Home Entertainment Midweek Movie Mouth-Off: board games as movies

Midweek Movie Mouth-Off: board games as movies

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This may come as a shock (especially to Kervyn who’s probably going to fire me now) but, despite what I claimed otherwise to land this gig, movies and TV aren’t my biggest passion (sorry Kerv). That honour really belongs to board games. So news like Warner Brothers landing a director for a Dungeons and Dragons movie obviously interests me a fair amount.

I echo Craig’s sentiment that a movie based on Dungeons and Dragons isn’t exactly a thrilling concept. Yes, there’s a lot of lore, but almost no set story, your D&D experience is only as good as your Dungeon Master – and your rolls. Besides, the track record of board games as movies hasn’t exactly been a good one, with one of the most stand-out entry being 2012’s Battleship – a movie that basically shared its name with the board game that “inspired” it and almost nothing else.

So what other board games could we turn into movies? Personally, I’d love to see a movie version of Elder Sign. Based on the Cthulhu Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft, Elder Sign sees you playing as a group of investigators from the 1920’s, exploring a museum and racing against the clock to locate eldritch symbols and stave off the imminent return of an Ancient One. You’ve already got a list of characters that can be fleshed out, you just need to tie in the game’s mechanic of exploring each creepy room of the museum in the various scenes of the movie and voila. You’ve got an excellent horror movie.

So, do you think that Takenoko would make a great kid’s movie (assuming pandas aren’t too played out)? Or would you love more zombies on screen with an adaptation of Dead of Winter? What board game do you think would make a good movie?

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.

Last Updated: April 6, 2016

15 Comments

  1. Alien Emperor Trevor

    April 6, 2016 at 10:41

    WARHAMMER 40K!

    Reply

  2. Koko

    April 6, 2016 at 10:58

    Firefly boardgame….

    Reply

    • Tracy Benson

      April 6, 2016 at 11:32

      You’re in luck, that is already a thing that exists 🙂

      Reply

  3. Unavengedavo

    April 6, 2016 at 11:18

    Snakes and Ladders

    Reply

  4. konfab

    April 6, 2016 at 12:04

    Battlestar Galactica ^__^

    Reply

    • Kervyn Cloete

      April 6, 2016 at 12:10

      There is a BSG boardgame. I’ve played it several times and it’s incredible. Just really, really long.

      Reply

      • konfab

        April 6, 2016 at 12:38

        I know, that is why I want them to make a TV series of it, exploring concepts such as mythology, religion, AI and space travel. 😉

        Reply

        • Kervyn Cloete

          April 6, 2016 at 14:04

          Ah, right 😉 As you were then!

          Reply

  5. Kervyn Cloete

    April 6, 2016 at 12:09

    @tracybenson:disqus

    Reply

    • Tracy Benson

      April 6, 2016 at 12:59

      I’M KIDDING I LOVE MOVIES TAKE ME BACK!

      Reply

  6. The Sten

    April 6, 2016 at 13:06

    I’ve never played elder sign, but I reckon Eldritch Horror would make a kick ass series GOT style.

    Its also HP lovecraft stuff but takes place over the whole world.

    Reply

    • Tracy Benson

      April 6, 2016 at 13:17

      Oh man, yes Eldritch Horror would make an amazing series!

      Reply

  7. Hargrim

    April 6, 2016 at 13:12

    Munchkin! That’s one they can’t screw up, right?!?

    Reply

    • Tracy Benson

      April 6, 2016 at 13:22

      You underestimate the powers of Hollywood…

      Reply

  8. Andre116

    April 6, 2016 at 20:36

    Sigh….I’ve got no one to play board games with. I have only me to play with. No, wait…that is not what I meant!

    Reply

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