HoH Challenge 4- Nintendo Goes Universal
@IDInstitute's Submission
So, this challenge was a bit tricky for me, not being all that knowledgeable about Nintendo and games, but I figured I might as well give it a shot anyway. Trying to come up with a good franchise to use, I scoured this list here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Nintendo_franchises, and one of them caught my eye as it is a pretty unique way to go... The Wii Video Game series. No big cinematic universe, just a film based off of a game of this franchise. With that, I am proud to present a new film coming out next summer... Universal and Nintendo are partnering for...
That's right! This film is based off of the Wii Video Game series, more specifically Wii Sports Resort. The game itself doesn't really have much of a story at all, more just a collection of mini games and activities. So, this movie creates its own adventure set in this world, and while it is much more than just the sports and activities, they certainly play a huge role and are featured in the movie.
Story:
The film starts off back at the mainland in the city of Boston, where two of the main characters are gathered at a coffee shop. Matt Irven Indell (Initials spelling out 'Mii', a reference to how all of the characters in these games are 'Miis'), our protagonist, has met up with his close friend Colby Goldberg. It's the summer, and these young college kids are more or less looking for something to do with their lives for the summer. They share stories and have had a few laughs, but they want to go do something more fun. That's when Colby tells Matt about this timeshare his father has. "It's this pretty nice resort...I've been a few times with my family, it would be awesome to go with you, but the thing is it's just so expensive". However, they decide to continue and look into it. And despite the price, they go for it!
A few weeks later, they are flying over to this luxurious island resort. Upon landing, they are taken away by how amazing it all looks, with the stylistic buildings, a beautiful coast, and very nicely-cut golf courses, all surrounded by the magnificent volcano.
It's the first day, and they are already loving the atmosphere of the island. After checking into their hotel (For reference, I think the hotel is the building on the far right of the first two images above), they immediately start on their way to explore the island. In the lobby, however, they meet a new character, Jenna Michaels. She just got there the same day, and is traveling on her own. After meeting her however, she says she has to leave, and hopefully they'll meet again sometime.
Matt and Colby start touring the island. There's a whole array of activities for them to do, and they are featured briefly. However, the important sport in this scene is the 'swordfighting', which after hearing about they make their way over to it quickly to try to catch it. When they get there, they only see the last fight. All they know about it is that some guy who they aren't quite sure who he is, is against someone named Liam, who definitely seems to be the fan favorite. With a nifty sword swipe, Liam knocks the other guy off, and has won. The audience bursts into cheers.
That's when Colby remembers something, and shares with Matt. "That's Liam Abbott...He lives on this island with his father, they own the whole resort complex. I remember him from last time...He's loved here. I never met him, but I've never really liked how full of himself he seems to be".
What Matt starts to realize over the course of the next few days of the trip, and Colby starts to remember, is that, while there are many fun sports and activities that vacationers love to partake in on their trip, it is actually quite a competitive island.
Later on at night, Matt and Colby separate a bit. While Matt prefers the calm, relaxing vacation, Colby starts to get fired up competitively at this point, and goes to a public bike race in the town (another actual sport from the game).
However, Matt stays back at the hotel side of the island and goes for a walk. He starts getting near the volcano, when he passes Jenna. She seems to be in a hurry, but stops to chat. They end up talking and walking for a while (Hollywood romance anyone???), but the biggest thing is that key plot points are revealed during this convo... Matt (as well as the viewers) learn that Jenna isn't really there for vacation, but is actually a scientist and is there for work. She tries not to reveal too much along these lines, but wants to tell more. "I really should be going soon...I have to meet with Mr. William Abbott" "Wait, is he one of the owners of this island?" Jenna continues on, "Yeah, the father...he sent me and a few others here to look around. I really should go talk to him..." Matt keeps pestering on about what is going on with the island, but she doesn't give away much more.
Meanwhile, over at Colby's race, after a short 3 mile race throughout the town, it comes to a close. Colby doesn't really come close to winning, but he notices that Liam has. This angers Colby for some reason. He goes to talk to him in a
bit of a confrontational way, but Liam doesn't mind, in fact, he seems rather amused. Liam questions Colby whether he thinks that he could actually win some sort of sport, and Colby is upset at this. They end up deciding to have a one on one archery game the next evening (Archery chosen because I believe that is the most popular sport in the game...though I could be wrong
But also for another reason which will come into play later).
