Jul 10 2008'Max Payne' Trailer Might Be Best Action Movie Trailer Based on a Video Game Inspired by Action Movies Yet
In an age where many video games are clearly paying homage to the action films that inspired their carnage, I imagine it would be pretty hard to find a way to adapt them into something inspired. The Mark Wahlberg-starring adaptation of Matrixy, John Woo-ish gangster game Max Payne doesn't appear to succeed on that count either, but I will say it at least looks like a generic amalgam of scenes from other, better action movies instead of the usual horrible video game adaptation standard: looking like a horrible video game adaptation. So kudos for that, and further kudos for adding those angel vultures that neither I, in the limited time I spent watching someone else play, or anyone on Kotaku seem to remember from the game. They could have just gone the faithful if boring route, but no, they decided to add some Lord of the Rings wraith-esque elements that will keep Max Payne fan forums buzzing with furious WTFs for weeks. My only real issue is that I find it so hard to believe Mark Wahlberg as a cop after he so thoroughly convinced me he was a science teacher in The Happening.
Thanks to everyone who sent this over.
Reader Comments
1. Rod - July 10, 2008 11:17 AM
Yeah, it looks pretty intense. They seem to have captured the feel of the game, but the angels... you've lost me. I'm a pretty hardcore Payne fan, and I have no idea what's going on there. Still looks good, but I hope they don't go too high-fantasy with it.
2. heath ledger is dead - July 10, 2008 11:22 AM
NOOOOO! not 5'7" marky mark! he's about as intimidating as big bird with an oozie
3. Matthew Lenz - July 10, 2008 11:56 AM
why do they have to 'capture the feel of the game.' why can't they just make a movie that follows the game scene by scene. it was a great freakin game!
4. rtyd6td - July 10, 2008 11:58 AM
did they even bother looking at the actual game? or did they just see the cover and thought "yea i like that red writing PLUS the dude looks like marky mark - lets do this!"
5. Web Escape - July 10, 2008 12:00 PM
Loved the games and will love the movie I hope. Actually looks nicely dark and action packed, not going to win any oscars but who cares?
6. Raj - July 10, 2008 12:00 PM
the angel vultures are probably angels of death
7. Rod - July 10, 2008 12:06 PM
@3
It's Hollywood. They never do scene by scene recreations. I agree with you, I'd love to see it, but I've given up on that dream. Lots of games couldn't be done that way, but with games like Max Payne (and Metal Gear Solid, just to name another) it would be possible. Just don't count on it.
8. Sam - July 10, 2008 12:15 PM
this is fuckin BULLSHIT! Fox are a bunch of assholes! There was a UK indie team already working on a Max Payne film for a long time. Their production looked FAR more promising because it had the exact style of the games (that melancholic vigilante mood) but they were threatened by Fox who simply bought the rights of the game and claimed it as their property.
check out their shorter but FAR more atmospheric trailer!
http://www.payneandredemption.com/blog/index.php?m=04&y=08&d=22&entry=entry080422-200450 (scroll down for download + stream)
9. Nigel - July 10, 2008 1:18 PM
YEAH FOX are assholes for doing business properly. SCREW THEM.
10. Tiffany Leigh - July 10, 2008 1:43 PM
Don't know anything about the game but this trailer's like a "what other movie did I gank it from?" scavenger hunt! Cool!
The Crow (99% night+ back-from-the-dead & vengeancey-looking shenanigans);
Die Hard (Wahlberg hauls ass ahead of exploding offices & bullets; Nakatomi Plaza blows up real good);
Terminator 2 (Wahlberg escapes a bullety building + the helicopter spotlight illuminating one bad-ass MF + one-handed shotgun cocking);
Constantine (someone yanked from building by supernatural/otherworldly creature)
I Am Legend (quick shot of a creature that looks like an albino vampire/zombie)
The Matrix (bad-ass chick wearing Trinity line of clothing, super Slo-Mo and waaaaaaay too much other stuff to mention)
Smokin' Aces (a screamy muscled bald guy)
300 (tinted images of Our Hero)
Sin City (more tinty goodness w/ the red neon signage over monochrome city)
Bourne IdentiMatumPremacy (a supposedly dead hero sinking underwater)
The Devil's Advocate (punchline to trailer with screamy Wahlberg over bad CGI of fire and brimstone re: Pacino's own devilish meltdown).
11. cd - July 10, 2008 1:48 PM
sam, how can you say the payne and redemption one is better? there isn't shit on that clip. the trailer looks good..we'll see
12. Caesar - July 10, 2008 2:01 PM
To #2: I assume you meant 'uzi', as in an uzi machine gun. I don't know about everyone else, but Big Bird with an uzi would scare the living shit out of me.
13. Max GAYne - July 10, 2008 3:21 PM
That trailer for Payne and Redemption looked like boiled horseshit.
