A New Super Mario Bros. Film

[WildWinger88]

I went to the movies last weekend and couldn't help but think to myself how much I loved the flicks this time of year (Summer). And also lately, I have been thinking about how back in '93, Super Mario Bros. was pretty popular among kids and some teens. However, at the time I think the dark, rough and tough appearance the film we got had was just a bit too much. Instead of aiming towards their target market of kids and teens it went in the opposite direction and was ultimately panned. Fast forward 18 years later and the film is only remembered by its most die-hard fans, a few movie watchers here and there, and the cast and crew that took part in the project.

I read recently that several major film companies over the years have been trying to claim the rights to use the brother plumbers from Nintendo to make a new film. But, Nintendo is very selective with their characters and are very uncertain as to whether or not they want their ever famous Mario Bros. to hit the silver screen ever again. If you were to ask me I think now is the right time to re-imagine a Mario Bros. film franchise. Because as opposed to their counterparts in '93 their target audience has changed. Instead of just kids and teens they now have older generations, as well as the kids and teens that would be plugged into the film. Think about it. I believe the reason why Transformers has done so well is because they have been able to attract the adults that were kids in the '80s, as well as the kids now and teenagers who grew up with stuff like Beast Wars or getting hand-me-downs from their older siblings. Super Mario Bros., if done right, I wholeheartedly believe could do the same.

Now here is the tricky, but most important of details. Should this film be CGI-animated? Live Action? Both? Who would be a great cast for these new characters? As a matter of fact what characters should be used? What kind of storyline? Should it be a combination of the games or something completely brand new? As far as my opinion goes I would like to see either Jack Black or Zach Galifianakis star as Mario in a CGI/Live Action film. Luigi would be played by Paul Dano, Bowser would be played by Anthony Michael Hall or Tim Roth. Princess Peach would be played by Elisha Cuthbert or Olivia Wilde. Also, I'd like to see a combination of storylines between Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros., and make it more true to the video games. What do you think?

[1upmushroom]

For me, I would like to see a Mario movie that while being dark and all does not include constant swear words, or use mountains of blood, or anything too demented that it would betray the series.

I mean I want this movie to be the Batman The Animated Series of the Mario series. Make some character development, make the battes more fierce, include some conflict between the characters.

I just wanna make it clear, I don't want a GTA Mario Movie, I want a Mario Movie that has a darker more deeper story but yet have the story seem as if it could be part of the games and to me that's not really difficult to accomplish.

[WildWinger88]

For me, I would like to see a Mario movie that while being dark and all does not include constant swear words, or use mountains of blood, or anything too demented that it would betray the series.

I mean I want this movie to be the Batman The Animated Series of the Mario series. Make some character development, make the battes more fierce, include some conflict between the characters.

I just wanna make it clear, I don't want a GTA Mario Movie, I want a Mario Movie that has a darker more deeper story but yet have the story seem as if it could be part of the games and to me that's not really difficult to accomplish.

Kind of like Batman Begins meets the Super Mario Bros. video games? But, would it be CGI-animated? Live action? Or both?

[Mario500]

If I were to propose a new Mario movie, I would want it to be traditional, hand-drawn animation. It would be a new medium to explore for a theatrical movie based on the Mario games and there would be few comparisons between this movie and the live-action movie.

If I were in charge of this new movie, the character designs would be based on the designs for "The Super Mario Bros. Super Show" (the modern designs for King Bowser Koopa and Princess Peach Toadstool would be incorporated into the plot) and the story would be based on the scale of Super Mario RPG. As for voice actors, I would cast voice actors who worked on the animated cartoon series. I would cast Walker Boone as Mario, Danny Wells as Luigi, and Jeannie Elias as Princess Toadstool, and every other living actor who worked on the series would be cast back into their respective roles.

[Redstar]

I've said it many times before and will continue to say it: it is no longer possible to make a live-action Super Mario Bros. film adaptation. It may be possible to make an animated adaptation, but the issues with adapting the property at all would still be too great.

The problem with the series is that there's just too much involved with it. You have the absurdity and geomotrical challenge of the platformers, the humor of the RPGs and the characterization of the sports and party games. Above all, you have the vocal characterization provided by Charles Martinet. There's simply too much to work with that you can't provide it all. People's expectations would be both too great and too skewed. No one will be satisfied.

1989 to 1992 was the height of "Mario Mania." This was a period defined by one thing: two Italian plumbers from Brooklyn stumbled into a strange world of fantastical creatures. It was simple and yet at the same time archetypical. It was something that could be explored with creative license. There was freedom with the concept.

