While we've had movies based on video games in the past, there seems to be a current trend for films which are about gaming rather than taking a property like Street Fighter or Super Mario Bros. and using the plot as a basis for a popcorn-based entertainment. The acclaimed documentary King of Kong arguably paved the way, and there's currently a film in the works which is based on the excellent book Console Wars.
Now we're hearing that the life of Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov could be turned into a movie, with Rush Hour and X-Men: Last Stand director Brett Ratner at the helm.
The movie - should it get made - will focus on Pajitnov's career and his struggle to get Tetris to market. Pajitnov created the game during his time working for the communist Russian government in the '80s, and had to relinquish the rights to the USSR. It wasn't until the mid-'90s that he began to see any kind of financial reward for his efforts, but prior to that Tetris became a global success story, selling millions of units and helping Nintendo to launch the Game Boy in 1989. The story of how Tetris came to be licensed to Nintendo is worth a movie all of its own, and hopefully that shadowy business will be covered by this proposed film.
While some movie-goers might scoff at the idea of watching a film about the making of a game, the story behind Pajitnov's struggle - and the enduring fame of Tetris - could make this one to keep an eye on.
[source venturebeat.com]
Comments 8
Brett Ratner ... Rush Hour 3 and X-Men 3 (The Last Stand) are trash.
Brett Ratner is an ok filmmaker. I do not like him personally (can't stand watching his interviews and behind-the-scenes stuff, he acts like a 12 year old spoiled brat) and his movies aren't masterpieces by any means, but he does know how to make entertaining movies. I figure a biopic based on Tetris would need all the entertainment punch it could get!
I liked Red Dragon & I love the first two Rush Hour movies, he was a good friend to Michael Jackson, there's footage on YouTube of MJ out cruising with him lol
I'm not to fond of the director but it can, if done well, be an entertaining movie. On the topic, I'm sooo glad that I purchased the Game Boy version from the eShop. It's one of the best ways to play Tetris IMO. I'd recommend a purchase but I believe it was removed from the eShop earlier this year
@DarthNocturnal
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak developed BreakOut for the Atari.
Who knows how many other developers from that era could have gone on to greater things.
Even Atari founder Nolan Bushnell regrets turning down a third of Apple for $50,000.
Don't know anything about the director, but if this gets made I'd definitely go see it.
I would rather watch documentaries about the life of the creator of Tetris than a dramatization of it (the ones I saw about his life and Tetris were very interesting and compelling).
It is nice to see that you have finaly mentioned about Alexey Pajitnov.
What i am talking about? I have made account on nintendolife on February 2015. My first comment? To tetris! That you have forgotten about that creators are from Russia. Nintendo didn't make it (tetris). I have been visiting your site since i have bought my 3ds (march 2013).
So, its nice you have learnt something (from about 6 months you haven't forgot about Alexey Pajitnov).
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