Best and Worst

[IbanezJFS]

Aside from this film not being an exact direct link to the video game Franchise. What was the worst and best thing about the film? It can be a character, a prop, etc. For me the best thing was the sets. I know I talk a lot about them but they look so cool. To me its the Mushroom City.

The big let down for me was....Koopa. He was a great villain played by the late great Dennis Hopper. And I can go along with these humans evolving from Dinosaurs. But I would expect everyone Especially him to look more reptilian. How about the rest of you?

[Serum]

The best thing about the movie is that they took a fantasy story and turned it into a cyberpunk masterpiece. The worst thing is that we're missing over a half hour of the movie in the current cut.

[1upmushroom]

The best part of the film is that they took something that basically at the time had no plot and expanded upon it, turning it into a very unique and quite frankly adult piece. The worst part is that not only is most of the film deleted due to exceutive meddling but also the film didn't fully go through with the themes and tone it was trying to make.

The comedic elements of Iggy and Spike were enjoyable but they felt pandered in there just to make it more family friendly. Besides the humor itself didn't seem right for this kind of movie.

When I picture a movie like this (especially when it's a Mario one) I expect more satirical humor like that of Brazil, or hell, if you are going to do humor like Iggy and Spike's antics and the pizza joke, at least go all out like Airplane did, don't kind of go there and then just quit out of no where.

And then there's stuff like the animated intro which was put there for us dumb americans to figure out what was going on. Look, we're not too dumb to live, we can figure what's going on without you spelling it out in front of us.

And let's not forget all the brillaint stuff they never even shot in the first place. Things like the statue of oppression, the golf tournament of doom, the chase scene in the desert, Toad's chamellion like features, and of course the line, "What's a driver's license?"

All of this stuff, the out of place comedy that didn't even try going all out, the animated opening, and all the unused brilliance critically hurt what could have been straight out classic instead of a cult classic.

There, I think I've said all I needed to say,

[Redstar]

The big let down for me was....Koopa. He was a great villain played by the late great Dennis Hopper. And I can go along with these humans evolving from Dinosaurs. But I would expect everyone Especially him to look more reptilian. How about the rest of you?

It simply would not have been practical to outfit all or even most of the parallel world's denizens with reptilian prosthetics. While I certainly agree that it's very disappointing that they didn't go further with the concept you have to realize that the budget was already strained. You should know that they did make an effort, though, only to have many shots featuring more dino-human hybrids cut from the final print due to being "too creepy." You can see some of them in our interview with Jeff Goodwin.

I would have to say that the worst element of the film is its pacing. It really could benefit from having certain extraneous scenes and shots removed. Even just a runtime of 10 minutes briefer would allow more time to breathe.

[Guest]

Now i appreciate Dennis Hopper's protrayal of Koopa but i will agree i wasnt to fond of a human looking Koopa when i saw it for the first time on tape.

Me : I wonder how King Koopa looks in this movie.

*Sees Koopa's introduction scene(

Me : -_-

[Prime Evil]

Dennis Hopper's un-made-up visage as Koopa does make sense if you think about it. He is, after all, Number One On Top(TM), and those who are Number One On Top tend to make themselves look as beautiful as possible as a contrast to the s#!t-covered masses they're trampling.

[Rodkrax]

I like how Koopa looks, they made a Jack-Ass reptile and turned into a Smart-Jack-ass that is in control of everything in a calm way, which is quite frightening, Goombas and Policemen everywhere, Koopa outdoors everywhere you look, the fact you can't sleep knowing that he may is looking at you while taking a mud bath is....freaky.

And of course, the things i hate.

The fact that they cut out 30 minutes so it would become PG, a lot of the '92 draft that was never shot like the alredy mentioned Desert Car Chase scene and the fact that Disney owns this film.

[1upmushroom]

If you think that's bad, check out the Terry Runte and Parker Bennet draft which is arguably the strongest and best of the Sci-Fi drafts we've found. The fact that it would've gotten better had the writers not been sacked only makes it much worse.

[Serum]

If you think that's bad, check out the Terry Runte and Parker Bennet draft which is arguably the strongest and best of the Sci-Fi drafts we've found. The fact that it would've gotten better had the writers not been sacked only makes it much worse.

Seconded, it's the definitive Mario script. If you know anything about unused scripts, it'll make you go "Oh, why didn't they use that script!" The way I feel after reading George Romero's screenplay for "Resident Evil," or Mark Protosevich's script for "I Am Legend."

[1upmushroom]

Eh...I only call it the definitive Mario script mostly because of what we found so far, to be honest, there are many things that need to be improved upon. The third act is a bit rushed, some game references come out of no where, and while there are many ideas in the script, most of them aren't expanded upon. If they had made another draft that branched off this one then I'm pretty sure this one would lose it's definitive script title.

