General Zelda Zelda Movies

[Twilight King]

I guess this a pretty well-versed topic, and Nintendo seems to be shooting down any attempts of an actual movie, but I thought I'd make a little thread here to see how everyone feels/would feel about a Zelda movie.

First off, what about fan-made films? I've seen my fair share, but only a few are actually movie-length, and among those, I can only think of Hero of Time and Sage of Darkness (If you haven't seen either/or, check them out on Youtube. Of course, I prefer Sage of Darkness just because the plot's a tad better, acting's better, and whatnot, but they're both pretty alright). I actually like Zelda movies, but half the time, it just seems like people like parodying the series to make it funny. That irks me a bit. Sure, I like humor as much as the next guy, but this is a pretty amazing series, and I feel it deserves more.

With that said, and I'll address it more in a bit, I'll move on to actual films. It's a big controversy, a LoZ film, because if you make it, none of us want to see it flop like Percy Jackson and Eragon, to name a couple. Do you have Link speak or stay the silent hero? Do you copy a game's story just to make it more epic on the big screen or make a new, totally wicked stand-alone movie/series of stand-alone movies? Then there's Nintendo. Don't get me wrong, they're, in my opinion, the best gaming company out there, but they seem to stand under the idea that if a movie is made, it won't satisfy them at all, and it'll be awful.

Sure, I can see where they're coming from, but don't you guys think it'd be awesome to go to the premiere of the first ever Legend of Zelda movie? I DO.

Now, I don't doubt that we'll see a movie in the next 30 years, but I just don't want to wait that long, you know? If done properly, I think Nintendo could boost themselves to a new level. Even Need for Speed is being made into a movie...... is there any plotline in those games?

Anyway, I think there should definitely be a LoZ movie made. Until then, I suppose I'll have to watch fan-made movies and yearn.........


But what do you guys think?

 

[penguinboy82]

I personally do not think it should be done. I think that a silent Link (save for grunts here and there) is a large aspect of the game. And, as you said, I too would hate to see it flop. If, somehow, the idea was passed and there was in fact a movie in production, I don't think it would be too far of a guess to think that it could have a completely original story to it. I also feel like it would be difficult to incorporate some of the, for lack of a better term, "Zelda Logic," such as where Link gets his money, etc. I also feel like it would seem like a glorified speedrun of a potential game. Answer this honestly, if you knew there was a fantastic plot to the Zelda movie, wouldn't you rather be able to actually PLAY it and immerse yourself in the experience rather than watch some people on camera go through the same motions with no interaction?

My final point is that it would make some of the dungeon scenes, or drawn-out side quests a little awkward. In actual Zelda games, you have to think, and problem solve in difficult dungeons. In the movie, Link might ponder it for a moment, and then solve it relatively quickly. Finally, for the drawn-out side quests, I'd rather not watch a Link on a big screen run across Hyrule Field for five straight minutes just to deliver a potion to a Goron.

That's my opinion, and everyone is allowed to disagree with it. I'm just saying, I feel like another game for us to interact with would be much more enjoyable than sitting idly by and watching the same adventure play itself out.

 

[Twilight King]

I do agree with you, but I think that, if enough effort were put into it, a Zelda movie wouldn't be based around game logic. I'd see it as the tale of some peasant becoming the hero of time and saving a princess from an evil king of thieves. Dungeons would be irrelevant, but there could still be areas that he had to pass through (for example, a forest, a mountain, and a lake for 3 spiritual stones). It would focus much more on character development, and I couldn't see how one could be made without having Link talk.

So... I think it could be done, and I'd be willing to watch it, if it were done properly.

 

[hctitS]

Answer this honestly, if you knew there was a fantastic plot to the Zelda movie, wouldn't you rather be able to actually PLAY it and immerse yourself in the experience rather than watch some people on camera go through the same motions with no interaction?

Honest answer: No, if I knew there was a fantastic plot to a Zelda movie I would much rather have it in movie form, at least at first. Movie plots are made differently than video game plots just as they are made differently from book plots, they are made to be presented to their audience in separate, unique ways. Where a book may have characters having 30 minute long discussions to move the plot forward, movies push the plot forward by showing what happens and having heavier focus on visuals; both being similar in how they can have times where almost nothing is happening but it still drawing the audience in. Video games are different in that something must always be happening to give the player something to do and hence some of the nuances from a movie or book plot might be lost by turning it into a decent video game.

You also miss a major point about movies: when we watch them, we purposefully give up control and pay attention to how people other than us would react in the situations presented.
Another way to describe this would be like this: in books and movies we learn how others act, in video games we learn how ourselves would act. Both being important functions of the plot.

 

[Salt Dog]

I say Yes.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I totally see a Zelda film being possible. I have always imagined a epic film based off Ocarina of Time in my head for years. I would see the movie split into two parts (child portion and adult portion). Obviously you would have to change certain things here and there to make the story work on screen like having Link actually speak for instance... if it were me I would have him speak very very little perhaps only a couple lines through out the film as having the main character staying mute may not work well (or maybe it could?). Also imagine the Symphony of the Goddesses backing the movie with their score! All in all I think it would totally work... many people thought Lord of the Rings could no way be pulled off and now many look at it as this generations Star Wars.

 

[Cfrock]

The chances of a Zelda movie are slim to none. Nintendo don't want any of their properties adapted to film because of the Super Mario Bros. movie. That movie was such a disaster that Nintendo said, 'Never again'. That's why none of their other properties have become movies and why they won't anytime soon, either. They even bought the rights to a Mario porn parody, to make sure it couldn't be distributed anymore. As a company, they are very protective of the perception of their franchises, and the movie business has been too unkind to them for them to trust it again. Decades of rubbish video game adaptations hasn't given them reason to change their minds on the issue.

If a Zelda movie ever did come along I would probably not pay it any real attention. I'd watch it if I had the chance but I wouldn't make a point of making sure I saw it. Zelda really isn't suited to movie adaptation, I feel. It'd be pretty much impossible to make a good movie with a silent protagonist, so Link would have to be given a character which would immediately turn a big portion of the fanbase against it before it was even released. On top of that, with a franchise revolving around exploration and puzzle-solving and dungeon-delving, a screen adaptation would strip away so much of what we actually like about the franchise that it just wouldn't be worth it in the end. It'd be Generic Action Fantasy, the new 'hit' movie that would feel removed from Zelda at all but possibly an aesthetic level. I hope Nintendo stick to their guns and don't let a movie be produced, but if they did then the only thing that'd really bother me at all would be the fanbase moaning about it no matter how it turns out.

 

[The Jade Fist]

I personally do not think it should be done. I think that a silent Link (save for grunts here and there) is a large aspect of the game. And, as you said, I too would hate to see it flop. If, somehow, the idea was passed and there was in fact a movie in production, I don't think it would be too far of a guess to think that it could have a completely original story to it. I also feel like it would be difficult to incorporate some of the, for lack of a better term, "Zelda Logic," such as where Link gets his money, etc. I also feel like it would seem like a glorified speedrun of a potential game. Answer this honestly, if you knew there was a fantastic plot to the Zelda movie, wouldn't you rather be able to actually PLAY it and immerse yourself in the experience rather than watch some people on camera go through the same motions with no interaction?

My final point is that it would make some of the dungeon scenes, or drawn-out side quests a little awkward. In actual Zelda games, you have to think, and problem solve in difficult dungeons. In the movie, Link might ponder it for a moment, and then solve it relatively quickly. Finally, for the drawn-out side quests, I'd rather not watch a Link on a big screen run across Hyrule Field for five straight minutes just to deliver a potion to a Goron.

That's my opinion, and everyone is allowed to disagree with it. I'm just saying, I feel like another game for us to interact with would be much more enjoyable than sitting idly by and watching the same adventure play itself out.

Its called a montage.

The chances of a Zelda movie are slim to none. Nintendo don't want any of their properties adapted to film because of the Super Mario Bros. movie. That movie was such a disaster that Nintendo said, 'Never again'. That's why none of their other properties have become movies and why they won't anytime soon, either. They even bought the rights to a Mario porn parody, to make sure it couldn't be distributed anymore. As a company, they are very protective of the perception of their franchises, and the movie business has been too unkind to them for them to trust it again. Decades of rubbish video game adaptations hasn't given them reason to change their minds on the issue.

If a Zelda movie ever did come along I would probably not pay it any real attention. I'd watch it if I had the chance but I wouldn't make a point of making sure I saw it. Zelda really isn't suited to movie adaptation, I feel. It'd be pretty much impossible to make a good movie with a silent protagonist, so Link would have to be given a character which would immediately turn a big portion of the fanbase against it before it was even released. On top of that, with a franchise revolving around exploration and puzzle-solving and dungeon-delving, a screen adaptation would strip away so much of what we actually like about the franchise that it just wouldn't be worth it in the end. It'd be Generic Action Fantasy, the new 'hit' movie that would feel removed from Zelda at all but possibly an aesthetic level. I hope Nintendo stick to their guns and don't let a movie be produced, but if they did then the only thing that'd really bother me at all would be the fanbase moaning about it no matter how it turns out.

