Video games lifting likeness - Act I

Cover art

Please note, nothing is representative of actual game.

Majik vs Donald Sutherland

Psyborg vs Kevin Costner

Special Agent vs Humphrey Bogart

Elemental Master vs Jean-Claude Van Damme

Delving into the more obscure.

In 80 Days Around the World vs Tom Selleck

Worlds of Legend: Son of the Empire vs Clancy Brown

Pulsoids vs Ghostbusters

Phantom F4 II vs Double Impact

Guess they didn't like Chad.

Film scenes

To be fair, artists did a good job.

Fire! vs Platoon

Outlaw vs The Outlaw Josey Wales

Stars and characters

Devs were obviously devoted fans.

Chief Mendez - Resident Evil 4 vs Sid Haig

Casey Tarell - Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic vs Sigourney Weaver

Samchay - Fighter's History vs Wes Studi

Queen Bee - Operation Wold 3 vs Pris - Blade Runner

Andrea - Remothered: Broken Porcelain vs Annie - Misery

Kevin Ryman - Resident Evil Outbreak vs Tom Cruise

White - Real Bout Fatal Fury Special: Dominated Mind vs Alex - A Clockwork Orange

Goon - Shadow Warriors (1988) vs Lord Humungus - Mad Max 2

The Kingpin - Kingpin: Life of Crime vs Marsellus Wallace - Pulp Fiction

Combinations

Inevitable.

Laser Squad

John McClane - Die Hard

Lobot - The Empire Strikes Back

Sword of Sodan

Hero vs Christopher Lambert

Heroine vs Sharon Stone

Ax Battler - Golden Axe vs He-Man - Masters of the Universe

Jesus Christ.  That film was BAD.

Regardless, Dolph Lundgren inspired others.

Rogue (1988)

Metamorphic Force - arcade flyer

Wannabe 70s porn star Claude is depicted differently in game.

Comad cloned the erotic 'uncover image' subgenre Kaneko created with Gals Panic, which ironically raped the gameplay of Taito's Qix.

Anyway.

Fantasia
L-R: Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Hudson Hawk, Michael Jackson, Robocop, Rocky and Indiana Jones, specifically The Last Crusade.

New Fantasia
Ignoring repetition, Uncle Fester, Toys, Salman of Saudi Arabia and Saddam Hussein.

WHY?

I will must be a winner!

Big Rigs eat your broken heart out.

Shadow of the Comet

In his quest to witness and photograph the passage of Halley's Comet, here are some of the residents that protagonist John Parker will meet in H. P. Lovecraft inspired point-and-click.

Andrew Arlington - Glenn Shadix

Curtis Hambleton - John Hurt

Doctor Cobble - Vincent Price

Gypsy - Katy Jurado

John Parker - Robert Redford

Jonas Hambleton - Robert Shaw

Jonathan Matthews - Walter Matthau

Mary Matthews - Sharon Stone

Mr Underhouse - H. P. Lovecraft

Nathan Tyler - Jack Nicholson

Obed Hambleton - Willem Dafoe

Thomas Bishop - Robert Mitchum

W.B. Griffith - Charles Laughton

Tobias Jugg - Paul Scofield

Until next time.

Orphan: First Kill - The Glory of Goofs

Assuming you've read my scoop, I enjoyed the first half but stupid twist ruined it for me.

Events pissed me off so much, my hand was forced into doing something I normally wouldn't.

Beginning at the Saarne Instituute.

Security camera feed confirms Anna arrives just after 7am on 26/01/2007.

Date could be important.

For now though.

Later, on the same day, film goes back in time.
In this example 4.49am.

This ISN'T a flashback.

Just before Leena sets Betsy on guard and escapes, time is just after 5.17am.

At least time loop goof now runs in sequence.

(Laughs).

Okay, turning shit up.

Dr. Novotny tells Anna that Leena suffers from a gland disorder which causes proportional dwarfism, halting her growth at around 10.

He explicitly states she's 31.

That's fine, because film is set 2 years before original.

Unfortunately though.

Varava's records confirm she was born on April 20 1976.

The month original takes place is ambiguous, so we assume it must be after her birthday.

More importantly, because prequel begins on 26 January 2007, she'd still only be 30.

Ironically, Gunnar confronts Esther and states 'so what, you're like 30?'

He continues.

"In 2005, she tricked and murdered a family in Estonia."

Script adding year completely fucks everything up.

Note in Novotny's photograph, mother has dark hair and has a son (bottom left).

They must be the Sullivans, right?

Running a comparison check.

Mother is blonde and children are both girls.

WHAT THE FUCK?

Sister Abigail tells John and Kate that the Sullivan house fire was actually arson, and they never found the person who did it.

So we expected prequel to play out how the Sullivans were killed.  But no, we get the Albrights.

Confused? You and me both.

Varava: "She tricked a family here in Estonia into adopting her. When she couldn't seduce the father, she killed him and his entire family."

Yes, a family, meaning only one.

Kate: "Then she burned the house down!"

Even if we pretend Novotny's photo didn't exist and family are the Sullivans, climax still gives the finger to source material.