Now, the franchise is no longer about that. It's not really about anything anymore. The only defining quality of the series that I can really pinpoint as enjoyable is the geometrical, 3-dimensional platforming, and you can't really base a film around that alone.

Mario's time has come and gone. It's time to forget him and his place in film and move onto more approachable, archetypical concepts: Metroid, Zelda and even Starfox.

[WildWinger88]

I've said it many times before and will continue to say it: it is no longer possible to make a live-action Super Mario Bros. film adaptation. It may be possible to make an animated adaptation, but the issues with adapting the property at all would still be too great.

The problem with the series is that there's just too much involved with it. You have the absurdity and geomotrical challenge of the platformers, the humor of the RPGs and the characterization of the sports and party games. Above all, you have the vocal characterization provided by Charles Martinet. There's simply too much to work with that you can't provide it all. People's expectations would be both too great and too skewed. No one will be satisfied.

1989 to 1992 was the height of "Mario Mania." This was a period defined by one thing: two Italian plumbers from Brooklyn stumbled into a strange world of fantastical creatures. It was simple and yet at the same time archetypical. It was something that could be explored with creative license. There was freedom with the concept.

Now, the franchise is no longer about that. It's not really about anything anymore. The only defining quality of the series that I can really pinpoint as enjoyable is the geometrical, 3-dimensional platforming, and you can't really base a film around that alone.

Mario's time has come and gone. It's time to forget him and his place in film and move onto more approachable, archetypical concepts: Metroid, Zelda and even Starfox.

I think you're right and I can agree with you to a certain extent. There is definitely a lot involved with the Mario video games nowadays and the series has evolved so much since "Mario Mania" and there are so many games, character traits, etc. But, you could say the same thing about comic book characters throughout the last century. Take a look at Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, etc. They've been in comics, television, film, cartoons, video games. They've had several different portrayals of these characters and their backstories. They've encountered many different villains, even going as far as battling Predator and Alien. They've had their gimmicky moments and their serious moments. But, it certainly hasn't tarnished their image by much. It seems as more time passes and more generations grow up with these characters, their validity becomes more relevant and studios are now comfortable with making these superhero films in bulk. I think this past decade, as well as the current decade have easily become the "decade(s) of superhero flicks".

Right now, video games are more popular then they ever have been throughout video games existence. At one point, comic book characters were once the idols that video game characters are fastly becoming. Give it some time and effort, I think we're going to start seeing more video game films come into fruition.

My case with SMB is that though you have these lavish games with goofy characters, outrageous storylines, and such shouldn't be the end all, be all to the idea. Heck, I think it just strengthens the case to make a new film. I think one of the biggest issues with the first Mario film is that they failed to give much of a backstory to these guys and their enemies. They just slapped something together that they felt would sell well and unfortunately it didn't. Because I'll admit something with a lot of my conceptual posters I have made. It has been hard to think of ways to build a continuing storyline around that film without butchering it and making it even more far-fetched than before. However, when you enter the realm of re-imagining a new film based on the video games rather than being about the games the possibilities are endless.

Maybe now is not the time to create such a film. But, I think the day will come again when Mario and Luigi are back on the silver screen. And when that day comes, his friends in Starfox, Metroid, Zelda, and even Halo may have some success and further open that door to the possibility.

[Serum]

As I've said before, I'm not really for the whole "entirely CGI" films, and if I were making a new Mario movie, I'd go the opposite route, more of a Chris Nolan route-- take what he did with "Batman" and make it super dark and serious. I'd take the movie we got in '93, make it live action, but have very little humor, concentrating more on plot and character development and giving it an edgier twist. If it were up to me, "Super Mario Bros." would be an R-Rated hard-sci-fi movie in the same vein as "Blade Runner" or even "Brazil."

[Mario500]

^The idea of a "super dark and serious" Mario movie is a frightening thought in my mind.

[Serum]

^The idea of a "super dark and serious" Mario movie is a frightening thought in my mind.

It shouldn't be. They've been doing gritty remakes with everything, lately-- like I said, just look at the new Batman movies.

[Mario500]

You do not need to be super dark and serious to appeal to older folks. Some of the best movies with great appeal among children and adults are light and fun in addition to being serious in some instances.

I would rather produce movies appealing to folks of all ages. Not only would they be successful financially, but successful for many years. They may even be worthy of broadcasts by Turner Classic Movies.

