his movies and what he hopes to accomplish by making all these direct-to-video movies based off games. I'm sure a serious conversation about it would be really interesting.

I've wondered as well what goes on in his head, and the best interview I've read of his is one where he talks to an internet horror movie site. The site hasn't seen any of his work, and so they are extremely non judgemental and he lets his guard down.

Basically the thing is, he's an idiot, but no more so than 90% of the "creators" and "writers" out there. There's a level that artist have to get past where you're putting your fantasies on paper. He's not past that part. He is a guy who thinks blood is cool, gore is cool, rock music is cool (he likes rammstein becuase they're loud and offensive), and naked women are cool. And, like an ignorant chef, he thinks putting all these things in one dish just makes it that much better. He, really, has the mind of a jr. high schooler. He finds things like pacing and devlopment boring, when you could be having more action and violence. I think he would probably agree with the assessment. He likes things that other people have done... Metal Gear for instance... but he would make it better, most likely, by getting rid of the development and social commentary, and adding more sex and gunfire.

Basically he's a director who personifies the 80's heavy metal concept of life.

[Chill]

If Hideo does make a MGS movie I hope its a Japanese movie filmed for Japanese audiences. Post-modernism is so big in Japan I think a MGS movie could do very well.

[Deadend]

What if Uwe Boll made his own idea for a movie?
and made it into one, instead of recycling recyled ideas.

I would also enjoy reading a good interview with him, maybe about random cool crap, like Rambo and Dukes of Hazard and Transformers, among other 1980s things.

[alienchild]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0093051/

I didn't know he was making a Fear Effect movie as well... mmmm, lesbians

[Last of the Red Hot Mamas]

Boll's commentaries are great to listen to. He comes off as very personable and talks about his own work with an absolute straight face, which results in lots of unintentional comedy. Much more entertaining than the actual movies.

[Kefkataran]

Yes, because we all know that "Cops family is killed and goes seeking revenge." has never been done in movies, books or comics before.

The originality of the story or theme has nothing to do with the quality of writing. You can have an oft-told story that shines damned well because of amazing writing (ala Batman Begins). Likewise you can have a totally original story that just sucks because of the writing.

If Hideo does make a MGS movie I hope its a Japanese movie filmed for Japanese audiences. Post-modernism is so big in Japan I think a MGS movie could do very well.

While I'm sure Kojima wouldn't cater specifically to American audiences, I don't think the man is narrow-minded enough to try and make a film *for* Japanese people. The idea seems sort of silly to me. But, man, what a post-modern classic an MGS film could be.

[NACIONAL]

well at least the alone in the dark main sound track (Nightwish - Wish I had an Angel) kicked major Ass...

thats the only good thing that has came from a Boll's movie

PS: The entire Nightwish Album is incredible... please listen to it... but beware.. this is not stupid Mtv music.

[Kefkataran]

What kind of music is it? At least gimme a genre.

[Kid Moxie]

Oh man, one of my friends actually had to work for Uwe as a PA. He said that Uwe was so absolutely incompetent that people just let him do whatever the hell he wanted so they didn't have to "deal" with him and his stunning stupidity. How he keeps getting hired as a director is beyond me, though I suspect devilry.

[Evil Avatar]

The originality of the story or theme has nothing to do with the quality of writing. You can have an oft-told story that shines damned well because of amazing writing (ala Batman Begins). Likewise you can have a totally original story that just sucks because of the writing.

I think the point I was trying to make is that the story in Max Payne IS crap. The game is great and the story is perfect for an all-action video game, but it totally lacks any sense of character development or pacing or any originality. In fact, they didn't even go so far as to hire a real artist, they just used a wacky photoshop filter over still photos.

It is a giant noir cliche that is fairly painful to sit through a second time.

Max Payne's only selling point was the bullet time and the game was released shortly after the first Matrix movie, when bullet time was still cool enough that you could sell a whole game based on that one concept.

There is a reason the second game flopped at the retail counter.

[Evil Avatar]

The fact that he is now Dr Uwe Boll is just hilarious to me though I have to say.

Perhaps I should also invest in one of those unacredited internet school Ph.D.'s and then I could be, Doctor Evil. ;)

Then, I could remake the same video game a half dozen times and every time it gets a low score I could write 20 page rants explaining why the reviewer didn't "get" the game.

Oh, wait. That has been done. Darn.

