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Escape From City 17 is a short film series made by the Purchase Brothers. Part one was just released onto Youtube and this is easily going to be the best videogame related fan made video of 2009. The amazing thing about this and the second episode (coming soon) is that both were filmed with a budget of just $500.

The video really feels like a Hollywood production, if not better. Speaking of which, this is how you make a videogame into a movie, Hollywood. We'll be sure to post the next episode as soon as it hits Youtube. 

[Thanks, R3Y!]


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41 comments | showing # 1 to 41

Count Grishnack's Avatar
Count Grishnack at 02/13/2009 16:01
Was just going to post this. Truly awesome stuff.

Hope there's more to come.
EternalDarkWing's Avatar
EternalDarkWing at 02/13/2009 16:04
This is as close as we're going to get to a full blown Half-Life movie, and it's still fucking amazing.
GoS-CPT-Stewart's Avatar
GoS-CPT-Stewart at 02/13/2009 16:07
The atmosphere along with the sound effects and all of the 3D and special effects are amazing. The acting on the other hand, is just awful. And the dialogue's audio is too low. Still though, an entertaining watch with some amazing special effects.
superporkeater3d's Avatar
superporkeater3d at 02/13/2009 16:08
totally awesome
falinter's Avatar
falinter at 02/13/2009 16:10
You know how much I would have loved to vote on this in destructoid.reddit??? alot!
But my sn has been taken (by me years ago) and i forgot the password and i cant recover it and i cant contact anyone at reddit cause their feedback thing is broken!
::breathe::

But this video looks amazing!
sylphx's Avatar
sylphx at 02/13/2009 16:11
Awesome, I hope my persona short film is half as good as this.
ZombiePlatypus's Avatar
ZombiePlatypus at 02/13/2009 16:14
500 bucks?!?! Seriously? That's amazing to me. I mean, I loved the Halo live action shorts, but how much more do you figure those cost to make?
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 02/13/2009 16:17
Pretty good stuff. Nice to see more fan movies like this out there. Perhaps they should start giving awards out for these at PAX or something.
Chad Concelmo's Avatar
Chad Concelmo at 02/13/2009 16:18
Oh my God, that was absolutely incredible! :O

The crowbar part made me so happy. :)
Barcode's Avatar
Barcode at 02/13/2009 16:22
I JIZZED IN MY PANTS!

Great find!
LukienAkeela's Avatar
LukienAkeela at 02/13/2009 16:32
Freaking fantastic. It makes me want to play the game all over again.
Luke Barnard's Avatar
Luke Barnard at 02/13/2009 16:34
Phenomenal work, especially with that low of a budget.
Stephen57's Avatar
Stephen57 at 02/13/2009 16:39
My god, I've seen multimillion dollar movies come out in the last few years with worse special effects than that. The acting could be better, but hey, beggars can't be choosers.
TheDreadHawk's Avatar
TheDreadHawk at 02/13/2009 16:42
Only suffers from bad acting. This thing is the most amazing short film I have ever seen.
Qraze's Avatar
Qraze at 02/13/2009 16:45
that was really good. acting wasn't but for $500 you can't get clive owen AND great effects.
Matte G's Avatar
Matte G at 02/13/2009 16:51
$500 and 5 minutes of that has made every half arsed Hollywood Game to Film look like they were made by chimps! Which they probably were.

