If you could make a movie adaptation for a shmup

[EinhanderZwei]

Last night watching Top Gun for 150th time in my life (it's an awesome movie, period) I've thought: 'What if all that took place in the future? What if Kelly McGillis was a pilot too, flying the support craft to refuel and reload Tom Cruise's spaceship? Wait a minute, that would be Gate Of Thunder'

So let's forget the existence of Uwe Boll and just think, which shmups could have really good movie adaptations? My list:

- Gate Of Thunder - see above
- Gairares - it's story is pretty tough, I can even come up with the tagline: 'Three possible outcomes. Two involve the destruction of Earth. One pilot to choose our future'
- Any of the Thunder Forces - *sigh*
- NES Star Soldier or Starship Hector - well, the one that involves timetravel and stuff
- Out Zone - I know, that's cheating
- Tyrian - of course

And here are some shmups that despite all their divinity cannot be translated into movies at all:
- Soldier Blade
- Einhander
- R-Type

[MathU]

Gunbird 2. Make it happen.

[xris]

Solaris

[Voxbox]

What I'd like to see in a shmup based movie would be the psychology of the pilot, such as loneliness, duty and mortality.
And of course the whole journeying through a strange and fantastic world part.

Games like Gradius/R-Type/Ikaruga could fit perfectly.

I wouldn't want to watch a CG ship blowing stuff up for an hour, or a bunch of support characters that aren't really in the game.

[spadgy]

The plot of and aesthetic of Xevious really deserves a movie.

Progear would make an incredible looking film.

And turning the topic in on itself, I'd love to see the 1930 WWI movie Hell's Angels made into a shmup!

[esreveR]

Um, Raiden. The music is great, so I'd imagine that a movie to go with it would be even better.

Would anyone want to see Dimahoo turned into a beat-em-up or fighter?

[DMC]

first, exclude all games with multiple loops and boss milking.
second, call John Travolta.
third, ask what he thinks.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Progear would make an incredible looking film.

In terms of the looks, Last Exile should suit your needs (make sure to watch it with the original, Japanese voice acting). Man, am I glad Last Exile doesn't share Progear's plot...

[Dragoforce]

Metal Black.

The plot of and aesthetic of Xevious really deserves a movie.

I think there is a Xevious anime actually, at least I got a flyer from it.

[Observer]

first, exclude all games with multiple loops and boss milking.
second, call John Travolta.
third, ask what he thinks.

FEVER! Heaven is here inside my soul!

Mushihimesama made by Miyazaki. A more realistic (and properly dressed... or not) Recco, bigger and greater bugs and ridiculously detailed animations on everything. Make it happen.

Ketsui with Bruce Willis, Stallone and Schwarzenegger as the pilots spewing one liners and shooting choppers and stadium robots while they shout EVAC and it's all about an oversized alien bee that meets Ultraman and Gamera.

The Ray Force series done by the Macross guys. Kawamori and Itano are a must. In fact, any shooter with enough missiles and ships needs a Macross-like version. Actually, just cut all the story, make it last 40 minutes of insanely detailed and ridiculously well animated (preferably non CG'd) Itano Circus and other impossible aerial pew pew and I'll be happy.

[EinhanderZwei]

What I'd like to see in a shmup based movie would be the psychology of the pilot, such as loneliness, duty and mortality.
And of course the whole journeying through a strange and fantastic world part.

Games like Gradius/R-Type/Ikaruga could fit perfectly.

...or Pulstar. With the reenaction of 'continue' screen, of course!

[ROBOTRON]

RSG of course. I don't read japanese well enough to follow the story but it looked interesting.

[emphatic]

Dangun Feveron.

[orange]

zero wing bitches

[kengou]

I always thought the plot of DP/DDP was interesting enough for a movie.
DP:

the player assumes the role of a pilot whose mission is to actually survive an eight years long training mission, where he/she is supposed to prove his/her worth as a fighter and gain entry to the future elite squadron known as the DonPachi Squadron - which is featured prominently throughout the entire series. The twist lies in the fact that the enemies are, in truth, the player's very own comrades, posing as enemies and sacrificing their lives for the sake of allowing only the most skilled pilots to pass the test, and survive.

DDP:

the 1st loop ends with the commander telling the pilot that he was destroying fellow forces without knowing it, and the "mechanized alien" that the pilot had destroyed was a lost fleet that the pilot had learnt about from the academy. It was all part of the commander's plan, where the pilot will ultimately be destroyed by an advanced fleet of fighters after his mission was complete.

If the player completes the 2nd loop, the game ends with the pilot realizing that the DonPachi's goal was to annihilate the human race. Ironically, the existing problems of overpopulation, environmental pollution, and arms races were solved by this war. The pilot suspected this was DonPachi's plan, but this theory could not be confirmed.

With some fiddling I'm sure either or both of these could be adapted into a serviceable movie.

[Skykid]

Mushihimesama made by Miyazaki. A more realistic (and properly dressed... or not) Recco, bigger and greater jugs

Fixed.

Seconding a Progear animated movie, by studio Ghibli of course (who else?) with some real ott character driven drama and near death dogfighting.

