The Last Of Us Movie: 12 Reasons An Adaptation Is A Horrible Idea

Do we really want to see a Triple-A game turned into a C-standard film? Shouldn't we just leave it alone?

The Last of Us, which was Sony-owned studio Naughty Dog€™s follow up to the Uncharted series on the Playstation 3, is one of the most thought-provoking and emotionally riveting games of its generation. It is a titanic technical achievement; the game beautifully depicts a world retaken by nature in the aftermath of fungal epidemic. But the most appealing and rewarding aspect of the game is its focus on the story of Joel and Ellie and the evolution of their relationship throughout the course of the game. Joel and Ellie are two of the most fully-formed and vibrant characters ever featured in a game and they are surrounded by a host of outstanding supporting characters. The Last of Us is a seminal gaming experience that is greatly enhanced by its cinematic qualities, but it is still firmly an interactive experience above all. With the recent news that Sony wants to adapt The Last of Us into a film, many fans are worried about the prospect of a beloved game being altered to fit the requirements of the silver screen. While the writer of The Last of Us, Neil Druckmann, has signed on to pen the movie, this has done little to assuage doubts about the project. The track record of games being adapted to films is pretty awful; recent failures include Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Hitman, and Max Payne. The move to adapt The Last of Us ultimately feels like a cash-grab. The game was so outstanding and distinctive, the story was so well-told, the characters were so vivid, and the journey felt so complete that many people didn€™t even feel the need for a sequel. A film adaptation at this point seems totally unnecessary. Here are twelve reasons why. Warning! Massive spoilers ahead!
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A chronicler of all things media. A lifelong film and television geek. A tenacious listener of movie music.