 Movies For Shadowrun, to get you in the gaming mood |
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 Sep 9 2007, 05:58 AM
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#1
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Moving Target  Group: Members Posts: 609 Joined: 13-August 07 Member No.: 12,615  |
The following have been quite inspirational for me. They focus on the adept/magician side of SR, as opposed to the tech. I liked them all, though some were better than others. Enjoy.
Batman Begins (Liam Neeson as an adept mentor, the League of Shadows as a Twisted adept magical group....possibly a remnant of the Hand of Corruption from ED?) Equilibrium (worth watching just for the "Gun Kata"....been trying to figure how to make this work in SR) Hellboy (another magical group, funded as a UCAS FBI black bag operation. This movie also great for Call of Cthulhu) The Hunted (Christopher Lambert version. Good for "montage" karma points!) The Ninth Gate (shades of the "Al Azif" bequest from Dunkelzhan? Another good one for Call of Cthulhu) Unbreakable (a middle aged man, who has rejected his Gift his whole life, suddenly Awakens to his powers. Immunity to Normal Weapons, Immunity to Pathogens/Toxins, boosted strength, mystic armor, some sort of sixth sense, Weakness (Water) |
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Sep 9 2007, 06:07 AM
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#2
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Immortal Elf Group: Validating Posts: 7,999 Joined: 26-February 02 Member No.: 1,890 |
There's three that do a really good job of reflecting my take on Shadowrun.
The Fifth Element: This is, at least for me, the most Shadowrun-ish movie I've ever seen. At least as far as the setting goes. Korbin Dallas' apartment and neighborhood in particular. It even has a rocker (Ruby Rhod), elemental magic, an adept (Leelu), megacorporations, and metahumans for crying out loud. :D Just a little more space-centered than Shadowrun. Snatch: This one, along with Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, captures how I tend to treat the streets and the Underworld in general in my games. My adventures follow a similar theme, seeming to be convoluted as Hell until they finally come together. Then you're all "oh damn." At least it's what I aim for. Rarely worked the first few times I tried it years ago. :) Constantine: More the comics than the movie, really, but it reflects a fairly decent protrayal of how I handle the magical side of things in my games as well. Very much steeped in mythology and religion, but largely treated as commonplace and "whatever"ish by those who actually practice it. |
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Sep 9 2007, 06:45 AM
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#3
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Great Dragon Group: Members Posts: 5,537 Joined: 27-August 06 From: Albuquerque NM Member No.: 9,234 |
Domino. A fairly simple job spirals out of control as bad information, lies, communication errors and multiple hidden secret agendas results in an array of powerful enemies that culminates in a huge bloodbath. And Keira Knightly is hot.
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Sep 9 2007, 07:43 AM
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#4
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 263 Joined: 18-October 03 From: Cal Free State Member No.: 5,734 |
Strange Days is my all-time favorite. The setting isn't quite future enough, but the feel is incredibly on imo.
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Sep 9 2007, 08:21 AM
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#5
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 104 Joined: 19-June 07 From: Florida Member No.: 11,950 |
We've had this discussion before- somebody's even got a Shadowrun media list in their signature (though I don't remember who off the top of my head)
There's a lot out there: Ronin just about any 007 flick Shaft Resevoir Dogs Casablanca The Maltese Falcon (still looking for a copy but can't seem to find it anywhere- sooner or later I'll order it online) The Terminator The Mariachi Trilogy (less El Mariahci than the other two) Ocean's 11, 12, and 13 Snatch To Catch a Thief (great movie if you've never seen it. Seriously it's a classic and you should watch it.) Sin City Max Headroom (TV) Burn Notice (TV) The list literally goes on and on Here's a couple of items that were never submitted to the list and I'll go ahead and mention them (at the risk of being laughed off the forum) G.I. Joe: I'm referring to the comic books written initially by Larry Hama and later by Josh Blaylock, Brandon Jerwa, Tim Steely, Mike O'Sullivan, and Mark Powers. On one of the recent covers there's a tag line that says they make the spies from 24 look like CIA washouts. Seriously it's the ongoing story of a highly trained counter-terrorist strike force and incorporates some elements of science fiction and mysticism into the stories. While it is originally based on the toys but it's important to remember that the average G.I. Joe reader at this point is probably 27 so while, like most comics, it's safe for kids to read: they're not really the target audience for the book. Storm Shadow: A comic book spin-off of G.I. Joe written by the man himself Larry Hama and starring Storm Shadow one of the 4 most loved G.I. Joe characters: Storm Shadow. Storm Shadow is probably even more SR fodder than the standard G.I. Joe books, though at only 3 issues out it's hard to make that determination. It's so far been loaded w/ globe trotting espionage as a secretive group of villains who, I believe, are related to the Vory are trying to find the mysterious "morning light" a macguffin of incredible power and capable of great destruction. They've kidnapped Tommy's (StormShadow) neice in an effort to get the location of morning light from him; but instead of complying w/ their demands he's decided instead just to kick all their asses. Just like any good Shadowrunner would. Seriously, if you've never read a G.I. Joe comic- you might want to take a look. |
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Sep 9 2007, 09:13 AM
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#6
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The back-up plan Group: Retired Admins Posts: 8,423 Joined: 15-January 03 From: San Diego Member No.: 3,910 |
Smoking Aces was one that I saw recently which reminded me of a run's ability to go completely sideways-a good demonstration of multiple teams working on a single project.
