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Geek Culture
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'Donkey Kong' Movie Barrels Ahead As Nintendo Files Copyright
Nintendo might already have its hands full with the recently delayed The Legend of Zelda live-action movie, but it seems the studio has plans to adapt another of its major IPs for the big screen, with a recent copyright filing hinting that a Donkey Kong movie is in the works. According to a copyright filed by Nintendo Studios LLC, a registration was made last month for an 'Untitled Donkey Kong Project ; Motion picture', with further mentions indicating the involvement of Universal Pictures, which all but confirms that the project is a film adaptation of the beloved video game, although there was no mention on whether it would be live-action or animated. Donkey Kong last appeared on the silver screen in 2023's The Super Mario Bros. Movie , where he was voiced by comedian Seth Rogen ( The Interview, This is the End ). The movie would go on to become the third-biggest animated film of all time, grossing over US$1.3 billion at the worldwide box office to date, making it no surprise that Nintendo is now looking to tap into its other popular franchises and turn them into potential movie moneymakers. And as far as franchises go, Donkey Kong might be one of Nintendo's most recognisable, excluding Mario, of course, as the character has become a massive hit in the video game space since his debut in 1981, receiving over 20 mainline titles and spin-offs over the years, including numerous cameos in massive Nintendo crossover games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the recent Mario Kart World . As of right now, as the new Donkey Kong movie still remains untitled, it might be quite a ways out, so fans shouldn't expect trailers or announcements anytime soon. Fans of the gaming franchise, however, will soon have some ape adventures to tide them over until the movie is released, as Nintendo's highly anticipated next entry, Donkey Kong Banazna , is set to hit the Nintendo Switch 2 on 17 July 2025, marking the second major first party release for the new hybrid console. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. Donkey Kong Nintendo Universal Pictures
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Donkey Kong creator Shigeru Miyamoto explains the big ape's redesign was all in service of making him "more expressive"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. One of the hot topics among Nintendo fans this year has been Donkey Kong's new redesign. When Nintendo Switch 2 was first unveiled back in January, the tiny snippet of Mario Kart World gameplay had a new design for the big ape that was more in-line with the version seen in The Super Mario Bros Movie. Then the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct showed us what Nintendo was cooking with the new design, with the reveal of Donkey Kong Bananza. Speaking to IGN, Donkey Kong (and Zelda, Mario, Pikmin, the list goes on) creator Shigeru Miyamoto was asked about the new design, and revealed just why it was time for Rare's DK to move over. "When we were talking about trying to create new versions, evolving Donkey Kong, we created the game called Jungle Beat," Miyamoto explained, adding, "With the technology that was available at the time, we were able to make Donkey Kong more expressive." However, DK's expressions were clearly not quite cartoonish enough, as Miyamoto said, "going back to the design that Rare came up with, we reevaluated; what can we do with the design to make it more expressive? And then when it comes to the movie, we decided to move forward with this new generation Donkey Kong design." Expressiveness seems to be a high priority for Donkey Kong at Nintendo, as Masahiro Sakurai used the character's segment in the E3 2018 Smash Bros. presentation to show off how expressive the new fighters were. Plus, the person behind his Rare redesign – Kevin Bayliss – has been a vocal supporter of the new design, saying "His face is way more expressive now – it's really ace!"Even if he isn't confirmed for Mario Kart World or Donkey Kong Bananza yet, Nintendo has also redesigned Diddy Kong, on the sly.
Courier-Mail
31-05-2025
- Courier-Mail
I spent 3 days at the USA's most scenic ski resort, Heavenly Mountain
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. Like siblings hugging in a snowstorm, Heavenly Mountain Resort has two distinct sides – one in Nevada and the other California. Here's how to ski both in 72 hours, enjoying stunning Lake Tahoe views, epic tree runs, swathes of powder and a fun village. X DAY ONE: Afternoon Turn away from famous Lake Tahoe and point your rental all-wheel drive uphill, along a narrow road hugged by old lodges. You'll weave around bends that become increasingly white with snow until you find yourself side-by-side with skiers zipping down one of Heavenly's home trails. Instead of parking and racing onto the slopes, climb higher to the behemoth that is Tahoe Ridge Resort, a Holiday Inn Club Vacations property clinging to the mountainside. Spend the afternoon in the resort's heated pool, partially undercover but mostly not, and enjoy the magic of tiny flakes dancing to the water. Dinner One of the benefits of staying in a resort as large as Tahoe Ridge is you don't need to leave. In the main building, you can play pool and ping-pong, then enjoy burgers at The Ridge Club Bistro. If you feel like eating in your apartment, there's the small Marketplace on site, or you can drive 30 minutes down the mountain into Gardnerville for groceries. Tahoe Ridge Resort. DAY TWO: Morning After frying up bacon and eggs in your apartment, catch Tahoe Ridge Resort's fun Skier Express gondola to Stagecoach Express. The chairlift leads to some of the mountain's best intermediate runs, and if the snow has fallen thick and fast overnight, you can take advantage of the advanced wooded areas, chutes and bowls on the Nevada side of Heavenly. Lunch By lunchtime, make your way to Tamarack Lodge, a handy meeting point for friends riding opposite sides of the resort. