"Halo" Movie Frag Count Builds as Studios Back Out

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Geekdom cannot survive such a letdown. WE NEED THIS MOVIE!

...I really hope you picked up the sarcasm there...

Oct 20 - 12:14 PM

Timothy Taylor

[b]Thats what you think...[/b]
Have you ever played Halo? Probably not...and if you did you probably didnt do so good. : ( Anyway, that aside...Why dont you go hide in your little "Im not geeky" corner, and laugh about how Halo sucks, and your sarcasm is brilliant...Get a life loser. Halo is a highly anticipated movie...Its people like you that raise question. 3,000 dollars says that you will see it when it comes out...Be sure to let me know how it is...

Mar 28 - 01:39 PM

Tom Jones

The ridiculous thing is that, as far as movies are concerned, 200 million isn't that much anymore. Especially for a franchise with a base as large as Halo's; it'd most likely make that back in a month domestically.

Oct 20 - 12:56 PM

Trevor McKee

200 million is still a lot. King Kong Topped out at 185 or so. Not many projects, even today, reach that mark. And to assume that just because it's Halo it'll recoup it's costs in a month is insane considering all of the video game-movie flops there have been.

Oct 21 - 08:48 AM

Matanuki .

Considering the size of the Halo fan base and the people behind the production of this film, it's hardly insane to assume it'll make back the budget quickly. No matter what they do, I highly doubt we're gonna get a repeat of Resident Evil or Doom.

Oct 21 - 10:09 AM

Ham Sack

I'm actually really dissapointed about this. Not because I'm a fan of the game (which I'm not), but because I was really happy about Blomkamp directing, seeing as how is a young, fellow South African ;P And I really wanted to see what he's capable of.

Anyways, here's hoping they'll get someone else to finance the film

Oct 20 - 01:41 PM

Nogard64 64

DUH!

Seriously with how bad hollywood is doing they are way cautious now. And come on how many of you are seriously going to say "hey guys we all have to see Halo this weekend?" or "Hey sweety (your g/f) I really want to go see Halo"

If you are comfortable with saying that out loud, then just make sure you wear clean suspenders and a new pocket protector when you go see the movie.

Oct 20 - 01:57 PM

Tyler Jones

You're dumb to think that the only people that play games and are comfortable admitting that they do are nerds. Pretty much everyone in the age 13-21 loves Halo. Guys and girls. All different types of people. Go castrate yourself so you don't reproduce.

Oct 20 - 03:11 PM

Matanuki .

That's an unfair and grossly inadequate stereotype.

Oct 21 - 10:04 AM

john stevenson

How are you gonna call halo fans dorks when your picture is Hot-rod from The 86 transformers movie? Don't get me wrong, transformers rocks hard, but damn dude...dont hate on one of the best video game series of all time, not to mention the best first-person shooter, at least at the time of the first one's release. Not to mention an involved and entertaining story line. This movie could combine the space marines from the "Alien" series with the bad *** from "Terminator" along with political intrigue from the type of movie i dont watch.

Jul 29 - 02:24 PM

Merlin Ambrosius

You know, profit percentages are getting out of hand. It's making it difficult to finace movies anymore, especially big blockbusters. Imagine asking someone for up to $200 million, and you and your friend are going to take 45% of the profit. That's insane. Who in their right mind would take such a deal? Apparently Fox and Universal got wise and backed out.

Oct 20 - 02:47 PM

Timothy Maddocks

Meh. I don't see how a film adaptation of just another dumb shooter (albiet, a highly entertaining one) will make a great film.

Oct 20 - 03:59 PM

robin thompson

Crap. Well.. I was also skeptical of the director, but $135 is a reasonable amount for a sci-fi story of that scale, and the two studios are splitting it anyway, and they already agreed to the contracts, so it's pretty lame to back away now.

On the other hand, I never understood why they wanted studio backing anyway. All Fox and Universal were providing was the money, which is not something Microsoft is short on. Hell, that company is probably richer than all of Hollywood put together. Especially now that Jackson's production unit is already attached, and seems passionate about it, I say they just self-finance the picture. They'll get a better movie that way anyway, since they won't have to deal with meddling executives. Then they can shop for distributors at Sundance like all the other independants, and watch Fox and Universal come crawling back for a piece of the pie.

Oct 20 - 07:00 PM

Jar Jar Binks

[b]Maybe I should actually play this game...[/b]
Good point. That price would be only slightly larger than a drop in a bucket for MicroSoft, they could've done so and turn to the studios for distribution.

I'm interested to know what the details of that backpoint plan were to make a couple bigshot studios to back off.

Oct 21 - 04:39 AM

Shahbaz Sarwar

Would you like a piece of pie? FRANKY, I think you should have a piece of pie!

Oct 21 - 01:46 AM

Brian Lorenzo

umm.... yeah IT'S FREAKING MICROSOFT AND PEATER JACKSON AND THEY ARE GONNA TELL ME THAT THEY CAN'T DISTRIBUTE THERE OWN GODDAMN MOVIE!!!!!!!! fuck you, i call bullshit. i think they just want the studio name for easier ticket sales, when in reality if you multiply the number of people who love Halo by the $10 ticket price, then i think that they are gonna make back double what you put in the movie, even if you actually make real living Covanant soldiers.

which i bet microsoft is working on for the halo 3 promotions.