Blade Runner, Boondock Saints, Man on Fire (from the Security side of things), as TMD said, the list goes on... |
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Sep 9 2007, 01:35 PM
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#7
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,326 Joined: 15-April 02 Member No.: 2,600 |
The Usual Suspects is an obvious choice, but for my money, I have to go with McQuarrie's follow-up The Way of the Gun. Everybody in that movie has an angle, nobody is just a guy there to do one thing.
Reign of Firep. I expect to eat a little crap on this one, but where else are you going to get a movie with dragons and tanks? (Seriously. If it was up to me every movie would have at least one dragon and one tank.) Miller's Crossing. Look in your heart. When it comes to guys playing angles, this is a hard one to beat. Escape from New York, Escape From LA. I'll pick'em, even if LA was a bit of a mess. Most Shadowrun movies are really cyberpunk movies, and in that vein I'll link the Cybercinema Articles. 24 essays covering 24 cyberpunk movies over 20 years. It starts out with some advice on how to translate the movies into games, and by the end of it is delving into the mythology of cyberpunk. Hey, it beats working. Things to do in Denver when you're Dead. Big Trouble in Little China. Sneakers! And then you got the westerns. High Noon, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Silverado, Tombstone, Unforgiven... I've always held that gaming, whether it's SR or the GTSNBN, has always been as strongly tied thematically to Westerns than it has to its more obvious source material (be it cyberpunk, fantasy or both). Also, maybe its because it came out aroud the time my group started playing Shadowrun, but Reservoir Dogs cast a long shadow over our early games. So I'll give that an honorably mention. (Also Freejack and Johnny Mnemonic, just cuz.) Edit: Training Day and I'm stopping before I include Three Amigos. |
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Sep 9 2007, 01:38 PM
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#8
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 152 Joined: 4-July 05 From: Delaware, OH Member No.: 7,483 |
Wild Wild West: for an astral quest...everyone should remember Harlequin's Back.
Aliens: for those times the runners come across an insect hive full of pods. Excalibur: another astral quest |
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Sep 9 2007, 02:47 PM
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#9
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 315 Joined: 12-October 03 From: Germany, Regensburg Member No.: 5,709 |
Bourne Identity (and Sequels) might be a good inspiration for an ex-killer
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Sep 9 2007, 02:47 PM
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#10
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,288 Joined: 4-September 06 From: The Scandinavian Federation Member No.: 9,300 |
I'd rate Johnny Mnemonic as #1 as it is the most similar to classic cyberpunk (based off a Gibson novel)... not everyone thinks it's great but seriously what other movies do you know that features a Monowhip (as well as a big corp, yakuza, VR hacking, wired reflexes and someone close to a cyberzombie)?
Othwerwise yeah, Blade Runner. The other movies are good, but not really cyberpunk and generally just action and sci-fi. |
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Sep 9 2007, 03:14 PM
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#11
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,206 Joined: 9-July 06 From: Fresno, CA Member No.: 8,856 |
Short story actually. |
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Sep 9 2007, 03:22 PM
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#12
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 932 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Orlando, Florida Member No.: 1,042 |
I'll throw in the obvious Matrix films.
Has anyone seen Cypher, with Lucy Liu and Jeremy Northam? And I'm always surprised that American Psycho with Christian Bale gets left off these lists. Patrick Bateman is your new Mr. Johnson. |
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Sep 9 2007, 04:47 PM
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#13
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 407 Joined: 9-February 05 From: Oklahoma City, OK, USA Member No.: 7,070 |
Cyberwars AKA Avatar comes to mind.
