Rampage (2018) Rant

Summary

The 2018 *Rampage* movie fails to capture the spirit of the original video game, which was known for its absurdity, satire, and mutated human monsters. The film replaces the game's chaotic, fun tone with a generic action movie led by *The Rock*. The redesigned monsters are uninspired, and the movie lacks the humor and over-the-top destruction that made the game unique. The review argues that the movie should have embraced its origins with an animated adaptation that stays true to the game's satire and dark humor, ultimately criticizing the film for missing its potential.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2018 Rampage movie is criticized for being a soulless Hollywood adaptation that completely misses the point of the original video game series.
• 😀 The movie is labeled as a 'hollow, joyless wannabe monster movie' that fails to capture the absurdity and satire that defined the Rampage games.
• 😀 The Rampage video games were known for their over-the-top destruction, cartoonish violence, and humor, which were completely lost in the 2018 adaptation.
• 😀 The movie replaced the original concept of mutated humans with random animals, drastically altering the essence of the monsters.
• 😀 The corporation responsible for the monster mutations in the games, Scum Lab, is replaced with a generic evil biotech company in the movie, losing all personality.
• 😀 The redesigns of the monsters in the movie, such as George, Lizzy, and Ralph, are considered uninspired and watered down, losing the exaggerated, cartoonish qualities they had in the games.
• 😀 The movie introduces a tragic backstory for George, which makes him seem more like a King Kong clone, whereas the game’s George was chaotic and fun-loving.
• 😀 Lizzy, the monster in the game, is meant to be a dinosaur, but in the movie, she's reimagined as a crocodile, which the review criticizes as an uninspired choice.
• 😀 The movie’s focus on generic human drama, a bland scientist character, and forgettable government agents detracts from the chaotic fun that the Rampage games offered.
• 😀 The review suggests that to truly adapt Rampage, it should be rebooted as an animated movie, staying true to the ridiculous, over-the-top nature of the game with mutated humans and dark humor.

Q & A

What is the primary criticism of the *Rampage* 2018 movie in the transcript?

The primary criticism is that the *Rampage* 2018 movie misinterprets and undermines the core elements of the original video game series. It shifts away from the game's absurd, comedic nature and instead focuses on a generic, serious action plot.

Why does the reviewer feel the 2018 *Rampage* movie is insulting to the original game?

The reviewer believes the movie is insulting because it strips away the core components of the game, such as the satirical tone, mutated humans as monsters, and chaotic destruction, replacing them with generic Hollywood tropes and forgettable characters.

What key aspect of the *Rampage* games does the movie fail to capture?

The movie fails to capture the comedic, satirical, and over-the-top nature of the *Rampage* games, which were intended to be a parody of classic kaiju and monster movies, embracing exaggerated destruction and dark humor.

What was the main issue with the redesign of the monsters in the movie?

The redesigns of the monsters, such as George, Lizzy, and Ralph, were seen as uninspired and overly simplistic. The movie version of George, for instance, is a tragic character, resembling King Kong, while the original George in the game was a chaotic, fun-loving creature.

How does the movie handle the concept of mutated humans, which was central to the original game?

The movie completely abandons the idea of mutated humans, which was a key element of the original game, and instead focuses on animals infected by a genetic serum, removing the satirical and absurd elements that made the game unique.

What does the reviewer think of the film’s approach to the villainous corporation in the movie?

The reviewer criticizes the film’s choice of a generic, forgettable biotech company, Energy, which lacks the personality and absurdity of the *Scum Lab* from the original game. The company's role is seen as uninspired and lacking the over-the-top corruption and evil of the game.

What role does The Rock play in the movie, and why is this a problem for the reviewer?

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson plays a generic hero character, which the reviewer sees as a problem because it shifts the focus away from the monsters and chaos. The reviewer feels that the movie becomes more about The Rock’s typical action-hero persona rather than embracing the unique appeal of the *Rampage* game.

Why does the reviewer argue that the *Rampage* 2018 movie misses the point of the game?

The reviewer argues that the movie misses the point of the game by removing the satire, mutated human monsters, and chaotic fun. Instead, the movie focuses on a generic action plot with a serious tone, making it feel disconnected from the original game’s spirit.

How does the reviewer feel about the merchandising tied to the movie?

The reviewer is highly critical of the movie's merchandising, calling it lazy and poorly executed. The mobile game, toy line, and arcade game are seen as forgettable and disconnected from the essence of the original *Rampage* game.

What is the reviewer’s proposed solution to make a better *Rampage* adaptation?

The reviewer proposes rebooting *Rampage* as an animated movie that fully embraces the absurdity, dark humor, and satire of the original game. This version would feature mutated humans as monsters, over-the-top destruction, and would have the monsters with distinct personalities and voices.