Super Mario Bros. (film)



Super Mario Bros. is a movie loosely based on the Super Mario Bros. series of video games. While the film draws inspiration from the series, it follows a completely different continuity based in an entirely different world from its inspiration. Similarly, the characters are based on their archetypal roles from the games rather than their specific natures and actions.

The film cost an estimated $42 million to create due to its high profile cast and special effects, yet its gross revenue was only $20,915,465. Because of this, the film is largely considered a flop. However, it enjoys a small cult following.

The Dimensional Split
65 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the Earth, unbothered by the small mammals, that shared the planet with them. Life was good for the dinosaurs until one day when a gigantic meteor struck the planet in modern-day Brooklyn. The impact was believed to have completely destroyed the dinosaurs, making conditions perfect for the mammals to grow and develop into intelligent humans. However, some dinosaurs were not killed, but were banished to a parallel dimension created from the impact. An alternate meteor with a shard broken off was created as well. Due to the nature of the meteor, if it was reunited with the shard, known as “the rock,” it could reunite the two dimensions into one. The shard could also open a gateway between the dimensions. This alternate dimension included another planet Earth. However, unlike the mammalian Earth, the reptilian Earth was largely a barren desert short on resources.

As 65 million years past, the mammals and the dinosaurs underwent convergent evolution in their separate worlds, becoming two different types of humans, mammalian and reptilian. Both were vicious, but the mammals lived without knowledge of the reptiles, who knew of the mammals’ existence. The human world developed into its current state.

King Bowser’s Rise and Fall
However, the reptiles were forced to live in a barren world. They crowded together in Dinohatten, the only city on the planet, and competed for resources. However, under the rule of King Bowser, the race was able to exist with relative prosperity. Although the king possessed the meteor shard, and thus had the means to reunite the dimensions, he refrained from doing so. Yet, a man named Koopa remained unsatisfied and desired for the resources of the mammals.

King Koopa developed a machine capable of devolution. De-evolution is a process by which one can reverse the process of evolution, reverting the victim to his or her pre-evolved state. He realized that if he was able to reunite the two Earths, he could lead an attack on the mammals, de-evolving them into harmless chimpanzees.

King Koopa then staged a coup of the government. He was opposed, both publically and secretly. Even his own two cousins, Iggy and Spike, sided with the king. However, Koopa eventually overpowered the opposition and captured the king. He forced him into his de-evolution machine and de-evolved him into a fungus and imprisoned him in Devo 4. Looking for the rock shard, he realized it had been taken away by King Bowser’s queen. The queen escaped the dimension using the rock with her egg in a protective case. Emerging in Brooklyn, the queen ran down Fulton Street and found St. Theresa's, a Catholic church. She left her egg on the doorstep, placing the rock shard in the case. The queen ran back to her own dimension.

Several nuns from the church found the egg and took it in, where it soon hatched, revealing a female reptilian human baby, who they named Daisy.

Having reentered her own dimension, the queen was ambushed by King Koopa in the underground tunnels that lead to and from the meteor. When he discovered that the queen no longer had the rock, he destroyed a key foundation and escaped as the queen was crushed.

Dinohatten's Decline and Daisy’s Life
As King Koopa began his rule over Dinohatten over the next twenty years, conditions began to worsen. Under his rule, the limited prosperity previously experienced began to fade away. Additionally, King Bowser began to grow, escaping from Koopa’s tower and into the city, where he began to torment King Koopa and his regime.

Meanwhile, on Earth the nuns raised and supported Daisy until she was old enough to leave the church to attend New York University. She worked on a major in archeology.

The Mario Bros.
Mario Mario took in an abandoned boy, adopting him as his brother. Mario served as Luigi Mario's mother and father as he grew up. Mario and Luigi ran a plumbing business, Mario Bros. Plumbing Services, but were forced to live life paycheck to paycheck. Scapelli Construction ran a plumbing division which took away much of the Mario brothers' business.

Basic Plot
[[Image: MovieMarioLuigi.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Mario and Luigi in Super Mario Bros.] The basic plot of the movie is the idea that the comet that killed the dinosaurs created a parellel dimension where dinosaurs have evolved into intelligent beings and their leader, [[Bowser|King Koopa]], is trying to rejoin the two dimensions and rule over both of them. In order to do so, Koopa must reassemble the comet that struck the earth and separated the two dimensions in the first place. The last missing piece to the comet was left on a doorstep with a mysterious egg containing a newborn Princess Daisy. The movie contains a lot of references to Mario games, but almost nothing resembles their game counterparts in look.

