Product: Super Mario Bros. [VHS] (1993)
Rating: 5.0
Still a blast!
I was there when this movie debuted in theaters way back in 1993 and I loved it. This movie generally gets a bad rap for not being close to the source material. Well actually if it had turned out to be exactly like the game it would be a complete sack of old boring garbage. Seriously who would want to watch a movie that had no real plot other than some guys running and jumping repeatedly through this kingdom to get to a castle, fight a dragon, and rescue a bunch of guys and one princess who's just sitting there being a victim. Watching this happen eight times in a row would be grueling snore fest indeed. I do remember when I was waiting to see this movie and I had thoughts in my head that it would be something like the Super Mario Bros. cartoon shows, due to the fact that's mostly all we had for exposure to how this whole world would be. I think a lot people had and/or have that idea of that imagery and story.Super Mario Bros. the movie is a fun and fast paced movie that despite some of it failings has a lot to offer it's audience. True SMB fans out there while watching it will be able to pick out all the little Easter eggs planted throughout the entire movie that pay homage to the games. Actually if you get right down to the core of this movie it actually follows the plot of the original game quite well.Okay we got two plumbers who end up in a different world which is now in the tyrannical grip of a evil ruler. In the game the evil King Koopa turned all the Mushroom People into bricks and plants using his dark magic. In the movie Koopa uses a machine to change them into walking monsters to build his army. It's a subtle similarity. Both have a Princess that needs rescuing and both end with the hero fighting atop a bridge against the vile villan. Kingdom saved end of story. Looks pretty close to me for the plot other than the endless running and jumping through 8 worlds.This movie is just a fun ride full of action, adventure, and laughs, with great characters brought to us from great actors that all ages can enjoy. With it's wit, charm, bells, and whistles this movie has gotten a much undeserved "bad rap" for way too long and deserves better! Hopefully more people will learn to appreciate this cult classic and hopefully it will someday earn a much deserved Special Edition release with all the bells and whistles showing up in special features or possibly even an extended director's cut.