Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

A Metal Gear Solid live-action Fan Film produced by a team of fans in Italy.

Directed by Giacomo Talamini, Philanthropy was four years and one start-over in the making. Trailers released two years ago generated some buzz, even in gaming magazines, for the film's apparent level of quality. The film suffered a year and a half delay from its original intended release in 2008, largely due to an important location being, unbeknownst to the production crew, demolished before principal photography could be completed. The film was released on September 27th, 2009, and is available on the project's official website.

The plot follows the eponymous organization, Philanthropy, and their mission to end the threat Metal Gear REX knockoffs around the world pose to the balance of Mutual Assured Destruction.

Tropes used in Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy include:


  • Arc Words: "Jubal" in all its variations; as a battlecry, "In the name of Jubal," and "<JUBAL> V.4.5.10.1"
  • Alternate Universe: While the film borrows some elements from the entire series (most notably, Philanthropy itself,) the production team considers the film an alternate MGS2. It could, conceivably, take place just before the Tanker incident if one assumes Harrison is making an incorrect assumption about how close Philanthropy is to reaching their goals. One of the film's trailers mentions the Patriots, as well.
  • Cliff Hanger: The film blatantly ends halfway through the plot, complete with an "End of Part 1" bumper. The complete series will be either two or three parts, depending on how much time the plot needs.
  • Badass Abnormal: Elizabeth Laeken
  • Continuity Nod: The opening scene is the end of Metal Gear, from the perspective of two soldiers fleeing the original Outer Heaven.
    • Pierre calls Snake "Big Chief," likely referencing Big Boss.
  • Descended Creator: Talamini himself plays Solid Snake, apparently the last resort when no capable actors who looked like Snake could be found.
  • Establishing Character Moment: Pierre LeClerc would rather play his Nintendo DS than link up with the undercover agent (Snake) he's supposed to contact.
  • Exploding Barrel
  • Flat What: Snake's reaction to aforementioned Establishing Character Moment.
  • Freud Was Right: There's no way to get around it - the Metal Gears in this movie are giants dicks on legs.
  • Friendly Sniper: Pierre LeClerc. Snake is expecting him to be a Cold Sniper based on his service records, but he turns out to be the opposite.
  • Gag Dub: After the credits, parts of the film are redubbed by the voice actors for humour.

Snake: (Original movie line) *tosses tourniquet* That's war.
Snake: (redubbed) *tosses tourniquet* That's porn.

Soldier: Wait a sec... This is guy-on-guy! NOOOOOOOOOO!

Snake: (singsong) That's pooooorn, that's poooorn.

  • Heroic BSOD: Pierre either comes close to having one of these or has a very, very minor one; it's obvious that the horrors of war bother him deeply, but he never actually loses it.
  • I Just Shot Marvin in the Face: At one point, Snake is talking to the rest of his team rather passionately during the stealth operation, including hand gestures. With his gun still pointed at the enemy base. With his finger still on the trigger.
    • The trigger discipline in general is pretty bad in this movie, all things considered. At one point, Elizabeth holds her P90 with not one, but two fingers on the trigger for no apparent reason.
  • Leaning on the Fourth Wall or Lampshade Hanging:

Pierre: Okay, what's your favourite strategy for invading... giant enemy towers?
Snake: *Pointing at "Sewage System" sign* Like in the movies.

    • Another one, earlier:

Pierre: Damn, man, you are cool, aren't ya? Seriously! With your dark attitude, the wild beard, the bandanna... You'd make a good video game character.

  • Mind Screw: For what seems like a normal combat area on the surface, some pretty weird things are happening in the Daskasan war zone. The characters realize it, too.
  • War Is Hell: And how. The opening shows two soldiers, father and son, on the run through a forest from their doomed base, Outer Heaven. The son is shot non-fatally, so the shooter can sneak up and knife the father while he's distracted. The shooter is the hero, Solid Snake. Afterward, Snake lampshades this trope as he tosses the son a tourniquet.
  • Zombie Apocalypse: The Overnight Nation troops behave like they're causing one, though they show much more intelligence than true zombies.
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