Cast

 * Bob Hoskins &mdash; Mario
 * John Leguizamo &mdash; Luigi
 * Dennis Hopper &mdash; King Koopa
 * Samantha Mathis &mdash; Princess Daisy
 * Fisher Stevens &mdash; Iggy
 * Richard Edson &mdash; Spike
 * Fiona Shaw &mdash; Lena
 * Dana Kaminksi &mdash; Daniella
 * Mojo Nixon &mdash; Toad
 * Francesca Roberts &mdash; Big Bertha
 * Gianni Russo &mdash; Anthony Scapelli
 * Lance Henriksen &mdash; King Toadstool

Critical Reception
The movie is generally considered poor. In a Nintendo Power article about New Super Mario Bros., a timeline of Mario's history could be seen at the bottom of the page. The Super Mario Bros. movie was mentioned, only with the words, "Yes, it happened. Let us speak no more of it." The actor of Mario, Bob Hoskins, called the film the worst thing he ever did while Luigi's portrayer, John Leguizamo, mentions in his autobiography that he practically couldn't bare working on the film.

Lines and Actions
Scene: Animated prehistoric jungle.

On screen credits: ''As the next scenes progress, the opening credits are shown. The credits are over by the time present day Brooklyn first apperas.'' BOB HOSKINS JOHN LEGUIZAMO DENNIS HOPPER SAMANTHA MATHIS FISHER STEVENS RICHARD EDSON DANA KAMINSKI FIONA SHAW CASTING BY MALI FINN AND DON FINN ASSOCIATE PRODUCER BRAD WESTON MUSIC BY ALAN SILVESTRI COSTUMES DESIGNED BY JOSEPH PORRO VISUAL EFFECTS DESIGN AND SUPERVISION BY CHRISTOPHER FRANCIS WOODS EDITED BY MARK GOLDBLATT, A.C.E. PRODUCTION DESIGNED BY DAVID L. SNYDER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY DEAN SEMLER, A.C.S. CO-PRODUCER FRED CARUSO WRITTEN BY PARKER BENNETT & TERRY RUNTÉ AND ED SOLOMON PRODUCED BY JAKE EBERTS AND ROLAND JOFFÉ DIRECTED BY ROCKY MORTON ANNABEL JANKEL

NARRATOR (as the below actions and the first two actor credits appear): A long, long time ago, the earth was ruled by dinosaurs. They were big, so not a lot of people went around hassling them. Actually, no people went around hassling them because there weren't any people yet... just the first tiny mammals.

''An apatosaurus peaks out from the trees during this narration. The camera zooms in to show him eating a plant, in which a pair of blinking eyes can be seen. A skunk is revealed when the entire plant is pulled up. The skunk trots away, muttering, until he notices a triceratops chewing leaves in his mouth nearby. He stops in place momentarily, then jumps up in fright (his stripes separate from him instantaneously) at the sight of the second dinosaur and runs away. The triceratops watches without interest.''

NARRATOR: Basically, life was good.

APATOSAURUS (licks up some stray plant strands, then looks up at the stegosaurus while chewing the plant): Yo! It just don't get no better than this.

TRICERATOPS (looking up at the apatosaurus): Yeah!

Scene: Fade into live action version of the same jungle.

On-screen text: BROOKLYN 65 MILLION YEARS AGO

NARRATOR: Then something happened. A giant meteorite struck the earth! Good-bye dinosaurs!

''The meteorite appears over the horizon coming towards the screen. Its flame trail covers the screen.''

''Scene: Camera flows through abstract images meant to show travel between one dimension to another. Eventually, the camera zooms in on a completely black wall.''

NARRATOR (growing in intensity, then returning to his normal tone): But what if the dinosaurs weren't all destroyed? What if the impact of that meteorite created a parallel dimension, where the dinosaurs continued to thrive, and developed into intelligent, vicious, aggressive beings?! Just like us. And hey, what if they found a way back?

The film's logo zooms in towards the screen: "SUPER MARIO BROS."

Scene: Fulton Street, Brooklyn and possible another later.

On-screen text: BROOKLYN 20 YEARS AGO

''A young woman in a strange jacket and shawl runs on-screen from behind a car, holding an unknown item and obviously frightened. She looks back quickly, then pulls the shawl over her head as lighting lights up her face. She runs up the stairs leading to the front door of St. Theresa's Catholic church, stoops down on the doorstep, and place her package on the door step, looking back at the street. She unwraps it, revealing an egg-shaped metal case. Then, she pulls what appears to be a geode shard from her jacket and places it into a slot on the case. She strokes the case gingerly before pounding on the door repeatedly, looking back. She leans down, strokes the case once more before partially covering it again, and runs back into the street, leaving the case on the door. She flees down a sidewalk.''

