Hail to the Chief

A bit of a geek alert from the good folks at IGN.

In an unorthodox move that's sure to raise some industry eyebrows, Microsoft (developer Bungie's corporate overlord) has hired screenwriter Alex Garland (28 Days Later, The Beach) to adapt its hit videogame series Halo for the big screen.

Garland's a good writer. His latest novel, "The Coma," is taut, nearly gossamer yet potent (if predictable). Consider it the brain-injury version of "The Matrix" or a very well-written episode of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." His first novel, "The Beach," is recommended, although it's a bit confusing and doughy in the middle (I thought the film adaptation was not that bad, all things considered). I still won't go near 28 Days Later because I know Garland will scare the bejeezus out of me.

That said, I hope Garland talks with Bungie's writers (names escape me, sadly) when he crafts the script. The first Halo game was a miracle hybrid of action and plot, something nearly absent in many first-person-shooter games. While great controls and spiffy graphics will lead your butt to the couch, a great story will keep it there, making you sacrifice hygiene and interpersonal skills as your avatar fights for survival. The story embedded in the first Halo game (which I'm assuming the movie will be based on) was so very cleverly told, smartly paying homage to sci-fi cliches (Marines fighting an alien horde, a supersoldier as the key to victory) while making the adventure seem vibrant around you. Halo is, and I put this bluntly, one of the best games ever made. And the way it was told is a large reason. If you haven't played it, go. It's out for the Xbox, PC and Mac.

Fingers crossed the rumors of Ridley Scott as director are true. Would love to have a smart action-horror film, a la Alien, all over again.

(on edit: There are three novels out based on the Halo universe. I'm told they aren't that bad. One novel ("The Flood") re-creates the first Halo videogame experience in literary form. A bit of a challenge, I'd imagine. A transcript of a videogame shooter would look rather bland on the face of it: Main character runs around, shoots aliens, reloads. Repeat until climax.)