The other day I mentioned TRON 3 as being in pre-production but well before that hits theaters, a new film involving arcade video games and characters will be coming to silver screens across the world. Called PIXELS, this is a movie directed by Chris Columbus and it stars names like Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Peter Dinklage. As the trailer shows, aliens receive footage of classic arcade games from 1982 and take the message the wrong way. Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Centipede, Space Invaders, Galaga and PONG/Breakout (I saw someone online saying Arkanoid but that was 1986 which wouldn’t fit with the timeline the movie establishes) make appearances here and the team of fighters is called the “Arcaders”:
It’s ok as far as trailers go, nice touch with having Iwatani in there. Unfortunately I need to be ‘that guy’ that complains about something, so I’ll ask: what is with the music? Maybe its just me but it seems to have the completely wrong tone. Going ‘epic serious’ without any sarcasm on the audio kind of screws with the comedic timing.
That said, this certainly has the potential to continue the recent tradition of promoting video arcades in the culture out there. I have not heard of the studio doing any promotion with arcades out there yet, perhaps they are waiting until the release date gets closer. I would much rather promote that than some of the movies I’ve been sent posters for. As an arcade operator myself the biggest benefit I saw from something like this came from Wreck-It Ralph. That was because many of the games were seen in their arcade form in that movie so when younger people came across the old cabs it was easy to relate.
Its kinda wired movie but my kids should probably love it. That i think i am gonna wait also cause for sure they will asked me to watched with them.