Dante’s Inferno: EA Developing Game Based On Dante’s Inferno.

I fully expected a movie of Dante’s Inferno to come out and then, possibly, there would be a video game based on it. But like the essence of hell itself, everything is backwards; a video game is being made first, then a . . . → Read More: EA Developing Game Based On Dante’s Inferno]]>

Dante’s Inferno: EA Developing Game Based On Dante’s Inferno.

I fully expected a movie of Dante’s Inferno to come out and then, possibly, there would be a video game based on it. But like the essence of hell itself, everything is backwards; a video game is being made first, then a movie based on it.

This has the potential to be great, except for the fact that most all video-game-to-movie adaptations completely suck. See the Nostalgia Critic for proof. What it takes to be great is dependent on the skilled hands of a good director (for the movie … and a great director/developer for the game).

A movie based solely on the poem could be quite good and interpret Dante’s vision for the modern day and could even transcend its own art. The game will only be concerned with action and fighting your way through the levels of hell. What the game will miss is the inherent love story that provides the motivation for Dante the character (and the author). I always envisioned a story that goes something like this: Dante loves Beatrice. Beatrice dies. Dante falls into despair, letting go of his faith. Beatrice, moved by his love and concerned for him and his soul asks God to help him. God puts Dante through hell (literally) so that Dante can recognize what his own life, his very self, could become if he doesn’t change. Good setup for a movie, not so great for a game.

The game’s story probably won’t go that deeply. Its premise need nothing more than: “You’re in hell, fight your way out from beginning to end.” The movie, would need a little bit of that, too, actually. There would need to be some supernatural action (add that to the deep story and great characters, you got a great movie). But if that’s the premise of the game, and the movie will be based on the game, then I think we’re going to miss a great opportunity here.

All I need to do is write that movie script of Dante’s Inferno that has always lived in the back of my mind. Where the hell will I get time for that? And if this game/movie idea is already in motion, my time is pretty much up. I can relish all I want in the potential of this project, but it will not/could not live up to my expectations. So, I just gotta go into this with the right frame of mind: this is gonna blow!

P.S. And in case you missed this news, Heaven, the Game, is coming out, too. … OMG …

Since my old blog, Todd Man Out, got wiped, this is one post I wanted to bring back from the dead. It’s a keepsake. I had a quick discussion about yams today and how they are different from sweet potatoes. True or not, it makes no difference in my level . . . → Read More: The Yam Song]]>

Since my old blog, Todd Man Out, got wiped, this is one post I wanted to bring back from the dead. It’s a keepsake. I had a quick discussion about yams today and how they are different from sweet potatoes. True or not, it makes no difference in my level of disgust for them. So, let’s do this one more time:

The Yam Song

I love to eat some chocolate chips
And smack them on my lips
I love the way that Whoppers taste
I eat them fast, in haste

Honey Buns are good with glaze
Sends me in a daze
Rolls of Cake, from Swiss they come
Makes a dinner done

Taco supper is the best
Beats out all the rest
But, a certain veggie invades my feast
To which I’d rather drink some grease

It grows inside the ground below
Not a friend, a dreaded foe
Disguised in name and shape and look
To something that is normally cooked

It’s pulled from Earth to torture kids
And those who never tell a fib
It’s not a steak, an egg, or ham
But goes by the name, the disgusting YAM

Don’t say that word, oh please do hush
It’s another word for barfy mush
It’s sometimes called a Sweet Potato
Don’t be fooled, that ain’t no tater

It’s hardly “sweet” in all that gunk
Nor is it a “potato,” yams are junk
Taters are white and made to French fry
Yams are orange, same as puke pie

But oh my sweet tongue, the worst thing of all
The awful thing I wish not to recall
Is when they serve it, with things they think dandy
And make the impossible claim
“It tastes like candy”

So keep your yams away from me
Content without them is what I’ll be
Don’t ask if I like them, to that I’ll say
“YAMS ARE POISON, SO KEEP THEM AWAY!”