Even Hideo Kojima Can't Help But Praise Netflix's Newest Sci-Fi Drama
This thoughtful review is nothing like his report on Madame Web.
Summary
- Hideo Kojima is known not only as a great game designer, but also as an avid movie fan.
- He recently posted a review of a new sci-fi series on Netflix based on the famous Chinese book trilogy.
- Kojima praised the level of adaptation, the quality of the visuals, and the acting.
Hideo Kojima has become one of the most innovative artists, largely responsible for redefining video games as a full-fledged artistic medium on par with literature and cinema. And it was the narrative and visual implementation of the latter that made Kojima's games so popular and widespread.
1988 saw the release of the Blade Runner-inspired Snatcher, then came the pop culture phenomenon that was the Metal Gear series, inspired by the films of John Carpenter, and even those who don't play games seem to have heard of 2019's Death Stranding, which features colossi of cinema from Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, and Lindsay Wagner to Nicolas Winding Refn and Guillermo del Toro. Plus, Death Stranding 2 is on its way.
Kojima's love for cinema is not only evident through references in his games and famous actors involved in his projects. Well, he doesn't even hide how much of a movie nerd he is, as his personal Twitter and Instagram accounts are literally full of reactions and reviews of this or that movie or series, or just posters of what he recently watched.
And so, last week, the famous game designer published an extremely detailed review of Netflix's new sci-fi series, based on the famous Hugo Award-winning book trilogy and developed by the creators of Game of Thrones. Let's see what the genius himself has to say about the new show.
Kojima Praised Netflix's New Series
On March 23, 2024, Hideo Kojima posted a lengthy review of the new Netflix sci-fi series 3 Body Problem on X (ex-Twitter).
'I've just finished watching through eight episodes of 3 Body Problem. The original novel by Liu Cixin is depicted on a grand scale and in a unique style,' he shared. 'With a slow-paced introduction, the ensemble drama spins a timeless story with intersecting characters.'
The game designer, who has a keen eye for such things, paid special attention to the quality of the series' complex visuals.
'Abstract and surrealistic images, like that of 'a blink in space' and 'a countdown reflected on the retina,' are very difficult to visualize.'
In addition, given that Liu Cixin's Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy was primarily set in mainland China, Kojima was pleased to point out how successful the showrunners had been in adapting the story for a global audience.
'By replacing the setting, era, and characters, extracting and adding elements, upping the tempo to make it suitable for a tv series, and rhythmically arranging cutbacks and cliffhangers, they have sublimated this work into an entertainment for everyone – those who have read the original work and those who have not – while retaining the essence of the original.'
This tweet is in stark contrast to Kojima's opinion of Madame Web: on the latter, instead of a well-crafted review, he left a meager 'Saw Madame Web at the theater' message. Well, we're not impressed either.
See Kojima's full review below.
What Is This Sci-Fi Show About?
3 Body Problem is a profound sci-fi reflection on the psyche of the individual under authoritarian regimes, and how the horrors of oppression lead to the destruction of humanism.
The story initially follows an astrophysicist, Ye Wenjie, during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, who, in her desire to avenge the murder of her father, makes contact with and invites an alien civilization that intends to destroy humanity and take its place on Earth.
However, the main action shifts to the present-day aftermath of her decision, as a group of scientists from around the world try to resist both the alien invasion and the organization that desires it.