Ouija Board game starring…

In the nineties when Jumanji came out it was kind of interesting to see a film about a board game coming to life and interacting with its players. Its sequel, Zathura from a few years ago, was an alright kid adventure and hat its moments as well. These films were stories that revolved around kids playing a game. That seems like the good old days since films based on board game ideas are now getting the Hollywood spotlight shone on them.

That pirate movie was based on a ride and I guess those producing films thought they could take it a step further and made The Haunted Mansion. Now they’re going after the Ouija Board for film material. Has the screenplay bank really been depleted that much? What’s next? The awesome sci-fi adventure series called Tidly Winks? How about Monopoly with Gene Hackman as the guy on the box and perhaps Morgan Freeman playing the role of the jail guard? Now board game designers will have to keep film ideas in mind.

If they turn Ouija Board into a film, would they then invent a ride next to The Haunted Mansion and the Pirate Ship based on the movie? Would there then be a novelization of the film to give that character development and depth that will almost surely lack from whatever is produced? They could even release an updated version of the board game with the faces of the cast on the box.

When they run out of board game ideas and rides to turn into movies they might go after currently untouched toys. GI Joe is already fodder but they haven’t touched Game Boy or Easy Bake Oven yet. Perhaps they can combine the two. Make a film based on a Game Boy game featuring a character that has to produce various types of cakes and cookies. That’s a sure hit.

The way films are made has been changed drastically since computers have been around. Not only in way of special effects but in every way a film is produced and presented. Movies like Toy Story that are completely computer generated are a definitive step in a direction that will end who knows where. Perhaps filmakers and board game designers should get together on projects. How far away are we from a completely computerized actor? Will the Pacino film S1mone have hit the nail more on the head than is currently expected? When technology progresses to a point where we have androids running around will their artificial intelligence be used to create fully computerized films of their own? A movie written, produced and directed completely digitally with actors that amount to nothing more than ones and zeros by a robot with a brain made of computer chips. Actually, I’d probably pay to see that.

Till then I’ll dust off my Scrabble game and see if I can come up with an interesting and thought provoking plot for a script with characters who search for a treasure of black letters printed on small pieces of wood rather than cash. Think of the possibilities; there may one day be a ride of words and letters and even a Saturday morning cartoon. Hmmm.. we need better board game ideas.