Warning: the next article comprises spoilers for Gran Turismo.
Directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9, Elysium), Gran Turismo relies on the true story of Jann Mardenborough (performed by Archie Madekwe), a teenage gamer hooked on the driving simulator sport Gran Turismo, who wins the possibility to turn out to be knowledgeable racing driver.
As he joins the Gran Turismo (GT) academy, Jann goes by means of precisely the types of setbacks and near-misses you may count on. From the group bully to the numerous crashes in coaching, proper by means of till the ultimate problem the place – you guessed it – he achieves what all of us knew he would from the beginning, it is all very predictable.
It’s not that that is an out-and-out unhealthy movie, like some online game tie ins we have seen prior to now (I’m taking a look at you 1993’s Super Mario Bros.). It’s simply actually uninteresting. And it is probably not a correct sport tie in. Aside from the rampant product placement and the marginally awkward homages to GT producer Kazunori Yamauchi, you could possibly be forgiven for pondering this is not a movie about video video games in any respect. The movie merely cannot resolve what it desires to be.
Missed alternatives
While the hyperlink between video video games {and professional} racing has numerous cinematic potential, the gaming stage of Jann’s life is over with fairly rapidly. We by no means actually get a way of how a lot time he spent gaming, and even what expertise he gained that helped him turn out to be so good at GT.
The racing aspect of the movie can be moderately shallow. Beyond numerous engine noise and tense expressions from behind the wheel, there’s by no means any sense of correct jeopardy. After all, Jann received his probability to be a racer – it isn’t like he actually has something to lose.
It is sort of disappointing {that a} movie about racing does not give a lot perception into the artwork of racing, or the talents required to make it to the highest. Rather, we’re merely advised by Jann’s coach (performed by Stranger Things star David Harbour) that it is all about “commitment” and “conviction”.
It is slightly ironic then, that the movie’s largest failing is that it lacks the energy of its personal convictions. There’s little or no in it for gaming fanatics (beside just a few Easter eggs and numerous product placement). Meanwhile, the racing scenes are generic and lack the heft of correct motor sport.
The finish result’s a movie that feels flat. Midway by means of the screening I attended, a bunch of tween boys sitting simply in entrance of me walked out – they’d merely had sufficient.
The blurring of worlds
As an idea, Gran Turismo is a curious beast. It is a movie produced by Sony, about video games which can be printed by Sony and performed on consoles manufactured by Sony.
As a marketer, I’m fascinated by the truth that shoppers are paying to look at a movie a couple of product that’s in the end designed to promote extra copies of that product. Audiences are primarily paying Sony for the privilege of watching an prolonged advert. This is a subject I’ve written about extensively in my analysis – particularly examples by which the buyer additionally turns into part of the product, comparable to with social media.
But as long as toys and video video games proceed make large cash, this pattern of film tie-ins like Gran Turismo is just going to proceed. From the Lego film to the Transformers franchise to the current Barbie film, all of us appear to get pleasure from a movie that makes us really feel nostalgic, or provides worth to one thing we already love.
The Barbie film’s success speaks to its sturdy writing, A-list stars and dealing with of wider themes. Gran Turismo lacks the substance and depth which have made its doll-themed counterpart so well-liked. Compared with its rivals within the film tie-ins market, Grant Turismo feels moderately shallow.
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Author: Mike Ryder – Lecturer in Marketing, Lancaster University