IDK they keep making pokemon movies. @they'd never let any of their franchises be made into movies

-------------

Now if we're talking Live Action, they might be hesitant.

But just think of how easily OoT can be split up into like 3 movies, maybe not using this as the movie, but as an example. Then there could be use of brining in the child actor.

Zelda always has a bit of humour to it, so its ok for the movie to be self aware, and still be awesome at the same time. I mean the avengers did it, LOTR even did it. LOTR had alot of humor in it.

As far as Link being silent, well he did kinda sort of talk in Skyward Sword (you had dialogue choices), and in ALBW he like talked but no text appeared.

So he doesn't have to be silent.

Though they could do a silent protagonist that has sign language and grunting. It would be much more difficult for the actor to pull off a convincing yet comical hero, but it would also present itself with more opportunity to do so.

I mean his fairy can talk for him, and insult him, and he can leer back at her.

He can sit there and stare at some ropes and blocks pause for a moment, nod his head, and cut the ropes and then a bunch of swinging blades come down, and she can be like "Ya that so much better..." and he can just stare at her as if saying "shut up"

Then of course his villain would have to be trying to trash talk him the whole game, kinda like Gannon in OoT always talks to you. And Gannon would have to at least at one point in the movie say "You're not one much for words are you?" after a bunch of threats and insults that doesn't seam to get a reaction.

I think it could be very possible for a movie to get away with a silent protagonist, that doesn't mean he can't communicate or participate.

edit:
Think Indiana Jones meets Lord of the Rings.

 

[Cfrock]

IDK they keep making pokemon movies.

I hadn't thought about the Pokémon movies but there are two big differences to consider with regard to those:

1) The Pokémon movies exist to promote the anime, not the games. The movies only exist because the anime became so popular in the late 90s. There was already a product that had proven successful and so those movies were low risk because they were all just feature length episodes of the TV show. Having a longer episode of an existing TV show and adapting a franchise to film from scratch are two very different things and the latter has failed miserably for Nintendo in the past. Even these movies are past their prime. As the years have gone on, the Pokémon movies have been released in theatres on a much more limited scale, only showing on the big screen in Japan nowadays and being released straight-to-video elsewhere, which shows waning confidence in their ability to find an audience outside of the franchise's homeland.

2) Nintendo did not create Pokémon. Nintendo does own the franchise but they did not create it and they are happy to have a bit less control over its marketing and promotion than they are other franchises, like Mario or Zelda. Nintendo themselves have total control over the likes of Mario, Metroid, Star Fox, Pikmin, Donkey Kong, and, of course, Zelda, whereas they delegate a lot of the promotion and licensing of Pokémon to The Pokémon Company. Since the early 90s--when you had the Super Mario Bros movie as well as a string of cartoon adaptations that have been largely ridiculed over the years--Nintendo have seemed reluctant to allow their own creations to be adapted to film in any way again.

I won't say it'll never happen, it's just very unlikely at this point in time, especially when making movies is so expensive these days and Nintendo have other things to focus on.

As for the whole silent protagonist thing, any movie based on the franchise would simply have to make Link speak. You cannot have a movie were the main character never speaks and only communicates by looking at his fairy funny. While fans of the series will 'get it', such a thing would get annoying very fast and cause a disconnect between the film and the audience. You could not market a film like that to a general audience, not in this day and age; it would be a disaster.

Link would have to talk if a movie were ever to be made and be even halfway decent. I personally have no issue with Link speaking out loud, but the fanbase is already divided over that issue and the mere fact that he speaks, regardless of his voice or how well he's played or anything else, would turn many people against the film from the off, which is not a good start.

There's no reason to make a Zelda movie. It might be fun to have one but we don't need it and having one would only upset as much of the fanbase as it would satisfy. From what I hear there are some well-made fan-films out there, and I think that's good enough because it gives those who want a film one to watch while those who don't want a film can happily go on ignoring them.

 

[PatChes]

I think a Zelda movie would be possible, even with speaking -- but the voice would need to satisfy the Link vocals we've previously heard (just screaming and short phrases like, "Come on!"). And honestly, I'd go see it no matter what... Even if it looked horrible! We survived the cartoon series, so Zelda's purity has already endured some crap in the past.

 

[CraptainFalcon]

I say Yes.

I know I'm in the minority here, but I totally see a Zelda film being possible. I have always imagined a epic film based off Ocarina of Time in my head for years. I would see the movie split into two parts (child portion and adult portion). Obviously you would have to change certain things here and there to make the story work on screen like having Link actually speak for instance... if it were me I would have him speak very very little perhaps only a couple lines through out the film as having the main character staying mute may not work well (or maybe it could?). Also imagine the Symphony of the Goddesses backing the movie with their score! All in all I think it would totally work... many people thought Lord of the Rings could no way be pulled off and now many look at it as this generations Star Wars.