Oct 21 - 07:43 AM

glenn welsh

i have faith in Peter Jackson, but i'd have more faith if he were directing, not just producing. anyways, maybe New Line would be interested in distributing.

Oct 21 - 11:52 AM

Brandon Adams

[b]...[/b]
Unless Jackson and Blomkamp really are trying as hard as they say they are into making a great adaptation, then this news will hit as a disappointment. Hollywood is no longer concerned about the quality of a film anymore. It's all about money and Universal and Fox are starting to worry that this will be a flop. I highly doubt this will flop if it's marketing and overall quality is done properly. Besides Silent Hill, then hasn't been one great video game adaptation. Let's hope Jackson and Blomkamp can change the views of how people see these types of films.

Oct 21 - 03:34 PM

Matanuki .

I hope they keep the song from the game. Imagine how awesome that would be for a trailer! The whole "aahhhhh ahhhhhhh......" lol.

Oct 21 - 05:14 PM

Jaja Jaja

2008 my ass.

Oct 21 - 05:57 PM

First Last

i could really care less. the first game was alright. the second game was mediocre. no matter what video game it is, they rarely make awesome movies.

Oct 21 - 08:00 PM

John Wong

Cant say im not surprised by universal and fox's decision to withdraw from this project. In my opinion I always thought the budget was gonna be a problem. How can someone create a monster of a movie like this with a low budget? Its impossible. Now the big question is, is any other studio going to want to touch this one. I know i wouldn't

Oct 21 - 08:41 PM

Kurt Farschman

Video game movies have been pretty disappointing. Some of it is the choices, but most is in the execution.

I can think of one movie that if done with the same dignity, and quality of the game could be huge, critically acclaimed and award winning. The problem is it isn't the most popular game, but may be one of the best games. It's not just it's fun to play but it's beautiful, awe-inspiring, epic, and has a really good hook to grap you (and non players for the movie). Shadow of the Colossus. If you've never heard of it here's the plot synopsis:

A nameless young man brings a dead woman to a forbidden, mystical land inhabited by colossal stone creatures and is told by a being known as Dormin, that to revive the dead, he must destroy these legendary stone creatures. However, he is told that the consequences may be dire...

Both epic and personal tragic story, beautiful scenery, music (best I've ever heard in a game, and even movie), and amazing action (fighting giant beasts made of rock, metal, and fur with a sword, bow and arrow, horse, climbing ability, and strategy). It would be a little unconventional because there would barely be dialologue, and need times of travelling and silence and just beautful cinematography of locations and scenerey to really capture the grandeur and isolation needed to make the story more effective. I can picture the fight/action scenes and if done right could out do anything anyone has ever seen. I think they should also use the creator of the game, Fumito Ueda, as a director or atleast be always available on set. Also use the music, don't even think of using different music. There aren't many characters and should be unknowns so they don't have to use the budget on over paid actors..

I didn't mean to write that much about it, I doubt it would ever happen. But it would be good. Screw it, I'll make it! Off to find independantly rich 'Shadow of the Colossus" fans! lol. Anyone have Fumito Ueda's number?

Oct 21 - 09:24 PM

Merlin Ambrosius

This movie isn't going to flop, but it won't re-write box-office history either. It'll do well the first weekend, but ten bucks says that after that, sales drop off considerably. The fans will support it, which will make for a large opening day, but what are you left with? Predator 3, that's what. It's just a shooter movie. I can't imagine it doing ASTOUNDING.

Oct 21 - 09:27 PM

Matanuki .

No way, Merlin. If done well, and we can expect no less from a team that includes both Jackson and Washinton, then the Halo film will be far more than the moderate success that you predict. The colossal popularity of the game asside, look at the fanbase that Washington and Jackson bring in by default. The studios are ran by irredeemably stupid people, a fact further proven by them pulling out of this film. And I take comfort in the fact that they will soon be kicking themselves in the ass yet once again when this film comes out to blow them away.

Oct 26 - 09:30 AM

Etienne Brossard

[b]$200 millions[/b]
Hmmm for Halo to make $200 millions at the Box Office at $10 a ticket, 20 millions people would have to see it. Halo might be popular in the gaming world, but not that popular... With a big first weekend it could reach the $200 millions mark, but I doubt any much higher.

Oct 22 - 04:42 AM

**** off

I'm more worried by the "half-film, half-game" that they're planning to release in conjunction with the film. We're getting Halo 3 and Halo Wars, we certainly don't need a rushed game made for a movie that was made from a game. Pointless.

Oct 22 - 04:49 PM

peter liu

[b]game versus movies[/b]
games do not tanslate very well to movies because most game fans to recapture that video game experience in the respective movie. However, it is relatively impossible because two completely different media.

Oct 25 - 12:44 AM

Jar Jar Binks

If a couple of theme park ride -based movies can become megablockbusters, there's still hope for videogame movie appeal (aside from aesthetic aspirations, if any). But fans of the game may have to suck up to the harsh reality of what worked for [i]Pirates of the Caribbean[/i] may need to be included in [i]Halo[/i], including "stars" like Paul Walker and Chris Evans and a fan-dreading/mass-appealing PG-13 theatrical version. If that came to pass, would you whine now and wait for the unrated HD-DVD?

And could everyone just stop saying "I have faith in Peter Jackson"? Not that I don't, but holy redundancies, enough already!

Oct 27 - 08:06 AM