There are many examples of sci-fi video games that did not turn out well on the silver screen. My favorite example of the absolute failure to adapt a sci-fi video game to movie is the flop Wing Commander. What a great video game and what a complete waste of my time to watch in the theater.

The other day Wing Commander was on TV and I thought I would try stomaching another try at it. I lasted about 15 minutes and had to change the channel. This is coming from someone who loves to watch cheesy sci-fi movies like Enemy Mine, Soylent Green and Mars Attacks!. Remind me to never watch another movie directed by Chris Roberts.

There have been some decent sci-fi movies that have been turned into games. There aren’t many sci-fi video game to movie adaptations however. Keep in mind that there are some good video game adaptations, but I am specifically talking about sci-fi video games.

My top two favorite sci-fi video game adaptations have to be Resident Evil, which is a sci-fi/horror and Doom, which is also a sci-fi/horror. Both of these movies were exciting, enjoyable and kept me on the edge of my seat. It also helps that these movies used great actors and actresses such as The Rock, Carl Urban and Milla Jovovich. By the way Milla, congrats on the new baby (born November 3, 2007).

I need to give an honorable mention to Final Fantasy – The Spirits Within. That was a good adaptation and a fun movie to watch as well.

What sci-fi games should be made into a movie? There are a lot out there. A movie based on StarCraft would be very fun. How about Contra? Even a Metroid movie would be fun to watch.

And what about Halo? That movie has great potential. First it was official, then canceled and now it seems it may still yet become a reality. Gears of War is another video game that is slated to become a movie in the near future (2009).

No matter what you think about sci-fi video games, they have a large fan base. Something Halo 3 has proved to Hollywood is that as video games make a lot of money. There is plenty of money to be made in making those games into movies. There is already a guaranteed fan base, and as long as the movie is well made, it will be very profitable.

I can still remember seeing the first episode of Star Trek TNG that aired I believe September 28, 1987. I was only 11 years old at the time, but became an immediate fan. I even remember getting a poster of the Enterprise NCC-1701-D by sending in UPC codes into Cheerios. That was pure bliss! I think I’m getting a little nostalgic now.

I now own all seven seasons and went to all the movies. I was pretty sad when Star Trek X Nemesis did so bad in the theaters. I then heard that it was the end of the movies for Star Trek. I was pretty sad.

I am pretty psyched that there is a new Star Trek movie being made about the TOS crew back in Starfleet Academy. This is what the IMDB has to say about the movie:

“A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members during their time at Starfleet Academy.”

I am a little nervous, however. I don’t know many of the guys being cast for the old crew. I just came across an article at CNN talking about how Chris Pine has been cast as James T. Kirk. I have never head of Chris Pine.

They did, however, cast two guys I really like! They cast Carl Urban as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy. I have been a big fan of Carl Urban since Lord of the Rings. He played Eomer.

Karl Urban has been in a lot of great movies I love to watch such as Doom and one of my favorite Sci-Fi movies Chronicles of Riddick. He plays Lord Vaako in that film. I could go on for hours about the Chronicles of Riddick. I will have to save that for another post!

I am also VERY excited about Simon Pegg playing Scotty. That will be awesome! He did such a great job in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz.

I’ll keep you all updated about this movie as I find out more information. I’m not aware of any trailers being out yet. It appears to be slated for release December 25, 2008. Where can I get tickets?