Calling All Fans! An Ideal Extended Cut

[Serum]

We all know the movie didn't turn out the way the directors wanted it to, which is why so much was cut out and re-shot.
What would an ideal director's cut look like? Based upon sources from this site and others, I think it would look something like this...

First of all, the 'animated intro' and Homer Simpson narrative would be completely cut out. Then we'd get the full, extended sequence of Koopa chasing the Queen through New York City, where he's in the rain and sees all the buildings. The full "Scapelli Goons" scene re-edited back into the film, followed by the alternate scene of Mario and Luigi eating and meeting Daisy when she uses the payphone in the Riverfront Cafe and she slips on something wet and Luigi catches her-- much more romantic and dramatic! Re-insert the scenes of Mario and Luigi getting ready for their dinner date and the entire "family pride" subplot. Then, the obviously cut-for-video-for-unknown-reasons extended de-evolution sequence and extended jail sequences. Also re-insert the "Iggy and Spike Rap" and more of the assorted "family pride scenes," and whatever bits and pieces of the movie were edited out for violence or sexuality (namely the Koopa fight at the end and the strippers at the bar).

...bringing the film's running time to somewhere around 130 minutes to two hours and a quarter, giving us a complete view of what Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel were trying to convey even with the studio's pressure bogging down most of the original idea. I think we need to get more people to come visit this website, more people need to know about the extended, alternate cut of the film so they might not judge it as the poorly edited film they all know but as a flawed masterpiece, or an unfinished Mona Lisa! We need to raid the IMDB boards and bring people here! We need to get more fans and more letters to Disney and Buena Vista so that we might finally get the finished film we deserved from the beginning! We need to start advertising this website on blogs and promoting.

That's the only way we're ever going to get the director's cut. We all know it exists, all that's left to do is get it publicized. So I ask you all, as fans: Go to your friends, and have them go to their friends and spread the word about this website and about this forum-- have everyone you know that is even slightly fond of this movie come here and join us, even if they only make one post and write only one letter to Disney, it still makes a difference! If you're a fan of the movie, promote us and help us get the ultimate cut of the best movie never made! We can do it if we really believe in the movie! Anything's possible, you just gotta believe!

[Redstar]

Phlibbit and I are working hard to soon put out another interview that should make the context of a "director's cut" much more clear. I think that you, personally, should find it very enlightening.

[Serum]

That's good to hear, let's just hope it puts us one step closer to seeing the actual thing! In the meantime, I think everyone on this board should spread awareness about this site through the IMDB message boards-- the Super Mario Bros forum, the Bob Hoskins forum, the John Leguizamo forum, the Dennis Hopper forum and the Samantha Mathis forum-- as well as the Fisher Stevens and Richard Edson forums. Get the word out! We need to be heard!

We also need to boost the movie's approval rating on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes, on IMDb it holds a "3.8" out of a possible 10 and on Rotten Tomatoes we have a 13% "Rotten" rating-- this needs to be rectified! I'm calling on all amateur critics who liked this movie to go forth to Rotten Tomatoes and write stellar reviews of the movie! Anyone with an Amazon.com account should go to Amazon, write a review and rate it 5/5 and give it a 10/10 rating on IMDb! We can do this if we all pull together as a team!

Let me break it down for you, here's what we need to do:

Professional and Amateur critics should go to Rotten Tomatoes and give the movie a stellar review-- at least a 90% "Fresh Rating."

People with an IMDb account need to go to the IMDb page for "Super Mario Bros." and rate it 10/10 and write a stellar review!

Also, on that page, write and raise awareness on their forum!

***We also need to raise awareness on the following IMDb page forums...

Bob Hoskins

John Leguizamo

Dennis Hopper

Samantha Mathis

Fisher Stevens

Richard Edson

Fiona Shaw


***Go now! Start raising awareness on the forums! Ignore trolls and haters of the film, ignore them and just keep promoting the film!

People with Amazon.com accounts go to the page on Amazon for the DVD and write a stellar review and give the film 5/5 stars.

So what are you waiting for? Go now! Each step you take will get us closer and closer to seeing the film as it was meant to be seen!

(How do I make this thread a sticky? This should be top-of-the-page stuff!)

[Redstar]

I like your passion! We definitely agree that putting a more positive spin on the film is the first step towards getting an updated re-release out. Phlibbit and I have already taken measures to do this ourselves, though our results haven't always been positive.

The problem is that Rotten Tomatoes reviews can only be added by the original author or the newspaper that they were printed in. Many of the reviews listed under the Reception section of the site were provided personally by the original authors, of whom many weren't so inclined to go through the trouble of submitting them to RT. The score actually went down because of a few that did.

