With the main brunt of the Leipzig Games Convention wrapped up for another year, center stage is on now the culturally aware Penny Arcade Expo, and what a way to get started; a live interview with universally reviled games-to-film director, Uwe Boll.

Originally, the intention for Penny Arcade founders Jerry Holkin and Mike Krahulik was an interview with Jack Thompson, a name that really needs no introduction, but Holkins openly admited that the Florida lawyer refused to appear at the expo.

So who else could they invite that is so universally hated amogst gaming culture? Why, Uwe Bell of course, a man whose entire career is supported on the back of his capacity yo make absolutely terrible movies based around popular gaming frachises; few of us will want to remember the disasters that were the Bloodrayne, Alone in the Dark, and House of the Dead movies.

Uwe Boll's presence on-stage had a suprising impact; many people were so stunned by his appearence that they up and left the room in protest; this man is not well liked amongst gamers.

For those who stuck around though, a preview of his lastest games-to-movie adaptation, Postal, was their treat. Once you hear what the trailer involved, you can decide for yourself if this is a good thing our not.

The preview trailer begins in the cockpit of one of the aircraft that hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. After two terrorists congratulate each other on a "job well done", they proceed to argue about how many virgins (20 is the answer) are promised to them in the afterlife. A quick phonecall to Osama bin Laden resolves the issue.

The scene then transports to a Department of Motor Vehicles office, where a frustrated individual is shooting up the place... because he's frustrated at waiting. After some tacky dialogue about world peace, the trailer ends.

According to Boll, the intention of the film (which seems to have no connection to the games whatsoever) is to be a parody of the current political climate, which he has ignorantly narrowed down to mean "religious extremists on all side". He also seems to think that the taboo of referencing 9/11 needs to be broken, as well as "promote healing on the subject through humour".

Apparently taking the piss out one of history's most recent travesties is a good approach to helping society heal from the traumatic event. At least, that's what Uwe Bell thinks.

Honestly, the above disgusts me so much that I'm not sure if I want to continue writing this, but the audience standing up and openly insulting him is at least some concilation; it's the least the man deserves.

A number of questions were asked by audience goers, which all essentially bowled down to "Why do all your movies suck?" Uwe Boll, being the typically egotistical pin-head that he is, conveniently put the blame on everyone else.

His main target was the games themselves. In his view, his movies are lacking because the games are lacking. House of the Dead was his first example, and of course, he justified the crapiness of the movie by the fact that it cost $7 million to make, but (somehow) made a profit o $80 million.

Way to dodge the question, Boll.

His closing statement was well fitted to the mind of a egostical teenager trying too hard to assert their independence in the world, and failing miserable.

"I go my own way, I'm not going with the system."

Individualism is no substitute for talent.

Tags : Jerry Holkin : Mike Krahulik : PAX : penny arcade : Penny Arcade Expo : Postal : Postal Movie : uwe boll

Comments

By: Dragonsoul

On: 09:36 Aug 26th, 2007
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I like that last line as I said. You can be good and different but those two aren't necessarily dependent upon one another. I also lolled at this line I got off wikipedia:

"Fans are always totally flipping out and I understand that the fan of a video game has his own agenda in his head and has his ideas about what is a good movie and what is a bad movie."

You'd think that the gamers would have an inkling about good movies based off of...games. Also, I found it hilarious that he dodged the question about his movies apparently sucking--if you can't beat it, dodge it, eh?

If it was any consolation to you it was enteratining to read. :lol:

By: Corrine

On: 09:57 Aug 26th, 2007
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Hahahaha, Uwe Boll. Does anyone besides Uwe Boll take Uwe Boll seriously? He's funny to watch blunder about anyway. And while his idiocy is nothing new, it somehow never loses its hilarity. You captured his delusion very nicely. :lol:

By: Mobius Zero

On: 10:17 Aug 26th, 2007
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Uwe Boll, the only Hollywood director to have a +50 Initiative to Dodge against Honest Verbal Strikes up until he is up against Febreeze because he can't make an honest clean/good movie. He blames the games for lacking even though based on certain things he never really even touched them. The only movies that came out as at least being close to good are Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Mortal Kombat and that is saying something, oh wait they stayed true to the original material with the creators right, that makes the difference.

Uwe Boll, not teh sharpest tool in the tool box.

By: Black Convoy

On: 08:09 Aug 27th, 2007
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Uwe Boll has no one to blame but himself. I'm very sure a director with talent would embrace the fact that a lousy premise would provide a challenge and make a great film out of it.

Example:
John Carpenter - Big Trouble in Little China
Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo
Takeshi Miike - Ichi the Killer

I can go on for days but I'm too lazy.