Eww Symphony of the Goddesses...

Why doesn't Nintendo hire ZREO. They're sooooo much better. I really want to see a Zelda movie. It could work out.

 

[The Jade Fist]

I hadn't thought about the Pokémon movies but there are two big differences to consider with regard to those:

1) The Pokémon movies exist to promote the anime, not the games. The movies only exist because the anime became so popular in the late 90s. There was already a product that had proven successful and so those movies were low risk because they were all just feature length episodes of the TV show. Having a longer episode of an existing TV show and adapting a franchise to film from scratch are two very different things and the latter has failed miserably for Nintendo in the past. Even these movies are past their prime. As the years have gone on, the Pokémon movies have been released in theatres on a much more limited scale, only showing on the big screen in Japan nowadays and being released straight-to-video elsewhere, which shows waning confidence in their ability to find an audience outside of the franchise's homeland.

2) Nintendo did not create Pokémon. Nintendo does own the franchise but they did not create it and they are happy to have a bit less control over its marketing and promotion than they are other franchises, like Mario or Zelda. Nintendo themselves have total control over the likes of Mario, Metroid, Star Fox, Pikmin, Donkey Kong, and, of course, Zelda, whereas they delegate a lot of the promotion and licensing of Pokémon to The Pokémon Company. Since the early 90s--when you had the Super Mario Bros movie as well as a string of cartoon adaptations that have been largely ridiculed over the years--Nintendo have seemed reluctant to allow their own creations to be adapted to film in any way again.

I won't say it'll never happen, it's just very unlikely at this point in time, especially when making movies is so expensive these days and Nintendo have other things to focus on.

As for the whole silent protagonist thing, any movie based on the franchise would simply have to make Link speak. You cannot have a movie were the main character never speaks and only communicates by looking at his fairy funny. While fans of the series will 'get it', such a thing would get annoying very fast and cause a disconnect between the film and the audience. You could not market a film like that to a general audience, not in this day and age; it would be a disaster.

Link would have to talk if a movie were ever to be made and be even halfway decent. I personally have no issue with Link speaking out loud, but the fanbase is already divided over that issue and the mere fact that he speaks, regardless of his voice or how well he's played or anything else, would turn many people against the film from the off, which is not a good start.

There's no reason to make a Zelda movie. It might be fun to have one but we don't need it and having one would only upset as much of the fanbase as it would satisfy. From what I hear there are some well-made fan-films out there, and I think that's good enough because it gives those who want a film one to watch while those who don't want a film can happily go on ignoring them.

The mario bros movie was a product of its day though. Just as many horrible movies were coming out not based on a game.

Donkey Kong did have that cgi cartoon, it was horribly amusing though.

There might not be a reason to make it, but is there a reason not to make it?

As far as a silent main character, now it'd be stupid if they don't try to have interactions, but again it could be pulled off well with the a proper writer and actor. Who would have thought Cast Away with a single character for almost the entirety of the movie was going to be a good movie? That one astronaut one that just came out, i"ve heard good things about too.

Like some kids movies try to have like no talking at all, and thats stupid, and thats not what I'd want out a silent Link.
I mean saying we can't have a silent main character is like saying we can't have a deaf one. That one Steven King movie had a good deaf mute protagonist (can't remember the name of it atm), granted there were other supporting characters, which is no reason to assume Zelda movie with a silent Link can't have other characters.

Plenty of other movies have had main characters with a disability. And some of them were even considered good. I don't think this day and age has to do with it. It really just depends on writing and acting.

 

[Dio]

I do want them to make a movie. I want them to make a good movie. If a movie was made there is two chances, and even if it was bad at least I'll not be able to complain that they did not try.

 

[Salem]

I had a thought the other day, maybe they should occasionally make short films focusing Link and his adventures in the style of Samurai Jack, there's episodes of that show where there's very little talking or even any talking at all. I'm curious to see something like that for Zelda.

 

[Ventus]

Zelda movies could never happen because zelda is a terrible franchise. it has no marketing, no coherent narrative, and the creators do not care for it at all. it is almost entirely fan driven. ridiculous. a zelda movie would flop instantly except among its die hard fans.

 

[Shadow Blade]

A Zelda movie would have to be made to fit a wide audience but even then I'm not sure it would do well, I personally think that the franchise should stick to games as a Zelda movie would have to be big budget and if it fails Nintendo would loose a lot of profit.

Basicaly its not worth the risk at this time.