IMDB is also an issue. With over 20,000 votes any additional votes would just be a drop in the bucket. We'd need to press hard to get it even just a percentage higher.

However, we have made some changes with the Amazon scores. Phlibbit and I each added our own 5-star reviews as well as reported a lot of the trollish 1-star and 2-star reviews. This brought the score up from something like 3.4 stars to the current 3.7. This is an area where we can definitely make a lot of improvement!

[Serum]

The problem is that Rotten Tomatoes reviews can only be added by the original author or the newspaper that they were printed in. Many of the reviews listed under the Reception section of the site were provided personally by the original authors, of whom many weren't so inclined to go through the trouble of submitting them to RT. The score actually went down because of a few that did.

Then we need to contact the people who initially posted positive reviews the way we've contacted the people we've interviewed and ask them to publish their reviews on Rotten Tomatoes! We should look into talking to any friends we might have who are in the journalism business, particularly film reviewing and ask them to write a stellar review of the movie for their newspaper and have them publish that review online! This is probably easier than it sounds, it might be harder-- but there's only one way to find out and that's to try! I've been told that when I want something, I will go out of my way to get it. We need to really want this! I know I do!

IMDB is also an issue. With over 20,000 votes any additional votes would just be a drop in the bucket. We'd need to press hard to get it even just a percentage higher.

However, we have made some changes with the Amazon scores. Phlibbit and I each added our own 5-star reviews as well as reported a lot of the trollish 1-star and 2-star reviews. This brought the score up from something like 3.4 stars to the current 3.7. This is an area where we can definitely make a lot of improvement!

Just a percentage higher can make all the difference! Because if the percentage is even slightly higher, the more likely people are to vote highly of the movie.

Let's start small, let's try to get the IMDb score from 3.8/10 to 4/10. Then, we tell everyone we know to make an account and rate it a ten.

As far as Amazon.com goes, we need as many positive reviews as possible, so let's do our best and keep it up!

Our best isn't good enough, we need to really give this 200 percent! Just like Terry Gilliam did when he wanted to promote his cut of Brazil!

Come on, people! Let's do this! Let's give our favorite movie the cut it deserved nearly twenty years ago!

[MrGoomba909]

Time to put up some positive reviews!

I'm going to spreqd the word to as many people as possible; to get the ratings up.

[Redstar]

Time to put up some positive reviews!

I'm going to spreqd the word to as many people as possible; to get the ratings up.

Awesome! Please link to or copy your review once you've written it; it'd be great to see your thoughts on the film and whether the score goes up!

[Serum]

Good to see this post is finally getting some recognition. I'm without a computer as of now due to mine melting down, so I'm currently using someone else's or going to the library to use it. Go forth, spread the word!

[Prime Evil]

Hell i would love to help out with this so count me in.

We should leave some of the original intro in though, maybe just the meteor flying in to frame and then the main title.

I'd say it just needs new narration. The thing about the way it's animated is, it looks just like an 8-bit video game.

[Serum]

I'm going to post this here and in the Blu-Ray petition thread, but here's what I wrote to Disney...

Hi there,

I represent a website called "The Super Mario Bros. Movie Archive," it's located at http://www.smbmovie.com. We dedicate our time to unearthing as much about this underrated movie and putting the information we receive out there so that fellow fans of the movie can enjoy in knowing more about this great film.

What I'm emailing you today about is the possibility of a "director's cut" DVD/Blu-Ray release of the 1993 movie "Super Mario Bros." We had an interview with the movie's editor, Mark Goldblatt, and in this interview he told us that about a half hour to forty five minutes were cut from the film, which ultimately lead to the theatrical cut that is available on DVD and VHS. Goldblatt said, that if reconstruction of the film was possible (and I know that you guys at Disney have the missing footage somewhere in the Vault), the run time of the movie would go from an hour and three quarters to about two hours and one quarter, so roughly two hours and fifteen minutes.

Here is what I'm going to propose: A steelbook DVD/Blu-Ray release of the movie, the DVD with four discs: Disc One would contain the Theatrical Cut of the movie, Disc Two would contain the Extended Cut of the movie, Disc Three would contain all the special features and making of documentaries, trailers and promotions, artwork and original screenplays for the movie and Disc Four would be a digital copy of the Director's Cut of the film. This could probably all fit onto two discs for the Blu-Ray release of the film.