[Serum]

You do not need to be super dark and serious to appeal to older folks. Some of the best movies with great appeal among children and adults are light and fun in addition to being serious in some instances.

I would rather produce movies appealing to folks of all ages. Not only would they be successful financially, but successful for many years. They may even be worthy of broadcasts by Turner Classic Movies.

Look at a movie like "All Dogs Go to Heaven," it's meant for children, but it's incredibly dark. That's a movie that has pleasantly haunted me for decades-- It appealed to me as a child because of its colorful animation and fun characters, but I appreciate it more today because of its dark and often dismal tone.

"The Brave Little Toaster" is another example-- colorful and fun to a child, but horrifyingly dark and dismal to an adult, yet it appeals to adults because of its sophistication and witty satire and the fear of being 'thrown away.' There are many Disney movies with heavy, dark undertones. "Beauty and the Beast" springs to mind. On the surface it's a fairy tale, but underneath the colorful surface is a dark story about isolation and self-hatred.

So in conclusion, I would rather produce a dark, violent, edgy, cyberpunk science fiction version of "Super Mario Bros.," the only humor in it being that of wry British political satire and off-color jokes-- the way Christopher Nolan did "The Dark Knight," or even the remake of "The Time Machine," again, a gritty remake of a movie that was otherwise fairly upbeat. The original "Time Machine" ended on something of a triumphant note, whereas the remake ended on a more bittersweet feeling of loss.

Then again, I view the world as a fairly evil place and I'm not a loco with motive to suture myself. I've been a cynic for too many years.

[Redstar]

You do not need to be super dark and serious to appeal to older folks. Some of the best movies with great appeal among children and adults are light and fun in addition to being serious in some instances.

I'll have to agree with Serum on this one. Many of the most enduring children films are not the light and naive ones, but those with appeal to many different age groups for different reasons. These are the films that have something to offer on both a superficial and deeper level.

People remember All Dogs Go To Heaven and The Secret of NIMH. They remember Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King. The former films are darker than the latter, but both have deeply emotional intricacies that can be appreciated by anyone. The Toy Story films are more popular among college-aged adults and their parents because those adventures are not naive or light; they're sincere in their depiction of the reality of childhood.

[WildWinger88]

Why this thread sure has sparked some interest in my absence. But, I have to agree with Redstar and Serum. A more dark, edgy, and serious tone for the film is the way to go. Maybe not as dark as the '93 film, but close to it in the sense it is very serious.

If there was a rebooted live-action film being made, I would like them to do something that contains the epic qualities of Star Wars, but the comical edge of Scott Pilgrim. It would carry a PG-13 rating and not contain a whole bunch of nasty language, but still keep the violent action sequences and the menacing villains.

[Reptile-Queen-Daisy]

Honestly, I personally hope it doesn't happen. I want to keep thinking about the Hoskins, Leguziamo and Hopper film when I see or hear the words 'Super Mario Brothers movie.' It has a special place in my heart and is a fun-filled gem that I'd hate to see get 'replaced.'

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

^The idea of a "super dark and serious" Mario movie is a frightening thought in my mind.

It shouldn't be. They've been doing gritty remakes with everything, lately-- like I said, just look at the new Batman movies.

That's kind of an odd comparison to make. Mario's parents weren't exactly gunned down in an alley by a mugger, nor did he swear vengeance upon their graves, nor take up a symbol of the night to strike fear into the hearts of cowardly and superstitious criminals.

Heck, Spider-man is closer to Batman than Mario is, and even he's not especially dark.

They tried the same sort of thing with Bomberman, and it didn't take-- at all.

I'm not saying Mario can't be made darker, but the Batman comparison is weird because he began relatively dark, then was lightened up into a mainstream doofus with a too-short cape and a smile on his face as he waved to people while walking down Main Street in broad daylight.

I don't really want nor need a "dark" Mario. To me, the important thing is the sense of adventure, and the threat of danger which goes along with it. A more ideal template, in my opinion, would be the sort of tone that went with Carl Barks' Scrooge McDuck comics, or even Floyd Gottfredson's Mickey Mouse comics.

[Serum]

That's kind of an odd comparison to make. Mario's parents weren't exactly gunned down in an alley by a mugger, nor did he swear vengeance upon their graves, nor take up a symbol of the night to strike fear into the hearts of cowardly and superstitious criminals.

Hey, we don't know that for sure.

[ultimateemail5000]

A Dark Mario movie will never happen(again), unless shadow Mario is involved with a new movie, and that's as dark as Mario will get. Honestly I don't even think a Mario movie in general will ever happen again.