14. Stuart - July 10, 2008 3:27 PM
Maybe the film has it's own versions of the nightmare sequences and the angels are part of them?
Anyway, I like Wahlberg, and the I like the style of how it all looks(sorta Sin City in colour), so I might check it out.
15. MOSkito - July 10, 2008 4:21 PM
when hes out of painkillers, he just goes for meth, and durr.. angels of death to the rescue!
16. Turok - July 10, 2008 5:34 PM
Dear lord, that Payne and Redemption trailer looked horrible. Oh, and the "vultures" in the trailer are hallucinations from the drug V.
17. Tards - July 10, 2008 5:46 PM
Hey morons, that "angel" is post-modern cinematic impressionism; ie it's representative not of reality but a manifestation of Max Payne's imagination writ large.
You know, kind of like Snatch, when Brad Pitt is punched to the mat and is shown to be drowning underwater. There was no swimming pool in that boxing ring. Its meant to be a visual analogue.
You guys are retards.
18. uh - July 10, 2008 6:19 PM
come on come on! feel it feel it!
19. uh - July 10, 2008 6:21 PM
hey tards, inform yourself. retard..
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=sarcasm
20. wow - July 10, 2008 6:25 PM
Whoa Whoa Tiffany Leigh.....
Go back to trannyville your ugly ass is not needed in our society or the web.
21. Brandon - July 10, 2008 6:59 PM
I've never played the game, but I have seen the cover. But if I were asked to make a film based on it I would get some people who have actually played the game to help, and I would listen to them. And I would cast the only actor I've ever seen that looks like Max Payne [remember, I have seen the cover]; Michael T. Weiss.
22. George - July 10, 2008 7:38 PM
At least Uwe Boll is not directing it...
23. eeeeek - July 10, 2008 8:58 PM
Holy shit that Tiffany Leigh dude/chic is one fucked up looking tranny. Jesus thats fuckin nasty.
24. Elmo - July 10, 2008 10:54 PM
I.... have NEVER heard of that game! WTF??? how could I not hear about that???
the game must be badass
25. rob - July 10, 2008 11:56 PM
stupid, retread crap
the world doesn't need this jizz
26. NastyBedazzler - July 11, 2008 3:30 AM
That looks surprisingly good. I can't wait to download it.
27. Mr. Mason - July 11, 2008 8:26 PM
There are parts where I can almost pretend that this will be good...then I remember how much better it would be just to get the third installment of the game. The sequel's nearly a decade old now!
Bottom line -- even if this didn't look like the Bourne Identity dipped in Shoot 'Em Up, I'll be damned if I give Marky Mark any of my money.
28. Cody - July 12, 2008 11:38 PM
is that Mona Sax in the lift/elevator?
29. MEL - July 13, 2008 8:56 PM
Anybody notice that it uses Marilyn Manson's "If I Was Your Vampire" for the music, but conviently doesn't use any of his vocals?
30. Zapata - July 14, 2008 9:23 PM
Mark wahlberg really? really? They couldn't get anyone badass?
31. DARKONE - July 15, 2008 12:36 PM
Yo ya he jugado los dos videojuegos y estan muy buenos para aquellos que no han jugado cualquiera de los juegos, viendo el trailer esta pelicula va estar perra. Igual de oscura como los juegoses, pero que no me decepcionen con toda la pelicula igual de oscura como su trailer.
P.S. Tards this guys are morrons they will never anderstand the significant of the angels and they look very cool
32. Pinbacker - July 16, 2008 5:37 PM
Wtf, angels and devils? Isn't Max Payne supposed to be a gritty revenge renegade cop flick? This is retarded.
33. YOU TELL 'EM, STEVEDAVE! - July 18, 2008 3:00 PM
...the angels/devils are all analogies.
Examples? Sure!
"The ragged clouds gave way to the stars above. A bit closer to Heaven."
"I knew the appetites of ghosts intimately. They hungered for revenge."
"The paranoid feel of someone controlling my every step."
"It was colder than the devil's heart, raining ice pitchforks as if the heavens were ready to fall."
"I don't know about angels, but it's fear that gives men wings."
"Snow fell like ash from post-apocalyptic skies."
...I can keep going. But Max Payne is a living mess. His drugs screw with his head and he would make a good writer...oh check this out...Artistic Expression might explain a lot, too.
Happy trails.
34. Waa? - July 21, 2008 10:35 AM
mark walberd... more like Keanu Reeves, hes got the more "stone faced" "one-emotion" "mono-tone voice" personality to play max payne, mark plays the good guy not the anti-hero, not a gud fit
35. yoki - July 23, 2008 9:40 AM
have u even ever played max payne? remember 'ragnarock'? the forever lasting snow? the guy that wanted to ressurect the demons and stuff? those are the demons.
36. Barfly - July 26, 2008 12:21 PM
mark wahlberg?
you have to be kidding.
not interested... can you say; straight to DVD...