I know it's a lot to ask, but "Super Mario Bros." is my favorite movie of all time, and I really want to see it as it was intended to be seen-- longer and more character-driven, as the original 'workprint' cut is said to have been. The movie came out in May of 1993, so maybe, if you guys began work on digitally remastering the movie, putting together all the cut footage into the bigger 'director's cut' and making high-definition transfers with anamorphic widescreen (which the current DVD release does not have) enhanced for widescreen TVs and displays, then you could have this "Ultimate Edition" or better yet "Super Edition" of the movie ready for the movie's twentieth anniversary in 2013.

Please, Disney, I know it's a lot to ask, I really do, but despite the movie being a failure back in 1993, so many people have come to appreciate it over the years and see it for the truly unique and wonderful film it is. I don't want to go my whole life wondering what the extended cut of the movie might have looked like when I know that it can all be pieced together by the loving hands of the people at Disney. So, I humbly request that you take my idea into serious consideration, and please, email me back as soon as possible.

All the best, from a big fan,
C.R.M.

I suggest everyone get together and write similar letters to Disney, as well! Tell your friends to do so and tell them to tell their friends and so on and so forth in a process repeating to and originating in infinity!

[Redstar]

Great letter, Merritt. As long as we keep up with E-mailing Disney/Buena Vista every few months or so they should have no choice but to realize that there's continued interest in some sort of re-release.

[Serum]

Great letter, Merritt. As long as we keep up with E-mailing Disney/Buena Vista every few months or so they should have no choice but to realize that there's continued interest in some sort of re-release.

I'll email them with a new letter every twenty-four hours if I have to. I will not rest, I will not eat or sleep until I get this.

[Wesr]

Too bad nobody has the cut out stuff so it could be edited back together as a fan edit if all else fails.

[Redstar]

Too bad nobody has the cut out stuff so it could be edited back together as a fan edit if all else fails.

We have interviewed Mark Goldblatt, the film's editor, but he was unfortunately not very helpful in giving an idea of what footage might still survive. In his own words, "it's probably in a landfill somewhere."

However, Disney is notorious for keeping material for their films. It's likely they have something, but convincing them to release it is the issue. It's just a matter of continuing to hit each of our points to raise awareness and interest.

[Guest]

Um...Disney didnt make this movie.....

[1upmushroom]

Um...Disney didnt make this movie.....

They distributed it.

[Redstar]

Um...Disney didnt make this movie.....

Disney bought the rights to the film before it was finished and handled its American distribution through its Buena Vista branch. This has been known information even before we started doing interviews.

[Serum]

So what has everyone done lately to reach out and contact Disney/distributors of the movie? I wrote a letter to Disney, but I still haven't heard back from them, so I'll be writing another letter soon. I'm also considering writing a physical letter in longhand and mailing it to Disney as that might get their attention even more.

We need to convince Disney that this is not only a good idea, but more importantly a marketable idea that will do the only thing that anyone in showbusiness cares about today: MAKE MONEY. Everybody needs to pitch in and write, here-- follow all the instructions I made towards the top of the thread, too!

[Wesr]

Disney seems to be too busy going after people who make props based on Marvel comics properties these days to do much else sadly. Considering all the other movies they've put out that are cult following movies (let's face it The Blackhole wasn't a smash hit) or their direct to dvd stuff you would think they'd smell the cash and jump right in.

[Redstar]

Disney seems to be too busy going after people who make props based on Marvel comics properties these days to do much else sadly. Considering all the other movies they've put out that are cult following movies (let's face it The Blackhole wasn't a smash hit) or their direct to dvd stuff you would think they'd smell the cash and jump right in.

We need to step on the right toes both long enough and hard enough to get them to notice. If we can keep the film in public consciousness and online pop culture while also demonstrating sincere interest I see no reason for Disney to consider at least putting out another bare-bones release with improved picture quality.

[Serum]

Disney seems to be too busy going after people who make props based on Marvel comics properties these days to do much else sadly. Considering all the other movies they've put out that are cult following movies (let's face it The Blackhole wasn't a smash hit) or their direct to dvd stuff you would think they'd smell the cash and jump right in.

We need to step on the right toes both long enough and hard enough to get them to notice. If we can keep the film in public consciousness and online pop culture while also demonstrating sincere interest I see no reason for Disney to consider at least putting out another bare-bones release with improved picture quality.

Not good enough, we deserve an extended cut in high definition. We really need to make Disney see why they have to release the movie as it was originally intended to be seen. I see a lot of new faces on the board posting their five star reviews on Amazon and ten star reviews on IMDb-- if we keep up and increase the pace, we'll get what we've deserved from the very beginning.

