WEBVTT 00:00:00.535 --> 00:00:08.223 Is it actually possible to adapt a video game into a profitable film? What about a good one? This is “Movie Night”! 00:00:08.223 --> 00:00:21.177 *theme song plays* 00:00:21.177 --> 00:00:24.641 Hello, and welcome to “Movie Night.” I'm your host, Jonathan Paula. 00:00:24.641 --> 00:00:31.733 Over the past two decades, nearly 30 features have been produced that were based on video games. Some were good, some were just plain terrible. 00:00:31.733 --> 00:00:37.883 But our first movie tonight is the granddaddy of them all, the original, from 1993, "Super Mario Bros." 00:00:37.883 --> 00:00:43.063 Starring Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo as the title brothers, this live-action film is a disappointingly unfaithful... 00:00:43.063 --> 00:00:48.352 and off-beat adaptation of the classic Nintendo platformer from where it gets its namesake. 00:00:48.352 --> 00:00:53.094 That being said, though, this film isn't all that bad. The late Dennis Hopper is featured as the primary villain, Koopa... 00:00:53.094 --> 00:00:58.981 a bipedal lizard resembling a human who has evolved from dinosaurs over the last 65 million years. 00:00:58.981 --> 00:01:06.675 His existence, including the kingdom he rules over, is thanks to a parallel dimension, where his species wasn't entirely wiped out by an asteroid collision. 00:01:06.675 --> 00:01:12.825 When our protagonists, Mario and Luigi, two bumbling plumbers from Brooklyn, New York, accidentally find a portal to this dimension... 00:01:12.825 --> 00:01:17.611 while looking for Luigi's recently kidnapped girlfriend, that's when things really start to get interesting. 00:01:17.611 --> 00:01:22.315 Perhaps trying to milk the franchise they're already in the process of destroying, the film desperately attempts to work in... 00:01:22.315 --> 00:01:28.445 as many references to the iconic game franchise as possible, no matter how ridiculous or pointless those references may be. 00:01:28.445 --> 00:01:36.369 Toad appears as a street performer who is then later de-evolved by the evil Koopa into a small-headed henchman this film refers to as a "Goomba." 00:01:36.369 --> 00:01:41.448 Throughout Koopa Kingdom, there are subtle references to the game, like a sign for Bullet Bills and Thwomps... 00:01:41.448 --> 00:01:45.059 and Mario even dispatches the help of a miniature Bob-omb at the end of the movie. 00:01:45.059 --> 00:01:51.985 Mostly, though, these classic Mario baddies only appear in name, and never in any capacity that would feel familiar to fans of the original game itself. 00:01:51.985 --> 00:01:59.339 In that respect, "Super Mario Bros." is almost disrespectful to its source material, and really one of the worst "video game films" ever made. 00:01:59.339 --> 00:02:06.013 However, if you completely disregard this poor adaptation and focus merely on the film itself as a stand-alone production... 00:02:06.013 --> 00:02:10.375 it is surprisingly creative, original, and filled with some impressive visuals. 00:02:10.375 --> 00:02:15.322 And although resembling nothing like the Mushroom Kingdom from the game series, the parallel dimension portrayed here... 00:02:15.322 --> 00:02:24.405 is vividly detailed and explored, a truly unique world that blends ‘80s counterculture with an Orwellian society of oppressive police and limited free speech. 00:02:24.405 --> 00:02:29.367 Our plumber heroes are loveable and well-developed, making their bizarre exploits easier to root for. 00:02:29.367 --> 00:02:35.272 The action and special effects are pretty well-executed here, too, especially for a film nearly 20 years old. 00:02:35.272 --> 00:02:41.071 If you completely ignore the title, the movie isn't half-bad. Sadly, though, it isn't half-good, either. 00:02:41.071 --> 00:02:45.035 "Super Mario Bros."- "Disappointingly unfaithful, but still enjoyable." 00:02:45.035 --> 00:02:58.894 Well, that was my review. Now, let's read some of yours from the YouTube comments. 00:02:58.894 --> 00:03:02.704 Here's the Rate-o-Matic now, to show us how we both scored "Super Mario Bros." 00:03:02.704 --> 00:03:12.935 A “4” and a “3”! As a Mario film, this movie is patently terrible. As a sci-fi action/adventure movie, though? It's actually pretty watch-able. I thought it was "meh.” 00:03:12.935 --> 00:03:20.091 The majority of you were decidedly unimpressed with this movie, but some of you did think it was alright. Your scores averaged out to a "bad.” 00:03:20.091 --> 00:03:25.195 Our second video game-turned-movie tonight is 2001's "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider." 00:03:25.195 --> 00:03:30.071 Starring Angelina Jolie in the title role that made her a household name, “Tomb Raider” is about Lara's quest... 00:03:30.071 --> 00:03:34.805 to solve an ancient mystery before some evil bad guys within the Illuminati get there first. 