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, so nab a table and cover it with plates of chicken tenders, pizzas and bowls of chilli. Heavenly Mountain Gondola. Afternoon If you're travelling with kids, take it slow in the beginner zone outside Tamarack Lodge. This is where you'll find the children's Ski & Ride School, as well as tubing and an alpine coaster. Families can access the tubing and coaster – without the need to ski – via Heavenly's gondola, caught from the heart of Heavenly Village, on the California side. Evening Enjoy an easy apartment dinner before making your way to Tahoe Ridge's single-room cinema to watch a complimentary screening of The Super Mario Bros Movie. Before you go, grab a packet of microwave popcorn from the Marketplace. Snowboard lessons on the resort's Californian side. Picture: Jennifer Ennion DAY THREE: Morning Enjoy a day off the slopes as you move to the California side of Heavenly where there's a pedestrian village full of restaurants, bars and shops, including big-brand stores such as Showcase and Patagonia. If you prefer community stores oozing authenticity, drive to The Village Board Shop to browse a top range of boards and outerwear. Lunch You're spoilt for choice for village dining options, but for something simple and affordable, swing by Sugar Pine Bakery for cinnamon scrolls and apple pies. Or for a real change of pace you can join locals at Cuppa Tahoe, a café in a bookshop with fabulous cosy nooks filled with vintage furniture and chalkboards. Order one of the specialty drinks, such as the caramelised pear tea latte. The Baked Bear ice-cream sandwich. Picture: Jennifer Ennion Afternoon Head back to the village for a spin on the small Heavenly Village Ice Rink before heading to The Baked Bear for an over-the-top ice-cream cookie sandwich. With bellies stretched, check into Forest Suites Resort, a sprawling low-level property a short stroll from Heavenly Mountain Gondola. It has an inviting foyer lounge, outdoor hot tubs, and apartments with full kitchens. Dinner Skip the tourist traps and cross the highway to Poké Rok, offering visitors a refreshing break from burgers and fried food. Order a giant sushi roll with crab or shrimp, or a poke bowl brimming with ahi tuna, salmon or teriyaki chicken. Your body will thank you for it. Forest Suites Resort at Heavenly Village. DAY FOUR: Morning Forest Suites offers a decent free buffet breakfast of pancakes, hash browns and sausages. You can then catch the gondola to mid-mountain or, to fully experience the California side of Heavenly, hop on the free shuttle to California Lodge. Eager skiers jump on the chairlift here, but if the weather is particularly wild, line up for the aerial tramway. There's a stack of epic runs on this side of the mountain, especially if you score a fresh snow day. If you're advanced, drop into Powder Bowl Woods and be sure to ride the black terrain back to the base at the end of the day. Lunch Lakeview Lodge is a great lunch spot, offering a cosy respite from a snowstorm. This lodge is the quintessential back-to-basics experience with plenty of character and window seats. Make yourself a cup of hot apple cider, order the gyro and grab a rocky road cookie while they're warm. Afternoon Spend the rest of the day lapping your favourite runs. If it's snowing heavily, keep your eyes on the opening of the Sky Express chair so you can claim more fresh turns through trees or down fast blues. (Sky Express offers some of the best views of Lake Tahoe on clear days.) Celebrate a day of fun riding back at Forest Suites Resort with free s'mores by an outdoor fire. The writer was a guest of Vail Resorts, South Lake Tahoe and Visit California. Skiers enjoy great views of Lake Tahoe. How to get to Heavenly Mountain Resort The closest airport to Heavenly Mountain Resort is in Reno, Nevada, but save yourself the hassle of two flights and travel with Qantas into San Francisco where you can collect a hire car for an easy 3.5-hour drive to Lake Tahoe. Find more travel tips at Where to stay at Heavenly Mountain Resort Tahoe Ridge Resort is an on-snow property with a restaurant, games room, activities centre, pool, hot tubs, saunas and free shuttle. In town, Forest Suites Resort is a great mid-range, family option, a short stroll to Heavenly Mountain Gondola. Skiing/snowboarding tips The Heavenly ski season is from mid-November to mid-April, snow dependent. If you're snowboarding in the Tahoe region for several days, buy an Epic Australia Pass for unlimited riding at three Aussie resorts, as well as Heavenly. Originally published as I spent 3 days at the USA's most surprising ski resort, Heavenly Mountain
Engadget
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
A Death Stranding anime is in the works
How much Death Stranding are you willing to fire into your eyes? The game's sequel arrives in just a few weeks, A Quiet Place: Day One director Michael Sarnoski is leading up a live-action film adaptation, and now Hideo Kojima has confirmed that an anime is in production. Kojima teased the adaptation while discussing the more concrete live-action project in an interview with Vogue Japan . As picked up by VGC , the Metal Gear creator was talking about his cross-media ambitions for the Death Stranding , and comparing the planned film to other successful video game adaptations from recent years. "When it comes to adapting games into visual media, there are works like The Last of Us , which stays true to the original storyline, and films like The Super Mario Bros Movie which are more of a service to fans of the game," Kojima said, according to VGC 's translation. "While these works have their own merits, as a film enthusiast, I want to pursue the expressive potential of cinema. I aim to create a Death Stranding that can only be realised through film, one that could win awards at festivals like the Cannes Film Festival or the Venice Film Festival. In fact, we are also currently working on an anime adaptation." Kojima didn't offer any more information, so we don't know how far along the anime project is, who is making it, when we can actually expect it to come out, or whether it will tie in with the upcoming live-action movie. In the meantime, Norman Reedus' Sam Porter Bridges will return in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach , which is coming to PS5 on June 22. Kojima Productions dropped its second trailer for the game in March, which clocked in at 10 minutes and gave us a closer look at what we'll be getting up to in the sequel. (Spoiler alert: lots more walking.)
