Rampage: Video Game to Big Screen

Ready for a Rampage?

Rampage takes inspiration from the video game world. It first appeared in 1986. There were no humans in a starring role. You played the monsters.

The cinematic-adventure of Rampage debuts on Blu-Ray combo pack and DVD on July 17. The Digital format appeared early on June 26. 

MONSTER

Rampage - on the worldwide scale - is the biggest video game adaptation ever. It grossed over $425 million. The debatable Tomatometer gives it the highest rating of any video game movie with 52%.

Which is still calling it rotten.

Dwayne Johnson reteams with director Brad Peyton. They worked together on 2015’s San Andreas and 2012’s Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Ryan Engle hatched the story. The script was rounded out by Carleton Cuse, Ryan J. Condal, and Adam Sztykiel.

TAKE

Would I buy this film? A rainy day selection.

The video game trend continues after Tomb Raider.

Dwayne Johnson - a.k.a The Rock - his catalog of movies are not by any means Oscar-worthy.

But.

They never seem to be boring either.

Is Dwayne Johnson at his best in Rampage? I don’t think so. I believe this where I will take off a few points.

(I have not seen him in any of the Fast & Furious franchise. My two cents goes to The Rundown and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle as the top contenders for his best movies.)

The story of Rampage was to have leeway. The video game featured no real plot, which in turn, would not even come close to properly fill 107 minutes.

Dwayne Johnson is not only a primatologist but also has a Special Forces background. If you go with that, then you are pretty much in for the ride.

Rampage does have Jurassic Park vibes. It’s basically a genetic experiment gone wrong, which causes the chaos of the movie. Johnson has a bond with a gorilla named George, who turns into a raging creature of enormous size. The motion-capture of George is done by Jason Liles.

Naomie Harris comes into the picture as discredited geneticist Kate Caldwell. We discover the characters of Mailin Akerman and Jake Lacy know a lot more about what is going on. Joe Manganiello helps behind-the-scenes. Jeffrey Dean Morgan is on the hunt as the mysterious government agent.

It unfolds into a monster movie. With a big gorilla like George, it’s hard not to think of King Kong too. The visual effects are done by Academy Award-winning company Weta Digital. 

I wouldn’t be in a rush to watch Rampage again. Yet, there is enough action and moves at a quick pace, that it could be passable entertainment for most.

SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW

The standard DVD only has Not A Game Anymore feature.

Not A Game Anymore (6 minutes, 15 seconds) - I had no knowledge of the Midway video game. This was the most interesting as the game was discussed - how there were plenty of fans involved in the film. There are also about three Easter eggs in the movie for those well- versed in Rampage.

Gag Reel (2 minutes, 43 seconds)  - This depends on your sense of humour. A lot of silly montages and most of the messed-up lines involve how much everyone curses.

Deleted Scenes (10 minutes, 12 seconds) - There are about seven scenes altogether. The first one is the most intriguing as it shows how ruthless Joe Manganiello’s character can be. Two scenes are actually shown twice and are virtually the same. This seemed pointless as the only difference I noticed is the level of visual effects.

Actors in Action (10 minutes, 45 seconds) - This is the behind-the-scenes reel. There were military advisors to deal with training. How the actors worked with the stunts and working side-by-side.

Trio of Destruction (10 minutes, 8 seconds) - This is a focus on Weta Digital and the monsters. There is a lot of thought gone into the research and creations of the evolution of the animal.

Attack of Chicago (10 minutes, 23 seconds) - The production sets out to destroy Chicago. They need a cost-effective way to do it. They blend real Chicago with the visual effects needed to pull it off.

Bringing George to Life (11 minutes, 53 seconds) - Andy Serkis may be one of the more well-known actors behind motion-capture performances. There are other people still needed for the work. Jason Liles is George the gorilla as he discusses how the training of how to move and behave. He had help from Terry Notary.

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment