Donkey Kong vs Mario: A Barrel of Hope

VGT reveals the untold story behind Mario's rise and Donkey Kong's fall. What evil lurks behind Mario's public facade? Watch as the nefarious plumber abuses a poor, lonely monkey who's merely struggling to get ahead and raise his motherless son. What kind of videogame hero would be so cruel? Oh, the humanity.

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Was I supposed to find this funny? Sorry, it really is coming off more cruel than tragic pratfalls. Though, there was some interesting screens where the apartments were Rampage and references to Donkey Kong Jr, though that lacked electricity.

Its moments like the needle in the arm of the Pac man vid and this one where DK puts a handgun to his head or the cruel dialogue that just turns off my funny bone and gets more of a grimace from me than a chuckle. If you are going for groans, you succeed but I really don't think this kind of thing is my thing, I think I will avoid the next vid of Videogame Theater.

This was the worst thing I Have everseen on the internet ever. (I have been rickrolled twice and one of them was the Balki rick roll)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4113954175971505415&q=balki+rick&ei=5a9OSKTCOpyO4wLO6czBDA&hl=en

Please, take this off.

I mean, was this supposed to be funny?

Was I supposed to laugh at Mario calling DK a stupid monkey? Do the makers think that is comedy?

Even worse than the previous episode, and that's saying a lot.

Ho. Ho. Not.

I can't defend this one...

I had my expectations set low, & i could only watch it sink lower as that went on

Last week gave me a mild chuckle, this time, it felt like a challenge to finish the video.
The best bit was the advert advertising (the great) de-rez, so let me wrap up.

ESCAPIST MAGAZINE, >De-rez >Z.P. >Kung fu grip are the ONLY good videos on the escapist.

What?

What?

How can anyone not like this? Its not supposed to be 'LMAO DIS IS SO FUNNEH!' its supposed to be about passion. Although some parts were overly corny and I personally think it went downhill the second they decided not to use a puppet as the princess (a doll!? WTF!). Certainly, it dragged on a tad too long, the special effects were dire (c'mon guys! Vegas can produce better backgrounds than that!) but it still was able to take an original outlook on the backstory.

Also: Diddy Kong, not 'Donkey Kong Junior'.

I thought it was pretty funny. Everyone's taste of humor just differs!

Melaisis:

Also: Diddy Kong, not 'Donkey Kong Junior'.

On the off chance that you weren't joking, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong_Junior_(video_game)

Susan Arendt:

Melaisis:

Also: Diddy Kong, not 'Donkey Kong Junior'.

On the off chance that you weren't joking, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donkey_Kong_Junior_(video_game)

Indeed, I actually had it on the old Game & Watch.

You're not Robot Chicken, so stop trying to be.

that was not funny at all. How many times did they expect "but you're just a stupid monkey" to be funny? It was stupid the first time. And who the hell was doing the voice of Mario? they were not a good choice. la a a ame.

OH.
MY.
GOD.

Only ever give someone a link to this if you hate them or if they don't know what 'Horrible' means.

Rayavaro:
I thought it was pretty funny. Everyone's taste of humor just differs!

Thanks, Rayvaro... and thanks sort of Melaisis.

The rest of you, of course, couldn't be more wrong.

But I do sort of enjoy seeing how up-in-arms you get about a puppet video...

I think video game theater is great stuff!

Go stinking anti monkey racism!

This was not funny at all. Even worse than the first one. This video series doesn't deserve to be on The Escapist.

I agree with the majority this wasn't all that funny infact it made me chuckle once but that doesn't mean we shouldn't give it a chance.
I agree with Melaisis the backgrounds were dire they actually hurt my eyes I'd like to see puppets in real world like Fur TV which I find hilarious http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/shows/furtv/home

Remember when De-rez first started .. Hitman for example then they got into their stride with Resident evil. Give Videogame Theater a chance =)

VGT Scott Chernoff:

Rayavaro:
I thought it was pretty funny. Everyone's taste of humor just differs!

Thanks, Rayvaro... and thanks sort of Melaisis.

The rest of you, of course, couldn't be more wrong.

But I do sort of enjoy seeing how up-in-arms you get about a puppet video...

I don't think we have ever said "Oh no, a freaking puppet video". I think all we have said is how shit it is.

It's your video, I can understand you defending it as you made it, But mothers abandon their children all the time, Don't be afraid to say "Hey, I screwed up and made something truly horrible; Now how can I move on?"

VGT Scott Chernoff:

The rest of you, of course, couldn't be more wrong.

But I do sort of enjoy seeing how up-in-arms you get about a puppet video...

I'm sure Uwe Boll said the same about Postal.

VGT Scott Chernoff:

Rayavaro:
I thought it was pretty funny. Everyone's taste of humor just differs!

Thanks, Rayvaro... and thanks sort of Melaisis.

The rest of you, of course, couldn't be more wrong.

But I do sort of enjoy seeing how up-in-arms you get about a puppet video...

You should accept criticism of your work. It can help you to realize in what areas you need to improve. These videos are not funny. If humor is what you're striving for in these puppet videos, you are not achieving it. The majority of these comments agree with what I'm telling you.

I thought it had promise, but then I felt let down. It's interesting to note that "broken home" and "poor fathering" are recurring themes only two episodes in. You'd think the ideas might get spaced a little far apart. I think the puppeteering is fine. I think the writing is tired. It smacks of that late-night show mentality, the bit of filler in between the monologue and the first guest. I don't watch Kimmel, because it would cut into Conan. And Conan is funny because he has the good grace to laugh at how bad some of his own show's gimmicks are.

I don't think calling the rest of us "wrong" for not liking something is a good way to go about making it better (that's what you ought to be shooting for, right?). You're out here being compared (not contrasted) to Uwe Boll, for pete's sake. Maybe it's that Russ Pitts and drawn by pain showed some support for the last one, whatever. You're seeing negative reaction from people, and you're reacting negatively. Maybe it comes from every video on the escapist being compared to ZP's massive following. Yah, it's unfair, but De-Rez and Drawn By Pain have both built off of that. What worries me is that according to frankmeyer in the last VGT thread, there's 12 more episodes of this stuff, already made, that won't take into account the fact that people don't like its current incarnation. Which sounds to me like you're gonna trickle in, one episode per week, videos that are on par with this one and not to improve them until 3 months from now. Couldn't you spare us that and release, I dunno, 2+ episodes per week, let's say, so that if there's a gem out there (because they can't all be gems), we can at least see it, and so that you can go ahead and make new and (most importantly) better ones?

HobbesMkii:
I thought it had promise, but then I felt let down. It's interesting to note that "broken home" and "poor fathering" are recurring themes only two episodes in. You'd think the ideas might get spaced a little far apart. I think the puppeteering is fine. I think the writing is tired. It smacks of that late-night show mentality, the bit of filler in between the monologue and the first guest. I don't watch Kimmel, because it would cut into Conan. And Conan is funny because he has the good grace to laugh at how bad some of his own show's gimmicks are.

I don't think calling the rest of us "wrong" for not liking something is a good way to go about making it better (that's what you ought to be shooting for, right?). You're out here being compared (not contrasted) to Uwe Boll, for pete's sake. Maybe it's that Russ Pitts and drawn by pain showed some support for the last one, whatever. You're seeing negative reaction from people, and you're reacting negatively. Maybe it comes from every video on the escapist being compared to ZP's massive following. Yah, it's unfair, but De-Rez and Drawn By Pain have both built off of that. What worries me is that according to frankmeyer in the last VGT thread, there's 12 more episodes of this stuff, already made, that won't take into account the fact that people don't like its current incarnation. Which sounds to me like you're gonna trickle in, one episode per week, videos that are on par with this one and not to improve them until 3 months from now. Couldn't you spare us that and release, I dunno, 2+ episodes per week, let's say, so that if there's a gem out there (because they can't all be gems), we can at least see it, and so that you can go ahead and make new and (most importantly) better ones?

Or better yet, stop posting them?

Well, personally, Logie--bear, I'm of the opinion that it's three strikes and you're out. I say they've fouled one (I didn't think pac-man was a complete miss) and whiffed one.

My brother liked it. He's six.

thedrop2zer0:
You should accept criticism of your work. It can help you to realize in what areas you need to improve. These videos are not funny. If humor is what you're striving for in these puppet videos, you are not achieving it. The majority of these comments agree with what I'm telling you.

And you guys should be able to accept criticism of your posts! I think I've been pretty upbeat in the face of some super-harsh comments. I can take the criticism if you can take the fact that I disagree with it.

Your thesis (and that of a few others) is that if a handful of anonymous message board dwellers say VGT sucks, then I should automatically agree, roll over, and apologize. That's silly. I love reading all the posts, but they are just a drop in the bucket, and hardly representative of the tens of thousands of people watching the videos. I wish you guys liked it, too, I really do -- but hey, them's the breaks.

Believe me, I'd much rather we were all friends, but I'm sure you'd agree that dialogue is a two-way street. My comment was pretty mild compared to some of the things said in here. If that mild comment touched such a nerve, you can imagine how yours feel on this end. But again, I can take it if you can. Like Frank said - we play with videogames and puppets, so we're used to getting beat up.

I read every comment here because it's a terrific distraction from the editing I should be doing right now. And I agree with Sibren - VGT is great stuff. I love it. If it's not your cup of tea, no one's forcing you to drink it. If it is, enjoy!

sirdanrhodes:
Last week gave me a mild chuckle, this time, it felt like a challenge to finish the video.
The best bit was the advert advertising (the great) de-rez, so let me wrap up.

ESCAPIST MAGAZINE, >De-rez >Z.P. >Kung fu grip are the ONLY good videos on the escapist.

Kung Fu grip?! Bwhahahahahaahahahahhaa. That's hilarious.

Although seriously, VGT. I can't help but say that DK:A barrel of hope is the worst thing i've ever seen on zp, almost the worst on the internet. Please, and I mean please. Take this off.

You know what? That's a bit harsh. I agree that it had it's moments, but you really should take more time carefully writing the cameos from other video games, as that is what interests the majority of your audience, and try not to recycle the same reccuring jokes. I.E. Cruelness, Stupid Monkey, Obscene Depictions by mario of how he'll sexually interact with Peach. Mix it up a little. How about you give luigi his own little moment about being the understudy? Although I have to say I loved seeing DK.JR play the Atari 2600. I hope these get better as they go along, and you learn from your mistakes. I saw the video through to the end, so I must have found something I liked from it, just try to aim more towards the video game audience than the comedic audience.

Squishface Mcgloop:
Although I have to say I loved seeing DK.JR play the Atari 2600.

Actually, he was using a 2600 joystick but the game was a Vectrex. (Anyone remember Vectrex?) Glad you liked it.

Squishface Mcgloop:

sirdanrhodes:
Last week gave me a mild chuckle, this time, it felt like a challenge to finish the video.
The best bit was the advert advertising (the great) de-rez, so let me wrap up.

ESCAPIST MAGAZINE, >De-rez >Z.P. >Kung fu grip are the ONLY good videos on the escapist.

Kung Fu grip?! Bwhahahahahaahahahahhaa. That's hilarious.

Although seriously, VGT. I can't help but say that DK:A barrel of hope is the worst thing i've ever seen on zp, almost the worst on the internet. Please, and I mean please. Take this off.

The thing is, no matter how much you gripe about wanting to get the video removed. It's probably not going to happen. These videos are trying to tap into a different demographic than what the Escapist is usually shooting for. I'm pretty sure most of the guys here are 25 or over. This kind of comedy I think is more built towards the younger crowd like me which has as of yet not crossed that line. I think it's funny how people find humor in ZP and not this. Sure they are different genres of comedy, but all together they both fall under the same umbrella which this all focus towards and that's VIDEO GAMES if you didn't know already. So I think it is unfounded when most of the people come on here and bash this kind of video when they are not the ones it's being targeted too. I found it funny, but what does that say about me? I like this kind of stuff!

VGT Scott Chernoff:

thedrop2zer0:
You should accept criticism of your work. It can help you to realize in what areas you need to improve. These videos are not funny. If humor is what you're striving for in these puppet videos, you are not achieving it. The majority of these comments agree with what I'm telling you.

And you guys should be able to accept criticism of your posts! I think I've been pretty upbeat in the face of some super-harsh comments. I can take the criticism if you can take the fact that I disagree with it.

Your thesis (and that of a few others) is that if a handful of anonymous message board dwellers say VGT sucks, then I should automatically agree, roll over, and apologize. That's silly. I love reading all the posts, but they are just a drop in the bucket, and hardly representative of the tens of thousands of people watching the videos. I wish you guys liked it, too, I really do -- but hey, them's the breaks.

Believe me, I'd much rather we were all friends, but I'm sure you'd agree that dialogue is a two-way street. My comment was pretty mild compared to some of the things said in here. If that mild comment touched such a nerve, you can imagine how yours feel on this end. But again, I can take it if you can. Like Frank said - we play with videogames and puppets, so we're used to getting beat up.

I read every comment here because it's a terrific distraction from the editing I should be doing right now. And I agree with Sibren - VGT is great stuff. I love it. If it's not your cup of tea, no one's forcing you to drink it. If it is, enjoy!

Thats a good point we should all stop watching it if we don't like it. Then nobody but the people who watch it and in enjoy should comment on the next one, but you know that will not happen. I can honestly say I will not watch the next one until it gets 20 good comments just so you can get some good reviews of it in. I mean not including the guys from the escapist. I will save my comments until after i watch it all; even if I have to tape my lids open. I say we all who said it sucked should do this. I'm not telling anyone they have to but if we do maybe we can show the escapist how much we dislike it. Sorry if you do not like this comment but this is how I feel about it.

Whatever your opinions on the humor (and I'm sure they are still feeling the audience out), the puppeteering and production quality were great. Very reminiscent of Crank Yankers, which had puppets from the same guy (BJ Guyer), and I remember as being hilarious.

I think once they find their target for the jokes, this series will be top notch.