Back at the church, the head nun opens the door, looks down at the egg, looks up at the street, then takes in the case, looking again before closing the door.

''The woman continues to run, this time across an intersection. Cars swerve to avoid her, honking, as she makes her way to a manhole and climbs down a ladder into it.''

DRIVER: Hey lady, what are you, nuts?

''Scene: St. Theresa's interior. The nuns gather around the case, placed on a table with candles, as it opens to reveal a large, off-white egg.''

HEAD NUN: [gasps in pleasant surprise]

''Scene: Brooklyn Sewers. The young woman runs down a circular passageway lit from behind. She turns a corner, walking backwards and looking nervously around her. Koopa appears from behind and grabs her.''

KOOPA: Where's the rock?

He spins her around to face him, then releases her.

WOMAN (gasping for breath): Koopa!

She looks up as sawdust falls from the ceiling, then attempts to escape as the passage collapses.

WOMAN: [Screams as the screen fades.]

''Scene: St. Theresa's. The egg begins to hatch. The nuns look nervous and attentive. A human baby is revealed.''

DAISY: [Cries]

''The head nun makes the sign of the cross. picks up the rock shard and holds it in front of the camera. It glints, changing the scene.''

''Scene: Present day Brooklyn. The camera focuses on a building labeled "Fulton Flowers" as people and cars pass by. The scene changes to the inside of the second story apartment.''

Miraculous World Host (on television): Welcome to "Miraculous World," where each week we ask unanswered questions. Today on Miraculous World: another dimension, the universe next-door, an alternate world separated by time and space, and yet, somehow joined and continuous with our own. [His voice is drowned out.]

''A telephone can be heard ringing as the camera pans the apartment. It is picked up by Mario, at his desk.''

MARIO (into the telephone): Mario Brothers Plumbing. No leak too small. Uh-huh, uh-huh. No, no, no! Don't touch it. No, it's not a big problem, just leave it to the professionals.

Luigi is shown lying down on the couch, eating absent-mindedly as he scares with rapt attention at the television.

Miraculous World Guest (on television): And when I looked around, I was some... I was somewhere else.

Miraculous World Host: Another... dimension, you mean?

Miraculous World Guest: Sure.

Miraculous World Host: Another dimension. A universe [His voice is drowned out, but his voice can be heard throughout the scene.]

Mario: Be right there! [Hangs up phone and turns around in his chair towards Luigi] Luigi, we got a broken dishwasher down at the River Front Café! You know what that means?

Luigi (distracted): [Waves arm] Yeah, yeah, yeah...

Mario (exuberantly): [As he picks up Luigi's snack bowl] We got work!

Luigi: [As Mario makes to turn off the television] Oh, Mario, Mario! Right now on the Miraculous World, this guy just found out he was in another dimension.

Mario: [Turns off the television, smiling incredulously] The only thing miraculous I know is that we're still eating! ...while we're going broke!

Luigi: [Picks up a toy off of his knee and presses it against his face, pushing out the pegs that make it up, leaving an imprint of his face] We ain't going broke Mario; we're already there!

Mario: Yeah? [Drops Luigi's plumbing boots on his crotch purposefully.]

Luigi (painfully): Ow! Oh!

Mario: [Picks up a copy of the New York Post with the headline, "NOT AGAIN! Another B'klyn Girl is Missing"] Are you spending money on this stuff? Look at this!

Luigi: Yeah, but its got the article about the missing Brooklyn girls...

Mario: [Cuts Luigi off, picks up the other bowl on the table, then uses the newspaper to sweep the crumbs on the table into the bowl.] It's also got one on the scientist, who turned his brain into cheese!

Luigi (indignant): Yeah, well you don't know; it could happen.

Mario (as he walks behind the couch and into a bedroom): [laughs condescendingly] How could that possibly happen?

Luigi (loud): Anything's possible Mario, you just gotta believe! [Mario grabs his plumbing tool belt and walks towards the previous room.]

''Scene: A Brooklyn street. The camera tracks the brothers' white van labeled "Super Mario Bros. Plumbing Services," driven by Luigi or zooms in on the brothers. Pedestrians and traffic are everywhere.''

Mario: I do believe! I believe the rent is three months overdue; that's what I believe. Hey, turn left here.

Luigi turns the wheel right using hand over hand steering.

Mario (loud and shocked): Left, I said left! What're you doing?

Luigi (calm, but slightly excited): I dunno Mario; just trust me; I gotta good feeling about this alley; I don't know.

Mario (disbelieving): What?

Luigi: [While turning the car right, hand over hand] My instincts tell me this'll be faster, Mario! Breathe in, there, big brother, we'll get there!

Mario (angry, prolonged): Luigi!

