Product: Super Mario Bros. [VHS] (1993)
Rating: 5.0
...you guys are harsh
I remember how excited I was about this movie. And I remember I loved it. I know most everybody hated it, and I'll admit it had little to do with the games, but I thought it was brilliant and wonderfully entertaining. Plumbers who are working on pipes and end up going through a warp to another world to save a kidnapped princess from a tyrannical reptile? Formula for first-rate entertainment!! It's not a bit believable, I know, but it's FANTASY, so why should it be? I found most of the references to the game to be fun( Toad, faithful follower of the royal family, Yoshi the friendly dino, Goombas, citizens of the other world who are transformed and work for the dark side, Koopa, the evil reptile king, Super Mushrooms, Bob-ombs) including indirect ones( Big Bertha - the fish from SMB3, Daisy - the princess from SML, Tweeters - an enemy from the US SMB2, Thwomps, Snifits, etc.). The only thing that I had a problem with was the ex-ruler being named Bowser( and returning to normal without being evolved by relevant technology). The decor in Koopa's Towers resembling castles in SMB3 was brilliant. And, wow! Bob-ombs wear Reeboks! Who knew? The acting and effects were pretty awesome too. The animatronic Yoshi was beautiful and I was able to accept it as a real creature. Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo were clearly delighted in their roles. Bob Hoskins was the perfect reluctant hero. I only wish I could see or at least read the sequel alluded to by the ending. In short, this movie is a fantastic 104 minutes for anyone with an open mind and even the slightest bit of imagination.