[Serum]

Eh...I only call it the definitive Mario script mostly because of what we found so far, to be honest, there are many things that need to be improved upon. The third act is a bit rushed, some game references come out of no where, and while there are many ideas in the script, most of them aren't expanded upon. If they had made another draft that branched off this one then I'm pretty sure this one would lose it's definitive script title.

I don't know why people keep saying the third act is "rushed," I thought it was the best part of the script...

[1upmushroom]

Well you tend to have a lot of different opinions Serum.

I haven't read it in a long time but I remember feeling that third act just kept throwing many things at you, not taking a break. And then the final fight felt like it should have been longer (then again I haven't read it in a long time) instead it just ended and then we go to the final scene. God I need to re-read that script!

[Serum]

Yeah, it was way ahead of its time. That's basically what every movie does these days-- look at "The Avengers" and "The Dark Knight Rises." The last forty five minutes of both of those movies are just constant stuff being thrown at you without any signs of slowing.

[1upmushroom]

I don't know, maybe I'm just thinking wrong but I prefer the first two acts over the third one. Or maybe it's the fact that we finally found a script that was worthy of being called a Mario movie (though the 1991 draft also deserves a mention) and not only did the Executives decide to not have the writers improve upon it, they outright fired them and had some other writers make a new version out of scratch!

Maybe I should be less hard on it seeing as how it never found it's true potential.

[Guest]

Best : Bob Hoskins (sorry Lou Albano fans), the cyberpunk/James Bond style of the film, the Bob-ombs at least they kept ONE item from the games in the movie that worked the same way as it did in the games.

Worst : Hate to say this but i kinda dont like the bratty cocky version of Luigi, he's cool and funny at the start but after a while he tends to get annoying later in the film. If anything i would prefer the scaredy cat Luigi of the cartoon series.

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

The big let down for me was....Koopa. He was a great villain played by the late great Dennis Hopper. And I can go along with these humans evolving from Dinosaurs. But I would expect everyone Especially him to look more reptilian. How about the rest of you?

They could have done more with Koopa, yeah. Give him horns, dye his hair red, and give him big, bushy eyebrows that match. More fangs. Claws. Red contacts. Spiked bracelets and such.

I think that would have gone a long way towards making him more like the game's look, but without going full-on demon turtle king.

[Prime Evil]

I think that would have gone a long way towards making him more like the game's look, but without going full-on demon turtle king.

In Koopa's case, I say the less, the merrier. On a big ol' dinosaur thing, spiked bracelets look awesome, but on a human they (and red contacts) just look like stuff from Hot Topic.

[The Doc]

Best : Bob Hoskins (sorry Lou Albano fans), the cyberpunk/James Bond style of the film, the Bob-ombs at least they kept ONE item from the games in the movie that worked the same way as it did in the games.

Worst : Hate to say this but i kinda dont like the bratty cocky version of Luigi, he's cool and funny at the start but after a while he tends to get annoying later in the film. If anything i would prefer the scaredy cat Luigi of the cartoon series.

I like both Lou and Bob equally. Their Marios are two completely different animals. Lou's Mario was made to be a human cartoon for laughs, while Hoskins was a more real-world approach to the character.

In a movie sequel, Id have Albano appear as Mario and Luigi's Dad. And Danny Wells as their Uncle Luigi, who the younger Luigi was named after.

For me the best part was how the movie was made for a more mature, visually dynamic incarnation of a property I always felt was too cartoony.

Worst part was Koopa getting killed essentially. But while Hopper's characters were often evil and batshit insane, they weren't atupid. Id imagine Koopa would be like the King and keep sentient deviolved into slime. But also have anticipated this possibility and had hidden away some sort of way to re-constitute himself.

[Redstar]

Worst part was Koopa getting killed essentially. But while Hopper's characters were often evil and batshit insane, they weren't atupid. Id imagine Koopa would be like the King and keep sentient deviolved into slime. But also have anticipated this possibility and had hidden away some sort of way to re-constitute himself.

That's a big one. Killing off Koopa was essentially the same as Burton killing off Nicholson's Joker in the first Batman film. Not only is the Joker the greatest adversary to Batman but Nicholson's performance was legendary. It's not a smart approach.

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Of course, movies in a series don't come out with anything near the frequency of comic books, so they probably figured it would be one and done. Come a new movie, who are you more likely to go for? The guy who's already been done, or someone new, fresh, exciting, and anticipated-- particularly where a rogues gallery like Batman's is concerned?

I think that would have gone a long way towards making him more like the game's look, but without going full-on demon turtle king.

In Koopa's case, I say the less, the merrier. On a big ol' dinosaur thing, spiked bracelets look awesome, but on a human they (and red contacts) just look like stuff from Hot Topic.

That sounds even better-- fits the Dinohattan aesthetic, to be sure. Oh, and the red eyes should be reptilian.