[XenonCJ]

3. What kind of fight sequences shall we see?
Dr Boll - Rough brutal battles combined with martial arts action. The kind that is in HERO.

Wow awesome I can't wait to see fight scenes that will apparently START OUT compleatly unbelievable, THEN directed by a man with the mind of a 4 year old.

[Adam Blue]

What if Uwe Boll made his own idea for a movie?

He did. House of the Dead and Alone in the Dark. The next is Bloodrayne. He just gives them video game titles.

[Blue]

What kind of music is it? At least gimme a genre.

Crazy Finnish rock opera metal.

[ninjadan]

I've reread this interview and my brother and I are convinced that this has to be a joke. There's no way someone is that... well... dense! I've got to believe that this interview is bullshit.

[alienchild]

What kind of music is it? At least gimme a genre.

Symphonic melodic metal. They have lots of cool tracks, but I kinda like their older CDs better. If you like Nightwish, you might also like Within Temptation.

I'm more of a Opeth/Emperor/Ensiferum fan myself though.

[Deadend]

He did. House of the Dead and Alone in the Dark. The next is Bloodrayne. He just gives them video game titles.

Oh... well, at least my way there would not be this whole collective gamer guilt about the movies.

Hey, Evil... you mention making the same game 5 times over...

Could you be talking about someone who is... Smart?

[Chimpbot]

I had completely forgotten that Uwe Boll had been picked to direct the Hunter: The Reckoning movie...
That might not mean much to most of you, but to any White Wolf fan...well, to put it simply, we're collectively weeping. Some of us are probably weeping a little blood.
It just hurts that bad...

[Drinking_Buddy]

I had completely forgotten that Uwe Boll had been picked to direct the Hunter: The Reckoning movie...
That might not mean much to most of you, but to any White Wolf fan...well, to put it simply, we're collectively weeping. Some of us are probably weeping a little blood.
It just hurts that bad...

Indeed, Hunter: The Reckoning was one of White Wolf's best ideas. Way different from there goth, angsty teen vampire stuff.

I strongly dought that Uwe Boll will get his hands on MSG, from what I have herd Hideo Kojima was talking with the director of the latest Godzillia movie about a MSG movie. But those are just rumors.

[jpublic]

Wow, this movie's development is like watching a train wreck in action.

[Deadend]

Wow, this movie's development is like watching a train wreck in action.

Oh come on now, train wrecks are nowhere NEAR as painful to watch as this.

[Scar]

Man, Godzilla's over the top cheese mixed with MGS surrealty might be a winning combination. As long as it's the director of the old godzilla movies and not that shitty contemporary one that was shitty (wasn't that emmerich?).

[bapenguin]

wait...wait.....wait....whoa...wait...wait...whoa. ...wait. Metal Gear Solid VS Postal!!!! Huh? Yeah? Right?! you feelin it?!!?! Oh yeah.

[bKangy]

It worries me just as much that he wants to do a Half-Life movie as well. Think about it for a second. What would Gordon become? Some masochistic prick who has a variety of quips for every asshole he dispatches? Would the Xen aliens and marines still be there? I mean, would he actually just replace everything with zombies?

[51|RandoM]

Hate to say it, but Uwe Boll is laughing all the way to the bank while you guys bash him on internet message boards. :-)

I'm not a fan or anything, but I can easily recognize that making good money can be more important than making a good movie. :-)

[Eon]

Perhaps I should also invest in one of those unacredited internet school Ph.D.'s and then I could be, Doctor Evil. ;)

Then, I could remake the same video game a half dozen times and every time it gets a low score I could write 20 page rants explaining why the reviewer didn't "get" the game.

Oh, wait. That has been done. Darn.


You're going straight to hell for that one - I'll put in a good word for you. :)

[Kefkataran]

wait...wait.....wait....whoa...wait...wait...whoa. ...wait. Metal Gear Solid VS Postal!!!! Huh? Yeah? Right?! you feelin it?!!?! Oh yeah.

Oh god yes. YES.

I'm not a fan or anything, but I can easily recognize that making good money can be more important than making a good movie. :-)

Maybe if you're in the fucking financial department. But I'd like to think that's not the case for at least most of the directors I like.

[Xaerin]

My fav:
17. Will Jason Stratham have a cockney accent?

Dr Boll - He talks normal

What the hell is "normal" in the mind of this man??