Culture news “Remarkable” Hideo Kojima loves this sci-fi series available exclusively on Netflix
One of the most popular video game directors of the moment, Hideo Kojima has once again given his opinion. Hugely influenced by cinema, big screen references abound in his works. In addition, he is very active on Twitter and does not hesitate to give his opinion on projects that have marked him, for good or bad. Recently, the Netflix sci-fi series The 3-Body Problem was released and the Japanese director was quick to review it.
Originally a book by Liu Cixin, The 3-Body Problem is an eight-episode series broadcast on Netflix since March 21, 2024. The story presents a wave of suicides in the scientific community which worries a British government agent played by Benedict Wong. The latter joins forces with students from Oxford and together they will discover a major problem. A genius scientist from the Chinese cultural revolution of the 1960s seems to be behind it all. And obviously, there is one who really liked the series.
A director with a cinematic eye
For those who follow Hideo Kojima on Twitter, you surely know that he is (very) active on the platform and does not hesitate to say what he thinks. With the release of 3 Body Problem, the Japanese video game director gave a review of the TV show describing how much he loved it. For him, the series suffers from some flaws. In addition to a “slow pace”, he describes subliminal images “difficult to visualize”. However, the eight-episode program still charmed him in many aspects. Comparing it to other sci-fi films with an alien invasion like Roland Emmerich’s Independence Day, he believes the series is brilliant. An early fan of the novel, Hideo Kojima praised the adaptation work of David Benioff and DB Weiss:
They did a wonderful job. By replacing the setting, era and characters, extracting and adding elements, increasing the tempo to make it suitable for a television series and rhythmically arranging cutbacks and cliffhangers, they have elevated this work into entertainment for everyone. -Hideo Kojima
I’ve just finished watching through eight episodes of “3 Body Problem.” The original novel by Liu Cixin is depicted on a large scale and in a unique style. With a slow-paced introduction, the ensemble drama spins a timeless story with intersecting characters. Abstract and… pic.twitter.com/RlZaKIoHyz
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) March 23, 2024
Video games and Cinema, the pair that does the trick
Films and series – or cinema in general – have always influenced Kojima in his works. Already in Metal Gear Solid, we saw a predominance of cutscenes, which were quite rare at the time. But it is his recent projects that feature many influences from the big screen. Beyond Death Stranding which no longer needs to be presented, we can talk about PT which locks the player in an infinite storyline loop or the next OD and its face capture system as realistic as it is terrifying. Kojima is also close to horror director Jordan Peele. The two men appeared together on the Game Awards stage. Hideo Kojima is currently working on a horror film project that he will direct himself.