Video games have become a rich source of material for Hollywood filmmakers. "DOA: Dead on Arrival" -- about young women invited to an island for a martial arts contest who team up to fight evil -- is the latest film based on a game. Movies based on video games have ranged from the silly, as in "Super Mario Bros," with Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as plumbers running around an alternate-reality New York populated by dinosaurs, to the creepy, such as "Silent Hill," about a darkness that is sucking the life out of a small town.
Stars of such films have included the Rock in "Doom," Jean-Claude Van Damme and Raul Julia in "Street Fighter" and Jeremy Irons in "Dungeons Dragons." Most movies based on games are live action, but some have been animated, including "Final Fantasy: The Spirit Within." Many of these movies involve zombies, including "House of the Dead" and "Resident Evil.
" Some are set in other worlds, such as "Doom." And a few involve other dimensions, such as "Mortal Kombat." And new ones are coming down the pike, including a movie based on the best-selling games "Halo" and "Warcraft.
" There also have been a few over the years that involve characters sucked into video games, such as 1982's "Tron." Here are six films available on video or DVD that take their characters and stories from the pages of video games. "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" (2001) -- Angelina Jolie stars as the buxom adventuress who is in a race to acquire an ancient artifact that could destroy the human race.
Also stars Jon Voight, Noah Taylor and Daniel Craig. There was a so-so sequel, and a third installment in the series is planned. "Resident Evil" (2002) -- Milla Jovovich stars in this film about soldiers sent to a secret lab after an accident turns the scientists and their dogs into zombies.
Also stars Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius and James Purefoy. More zombies abound in the sequel, and a third installment is due in theaters in September. "BloodRayne" (2005) -- Kristanna Loken is a half-human/half-vampire warrior on a mission to destroy the head vampire.
Also stars Michelle Rodriguez, Meat Loaf, Ben Kingsley and Chicago natives Michael Madsen and Billy Zane. A sequel is due later this year. leads a human attack on an alien invasion force that wants to destroy the Earth.
Also stars Matthew Lillard, Saffron Burrows, David Warner and Tcheky Karyo. "Mortal Kombat" (1995) -- Three martial artists are invited to a tournament and soon find themselves fighting evil from another dimension. Stars include Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson, Talia Soto and Trevor Goddard.
There were a couple of sequels and a television show. Another sequel is in the works. "House of the Dead" (2003) -- Teenagers, smugglers and the Coast Guard become unlikely allies after zombies turn an island rave into a smorgasbord.
Stars include Jurgen Prochnow, Jonathan Cherry, Clint Howard and Ellie Cornell. Of course, the sequel had the zombies munching on college students. Robert Bong may be reached at bbong@dailysouthtown.
com or (708) 633-5930. Video games have become a rich source of material for Hollywood filmmakers.
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