Good feel, SINs, bounty hunters, megacorps, grossly obese deckers, much more to list. |
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Sep 9 2007, 04:50 PM
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#14
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 315 Joined: 12-October 03 From: Germany, Regensburg Member No.: 5,709 |
Avalon perhaps, as an example for an Ultra-Violet gaming host...
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Sep 9 2007, 05:58 PM
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#15
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Great, I'm a Dragon... Group: Retired Admins Posts: 6,699 Joined: 8-October 03 From: North Germany Member No.: 5,698 |
Boondock Saints
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Sep 9 2007, 06:27 PM
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#16
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 141 Joined: 4-September 07 Member No.: 13,115 |
Most of the good shoot em' ups have been mentioned, so you may or may not agree with some or all of these, but I'm contributing...
Unleashed - One PhysAd up against a ton of goons. Oh hell, any modern themed Jet Li movie. Kiss of the Dragon (this one in particular) Exit Wounds Craddle to the Grave Sure his supporting cast usually suck, but it sure could help inspire you to what any SR4 PhysAd would, could, and should be capable of. Mr and Mrs. Smith Blade Trilogy (Martin DeVries prolly does this on a nightly basis) I could prolly come up with a ton more, but it seems when I'm actually trying to think up which ones are good I can't for the life of me remember any of them... :( |
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Sep 9 2007, 08:07 PM
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#17
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Chicago Survivor Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 5,079 Joined: 28-January 04 From: Canton, GA Member No.: 6,033 |
I'll toss in some titles:
Cowboy Bebop (Sure it's anime, but it's a very dystopic feels to me) Layer Cake Ferris Beuler's Day off (for when your runners need some down time) the Indiana Jones' Franchise. Blues Brothers The Mummy (Returns) Chinatown The Two Jakes District 13 |
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Sep 9 2007, 09:23 PM
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#18
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,246 Joined: 8-June 07 Member No.: 11,869 |
Ghost in the Shell, the sequel, and the TV series.
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Sep 9 2007, 09:37 PM
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#19
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Bushido Cowgirl Group: Members Posts: 5,782 Joined: 8-July 05 From: On the Double K Ranch a half day's ride out of Phlogiston Flats Member No.: 7,490 |
...I agree, many cool SR elements. Also the the film that had a huge influence in the design of my PC Leela's character and personality. "...big BadaBoom, haha...
...most excellent choices. To this I would also like to add The Third Man.
...I hear both of you on that. Fist Full of Karma was by far my favourite segment from Harlequin's Back and forever left it's mark on my namesake character. ...sinthilax, are you talking the film or the original TV series?
...oh hell yes. Been on a couple of runs that had the same feel. Also one of the all time greatest car chases ever filmed. though these take place in "present day" I would also like to add: The French Connection (more good vehicle action) Enemy of the State The Net Speed (only the first one) Telefon (actually used the premise of this one rather successfully) Insider and two more on the comedic side... the original Italian Job (accept no remakes) True Lies In addition I am going to see Shoot 'Em Up (OK no cyber or magic, but lots'a gunfights which are a staple of SR and an interesting sounding plot) and 3:10 to Yuma this week |
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Sep 10 2007, 12:11 AM
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#21
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 609 Joined: 13-August 07 Member No.: 12,615 |
I have not seen this film, and can't remember the name, but it's a fairly recent Tarantino flick. The movie stars Rose Mcgowan as some psycho who has one of her legs replaced with a machine gun. Seems like it could be....stimulating.
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Sep 10 2007, 12:11 AM
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#22
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Chicago Survivor Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 5,079 Joined: 28-January 04 From: Canton, GA Member No.: 6,033 |
Grindhouse
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Sep 10 2007, 12:34 AM
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#23
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Ain Soph Aur Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 3,477 Joined: 26-February 02 From: Montreal, Canada Member No.: 600 |
I agree with hyzmarca.
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Sep 10 2007, 12:36 AM
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#24
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Running Target Group: Members Posts: 1,288 Joined: 4-September 06 From: The Scandinavian Federation Member No.: 9,300 |
Yeah, sometimes I forget the Norwegian word for "short story" is "novelle"... kinda confusing at times ;) What you call a novel we call a "roman." Don't ask me why. |
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Sep 10 2007, 12:39 AM
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#25
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Uncle Fisty Group: Admin Posts: 13,891 Joined: 3-January 05 From: Next To Her Member No.: 6,928 |
I'm amazed that people always forget Things to do in Denver When You're Dead. It's perfect for SR.
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