Calling all questionable mushroom-based life-forms. This week on Shoot the Hostage, Dan and Sarah are hitting the reset button on reality and plummeting into the bonkers world of the Super Mario Bros. (1993). As we reach the final level of our "Flops" season, we're asking the essential questions about this infamous film adapted from a computer game: Was it doomed from the start? How did this become one of the most notorious flops of all time?... And why is Fisher Stevens in white-face?
Join us as we...
Calling all questionable mushroom-based life-forms. This week on Shoot the Hostage, Dan and Sarah are hitting the reset button on reality and plummeting into the bonkers world of the Super Mario Bros. (1993). As we reach the final level of our "Flops" season, we're asking the essential questions about this infamous film adapted from a computer game: Was it doomed from the start? How did this become one of the most notorious flops of all time?... And why is Fisher Stevens in white-face?
Join us as we traverse Dinohattan's fungal landscapes and try to make sense of the troubled pipe-line of production that saw directors Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton (yes, the creators of Max Headroom) reportedly clashing with the studio. We dive headfirst into the legends surrounding the set: Bob Hoskins's well-documented hatred for the film and Dennis Hopper's baffling T-Rex inspired mannerisms and alleged Trump-like ego.
Despite being a massive box office failure, we debate if there's merit in its sheer ambition and bizarre ideas, like de-evolution or people turning into fungus. Is it a total s*** sandwich, or does it hold up as a weirdly compelling slice of bizarre 90s cinema? If you're nostalgic for the days when video-game movies were finding their feet (or just tripping over them), or just curious about movies that make you feel nostalgic for poor life choices, this episode is your Power Up!
Expect discussion on:
- Comparing this flop to other season entries like Tank Girl and Battlefield Earth.
- The bizarre notion of dimensional rifts caused by sound waves.
- The lasting impact this film had on Nintendo's handling of their IP.
- Why the song "Walk the Dinosaur" makes absolutely no sense.
- Luigi's surprisingly sweet rainbow belt.
That's it for season 10! Stay tuned until the end to find out the plan for season 11, which begins June 23rd.
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