I already saw this film, and i think it was in very early 10s. Surely after 2007 and before 2014, yet i have no record of that or any notes anywhere. Probably i saw it even before i ever finished Super Mario Bros. In 2012, and these could've been related events. I wasn't impressed by it but i didn't hate it either.

So the film is not related to the games at all. Out of all the lazy films in gaming properties of that time, this one probably has the least relation to its source. And it's not like they had to work with only Jumpman, Mario Bros. And Super Mario Bros. The IP was already populated enough, yet still malleable to let your creativity flow. Even i can write a more Mario movie from either jumpman or super. Just make a generic adventure while re-creating some of the key art, and people would eat it and ask for more. Mortal Kombat did that.

As a movie, this story is not entirely hopeless, but it's rather convoluted. It requires a good plot to support such a complex structure. But the plot is rather weak. A lot of the events happen because of the script, instead of organically. Like when they talk through the wall, but you see them falling through a wormhole. If you cut those VFX you lose some visuals, but making it a portal would instantly fix this hole. Big Bertha's switch comes out of nowhere. Daisy is a dinosaur, but her dad was devolved into fungus? And then he evolved himself back? But none of the goombas? There is the pay-off for the dance scene, but it comes out of nowhere and for no reason. They just fled behind the troops' backs anyway.

The writing is targeting babies, so it's not good, and it's all just childish comedy writing. Many line go nowhere. The epitome of that is the post-credits joke. They could've referenced any of the real games, instead, it is a pointless not-funny non sequitur. The one thing i will call good is Mario Mario and Luigi Mario. Because how can they be Mario Bros. Otherwise?

But also it's an absolutely great-looking movie. The infestation is gross, the CGI is old, but the practical effects are some of the best in cinema. Everything physical related to dinosaurs is beyond believable and expressive. The props and the dystopian setting beloved by the 90s movies are also good. Product placement sucks, tho. It's not good period, but some movies at least write it into the storyline, instead of just branding bob-omb with reebok.

It is a good enough watch it's not boring and is not too cringy. With still better story and still better plot than The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with amazing visuals, i was really tempted to say that it's a better film. But when something is called Super Mario Bros. And it is not Super Mario Bros. In any way, shape or form, while the other film delivers a lot of on-point ingredients, i can't sincerely rate it better.

This is one of those films where it's more fun to hear about how it was created than actually watching it.

It's not as bad as people like to think, so let's just hope in the future they give the same sort of love to a Mario movie as they did for Mortal Kombat, or even Sonc.

Super Mario Bros. (1993), was another case of the source material, for a film idea, being too advanced for the cinematic technology of the day. CGI was just starting with Jurassic Park (1993), so the choice to do this film with practical, physical effects and live action characters was its major downfall. This prompted the story to be adjusted to fit the capabilities of the filmmakers of the day. It all culminates into a silly plot, that actually manages to make video game characters, caricatures of themselves. This however, isn't a knock on the special effects used in this film at all. The effects fit the pre-CGI era fairly well. They did a very good job with the special effects, art direction, set design and most of the costumes and make-up. There actually is a dinosaur in the film and the computer effects used for him are pretty good. For 1993, it is visually pleasant.

Dennis Hopper, as President Koopa (Bowser), looks ridiculous though. There also is this weird use of the fungus in the film. It looks bad technically and isn't menacing at all. Many of the characters are pail, empty and mindless, especially Samantha Mathis as Princess Daisy. It doesn't translate well, especially having to depict Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi (John Leguizamo), running around Brooklyn. The attempt to make the film as real as possible backfires. I never got a chance to see this film when it was first released, but I had heard of the negative fallout that came after it was released. I remember when Siskel and Ebert gave it two thumbs down. Most film-buffs remember hearing, that Bob Hoskins hated the movie. This is probably why I never got around to seeing Super Mario Bros. (1993), until the 2023 film was announced. 30 years later I finally understood. This film is a failure, but I still recommend seeing it, at least once, as a curiosity, because you have to see it to believe it.

3.9 (F+ MyGrade) = 4 IMDB.