Amazing truly amazing.
Kaspar's Avatar
Kaspar at 02/13/2009 16:57
Insanely shit acting but OH MY GOD EVERYTHING ELSE BLOWS MY MIND.
grafkhun's Avatar
grafkhun at 02/13/2009 17:04
Dayum, that was awesome, cannot wait for part 2. Everything is so well done, sfx, special effects, camera angles (a bit too shaky though), and the striders and gunships look great! acting wasn't so great, but hey I don't mind if everything else is going to be so well polished.
Shin Ra's Avatar
Shin Ra at 02/13/2009 17:09
great job an i think the acting is find; there gun-fight scene are very good
greeneggsnsam's Avatar
greeneggsnsam at 02/13/2009 17:17
Editing and direction is top-notch; acting could be better. Easily forgiven, though.
Static Jak's Avatar
Static Jak at 02/13/2009 17:31
If this was an actual tv series, It'd kick ass.
Pacopaco's Avatar
Pacopaco at 02/13/2009 17:47
I could quibble about some minor issues that could improve the clip, but damn, for $500 that's impressive work--especially the effects. That person takes a lot of the credit here.
Projectexodus's Avatar
Projectexodus at 02/13/2009 17:49
Wow, thats amazing! Now I want to play the game again.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar
GuitarAtomik at 02/13/2009 18:09
That was surprisingly bad-ass. Also, thank god for Youtube's new HQ option.
Draconianviper's Avatar
Draconianviper at 02/13/2009 18:39
The combine and resistance costumes were pretty good. The mixed in CGI was done really well for an independant on low budget. I think the extra work put it just makes it a bit sweeter.
spas's Avatar
spas at 02/13/2009 19:40
This is amazing for the budget it definatly deserves our support and funding!
happyorangeman's Avatar
happyorangeman at 02/13/2009 19:56
That is just amazing. $500 for two episodes. That is unbelievable.
CaptainBlue's Avatar
CaptainBlue at 02/13/2009 20:59
It looks like the creators' website is suspended.

purchasebrothers.com

I hope it isn't Valve that's causing the trouble...
Velt's Avatar
Velt at 02/13/2009 22:22
Mmmhh... hope Valve isnt causing the issue at this guy website. Maybe too many clicks to their page, at least that is what Im hoping for since this is by far the best looking fan made Half LIfe video ever.

Valve should found this guys right away.
Lunarmoth's Avatar
Lunarmoth at 02/13/2009 23:06
wow that was great!
sylphx's Avatar
sylphx at 02/13/2009 23:43
they probably ran out of bandwidth and their host shut them down.
Dimly's Avatar
Dimly at 02/14/2009 03:46
All this for 500 bucks? With this kind of vision they could make a classy-ass television series
Slique's Avatar
Slique at 02/14/2009 05:53
The lackluster acting is definitely a shame, but the wonderful scenery and cinematography more than make up for it. Plus, that blonde girl in the montage at the end looks super cute.

The only downside I saw, effects wise, was when the gunships flew over head. The lighting definitely seemed to be off on them. I don't know why, but some of the Metro cop masks looked a ittle odd, too.

Now we just have to hope for a Gordon cameo.
CareBear LG's Avatar
CareBear LG at 02/14/2009 06:50
@ CaptainBlue & Velt
Valve know about it and gave it high praise, they even added it to their news feed and whatnot.. =)
benjaxez's Avatar
benjaxez at 02/14/2009 08:14
That's awesome
andycadaver's Avatar
andycadaver at 02/14/2009 16:35
That was great! Best damn fan-made film I've seen in quite a while. The audio and special effects are impressive and surreal, for such a low budget. I do have to agree, though, that the acting could have been a little better. Still, much praise to the creators. And fuck yes, I had to cheer when the dude choked down and beat down that Combine soldier with a crowbar! Ahh, that was classic.
MightyVince's Avatar
MightyVince at 02/14/2009 21:44
Wow, I didn't even know it was possible to have a movie with quality this high with such a low budget! It just looks incredible! The acting isn't worth of an Oscar but it isn't that of a turn-down.
Phalanxxx's Avatar
Phalanxxx at 02/15/2009 05:16
It's really faithful to the source, and you say $500? How is it possible holly wood spend MILLIONS?!
Jizl Tizl's Avatar
Jizl Tizl at 02/15/2009 14:35
Sweet movie!! I can't wait for the next episode.

Quick question though: How much was their animation program? To me, it looks like it would be a bit more than $500 (assuming they actually BOUGHT it lol)
Jizl Tizl's Avatar
Jizl Tizl at 02/15/2009 14:35
Sweet movie!! I can't wait for the next episode.

Quick question though: How much was their animation program? To me, it looks like it would be a bit more than $500 (assuming they actually BOUGHT it lol)
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 02/17/2009 17:45
I watched it after seeing the Steam ad. Were it any other company they were basing this project on, they would have been sued out of existence.
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