I thought Gradius V too, but then realise it would be killed if you ever saw vic vipers face. That would be criminal.

[Ed Oscuro]

Armed Police Batwider climinal team or Garegga (terrorism, omg)

The old Toaplan games actually had some nice movie-like moments, Fire Shark in particular (including the guy who tries to join you and also the shark that swims alongside you for a while). Fire Shark's Genesis Vidpro card (and I guess the game box?) had a storyline where you're a "ghostly fighter" or something, that could be fun.

Most of the other choices in this thread are emo extreme and would be hateful.

[njiska]

I always thought the plot of DP/DDP was interesting enough for a movie.
DP:

the player assumes the role of a pilot whose mission is to actually survive an eight years long training mission, where he/she is supposed to prove his/her worth as a fighter and gain entry to the future elite squadron known as the DonPachi Squadron - which is featured prominently throughout the entire series. The twist lies in the fact that the enemies are, in truth, the player's very own comrades, posing as enemies and sacrificing their lives for the sake of allowing only the most skilled pilots to pass the test, and survive.

DDP:

the 1st loop ends with the commander telling the pilot that he was destroying fellow forces without knowing it, and the "mechanized alien" that the pilot had destroyed was a lost fleet that the pilot had learnt about from the academy. It was all part of the commander's plan, where the pilot will ultimately be destroyed by an advanced fleet of fighters after his mission was complete.

If the player completes the 2nd loop, the game ends with the pilot realizing that the DonPachi's goal was to annihilate the human race. Ironically, the existing problems of overpopulation, environmental pollution, and arms races were solved by this war. The pilot suspected this was DonPachi's plan, but this theory could not be confirmed.

With some fiddling I'm sure either or both of these could be adapted into a serviceable movie.

My first thought as well. You could do such a psychological mindfuck with that plot as it really questions basic morality. Of course, it's also a completely ludicrous story and making it plausible enough for film would be quite the feat.

Mushihimesama made by Miyazaki. A more realistic (and properly dressed... or not) Recco, bigger and greater bugs and ridiculously detailed animations on everything. Make it happen.

That's an interesting thought. The world is one Miyazaki could really run away with.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Seconding a Progear animated movie, by studio Ghibli of course (who else?) with some real ott character driven drama and near death dogfighting.

You guys really think much of Progear's plot? As you can guess I'm not picky when it comes to stories in shooty games (who is?), but Progear is just too silly to make something big of it. By the way, Last Exile's got freaking sweet dogfighting and fantastic plot. You can't go wrong with that show by any means.

I thought Gradius V too, but then realise it would be killed if you ever saw vic vipers face. That would be criminal.

At least one of Vic Viper's pilots had a name (James Burton). No need to show the pilot's face, though. He could wear a head-gear of sorts.

[robthebanks]

Armed Police Batwider climinal team or Garegga (terrorism, omg)

this

[MathU]

A Batrider movie could be pretty neat. I think it would be a lot like the hoverbike scenes from Judge Dread.

[esreveR]

Armed Police Batwider climinal team or Garegga (terrorism, omg)

this

The whole idea of the Wayne brothers destroying their own creations is indeed pretty darn cool too.

[SFKhoa]

An -actual- adaptation of Gunhed plz.

[Nate]

"The Last Starfighter" was OUR "Lord of the Rings"...

[brentsg]

I don't know if it would be any good, but at this point they could make Ketsui into a drama, or maybe a Greek tragedy.

[ncp]

Dodonpachi. It'd be non-stop action. Because if the action stops for more than 2 seconds... the chain breaks.

[Ed Oscuro]

I always thought the plot of DP/DDP was interesting enough for a movie.
DP:

the player assumes the role of a pilot whose mission is to actually survive an eight years long training mission, where he/she is supposed to prove his/her worth as a fighter and gain entry to the future elite squadron known as the DonPachi Squadron - which is featured prominently throughout the entire series. The twist lies in the fact that the enemies are, in truth, the player's very own comrades, posing as enemies and sacrificing their lives for the sake of allowing only the most skilled pilots to pass the test, and survive.

DDP:

the 1st loop ends with the commander telling the pilot that he was destroying fellow forces without knowing it, and the "mechanized alien" that the pilot had destroyed was a lost fleet that the pilot had learnt about from the academy. It was all part of the commander's plan, where the pilot will ultimately be destroyed by an advanced fleet of fighters after his mission was complete.

If the player completes the 2nd loop, the game ends with the pilot realizing that the DonPachi's goal was to annihilate the human race. Ironically, the existing problems of overpopulation, environmental pollution, and arms races were solved by this war. The pilot suspected this was DonPachi's plan, but this theory could not be confirmed.

With some fiddling I'm sure either or both of these could be adapted into a serviceable movie.

A servicable postmodernist poem, maybe. Movie? Well, then again there have been movies about giant robots that shoot their fists off at each other, so...

[gs68]

Thunder Force V has an elaborate enough plot to make a decent adaptation.

[BIL]

If R-Type Final was a CG movie with a bonus Delta superplay DVD, I'd own it.

[Gespenst]

Zero Wing with live AYBABTU scene.