Director Paul W.S. Anderson discussed how difficult it was to film Monster Hunter in a way that was as close as possible to Capcom's original video game, including the weight of its prop-swords which was difficult for actors -- like Ron Perlman -- to use while staying in character.
"Ron Perlman complained a lot," he said, during an interview with Polygon at this year's virtual New York Comic-Con. "He picked up his axe, and he twirled it but he said, 'Oh my god, Paul!' Then we lit it on fire." He said the weight of the sword made it difficult to swing.
"They’re very, very outsized," Anderson added. "That’s one of the features of the game. It’s the big, bad weapons and we had to build them big." Anderson also disclosed that he felt that he worked close with Capcom and Monster Hunter's video game creators, much "closer than prior video game-based films" that he directed.
"We talked through scripts, landscapes, creatures, costumes and weapons with game designers. Everything was run by them," he said. "I'd fly to Japan with rough cuts and the actual game animators would comment on creatures' movements, saying things like, 'The toenails of the creature are too pointy'... That level of detail." He added, "Monster Hunter was my favorite movie of any movie in my career to make."
The synopsis of Anderson's adaptation of the hit video game series is below,
Behind our world, there is another: a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with deadly ferocity. When an unexpected sandstorm transports Lt. Artemis (Milla Jovovich) and her unit (TI Harris, Meagan Good, Diego Boneta) to a new world, the soldiers are shocked to discover that this hostile and unknown environment is home to enormous and terrifying monsters immune to their firepower. In their desperate battle for survival, the unit encounters the mysterious Hunter (Tony Jaa), whose unique skills allow him to stay one step ahead of the powerful creatures. As Artemis and Hunter slowly build trust, she discovers that he is part of a team led by the Admiral (Ron Perlman). Facing a danger so great it could threaten to destroy their world, the brave warriors combine their unique abilities to band together for the ultimate showdown.
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, Monster Hunter stars Milla Jovovich, Ron Perlman, TI, Tony Jaa, Meagan Good and Diego Boneta. The film arrives in theaters on Dec. 30.
Source: Polygon