A lot has kept me from updating regularly, but there's no sense in me lamenting. Of the many things I've been busy doing, besides writing, I've been losing weight, doing artwork, staying in contact with my little brother, enjoying life, and yes, I even helped put a new president in office (woo hoo).As for the whole "GameGen" thang, I did manage to see the new Max Payne film and, while it wasn't everything I was hoping for, (as some of you know from my 2004 interview with Sam Lake, "Sam Lake: The Original Max Payne") it certainly wasn't a waste of time. As far as game movies go, while it didn't seem to impress the critics, it really wasn't a bad picture. I liked it.
My inner sense about the film (as I believe most of Hollywood still doesn't get why their game movies fail) was that the director and producers still don't understand games or gamers, but maybe that's okay. The biggest mistake I believe they made was not allowing the narrative, film noir, dialog voice-over in the background.
As a creative writing and quasi-film major, I certainly understand that many years ago, Hollywood shelved the overused voice-over narrative (for the most part). However, I'm also sure that they didn't understand that it was a major part of the Max Payne gaming experience, because it was the graphic novel and voice-over narrative which kept the story alive and pushed it forward.
Consequently, most of the criticism about the movie was aimed at the viewer being lost. Most people didn't understand that it was the drug providing the special effect scenes in the movie. I know that the director as well as the writer of the script wanted that element to be a mystery, but, from the reactions I read and heard, no one was entirely sure.
Additionally, the story did take a few (much needed) left turns to create a more sensible backdrop. I actually enjoyed the switch to Lapino being an ex-Marine experiment. It made more sense than the creepy Satanist plot in the game. I don't know if Sam Lake had anything to do with the change, perhaps not, but it wasn't a bad change.
Mona Sax was fun! Although, I still saw the actress Mila Kunis, the gal who played the self-absorbed "Jackie" from That 70s Show, but I really thought she did a good job. Perhaps we'll be privy to the shower scene in the next movie?
All in all, I liked the film. I even went back to watch it again, although, my search to find "Sam Lake, the real Max Payne" somewhere in the movie was unresolved. I'd heard that he had a bit part, but I just couldn't pick him out. If they cut him, he was robbed!
Anyway, as for everything else in my life right now, things are great! I just have a little more work on my current 3-part short story (novelette?) titled: "The No Pwn Zone: The Woman Behind Gordon Freeman's Glasses," and then I'll be ready to begin shameless self promotion of my writings and website.
Until then, Sheila says, "happy gaming!"