00:03:34.805 --> 00:03:42.231 It's a very simple archeology/adventure plot that bears incredible similarity to the “Indiana Jones” films, as well as the more recent “National Treasure” series. 00:03:42.231 --> 00:03:47.713 Although not terribly original or groundbreaking, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider" not only spawned a successful sequel... 00:03:47.713 --> 00:03:53.903 it also holds the distinction of being the most successful video game adaptation, based on domestic box-office gross. 00:03:53.903 --> 00:04:01.557 The original Sega Saturn platformer/puzzle game was released in 1996, and this film does a decent enough job of staying faithful to its limited source material. 00:04:01.557 --> 00:04:08.005 Much to the fanboy's delight, Jolie's chest size also stayed relatively faithful to its almost unworldly CGI counterpart. 00:04:08.005 --> 00:04:14.166 Like all good exploration/adventure films, Lara spends ample amounts of screen time globetrotting around the world... 00:04:14.166 --> 00:04:19.553 while director Simon West makes excellent use of the environments of Cambodia, Venice, and Siberia. 00:04:19.553 --> 00:04:26.572 Jolie's real-life father, Jon Voight, shows up in a limited, dream-only role as Lara's father, seemingly lending a bit of credibility to a film... 00:04:26.572 --> 00:04:31.023 that deals with 10-foot robots, magical sword-swinging statues, and time travel. 00:04:31.023 --> 00:04:37.153 With exposition that is hastily delivered in an almost insultingly obvious way, "Tomb Raider" often goes ten or more minutes of time... 00:04:37.153 --> 00:04:42.912 without any significant dialogue delivered, relying entirely on its action sequences to captivate the viewer. 00:04:42.912 --> 00:04:48.903 Luckily, most of the action in this movie is exciting, with the characters making clever use of their environments in many of the scenes. 00:04:48.903 --> 00:04:54.828 When the bad guys break into Lara's mansion early in the film, she happens to be in the middle of some trapeze-like acrobatic training... 00:04:54.828 --> 00:04:59.955 suspended from the ceiling from two giant bungee cords. The ensuing fight sequence that takes place... 00:04:59.955 --> 00:05:07.033 with Lara flying around the room and running up the walls while choking the intruders with these ropes, is not only original, but also incredibly fun to watch. 00:05:07.033 --> 00:05:13.084 With plenty of gunfire and ancient statues coming to life, the film relies heavily on its visual effects in many scenes. 00:05:13.084 --> 00:05:20.528 Unfortunately, the film's use of low frame-rate, slow-motion shots just look amateurish, and ruin an otherwise impressive visual effects sequence. 00:05:20.528 --> 00:05:25.993 If you're a fan of Jolie's bosomy physique, or the “Indiana Jones” series, this film definitely won't disappoint. 00:05:25.993 --> 00:05:29.538 "Tomb Raider"- "Exciting adventures with a hot chick." 00:05:29.538 --> 00:05:44.398 Well, that's what I thought about this film. Now, let's see what you had to say about it in the YouTube comments. 00:05:44.398 --> 00:05:47.458 Once again, the Rate-o-Matic, to rank "Tomb Raider.” 00:05:47.458 --> 00:05:56.683 A “6” and a “7”! This movie is far from being a masterpiece of cinema, but it delivers with some good popcorn action that doesn't fail to entertain. I thought it was "good.” 00:05:56.683 --> 00:06:04.321 Most of you agreed, praising Jolie's beauty in the title role, even if the film wasn't terribly amazing, otherwise. You thought it was "cool.” 00:06:04.321 --> 00:06:19.726 Well, that does it for tonight's films. So, now, let's take a look at what currently playing in theaters, with some Tweet Critiques. 00:06:19.726 --> 00:06:27.113 Remember, if you're going to the movies this week, make sure to submit your Twitter review, using the #JPMN hashtag, to have it featured on an upcoming episode. 00:06:27.113 --> 00:06:32.003 Thanks to your suggestions on Facebook and Twitter, next week, we'll be taking a look at two classic "disaster" films... 00:06:32.003 --> 00:06:39.592 the first of which is the Academy Award winner for Best Visual Effects in 1996, "Twister," starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton. 00:06:39.592 --> 00:06:46.578 Our second film is the preposterously laughable sci-fi film from 2003, "The Core,” starring Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank. 00:06:46.578 --> 00:06:54.166 As always, I encourage you to buy, rent, or download these films, and then let me know what you think about them by voting in the polls below, or by leaving me a comment review. 00:06:54.166 --> 00:07:00.039 Once again, my name is Jonathan Paula. Thank you for watching “Movie Night.” I hope to see you right back here next Friday! 00:07:00.039 --> 00:07:14.228 *end credits play* 00:07:14.228 --> 99:59:59.999 *Click on episode #272 to see why Rapunzel thinks orange is a safe color!*