[Redstar]

Not good enough, we deserve an extended cut in high definition. We really need to make Disney see why they have to release the movie as it was originally intended to be seen. I see a lot of new faces on the board posting their five star reviews on Amazon and ten star reviews on IMDb-- if we keep up and increase the pace, we'll get what we've deserved from the very beginning.

We may deserve it, but we likely won't get it. If any re-release is put out I would consider ourselves lucky. We just need to do what we can to demonstrate that it's worth it.

[Serum]

You obviously don't know me very well-- I don't take 'no' for an answer. I always have and always will get my way-- and getting a high-definition transfer of an extended cut of "Super Mario Bros." is no different.

I will not be refused what is so rightfully mine.

[Movieguy]

I'd love to see a complete rendition of this film.

My only concern is this.

Is all the footage cut from the movie still in existence.

I good example is the lost doctor who episodes. They were burned because BBC said they were useless( the old black and white reels) BBC had different polices in the 60's and to save space they burned recordings( a old talk show on the BBC even had the beetles appear and sadly even that was ruined, the sound was recovered)

I am wondering if disney has all the lost footage in their vaults.

There is also a rumor for the popeye movie. A film similar to SMBs in it's production( the film was shot in a town that got built upon in malta italy.)

Popeye is such a good comparison to mario bros in production standards

Sadly popeye is far more well executed then the current version of SMB: the movie at this time.

There is a rumor that my father told me. At the end of the film where Popeye is going to fight the fight was actually cut for time, and that the director has the lost 10 or so minutes of the fight.

So along side mario I would love to see if this rumor is true about Popeye and get two underrated films back to their true glory.

[Redstar]

There's a strong difference in the industry between Doctor Who episodes produced in the '60s and a tentpole blockbuster owned by Disney in the '90s. Yes, there's still a strong chance that this footage was lost or no longer survives, but circumstances are very much in our favor. We can have hope for something usable surviving.

[PowerGlove79]

I am so psyched to see what is happening on this forum and this website, a movie that for 19 years I thought i was alone in loving, is getting support like I would never have expected to see. I am really honored and proud to be a part of this forum, and I really hope our voices can be heard and and extended cut gets released, or at least a special edition with deleted scenes

[LyanRai]

I was thinking that since it seems so much of the cut footage seems more mature that a re-release should be marketed towards an older population. Try to brand it towards the twenty and thirty year olds who played the original games, and perhaps even saw the movie.

Off the top of my head, I'd love to work with businesses and get them to have sort of a field trip to go see the movie. Also, maybe getting a preview of the new film into film festivals. I know a lot of them accept submissions for short movies.

Again, just something I've thought of. Any other ideas?

[Serum]

We will get an extended release, and soon. I know I've been away for awhile, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to do everything in my power to see this movie as it was meant to be seen-- in it's original form.

We will rise and show the world how powerful this movie is and how it forever changed the shape of Hollywood. Fear not, for there is nothing standing in the way of the biggest fan of this movie-- me.

[moviebuffmel90]

I know I brought this up in another forum topic, but here is an open door we are forgetting. Some TV airings of movies have extra footage added in to padd out the running time. I don't know if this is possible, but what is the chance of some of the deleted material making it into an airing of this film?

If anyone has a recording of this on a tape somewhere, please check this. Yeah, I'm still in support of the extended cut, but I'm just curious seeing how many extended TV cuts I've collected over the years....a whole lot...

[Serum]

I've seen the movie on television many, many times and I've never seen any additional footage. They usually cut out scenes so they can air it in under two hours.

[YoshiWrangler]

Quick question... do we really need the Iggy Spike Rap reinserted? Do you remember how bad 90's movie rap was? (Ninja, ninja rap!) I wouldn't mind it as a bonus feature, but I'm not sure I'd want it in the middle of the film.

[Redstar]

Considering what we now know about what was filmed and what wasn't I would have to agree. The film is long enough as it is that I can't personally justify re-inserting every scene just for the sake of our own enjoyment. Some of the deleted scenes (the Iggy and Spike rap scene included) would work much better as bonus features.

In an ideal situation with all alternate and extended footage available I would say that we would cut about five minutes and re-add another five. Obviously, if there's some totally crazy backstory scenes or FX shots we would not hesitate to insert them if we could.

[Serum]

In an ideal situation with all alternate and extended footage available I would say that we would cut about five minutes and re-add another five. Obviously, if there's some totally crazy backstory scenes or FX shots we would not hesitate to insert them if we could.

Let's not delve into George Lucas territory, there. The man is a menace enough as it is, it makes me sad to see people are okay with his methods of whitewashing history.

