Driving

Gran Turismo Year: 2023 Rating: PG-13 Length: 134 minutes / 2.23 hours When I first saw the trailers for Gran Turismo (2023), I had my doubts. I know video game adaptations are in vogue right now, but I couldn’t figure out how a plot about a realistic racing simulation game would even work. On top of this, I had become skeptical of Neill Blomkamp’s directing, with his last few movies being somewhat hit or miss. Fortunately, once someone close to me—who doesn’t usually watch video game adaptations—recommended this film to me, I figured I should give it a shot. I’m glad I did. What helped set Gran Turismo apart from other video game adaptations is like how Tetris (2023) made a movie about a puzzle game that used simple blocks. Neither Tetris nor Gran Turismo has any plot in their respective games, but the stories around and featuring these games are much more interesting. I’m reminded of the Far Side comic where the parents are...

Wreck-It RalphYear: 2012Rating: PGLength: 101 minutes / 1.68 hours One year after the release of the book Ready Player One, Disney also jumped onto the video game setting with Wreck-It Ralph (2012). Both have an astonishing number of licensed characters, even if they're relegated to cameo status most of the time. The larger difference between the two is that Wreck-It Ralph examines the virtual world from the villain's perspective. Redeemable villains have been all the rage for some time, so providing video games as a space to contextualize the concepts of destiny and cultural expectations was a perfect fit. Plot-wise, I enjoyed the video game universe Wreck-It Ralph created—even if there are undoubtedly some plot holes if you take it too seriously. I felt the Sugar Rush section of the film was a little long, but only because it had to deal with an entire other subplot with Vanellope (Sarah Silverman). Sure, feeling like you don't belong because you're a glitch parallels...

Tag: Driving

MOVIE: Gran Turismo (2023)

MOVIE: Wreck-It Ralph (2012)