Leena stabs Gunnar to death and pushes Allen off the rooftop, obviously killing him.

The rest is grossly inaccurate.

1. Leena doesn't try to seduce Allen.

2. Tricia falls and dies after losing her grip on rooftop.

3. House fire starts when oven hob is inadvertently lit as Tricia and Leena scuffle.

Jesus Christ.

Carnage

Varava tells Kate to the best of his knowledge, Leena murdered at least seven people.

Year is not mentioned.

Does prequel reflect grim story?

Not quite.

We know she now killed 'anonymous' family in 2005 and some time later, Anna's predecessor.  Then as far as we're concerned, claimed no further victims until 26 January 2007, where she gave horny security guard something nice.

So before the bastard Albrights (who can't be taken into account), kill count is six.

Okay, seven if you include Anna, but he (Varava) wouldn't know as that happened at her home.

So overall.

Leena - 9

Betsy - 1

Summing up, BOLLOCKS and BULLSHIT.

Orphan: First Kill - The scoop and digest

William Brent Bell prequels Jaume Collet-Serra's 2009 hit.

Isabelle Fuhrman - Leena/Esther

Julia Stiles - Tricia

Rossif Sutherland - Allen

Hiro Kanagawa - Detective Donnan

Matthew Finlan - Gunnar

Summary

Estonia, 2007.

After seducing and murdering a creepy security guard, Leena uses his key card to escape the Saarne Instituute.

Yeah, that's how 'institute' is spelled here, even though Estonian translation is 'instituut'.

To be fair, it's the same in original.

Anyway.

Using a laptop, she searches the missing persons register in America and decides to impersonate a 10-year-old girl named 'Esther'.

So that's how she got her name.

In Darien, Connecticut, the Albrights are informed of daughter's whereabouts and bring her home from Moscow.

Esther's odd behaviour raises eyebrows, but family are harbouring dark secrets of their own.

The Glory of Love

Considering this was from the same guy who masterminded The Boy franchise, I had more fun than expected.

Until the second half...

More soon.

As with many origin stories, scenes copy original, but there is some good gore.

Although she's literally outgrown role, Fuhrman is excellent.

She was 23 at time of shooting between November-December 2020 (25 now), so a combination of cosmetics, body doubles, deaging face and camera angles cleverly retains youth.

"Do you want some candy?"

Fellow patient Betsy can't resist Esther's sweet bribe, triggering a vicious attack.

Predator 2 ref is odd, but whatever.

Knowing that Donnan is on to her, Esther proceeds to kill him.

Before she can apply killer blow, Tricia suddenly appears and unloads gun.

Here's the stupid twist.

Gunnar murdered the real Esther when an argument got out of hand and Tricia protected him, with Allen blissfully unaware.

From hereon in, mummy transforms into a hateful bitch and subsequent behaviour makes no fucking sense.

Seriously, this ruined shit for me.

Another really DUMB thing that happens is a cop pulling Esther over and not finding a little girl behind the wheel the slightest bit odd.

Could pint-sized psycho even reach the pedals?

Maybe.

Before fiery climax, Esther and Tricia's scrap rips off Fatal Attraction and The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.

Ironically, original shares similarities with the former and features a greenhouse, as did the latter.

Bonus round coming soon.

'Probably' everything that Prey ripped off

Now there's no holding back.

Raphael Adolini

Harrigan is gifted flintlock pistol in Predator 2.

Idea was supposed to be used for Predator 3, but poor box office performance ensured sequel never came to fruition.

Shit remained a mystery until Dark Horse imagined how mofo obtained firearm in 1996 comic Predator: 1718.

Pirate is forced to battle mutinous crew over gold.

A watching Predator joins the fight, letting extendable sword do the talking.

Shot in the back by a surviving crew member, Greyback angrily blows attacker away for denying alien its trophy.

With his last breath, he whispers "Take it.."

Out of respect, pussy face leaves pointy stick.

Live-action version gives Naru pistol before Predator cooks his goose.

Chief gives it a once over.

Three crafts arriving above camp during animated mid-credits sequence sets up a potential sequel, presumably with Greyback arriving and taking pistol by force.

Predator

Yeah, let's take a closer look at antagonist.

Mask vs River Ghost - Predators

Keeping with canon, very plausible.

But it smacks of a dude in the Halo universe.

Ripa 'Moramee, as seen in Halo Wars.

Design differs slightly from debut in Halo 2.

To be fair, mandibles and the ability to cloak aren't too dissimilar to Predator.

Rather perversely.

The xenomorph in AVP mockbuster Alien vs. Hunter.

Yes, no?

Retractable shield vs God of War (2018)

Holy Kratos.

Warrior: Predator

2019 fan film features sister Predators Pride and Fury.

Poster

Naru vs Warrior

HA HA HA!

Even without face paint, Amber Midthunder is a dead ringer for Lexsy McKowen.

The day that prequel (originally titled Skulls) was announced in November 2020, Chris R. Notarile wasted no time in firing an email off to Dan Trachtenberg's representatives, which included a link to his short, urging them to not (intentionally or unintentionally) copy it.