[Redstar]

How is any of what I said comparable to George Lucas' approach to re-cutting?

If anything, our vision is much closer to what Ridley Scott has done with his own films.

[Serum]

What I mean is, we didn't make the initial 2.15 hour cut. If anyone were to re-insert those scenes it should be the job of the person who had to edit it himself. I was more referencing that '"New" Super Mario Bros.' cut made awhile back by another user, which I do not and cannot approve of as it, quite frankly, seems highly blasphemous to me.

I understand what you mean by Ridley Scott, that's fine, he didn't go back and insert new audio or make Decker shoot after somebody else "shot first." Ridley Scott recut the movie several times using stuff he'd already done. While we are the definitive authority of archiving the film online, I don't believe it's our job to attempt to 'fan-edit' the very movie we're trying to preserve. That's all I'm saying.

[Redstar]

The film had two directors who were let go at the end of production, only for cinematographer Dean Semler and as many as three others taking up the task of completing shots necessary to make the narrative sensible.

There is no chance of a "director's cut" with this film because it doesn't belong to just one person. There is no cohesive vision.

We have spoken with editor Mark Goldblatt, as you might recall, and he seemed willing to re-edit the film if given the chance. Phlibbit and I working with him with the original scripts as our outline would be the most official re-cut possible.

[Serum]

We have spoken with editor Mark Goldblatt, as you might recall, and he seemed willing to re-edit the film if given the chance. Phlibbit and I working with him with the original scripts as our outline would be the most official re-cut possible.

As long as it's overseen by someone involved with the movie that seems like it'd be appropriate. It's something that needs to be handled very, very carefully because nobody wants to edit history the way George Lucas and Steven Spielberg (ET, now with Walkie-Talkies!) seem to feel they're entitled to do through the use of gratuitous CGI, or re-cutting scenes that completely alter the narrative of the film in a way that was impossible before (Han shot first, end of story. In the initial cut of Mario Bros., I've heard Daisy meets Luigi in the River Cafe-- different narrative but it already pre-existed, so it's fine. Making Han seem sympathetic twenty years after the fact that we establish he's a cold blooded killer is not okay.).

That's what I mean when I say I cannot approve of someone inserting game sounds, new voices, new music that didn't exist within the movie, or let alone something that didn't exist at the time of the film's production.

[Serum]

Here, check out this brief interview with Sir Christopher Lee, star of recent blockbusters like The Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Star Wars prequels as well as cult classics like Horror of Dracula and Curse of Frankenstein (where in an odd move he plays the Monster and not the doctor!) talking about the 'missing footage' from the 1973 classic film he starred in alongside Ed Woodward in called The Wicker Man...

...that interview was conducted in 2002, twelve years ago, now. He mentions that he felt the film was incomplete at the time of its release and that they had scrapped a lot of scenes, both trivial and pivotal, and at the time this was taken he said "I believe the footage still exists in canisters somewhere, unlabeled, waiting."

Well guess what?

It was, they pieced it back together last year and here it is in glorious Blu-Ray. The Wicker Man came out twenty years before Super Mario Bros.. If a movie that old has footage that they not only found but were able to splice back into the film fairly unnoticed-- then I'm dang skippy all of the lost footage of our favorite video-game-to-film adaptation not only still exists but is in perfect condition.

[Redstar]

I've read about that. If I'm not mistaken, they're actually still missing certain key scenes that would make for a fully complete film, although I'm very happy that they were able to make it as close as possible to the original vision.

We've passed the effort to acquire any deleted scenes from Pathé over to Second Sight, whom would be much more likely to work out the legal issues of licensing the rights. I really do hope that we can uncover anything at all. The fact that we missed Lightmotive's dissolution by just a few years is what makes this hurt the most. To think that we might have been able to get all of this if we'd just started sooner.

[ultimateemail5000]

I've read about that. If I'm not mistaken, they're actually still missing certain key scenes that would make for a fully complete film, although I'm very happy that they were able to make it as close as possible to the original vision.

We've passed the effort to acquire any deleted scenes from Pathé over to Second Sight, whom would be much more likely to work out the legal issues of licensing the rights. I really do hope that we can uncover anything at all. The fact that we missed Lightmotive's dissolution by just a few years is what makes this hurt the most. To think that we might have been able to get all of this if we'd just started sooner.

You guys are doing your best that is all that matters. If you can't find the scenes, then oh well. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World's 50th anniversary or whatever edition came out I think this year? and it actually found footage that was lost for decades. I am sure somewhere down the line there may be a demand for another SMB release and it could have those scenes.