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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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:01
Count Grishnack
Was just going to post this. Truly awesome stuff.

Hope there's more to come.
EternalDarkWing's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:04
EternalDarkWing
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:07
GoS-CPT-Stewart
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:08
superporkeater3d
totally awesome
falinter's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:10
falinter
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:11
sylphx
Awesome, I hope my persona short film is half as good as this.
ZombiePlatypus's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:14
ZombiePlatypus
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:17
Cowboy TTop
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:18
Chad Concelmo
Oh my God, that was absolutely incredible! :O

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

Great find!
LukienAkeela's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:32
LukienAkeela
Freaking fantastic. It makes me want to play the game all over again.
Luke Barnard's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:34
Luke Barnard
Phenomenal work, especially with that low of a budget.
Stephen57's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:39
Stephen57
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:42
TheDreadHawk
Only suffers from bad acting. This thing is the most amazing short film I have ever seen.
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:45
Qraze
that was really good. acting wasn't but for $500 you can't get clive owen AND great effects.
Matte G's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:51
Matte G
$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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 16:57
Kaspar
Insanely shit acting but OH MY GOD EVERYTHING ELSE BLOWS MY MIND.
grafkhun's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 17:04
grafkhun
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 17:09
Shin Ra
great job an i think the acting is find; there gun-fight scene are very good
greeneggsnsam's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 17:17
greeneggsnsam
Editing and direction is top-notch; acting could be better. Easily forgiven, though.
Static Jak's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 17:31
Static Jak
If this was an actual tv series, It'd kick ass.
Pacopaco's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 17:47
Pacopaco
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 17:49
Projectexodus
Wow, thats amazing! Now I want to play the game again.
GuitarAtomik's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 18:09
GuitarAtomik
That was surprisingly bad-ass. Also, thank god for Youtube's new HQ option.
Draconianviper's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 18:39
Draconianviper
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 19:40
spas
This is amazing for the budget it definatly deserves our support and funding!
happyorangeman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 19:56
happyorangeman
That is just amazing. $500 for two episodes. That is unbelievable.
CaptainBlue's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 20:59
CaptainBlue
It looks like the creators' website is suspended.

purchasebrothers.com

I hope it isn't Valve that's causing the trouble...
Velt's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 22:22
Velt
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 - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 23:06
Lunarmoth
wow that was great!
sylphx's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2009 23:43
sylphx
they probably ran out of bandwidth and their host shut them down.
Dimly's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/14/2009 03:46
Dimly
All this for 500 bucks? With this kind of vision they could make a classy-ass television series
Slique's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/14/2009 05:53
Slique
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 - Comment posted on 02/14/2009 06:50
CareBear LG
@ CaptainBlue & Velt
Valve know about it and gave it high praise, they even added it to their news feed and whatnot.. =)
benjaxez's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/14/2009 08:14
benjaxez
That's awesome
andycadaver's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/14/2009 16:35
andycadaver
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 - Comment posted on 02/14/2009 21:44
MightyVince
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 - Comment posted on 02/15/2009 05:16
Phalanxxx
It's really faithful to the source, and you say $500? How is it possible holly wood spend MILLIONS?!
Jizl Tizl's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/15/2009 14:35
Jizl Tizl
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 - Comment posted on 02/15/2009 14:35
Jizl Tizl
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 - Comment posted on 02/17/2009 17:45
The-Excel
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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