Fox's legal team responded stating "The Predator franchise will not infringe any protectable elements."

Oh my FUCKING God.

Next.

Yautja scraps with a grizzly bear.

Predator: Primal - 1997

What happens... do you think?

(Rolls eyes).

Miscellany

Off-screen, Naru decapitates Predator and brings 'trophy' back to camp.

Judging by camera angle, this is likely a nod to King Willie's demise in Predator 2.

But I'm suggesting something else.

Predator: Big Game - 1991
Story concludes with Enoch Nakai (born and raised a hunter among the Navajo) producing head.

Buffalos vs Apatosaurus - Jurassic World

Both wide shots of massacres are in a field.

And my favourite 'coincidence'.

Resident Evil 4

Near the beginning, Naru frees Sarii from a bear trap. 

I'm getting a flashback.

Unless player resists, Leon will rescue anonymous mutt snared in same device.

Later on.

Predator is about to kill Sarii, but clichéd hesitation results in Taabe on horseback surprising bastard with a vicious blow to the head.

Before sodding off for good, dog distracts El Gigante.

Circumstances may be different, but even so.

Nope - The scoop and digest

Jordan Peele's third feature has a broad appetite.

Daniel Kaluuya - OJ

Keke Palmer - Em

Steven Yeun - Jupe

Michael Wincott - Antlers Holst

Brandon Perea - Angel Torres

Keith David - OJ Snr

Summary

In 1998, titular star of sitcom Gordy's Home is startled by a balloon bursting and goes ape shit, killing several human co-stars.

The less said about CG the better.

Chimpanzee spares child actor Jupe and shortly before being shot dead, they bump fists.

Present day.

After their father's bizarre death, horse wranglers OJ and Em inherit his ranch and attempt to make ends meet.

Six months later, business is in dire straits, forcing OJ to sell horses to Jupe, who's since set up Western theme park Jupiter's Claim, where twisted audience pay to hear his story of childhood trauma.

One night, OJ and Em discover what appears to be a spaceship, which initially likes to chew up and spit out horses.

Forget little green men, this bastard is a predator.

The Purple People Eater

Despite beautiful cinematography and excellent performances from Kaluuya and Palmer, I wasn't bowled over.

Em regularly f-bombing felt unnecessary, especially since humour is generally subdued.

The first 30 minutes or so really dragged, but then took off like a rocket.

When Jean Jacket gets peckish, it transforms into a flowery jellyfish with a pulsing green mouth.

Awesome.

Just in case anybody missed Akira nod, Em recreates Kaneda's motorcycle skid towards the end.

Gordy sets up two key themes that ultimately backfire on Jupe.

You can't tame a predator and mankind will risk everything for spectacle.

Meaning of intriguing title is revealed in dialogue.

OJ encounters some odd little beings from afar inside a barn and exclaims 'Nope!'

Turns out they're just Jupe's kids dressed as aliens.

So it was designed as an audience reaction, not the widely speculated acronym Not Of Planet Earth.

Gamble didn't pay off.

For shits and giggles, 'Get Out' is a warning that Chris doesn't heed.

Creature explodes after consuming a giant cowboy balloon.

Really?

Death is obviously representative of what triggered Gordy's killing spree, but taking offence to helium didn't make sense.

Prey - The scoop and digest

Title can be many things.

Films, albums, songs, TV series, a Michael Crichton novel and two video games, released in 2006 and 2017, with the latter considered a reimagining of the former.

Anyway, is Dan Trachtenberg's predquel one ugly motherfucker?

Amber Midthunder - Naru

Dakota Beavers - Taabe

Michelle Thrush - Aruka

Stormee Kipp - Wasape

Julian Black Antelope - Chief Kehetu

Dane DiLiegro - Predator

Summary

The Northern Great Plains, September 1719.

Coincidentally, Dark Horse story Hell Come a Walkin' is primarily set during the same month, albeit in 1863.

Comanche healer Naru yearns to be a great hunter like her brother Taabe.

While out and about, concern in tribal ranks grows as tracks left by an unknown creature are clearly not of this earth.

Naru becomes determined of finding what's responsible and faces a fight she'll never forget.

Mid-credits

In a refreshing change to the norm, animation sequence concludes with three Predator crafts arriving above the camp, setting up a potential sequel.

Kühtaamia

After The Predator, this is exactly what franchise needed.

Original is untouchable, so quality is just below the grossly underrated Predator 2.

Midthunder impresses as female underdog and others didn't particularly irritate.

Antagonist cleaves through enemies with glorious glee and nicely, doesn't have it all his own way.

Makes sense, as 'prey' are proficient in combat.

Goose is ironically cooked by its own mask, and I can't decide whether death was satisfying or dumb.

Taabe stating 'If it bleeds, we can kill it' was pretty cheesy.

A throwaway reference is Naru stepping inside a mud swamp and after escaping, quickly washes shit off.

She obviously wouldn't know trick Arnie accidentally discovered is the perfect camouflage.

Raphael Adolini?

That and more will be explored next time.