There are people who will tell you – no, proudly crow to you – that the video game Shadow of the Colossus made them cry. They will hold this game up as the proof that video games are Art. You know, with a big A*. The world, it turns out, needs all types. Even these types**.
Now Shadow of the Colossus, a game based on the compelling narrative concept of finding giant monsters and killing them one after another (but, like, feeling bad about it. That’s where the Art comes in), is being adapted into a movie. And commensurate with its stature as a work of Great Art, Shadow of the Colossus will be adapted by Justin Marks, the genius who wrote Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li and who is adapting most of your 80s toychest into films, including that other Great Art, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.
Shadow of the Colossus is set up at Sony, which makes sense since the game came from that company’s video game arm. There’s no release, director, cast or anything. Isn’t Justin Marks enough for you people?
* The problem with these people is that they’re not satisfied with being able to say ‘Video games don’t have to be just button mashing and mindless violence.’ They need a deeper level of validation for their hobby. I spend literally hours and hours a week playing Rock Band (I’m an addict), but I can simply say that I have fun playing it. I don’t need to create some sort of elaborate construct of depth to justify the time I spend with the game.
** and yes, in advance: I am aware that Guillermo del Toro is one of those people. I love Guillermo and respect the hell out of him, but it doesn’t mean we agree on everything.