THE METAL GEAR SOLID MOVIE: THE ONE THING THAT IT HAS TO GET RIGHT
The unusual tone is familiar in Metal Gear Solid games and must be carried over to the MGS movie. This article will discuss why this signature tone is crucial for Metal Gear fans and how it could impact the big-screen adaptation.
In July 1987, the first game in this series was released on the MSX2. The Metal Gear story has become one of the most complex and intricate stories ever told through video games. The series has covered a wide range of topics over the years. You can find everything from cloning to spaghetti-western homage to anti-nuclear sentiment to vampire mythology to ninjas to just about every case you can imagine.
Hideo Kojima somehow combined all these creative influences into one (mostly) cohesive plot. He has now left Konami to start his studio and is unlikely to return to the MS franchise. The question is, how was I able to do that?
Answer: By creating one of the strangest and most unique tones in storytelling,
WHY IS TONE SO IMPORTANT TO MGS?
Most Metal Gear fans will answer the question of their favorite element of the franchise. The wonderfully odd and unique tone keeps them returning to the franchise. This tone binds the whole story together and gives it a consistent flow.
It doesn’t matter what else it covers. This is the tone that the Metal Gear Solid movie must get right.
The big question in the movie’s current speculation is: Will Oscar Isaac play the role of Solid Snake? What other characters will be appearing in the film? Who will they play? What story will it be?
These questions are pertinent because they can impact the movie’s tone. The most important aspect of the movie will be its tone. This film will only be successful if the technique is accurate.
HOW THIS WILL AFFECT THE FILM
When Jordan Vogt Roberts creates this movie, this should be his priority. No matter what elements they capture, it should be the primary goal to recreate the atmosphere of the games.
They won’t be able to capture the terror of Snake running down the hallway of massacred genome soldiers towards Otacon. How will they catch Johnny, the guard running to the toilet while he is supposed to be Snake’s guard?
WHAT IF THEY DON’T GET THE TONE RIGHT?
IGN interviewed Oscar Isaac about the Metal Gear Solid movie while he was doing press for the new Moon Knight show on Disney+. He replied:
Fans online expressed concern after Isaac made this statement. This led to speculation that the movie could be a disaster plot-wise.
While this is a paramount concern, it is not the most important thing. It is the movie’s tone. This element is the most important in this project.
Vogt-Roberts is under pressure to make this film and give justice to the game series. Metal Gear enthusiasts have waited for this project for many decades. Fans have a right to expect the filmmakers to deliver.
This movie could be seen as another generic military movie or, worse, a corny, awkward failure.
MIGHT BE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY’RE DOING
It seems Jordan Vogt Roberts can understand this aspect of the enormous challenge. He spoke with Collider in 2018 about the Metal Gear Solid film he is trying to capture.
This quote suggests that Vogt-Roberts knows his priorities. He seems to be able to recognize what the fans expect from him. You would also like to believe that he’s made some progress on the film’s tone, at least in this area.
Strong men don’t need to know the future. HE MAKES HIS OWN.
We don’t have a trailer yet for the film, so we can’t know if the filmmakers will capture its unique tone. We will have to wait and watch, as we do not yet see the trailer.