''Scene: The parking lot behind the River Front Café and the connecting street. Fewer cars and pedestrians line the street.''

Luigi: [As a car honks] Y'know, I read that sea turtles navigate thousands of miles on instinct!

Mario: Not in New York traffic, they don't.

Luigi (disbelieving but happy): [As he makes a left turn into a parking space] Well, what're you complaining about? C'mon, we're here, aren't we?

Mario: It gets worse!

''Over the next few lines, Luigi gets out of the car, walks to the back, and opens the back gate. Mario climbs over his seat to the back of the van, where he puts on his plumbing belt and steps out of the back gate as Luigi opens it. He is still struggling with his belt. Luigi reaches in, grabbing his plumbing belt and a tool kit. Luigi then closes the door and walks with his brother towards the restaurant's back entrance.''

Luigi: I'm getting worse?

Mario (confused): How'd we get into sea turtles?

Luigi (triumphant): Faster; what I tell you, huh?

Mario: It's a miracle we made it alive.

Luigi: I thought you didn't believe in miracles, Mr. Tough-Guy, huh?

The aforementioned actions end.

Mario: [Looking to his right and gesturing] Scapelli... they beat us to it again!

''The camera focuses on a perfectly clean, white van that makes the Mario Brothers' van look run down and unprofessional. On the back doors of the van, the word "PLUMBING" is written. On the side of the van to the upper right is the Scapelli Construction logo. To the left of that is a three line statement of, "COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, RESIDENTIAL" and below these two are the names of five locations written horizontally in smaller text, "LONDON PARIS  PALERMO  BEVERLY HILLS  BROOKLYN". Just below the van reads in large letters, "PLUMBING". Beneath this are three lines of telephone numbers. The first reads, "TELE: 555-3127 555-3128  555-3129". The second line reads, "FAX: 555-3130 555-3131  555-3132". The final line reads, "TOLL FREE: 1-800-FIX LEAK". There is some writing on the front door, but it can only be seen in the wide-screen version of the film. It appears to be a two line statement, "PLUMBING SERVICE".''

Mario (infuriated): Another lost job!

''Scene: The construction/excavation site. The camera focuses on two construction workers before switching to a view of a news reporter speaking into a microphone and, presumably, looking into a camera. As the news reporter speaks, the scene changes to an overhead view of the construction/excavation site. As the reporter begins talking about Scapelli, the view focuses on a black limousine driving past a group of cheering construction workers through the chain link gate. The gate has a sign that reads, in four lines, "WARNING DANGER CONSTRUCTION AREA". Another sign is obscured by the limousine but the Scapelli Construction logo can be seen.''

News Reporter: One of Brooklyn's largest construction projects has been ordered [Emphasizes the next two words] shut down as university students continue their search for dinosaur bones. Head contractor Anthony Scapelli is now arriving, hoping to settle the dispute.

''The limousine is driving fast, and skids to a stop on the dirt. A suited man gets out of the front passenger door and opens the back door on the same side. Scapelli gets out, waving to the construction workers. They cheer louder. Another man exits the car.''

SCAPELLI: [Walking towards the first man as the second man walks around the car, gesturing] Who's in charge of this hole?

''Camera focuses on an elevated platform of the site, on which banner reading "NYU" (New York University) is attached. People on the platform look over at Scapelli, Daisy looks back at someone, appears to say something, then walks towards Scapelli.''

DAISY (calm): [After a pause, standing completely straight] I'm the boss here.

SCAPELLI: I'm Anthony Scapelli. I'm the boss elsewhere. [Daisy steps down to from a catwalk and is now level with Scapelli and his men, but she keeps her distance.] My boys need to get back to work, here. How long you going to be digging up these bones?

DAISY: As long as our quarter lasts, Mr. Scapelli. The university has explained to you how important this site is. And we'd be done here a lot sooner if your goons would stop harassing us.

SCAPELLI: You look like a smart girl... [Walks towards Daisy slightly threateningly, gesturing.] I'll bet you'll be done by tonight. [As he says his next sentence, Daisy shifts her weight, then raises her eyebrows disbelievingly.] Y'know a lot of girls have been going missing in Brooklyn lately. [Smiles mockingly] I'd be careful.

DAISY: [Nods her head, slightly mockingly, looks behind her and towards the platform.] James? [James stops moving his wheelbarrow and looks down at her.] I'm going to find a phone and call the university.

JAMES: All right. [Continues to move his wheelbarrow]

DAISY: [Turns back towards Scapelli, addresses James, but is too quite for him to hear.] Keep everyone digging until I get back.

''Scapelli makes various disbelieving facial expressions, focuses on Daisy, who stares angrily back and walks away. Scapelli's expression turns to a scowl.''