How Dark Should a Legend of Zelda Movie Be?
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Jan. 18, 2023, 9 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
Nintendo is currently producing a Super Mario Bros. movie, which is very exciting, but I am concerned about the fact that Nintendo is collaborating with Illumination pictures, who are known for creating the wildly successful Despicable Me/Minions franchise, as I worry that Illumination shall put too much of their own brand of juvenile humor into the movie. I know that the Mario franchise is generally one of Nintendo's lighter franchises, but it usually does not sink to the level of crude or slapstick humor, so I hope that the executives at Nintendo are firm about maintaining the franchise's sanctity.
If the SMB movie is successful, it would be great to see movies of other Nintendo franchises, especially Legend of Zelda, but I am concerned about how light or dark such a movie would be.
LoZ is one of Nintendo's more serious franchises; is usually is not as dark and serious as is Metroid, which is probably Nintendo's most serious franchise of all, but it usually is much more serious than are the Kirby, Mario, or Pokémon franchises, and I hope that an LoZ movie would maintain that tone. I expect a Legend of Zelda movie to have a grand and epic tone, akin to the Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia movies, and I do not wish for it to be portrayed as a joke or something less serious than what an epic medieval fantasy story deserves.
What does everyone else say about this? How dark should a Legend of Zelda movie be?
It would be fun to play around with a more adult Legend of Zelda, but I do think that Nintendo is too concerned with their overall tone for it to ever happen. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I really respect Nintendo for how much they stick to their guns. They could pump out a new pokemon game every year but they don't. They could chase fan made content to make it get taken down, but instead they do mario maker. They want to celebrate smash for one last game and they make it the biggest, most diverse and fun roster ever, with each character bringing something unique and flavorful.
I remember when I was playing a lot of zelda games and things it felt like, wow I wish they'd release a new one, but now I'm kinda glad they take their time and make really high quality games more often than not. I think they really learned from some mistakes in the early days and they play the long game of, make good things and let the player enjoy it, and that's so rare in any space.
Ohh, they should totally make a windwaker movie though. That was the most peaceful and relaxing game ever : )
January 19, 2023 9:18 a.m.
Last_Laugh says... #4
So dark it's non-existent? Let's see how this mario movie goes first... then I'll decide if I have ANY faith that it gets made well.
January 19, 2023 11:18 a.m.
I'd go really dark. One major theme that re-occurs in the Legend of Zelda games is kidnapping. I think they should go for a Silence of the Lambs type vibe. Only question is if Ganon should play the role of Hannibal Lector or Buffalo Bill.
Actually the Mario games all focus on kidnapping too. I think Shigeru Miyamoto might have some issues.
January 20, 2023 10:36 a.m.
TypicalTimmy says... #6
I could see PG-13 tops. You know, the kind of graphic details you'd expect to see in the much earlier Marvel films. Where a small cut on the cheekbone or across the nose was the extent of the blood on screen, and no curse words aside from maybe "ass" said once in the film.
While a hard R film would be amazing to see, I doubt we would ever get that. Now, PG-13 has a lot of leeway. Look at Endgame where they showed a decapitated Thanos after they dismembered his arm. Or how they actually showed Captain America's bone in his arm as he tightens the belt around it after Thanks breaks his shield.
In Multiverse of Madness, for about 4-5 frames you can actually watch Captain Carter be torn in half. Right after the shield hits her, Wanda pushes it through the back. We then see a POV shot from the bloodied shield and the background goes blurry. When here, go frame-by-frame and you'll see her fall in half.
But I don't think Nintendo would go to these lengths of graphic depiction. At least, not for these particular franchises.
Having said that, if I were Nintendo, I would 10,000% be building up IPs toward a Smash Bros multiverse.
That, I think, would be epic.
Gleeock says... #2
It should contain some of the bittersweet ideas behind fairytales, sortof like the lost children in the forest. Maybe some serious concepts like leaving behind a hidden life of eternal youth in order to go do the right thing in the scary, less-than-enchanting, real world.
Shouldn't be dead-dogs-in-the-gutter, everything is dark. But, hopefully they catch the beauty & enchantment of fairytale meets high fantasy along with the darkness of leaving your innocence behind.
January 18, 2023 10:48 p.m.