CNA
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Commentary: Why film adaptations of popular video games often fall flat
ONTARIO: Video game adaptations are having a moment. On television, shows like HBO's The Last of Us and Amazon Prime's Fallout – each based on popular game franchises – have been gigantic hits. On the big screen, 2023's The Super Mario Bros Movie broke box office records, and at the time of writing, A Minecraft Movie looks to be well on its way to generating US$1 billion in ticket sales. With these recent successes, it can be hard to remember that movie adaptations of video games have historically been notoriously bad, typically failing to win over audiences and critics alike. My first experience with adaptation disappointment came from the 1993 adaptation of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros, starring Hollywood legend Bob Hoskins as Mario and John Leguizamo as his brother, Luigi. The film was a flop, garnering a 35 on aggregate site Metacritic and failing to break even at the box office. Curiously, the film looked nothing like the games, opting for a gritty, noir aesthetic and swapping out the cutesy enemies with horrifying monsters. Movie studio executives can perhaps be forgiven for trying to capitalise on the popularity of video games. With billions of players worldwide and a market valuation surpassing Hollywood and the music industry combined, video games are seemingly low-hanging fruit for commercial success. So why, with a few notable exceptions notwithstanding, are video game adaptations so difficult to pull off? THE PROBLEM WITH ADAPTATIONS One key issue is that video games and movies are two very different media with different functions and different representational strengths and weaknesses. At their most basic, video games are meant to be interactive. They provide players with goals to achieve and challenges to overcome through some combination of strategy, skill and luck. Sometimes, these goals and challenges are clear and direct. When a player sees a Goomba approach in Super Mario Bros, for example, they must press a button to jump on its head and defeat it; otherwise, the player takes damage and may have to start the level again. Other times, the goals and challenges are less direct. In open-world or 'sandbox' games like Minecraft, players are given a high degree of freedom in how they interact with the game world. There are ways to 'win' in Minecraft, but the true pleasure of the game lies in giving players freedom to explore a vast world and create unique structures, villages, or even functional computers. Interacting with a game world – its goals, rules and aesthetics – is a fundamentally distinct process from watching a film or reading a novel. Minecraft's motto of 'Create. Explore. Survive' is not readily applicable in media like film and books, though these media have experimented with interactivity too. GAME WORLDS ON THE BIG SCREEN So why have adaptations like The Super Mario Bros Movie and A Minecraft Movie been successful, at least commercially? Part of the reason is that these are massive franchises with instant brand recognition. Even people who do not play video games know who Mario is, and Minecraft is among the most popular games of all time. However, as we have seen with recent unsuccessful adaptations like Warcraft and Borderlands, brand recognition alone is not sufficient. One reason why The Super Mario Bros Movie and A Minecraft Movie have done well is that they get the 'feel' of their respective worlds right. When Mario transports into the Mushroom Kingdom in the 2023 film, it looks and sounds like the Mushroom Kingdom players encounter in the games. The colours, shapes and sounds in the film closely match the colours, shapes, and sounds in the games. The Goombas look like Goombas, the power-ups look like power-ups and the film retains the whimsical nature of the games. Although the radical freedom afforded to players of Minecraft is difficult to replicate in a film, A Minecraft Movie nevertheless retains the look, sound and feel of the game. The Creepers look and behave like Creepers and the Piglins look and behave like Piglins. When Steve (played by Jack Black) first learns to build his first structures, the audience watches as he joyfully creates whatever he can imagine, gradually learning to build larger and more complex structures, just as players do in the game. Finally, it should be noted that while these films were commercial successes, they have failed to win over critics. On Metacritic, The Super Mario Bros Movie sits at 46 (though the user score is a healthy 8.2) while A Minecraft Movie has a similarly paltry 45. As the Los Angeles Times puts it in their review, 'A Minecraft Movie is a block of big dumb fun'. So no, it is unlikely the film will win an Oscar for best picture. But its ability to capture the essence of Minecraft is clearly enough for audiences, many of whom have spent countless hours exploring virtual mines, fending off zombies and creating their own fantastical worlds.