After an evening of pondering about that conversation from the day before, Matt seeks to find Jenna to find out more. Knowing she's at the hotel, he waits in the lobby until he eventually sees her. "Matt, I really need to go now. Some of my coworkers called me over to the convention center in town, they said it's really important." "But what is it that's so important?!" She sighs, looks down, and then back up at him. "We were called here to look at the island for safety reasons, do a bit of research...and, well,.. We think the volcano on this island is active, and could erupt at anytime." Matt is taken by surprise at this. She goes on, "William is considering having the island evacuated. We are still trying to confirm and make sure that this is right, but...I guess we'll see"
As the day goes on, eventually we see Colby and Liam meet at the hillside for a game of archery. Liam makes sure that Colby is actually up for the challenge, but of course he doesn't back down. He then starts to explain the course. "There are several targets along a path, each getting harder as we go on. We'll start on this hillside, go past the bridge, near the rocks, and finally a final target at the base of the volcano."
Next, we have a scene with William, Jenna, and the other scientists. They confirm their findings. "Unbelievable!", William shouts as he slams his hands on the table. After a few seconds of calming down, he says, "Well, knowing this, we can't just let it sit there. We'll have to take action..." "What is that supposed to mean?", one of the scientists asks. "I'm afraid we'll have to evacuate everyone from the island asap...It'll be hectic and we'll have a lot of angry guests, but, I mean, what choice do we have?"
Soon later alarms sound, and announcements are made throughout the island to get any personal items you have traveled with and take them to the dock for departure. Matt is stunned, and gets his things, though he can't find Colby anywhere.
(He and Liam of course are still over on the quiet side of the island, continuing archery, not knowing what's going on).
Thinking they are at the dock already, that's where Matt goes to look for them. He is annoyed (but mostly worried) that he can't find Colby anywhere. That's when he runs into Jenna. He explains he can't find them, asks if she knows anything. She gets worried too that they are leaving people behind. In addition, William ends up coming over to them and asks if any of them know where Liam is. Matt shares they are together, probably deep in the island playing archery. The boats are starting to leave. They get worried. William says he can hold one, but they have to hurry and get them.
Jenna and Matt then rush to the archery targets looking to find them. They are almost done, but they are at the most treacherous (and most famous from the game...though I can't seem to find a picture of it anywhere) target yet- The one inside the volcano, at the base of it. They are rushing there, but worry they won't make it in time. Then they see them...
Colby is shooting first, but right when he is about to let go, he hears the yells from Jenna and Matt. This messes up his shot, and his arrow ends up hitting a rock that falls into the lava, making the volcano rumble a bit.
Matt explains what is going on and yells for them to hurry and come. Jenna further expresses that this is not a joke... Hurry! Colby seems to understands and starts to leave, but that's when Liam says, "Ha, I knew you couldn't handle it and would quit". Matt tried to explain that this is serious, but Liam is in denile. "No. No... This is my island. This can't happen to it... I didn't pour millions of dollars into it for this... My whole life has been built upon this... No, I'm staying to win this archery match!". All three of them beg him to come...and he eventually caves and stars to try to get out. But, then they hear the grumbling of the volcano again. And worry if it's too late! Now they all are rushing back to the boat William is holding, but the scientists and captains are saying they need to leave. It's an intense final scene, I promise!
Eventually, they do make it of course. After a short scene of them exhaling on the boat, the screen goes back. The credits roll.
Talk about sequel potential!
Main Cast:
Matt Indell- Dylan O'Brian
Liam Abbott- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
Jenna Michaels- Ellen Page
Colby Goldberg- Shawn Pyfrom
William Abbott- Colin Firth
Director: Josh Trank
Marketing:
During the release of this movie, there will be several marketing tactics to boost popularity. A brand new rebooted version of the game will be released, simply called "Resort Sports", and will be available on all Nintendo game systems. In addition, there will a new sweepstakes, where you and three guests have the opportunity to win an all-expense payed 4-day 3-night trip to Universal Studios Orlando, staying at the brand new Loews Saphire Falls
Resort!
No purchase necessary. Many will enter, few will win.
Well, that's it, thanks for reading everybody! I hope you found this movie exciting & interesting! If not, hopefully my ideas for the veto will be a little more enticing...
(Also, sorry if the end feels a little rushed, I didn't give myself enough time and was trying to finish it up during the commercials while I watch BB
)