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Natassia Malthe, star of BloodRayne ll: Deliverance
Ahead of the release of BloodRayne ll: Deliverance, Henry Northmore talks to controversial film director Uwe Boll about his latest adaptation
he name Uwe Boll may well strike fear into many a gamer‘s heart. The German director is famed for his videogame
adaptations. with his myriad of delights to date. including House of
the Dead. Alone in the Dark. In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege 'l‘ule and Blom/Ruyne.
However. it isn‘t just his choice of
projects that has made Boll such a controversial ligure. it’s the reaction his work has provoked from reviewers and fans. In short. they hate him. Not many directors have three films languishing in the IMDB Bottom l()() or a website (www.stopuweboll.com) dedicated to finishing their career.
The latest Boll title to get a UK release is Bl()()(/R(l_\‘llt’ ll: Deliverance. a continuation of the
adventures of the titular half
human-half vampire. ‘It was the worst shoot ever.‘ laughs Boll. ‘lt was shit weather and we had to drive in everyday for hours. shooting almost only nights. [I was very cold and wet and then. to top it all off. the railway station exploded by accident. We were running away as one gas heater after another exploded. The last thing was that Natassia Malthe had to jump into ice-water at one point and almost drowned. I think she still hates me.‘
But what incites the fury in fans and critics‘.’ ()ne of the main problems may be that Boll often makes changes to the source material. A gamer himself (and a particular fan of 'liger Woods (Joli), he acknowledges that videogame movies get a rough ride from the critics and is the first to admit that some of his films are far from perfect. ‘()n House oft/1e Deud my mistake was that I didn‘t insist on revising the script.’ he explains. ‘()n Alone in the Dark my mistake was that I picked Tara Reid instead of a better actress.‘
Alternatively. perhaps it is the fact he is able to work unaided by the Hollywood system (tax breaks in Germany mean even unsuccessful films can be profitable). ‘If you get the studios behind you everybody treats you with more respect. As soon as you go independent they treat you like shit.’
Despite his reputation. however.
‘NOW EVERY DAY I GET EMAILS FROM PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FIGHT ME '
names like Burt Reynolds and Ray Liotta have all appeared in Boll productions. although working with Ben Kingsley in BloodRuyne that was a particular pleasure. ‘In a way it was a big surprise for me that he agreed to make the movie. but he told me two things. First. he needs money. and secondly. that he wanted to play a vampire. lie is so well prepared you have no work to do as a director.‘
Boll has never been a man to take things lying down and has fought back against the critics. quite literally. with the event ‘Raging Boll‘. which was also filmed. where he took on live critics in the boxing ring. The director won every light. ‘If you say you‘ll do something. you have to do it. Otherwise you look like a pussy. “Now every day I get emails from people who want to light me.‘ This no nonsense attitude has led to Boll attaining a strange cult status. with his films getting far more attention than many of his peers. which is no bad thing. The simple fact is: the world of cinema would be a far duller place without mavericks like Boll biting at its heels.
BloodRayne ll: Deliverance is out on DVD, Mon 22 Sep on Metrodome.
Henry Northmore charts the slightly dubious history of big screen videogame adaptations
Super Mario Bros (1993) 00 Tron whetted the appetite of the movie-going public (but wasn’t actually adapted from any specific game) but Mario was one of the first big budget adaptations. Despite the perfect casting of Bob Hoskins as the plump plumber it was a convoluted mess. with Dennis Hopper looking confused throughout as villain King Koopa.
Street Fighter (1994) O Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue star in the live action version of the greatest fighting game of all time. How could it all go so wrong?
Mortal Kombat (1995) 000
Ok. it's cheesy and a looks a bit cheap, but it's so much more fun than Street Fighter. and it lead on to an equally OTT sequel and even a TV series.
Pokemon: The First Movie (1999) O Inspired by the
phenomenally successful day-glo cartoon. this is still utterly incomprehensible to the over 123.
5
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) 0. Angelina Jolie stepped up to the iconic role of Lara Croft in one of the most commercially successful videogame movie of all time.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) 0000 Visually stunning CGl masterpiece let down by a bafflingly mystical plot. Looks gorgeous throughout though.
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