[1upmushroom]

I'm not sure. With the success of Wreck it Ralph, I think Nintendo is slowly warming up to the idea of another Mario movie though it may take another year or two.

[Serum]

God, I hope not...

[ultimateemail5000]

I'm not sure. With the success of Wreck it Ralph, I think Nintendo is slowly warming up to the idea of another Mario movie though it may take another year or two.

What makes you say that? I haven't heard anything about it. i highly doubt they will.

[Serum]

I'm not sure. With the success of Wreck it Ralph, I think Nintendo is slowly warming up to the idea of another Mario movie though it may take another year or two.

What makes you say that? I haven't heard anything about it. i highly doubt they will.

Just, stop talking about the possibility... That would be terrible and I don't want to have the idea floating around for the Weinsteins to get their grubby hands on.

[ultimateemail5000]

The Weinsteins only worry about giving kevin smith, quintin tarintino and the other lame ass directors who had one good movie to make 20 years or so ago.

[Serum]

The Weinsteins only worry about giving kevin smith, quintin tarintino and the other lame ass directors who had one good movie to make 20 years or so ago.

Ouch... I liked "Chasing Amy" and the "Kill Bill" movies.

[ultimateemail5000]

Clerks to me is the only real thing Kevin Smith made that's worth rewatching, while yes I did enjoy his movies when I was15, I realised he just sucks anymore, and I never like Quintin Tarintino's movies. It's funny after I said that I read an article where he wants to retire soon because he doesn't want to be an old director because their movies get worst as they get older.

[Serum]

Kubrick's finest film was his last. Eyes Wide Shut is a stunning and beautiful study of the ugliness of human sexuality and the depths of depravity that the mind can go to. A few days before he died, he said it was his "finest work."

[IbanezJFS]

I want them to try Live Action again but I can accept a CG Bowser in this live action world. Just try to get it as close to life like as possible. I don't want to see a cartoony version of him again. As for who to play the Mario's? To be honest I would be happy with both Bob and John again. But if I had to choose Mario has to played by some short and a bit pudgy. So maybe Jack Black but too bad Joe Pesci isn't as big as he used to. As for Luigi I would have to say Lochlyn Munro and keep the same kind of Luigi that was played in the first movie. I hate it when you have a tall person who is a coward like how he was in the cartoon. Koopa showed be voiced by Jeremy Irons. As For Daisy pffft I don't know Emma Watson?

[1upmushroom]

Jeremy Irons as Bowser? How did you make THAT match? I mean Jim Cummings makes sense or even BRIAN BLESSED but Jeremy Irons? I don't know that combo doesn't mesh in my opinion.

[IbanezJFS]

Jeremy Irons as Bowser? How did you make THAT match? I mean Jim Cummings makes sense or even BRIAN BLESSED but Jeremy Irons? I don't know that combo doesn't mesh in my opinion.

He was the voice of Scar from the Lion King and I remembered how evil he sounded so I thought let's see what he can do with Koopa.

[1upmushroom]

Heh, that's funny you should mention that because Jeremy Irons' performance in that movie convinced me that he would be the right voice for Ganon of all villains!

[IbanezJFS]

Hhmm...I can see that. It's amazing that as much this movie does not resemble the video game. But I can totally pictures these villains characters as the human forms they were presented as. Koop, Big Bertha, The Goomabs, Toad (Granted he wasn't a villain but if he was I can see him as that). This movie really does deserve more credit than it was given.

[SethRex]

All this talk of a Super Mario Bros. film has put it in my head to write a script. I'll keep you guys updated on it. Will probably write up a thread about it later.

[Reptile-Queen-Daisy]

While, as I mentioned, I'm not really all for the thought of a new movie being produced to shadow the one we've grown to love, I would be very interested to read your script, Seth.

[SethRex]

Well I hope I don't disappoint you, Daisy. Understand that I have no intention of creating a shadow over the Super Mario Bros. we got. It will always have a place in my DVD and/or Blu-Ray player.

[WildWinger88]

A new film does not have to shadow over the old film. It will always be there in our hearts and minds. But, I for one, am a huge supporter of a new "franchise". With a good director, a good script, and the right production team to put together a great film.

[ultimateemail5000]

I think if a new film was ever made, there shuold be a scene where it shows footage really really small on a computer monitor or something. Kinda like in the new Ghostbusters game, they showed on a monitor the original game for the NES. Or maybe an original theatrical SMB movie poster torn in half hidden in the background.