Blu-ray

Created in 1985 by Nintendo, it was inevitable that the success of the platform videogame Super Mario Bros. would lead to a movie tie-in. Yet, as producer Roland Joffe explains in the documentary that’s accompanies this recently released Blu-ray version of the movie, it was a film franchise that was curiously overlooked by most of the major Hollywood Studios.

The late Bob Hoskins stars alongside John Leguizamo (Carlito’s Way and the voice of Sid the Sloth in Ice Age) as Brooklyn brothers Mario and Luigi. The Del Boy and Rodney of the plumbing trade; they’re suddenly catapulted into a parallel universe ruled by dinosaurs thanks to a chance meeting with an attractive palaeontologist, Daisy (Samantha Mathis). Seems that the meteorite that collided with the Earth 65 million years ago didn’t fry all the thunder lizards as was first suspected. Some escaped and evolved into humanoid-type reptiles, under the rule of ex-tyrannosaurus, mad King Koopa (Dennis Hopper), who plans to invade New York.

Although the Mario Brothers are not about to let that happen, the situation is further complicated by the fact that Daisy is actually a dinosaur herself, as well as being a Princess. To make matters worse, crazy King Koopa has de-evolved her father, the king, into a giant pile of slime. 

There are some brilliant special effects, a lot of which appear to be models, suits and animatronics as opposed to CGI, while the look of Koopa’s city streets borrows heavily from movies such as Blade Runner and the Martian township in Total Recall. The pace is also frantic throughout and the double-act of Hoskins (re-treading the very funny performance he gave in Who Framed Roger Rabbit) and Leguizamo is enormous fun.

Picture: Sharp images on this Blu-ray disc enhances the onscreen action with a nice contrast between the Brooklyn Street scenes and the garish colours of Koopa’ville’ (first seen in chapter 6). There’s some noticeable grain during the location sequences set in the desert (chapter 11), but this a minor defect and doesn’t spoil the overall look of the movie.
Picture rating: 3.5/5

Audio: The DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack provides plenty of power, so that the streets scenes in both Brooklyn and Koopa’ville’ are brash and in your face. Dialogue and music also come across cleanly with a natural tonality.
Audio rating: 3/5

Extras: This Ain’t No Video Game is an excellent 60-minute documentary that features new interviews with co-directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, producer Roland Joffe, actors John Leguizamo and Richard Edson, writer Parker Bennett, and assorted behind-the-scenes production staff. There’s also an archive interview with Bob Hoskins. Other special features include an archival 20 minute Making of... documentary and 20 minute Electronic Press Kit.
Extras rating: 3/5

We say: Good to see the talented Bob Hoskins in another comedy role and if you’re nostalgic for the Super Mario Bros. game then this movie will have even greater appeal.

Super Mario Bros., Second Sight, Region B BD, £20 Approx
HCC rating: 3/5