When gift shopping for a retro gamer it's tough trying to pick out a game they don't already have, so instead try stuffing their stockings with a DVD based on classic video games.
Here is a look at some of the best, worst and most overlooked movies, TV shows and specials available on DVD for classic video game lovers.
Doom
2005 - Rated PG
Based on the monumentally successful computer game that launched first-person shooters into popularity.
In the distant future an earth colony sent to try and populate Mars ends up getting experimented on, turning the colonists into mutated monstrosities bent on destruction. A group of Space Marines including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is sent in to investigate.
The movie actually includes a climax designed to recreate exact scenes from the video game, including the first-person camera perspective.
Double Dragon
1994 - Rated PG -13
Specifically for those into '90s cheese! The Lee brother's (Mark Dacascos and Scott Wolf ) team up with gang leader Marian Delario (Alyssa Milano) to prevent baddy Guisman (Robert Patrick) from putting together the broken pieces of an ancient talisman and gain ultimate power.
The film changes the Japanese twin brothers into siblings from completely different nationalities, with gratuitous use of Alyssa Milano shoehorned into the story.
Robert Patrick's hairstyle alone is worth giving this corn-fest a look.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
2007 - Rated PG-13
A warm, funny and nostalgic documentary following the exploits of Steve Wiebe as he enters the world of competitive gaming to take on reigning Donkey Kong world champion Billy Mitchell.
King of Kong not only shows the competitive side of classic gaming, but also takes a nostalgic look at the evolution and popularity of video arcades in the '80s and where the gamers who populated them are today.
Mortal Kombat
1995 - Rated PG-13
The most violent and controversial game of all time is milk toasted down Hollywood-style with many actors that don't even know martial arts.
The greatest fighters from every dimension are recruited to compete in a martial arts completion to maintain the balance of good vs. evil.
While the film is by no means a masterpiece, it is hilariously cheesy and fun, especially when they run footage backwards of actress Bridgette Wilson falling down to make it look like she's flipping up to defeat her competitor.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who went on to craft another video game film on the list, Resident Evil, and produce the movie version of the Dead or Alive video game, which features a near identical story.
Resident Evil
2002 - Rated R
One of the best video game inspired films recreates many of the scenes from the original PlaySation One survival horror classic and is just an all-around terrific zombie/action flick.As with the game the evil Umbrella Corporation's experiments go awry, spinning onto a zombie infestation that is investigated by the Alpha Team law enforcement unit.
The main characters from the game, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine don't appear in the film, instead being replaced, undercover agent Alice, played by Milla Jovovich, who goes on to be the subject of all the film sequels.
Resident Evil was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson who gained his cinematic video game adaptation chops on Mortal Kombat.
Street Fighter
1994 - Rated PG-13
A historically cheesy interpretation of the Street Fighter arcade games that failed at the box office, but has since received a big cult following, mainly from its "So bad it's good" status.
Jean-Claude Van Damme stars as Guile, part of a military organization bent on stopping militaristic dictator Bison (Raul Julia in his final role) from taking over the world.
Super Mario Bros.
1993 - Rated PG
The Hollywoodization of Super Mario Bros. triggered some pretty bizarre changes to the historic gaming franchise. In the flick, two plumbing brothers, one Italian (Mario) and the other Latino (Luigi) help save a young woman named Daisy, who has been kidnapped and whisked away to an alternate dimension where humans evolved from dinosaurs.
While the movie is ass oddball as you can get, the strangest part was the casting. While academy award nominated actor Bob Hoskins was a perfect fit for Mario, having Luigi played by comedian John Leguizamo seemed strange, but not nearly as much as the casting of legendary actor Dennis Hopper to play King Koopa.
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show
1989 - Not Rated
The Mario Bros. first and finest animated series stays true to the characters and humor of the classic video game series, featuring the entire Mario gang, plus comedy live-action host segments starring the late pro-wrestler Captain Lou Albano as Mario, who also voiced his animated counterpart.
Each episode featured a different celebrity guest for the live action segments including Magic Johnson, Vanna White, Norman Fell, and even Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.
Tron
1982 - Rated PG
Considered to be the very best video game movie, and the most successful tie-in with an arcade game. The Tron video arcade game was developed in tandem with the film and just as big of a hit.
When game developer Kevin Flynn's (Jeff Bridges) work is stolen by co-worker Ed Dillinger (David Warner), Flynn tries to hack into their employer mainframe to regain his code. Instead he ends up digitized and transported directly into the games he created. Captured by the mainframes security system, Flynn must now physically participate in each of his deadly games and try to escape back into the real world.The Wizard
1989 - Rated PG
After his twin sister drowns, Jimmy (Luke Edwards) becomes severely withdrawn with the exception of his phenomenal skills at video games. When Jimmy is put in an institution, his brother Corey (Fred Savage) breaks him out. The two embark on an adventure along with a little girl named Haley (Jenny Lewis) lead to a Nintendo video game championship at Universal Studios theme park.
While the movie is little more than a promotion for the NES and Universal Studios, it is a great nostalgic look at the 8-bit '80s, with spotlights on old-school Nintendo games. It also featured Super Mario Bros. 3 before its US release, and includes a scene with the failed Nintendo Power Glove.
