One of the most reliable and used tricks in the Hollywood playbook is to mine material from previously established successful properties. Whether it's the Spider-Man films based on Marvel Comics' long-running series or an adaptation of an old television show like S.W.A.T., the moviemaking business is well versed when it comes to adapting stories from other mediums. But there's still one storytelling platform that hasn't been fully exploited just yet -- video games.

Sure, movies like Resident Evil and Silent Hill had their time to shine, but there are other properties -- like the cringe-worthy Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter, to name two -- that are just flat out awful. That's not to say that movies based on games can't be both financially and creatively successful, however. It's just a matter of adapting the right material.

If I were a major Hollywood executive, these five video game franchises would be high on my list of stories to adapt for film.

CASTLEVANIA: The wheels have been in motion for director Paul W.S. Anderson to try his hand at Konami's classic vampire saga for quite a while, but so far, there hasn't been much forward progression. While Anderson wouldn't be my first choice to direct, Castlevania is nonetheless a rich franchise with a lot of film potential. Vampire movies are all the rage right now thanks to Twilight, but Castlevania could offer a much-needed reminder about how deadly and terrifying these bloodsuckers can be. With iconic characters such as Simon Belmont, Alucard and even Dracula himself lurking in Castlevania lore, this is one video game property that could haunt the box office with ease.

F-ZERO: Racing movies aren't always the most riveting of film fare, but bringing moviegoers into the science fiction world of hovercraft racing could be a different story altogether. Nintendo's F-Zero series is unique enough to stand apart from Speed Racer -- the similarly premised but widely panned flick from the Wachowski siblings -- but still capitalize on the wild settings, characters and technology that such a sci-fi film promises. Like most beloved franchises, F-Zero boasts an eclectic cast of characters including Captain Falcon, Samurai Goroh, Doctor Stewart and Pico. As a bonus to movie executives, F-Zero not only has established video game credentials, but it has the potential for other merchandising opportunities like action figures and vehicle decals.

MEGA MAN: As one of the longest-running video game franchises in history, it's hard to believe that a Mega Man movie hasn't happened yet. There have been animated attempts made in the past, but as far as giving Capcom's blue-clad robot a live action adaptation, Doctor Light's greatest invention remains inactive on the assembly line. It's a shame, too -- in a Mega Man movie, there would be an insane amount of villains like Metal Man and Gemini Man, enigmatic friends and foes like Proto Man and Zero, not to mention the twisted Doctor Wily. Combining the human elements with the robot's epic scope, Mega Man is something that a 3-D filmmaker like James Cameron could turn into a massively entertaining franchise.

METROID: When Nintendo first announced the news that they would be transitioning the old school side-scrolling Metroid into a first person shooter ala Metroid Prime, the fan community was in an uproar. But after Prime hit, the rage cooled and actually turned into approval. Similarly, a Metroid movie might not sound like the greatest idea -- it's a beloved property featuring one of the single greatest female protagonists, Samus Aran, in all of gaming -- but let's not forget the science fiction renaissance of 2009 led by District 9 director Neill Blomkamp and Moon director Duncan Jones. If one of those guys or another filmmaker with similar sensibilities stepped up to the plate on a Metroid film, fans would not only receive a faithful adaptation, but one of the single coolest sci-fi adventures of all time.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: It's shocking to me that a film adaptation of The Legend of Zelda has yet to exist. The problem with Zelda is that it's such a lucrative game franchise, and tampering with the formula in any way could lead to disaster -- hence why Nintendo must be reluctant to attempt an adaptation. Still, after the success of Lord of the Rings, now seems like the perfect time to thrust the swords-and-sorcery tale of Zelda onto the big screen. If I were calling the shots, I'd cast a young adolescent as Link and sign him to a six-picture deal ala Harry Potter. That way, younger viewers would have someone to relate to, and older viewers would cheer Link on as he progressed towards the great hero he's destined to become as an adult.