[Prime Evil]

That sounds even better-- fits the Dinohattan aesthetic, to be sure. Oh, and the red eyes should be reptilian.

To be fair, though, I'm not sure if Dennis Hopper would have been able to stand the contact lenses. Brent Spiner had a lot of trouble with his Data contacts, and, judging from the state the SMB movie was in, the "Koopa contacts" vs. "keeping Dennis Hopper in the movie" debate would have been a no-brainer.

Besides, Koopa's more of a Forever21 kind of guy, know what I mean?

[Roareye]

Worst thing about the movie for me was some of the cheesy stuff that wasn't supposed to be cheesy. For example this most horrendous of lines from Koopa;
"Plumber Alert."

Seriously. Even in the world of Dinohattan surely having a preset "plumber alert" must have sounded freaking moronic lol

[Serum]

Worst thing about the movie for me was some of the cheesy stuff that wasn't supposed to be cheesy. For example this most horrendous of lines from Koopa;
"Plumber Alert."

Seriously. Even in the world of Dinohattan surely having a preset "plumber alert" must have sounded freaking moronic lol

I always found the idea that he had a 'plumber alert' ready was funny, like as if he's had trouble with this sort of thing before.

[Prime Evil]

It's a whole story unto itself! Mario says his family goes back a few generations, right? Well, it's not hard to guess that every generation has had its own iteration of the "Mario Brothers" causing trouble in Dinohattan. After two or three attempts, King Koopa learns his lesson and installs the "Plumber Alert" system.

[Roareye]

Sorry guys, doesn't wash with me. Still sounds dumb, and not funny dumb. It's cringe-worthy. I'm very liberal with how I view the movie, I forgive it many things but plumber alert I cannot accept. XD I just can't deal with the dumbness of it. Koopa isn't supposed to be a dumb character, this and his pizza order are failed attempts at ruining the dark edge he's supposed to have.

[1upmushroom]

This and his pizza order are failed attempts at ruining the dark edge he's supposed to have.

No, greasing up his hair, removing his eyebrows, being incredibly hammy, and being a germaphobe are failed attempts at ruining his dark edge. Honestly, he always had some dumb things about him that ruined any chance of me taking him seriously.

[Redstar]

It's a whole story unto itself! Mario says his family goes back a few generations, right? Well, it's not hard to guess that every generation has had its own iteration of the "Mario Brothers" causing trouble in Dinohattan.

Well, if you consider Parker & Terry's initial pitch canon then not only is Mario and Luigi's father from the parallel world but he's also a dinosaur-human. Koopa fears plumbers because they were prophecied to take down his regime.

Worst thing about the movie for me was some of the cheesy stuff that wasn't supposed to be cheesy. For example this most horrendous of lines from Koopa;
"Plumber Alert."

The original line made much more sense: "Put out an all points trawl. GET ME THOSE PLUMBERS."

Most of the scripted dialogue was much better than what the actors ended up improving, unfortunately.

[Reptile-Queen-Daisy]

The best part of the movie for me was the whole fight scene between Mario, Luigi and Koopa. I just think it was altogether epic, from the beginning to the end where they are fighting his true Tyrannosaurus Rex form. The special effects were exceptional during that scene.


The worst part for me too was Koopa being killed by Mario and Luigi. However, something makes me think that he somehow was resurrected, and to me, the proof of this was Daisy coming to Mario and Luigi at the end, saying 'You're not going to believe this,' as she holds up a 'gun of some sort, was it?'

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

That sounds even better-- fits the Dinohattan aesthetic, to be sure. Oh, and the red eyes should be reptilian.

To be fair, though, I'm not sure if Dennis Hopper would have been able to stand the contact lenses. Brent Spiner had a lot of trouble with his Data contacts, and, judging from the state the SMB movie was in, the "Koopa contacts" vs. "keeping Dennis Hopper in the movie" debate would have been a no-brainer.

Besides, Koopa's more of a Forever21 kind of guy, know what I mean?

Fair enough; the contacts would just be a nice bonus. I can't remember if Bob Hoskins has blue eyes, either, and I don't think those kind of things are typically considered, anyway.

It would have just been neat.

(Maybe they could have added it by computer? Just throwing ideas around...)

As for "plumber alert," I just took it to mean "be on the lookout for plumbers." If Koopa's tower is any indication, it's not a very common profession at all in Dinohattan.

[AndrewTheBeatnik]

The best thing was Mario. They call him super for a reason. He's a lovable hero who outwits, saves, charms and cracks jokes. He's a leader who brought up an incredible younger brother and is loyal to his long line of Mario ancestors. Not to mention he's got a hot date!

I think the worst thing would be the loose ends that need to be tied up. After watching this movie twice or even once, you might have a few questions that weren't answered on-screen. Thanks to this site though, it's been easier to discover some of the things that went down but never made it to the final cut.

For me there are a whole lot more pros than cons to this movie!