- Joined
- May 16, 2016
Went and saw the movie earlier today.
It's an alright fanservice movie with references and the characterization was alright for the most part, even if Peach's was a bit too awkward with the 'acing the obstacle course' segment, and DK and Bowser were in terms of comedic personalities the highlight for me. (A bit weird in hindsight to see DK and the other Kongs talk normally when outside of the DKC cartoon they mostly just groan their lines) I also enjoyed the first bit of the movie where the bros. actually act like a supportive duo even with things going against them.
If you're not all that familiar with the Mario IP or are looking for something a bit more unique this movie might leave you hanging.
It's an alright fanservice movie with references and the characterization was alright for the most part, even if Peach's was a bit too awkward with the 'acing the obstacle course' segment, and DK and Bowser were in terms of comedic personalities the highlight for me. (A bit weird in hindsight to see DK and the other Kongs talk normally when outside of the DKC cartoon they mostly just groan their lines) I also enjoyed the first bit of the movie where the bros. actually act like a supportive duo even with things going against them.
If you're not all that familiar with the Mario IP or are looking for something a bit more unique this movie might leave you hanging.
Where I think the movie kind of suffers from is hardly having any real moments for worldbuilding stuff or to let things sink in. I'm sure the producers went in with the mindset that given how infamous the IP is that even non-gamers are familiar with the source material that they'd figure just tossing in fanservice and letting that play out will draw in a good crowd, but for the sake of the movie's own continuity it feels a bit lackluster.
For context example, there's no indication of how exactly Bowser and Peach are aware of each other or any previous clashes between their kingdoms, the movie just goes straight for the usual 'Bowser wants to force Peach into marriage' schtick from the games, and the pacing is so rapid that it feels so pressured to go from one setpiece scene to the next, like the kart shit in the Kong kingdom and on Rainbow Road really felt like the biggest examples of that.
And the few actual unique interactions/slow parts exclusive to this movie are the bits I appreciate the most, like the family dinner at the bros.' home, Luigi having an internal flashback to when they were kindergarteners and Mario always backing him up, Peach revealing she didn't hail from the Mushroom Kingdom either, the Bowser/Kamek piano scene and DK/Mario having a brief bonding bit inside the Mario 64 eel's stomach are parts I enjoyed the most over the usual rapid-fire action stuff but just felt a bit disappointed it didn't capitalize as much as I think it should have.
Luigi felt really absent for a lot of the movie to me and his role as sidekick/aid being sidelined by Peach and DK for the majority of screentime until the final fight against Bowser and didn't really get much of a chance to prove his own worth, and the Peach origins definitely reek of sequel follow-up bait.
Another thing I felt was kind of off or that something was cut near the end was that after beating Bowser and saving Brooklyn and by extension the Mushroom Kingdom etc. it cuts to the surprise reveal that the bros. decide to work and live in the Mushroom Kingdom without any real closure or reason as to why, especially given that they were being praised as heroes back in their hometown for it. Yeah, that seems kind of rushed in my opinion.
Overall it's a decent enough movie for fans of the franchise but I can definitely understand the criticism outside of the fanservice angle bubble but given it's a vidya game movie, I'll take with what I get. (Oh and fuck the nihilistic Luma bits, that part outside of the trailer wasn't all that funny)
Besides the Yoshi egg teaser post-credits, I'm also hoping Wario will be in the sequel, hopefully they'll go with that one comic adaptation where he's Mario's cousin and resents him leading to him antagonizing him before eventually becoming an anti-hero ally. The Mario Land trilogy stuff in general is easy picking fuel for sequel adaptation.
For context example, there's no indication of how exactly Bowser and Peach are aware of each other or any previous clashes between their kingdoms, the movie just goes straight for the usual 'Bowser wants to force Peach into marriage' schtick from the games, and the pacing is so rapid that it feels so pressured to go from one setpiece scene to the next, like the kart shit in the Kong kingdom and on Rainbow Road really felt like the biggest examples of that.
And the few actual unique interactions/slow parts exclusive to this movie are the bits I appreciate the most, like the family dinner at the bros.' home, Luigi having an internal flashback to when they were kindergarteners and Mario always backing him up, Peach revealing she didn't hail from the Mushroom Kingdom either, the Bowser/Kamek piano scene and DK/Mario having a brief bonding bit inside the Mario 64 eel's stomach are parts I enjoyed the most over the usual rapid-fire action stuff but just felt a bit disappointed it didn't capitalize as much as I think it should have.
Luigi felt really absent for a lot of the movie to me and his role as sidekick/aid being sidelined by Peach and DK for the majority of screentime until the final fight against Bowser and didn't really get much of a chance to prove his own worth, and the Peach origins definitely reek of sequel follow-up bait.
Another thing I felt was kind of off or that something was cut near the end was that after beating Bowser and saving Brooklyn and by extension the Mushroom Kingdom etc. it cuts to the surprise reveal that the bros. decide to work and live in the Mushroom Kingdom without any real closure or reason as to why, especially given that they were being praised as heroes back in their hometown for it. Yeah, that seems kind of rushed in my opinion.
Overall it's a decent enough movie for fans of the franchise but I can definitely understand the criticism outside of the fanservice angle bubble but given it's a vidya game movie, I'll take with what I get. (Oh and fuck the nihilistic Luma bits, that part outside of the trailer wasn't all that funny)
Besides the Yoshi egg teaser post-credits, I'm also hoping Wario will be in the sequel, hopefully they'll go with that one comic adaptation where he's Mario's cousin and resents him leading to him antagonizing him before eventually becoming an anti-hero ally. The Mario Land trilogy stuff in general is easy picking fuel for sequel adaptation.
