06/04/2003 Entry: "The Wizard Movie Review."

Chestnuts roasted by satas @ 06/04/2003 08:01 PM EST

Hey Matt, what kind of equipment do you use to make those video clips & pictures? I did a write-up of the Wizard last year & wanted to include some like you did here, but I had no idea what I would need to capture it from my VCR.

Chestnuts roasted by Mike @ 06/04/2003 08:09 PM EST

My way is awful and not recommended by anyone, and the progs I use are completely outdated. I'm just a creature of habit so I haven't looked into better methods.

Though I do know some good progs for DVD screen capture if that's a help.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 06/04/2003 08:14 PM EST

I remember thinking Lucas was cool when I saw this. I used to be quite an idiot.

Chestnuts roasted by Shriek @ 06/04/2003 08:16 PM EST

Actually that'd be great since my computer's probably almost as outdated as your methods.

Chestnuts roasted by Mike @ 06/04/2003 08:18 PM EST

There's this thingy called Snappy that allows you to hook up a camera (or your VCR) and take screencaps. I'd use it, too, but I have nothing to use it for :P

Chestnuts roasted by Onslaught Six @ 06/04/2003 08:22 PM EST

Lucas' mullet is SO BAD.

I'm so sad that I remember LOVING this movie. LOVING. Like, totally enjoyed it. Those were the days...

Chestnuts roasted by Cyn @ 06/04/2003 09:02 PM EST

Good god, I said, "I love the Power Glove. It's so bad" in an approximate Lucas for *years*. I'd finally driven it out of my head, and now it's back! Damn you!

Chestnuts roasted by sempai @ 06/04/2003 09:15 PM EST

I remember when this movie came out. On premier night, they handed out a special edition of nintendo power (as if the movie wasn't enough advertising for nintendo). I wonder if any of these special nintendo power magazines are still out there.

Chestnuts roasted by stats @ 06/04/2003 09:37 PM EST

"UGOT 50000 POINTS IN DWUBBLE DWAGON?!!"

Thank you, thank you, thank you... That line served as one of the most vile and inhuman epithets that could ever be thrown at a "gamer." That, or finding out you actually had and ENJOYED the Atari Lynx. Hey, does any good and self respecting Double Dragon fan know why that particular phrase is an impossiblity???

Chestnuts roasted by BotchieGulpe @ 06/04/2003 09:48 PM EST

Um... I've gotten 50,000 points in Double Dragon many times before. It just took me a hell of a lot longer than 60 seconds.

Chestnuts roasted by Mike @ 06/04/2003 10:05 PM EST

I refer to this movie as "Rain Man Jr." since it seemed to be influenced by it. A few years back I wrote around forty pages of a sequel called "Wizard on Ice". The story involved an illegal upgrade to the forgotten Nintendo 3-D Virtuaboy system, musical numbers, and a cult devoted to Jimmy founded by a changed Lucas.
Putnam also played an important part in inacting his revenge with the help of Jimmy's doppelganger.

Chestnuts roasted by Michael @ 06/04/2003 10:05 PM EST

Sorry if I come across sounding like a pervert here, but I recently saw Jenny Lewis in a movie, and I wouldn't mind touching her breast (she's 26 now! There's nothing wrong with it!)

Chestnuts roasted by Jeremy Henderson @ 06/04/2003 11:32 PM EST

"Yeah, well, you just keep your Power Gloves off her, pal." - Corey's response to Lucas.

I still use that line.

And how pathetic is it when Corey gets more action than you, and you're 21? Damn, I want to be Corey when I grow up.

Chestnuts roasted by Tony @ 06/05/2003 01:10 AM EST

I love that movie so much. I watched it all the time when I was younger, and I believe it shaped my childhood! I love that you reviewed it. Maybe you should do little monsters too.

Chestnuts roasted by Katie @ 06/05/2003 01:22 AM EST

Thanks Matt, After all this time you had to remind me of The Wizard, which means I'll be screaming out that random individuals touched by breasts for who knows how long :)

Chestnuts roasted by Rob @ 06/05/2003 01:23 AM EST

Don't know if anyone knows this, but Jenny Lewis grew up to be the lead singer of a band called Rilo Kiley. www.rilokiley.com They're actually pretty awesome.

Chestnuts roasted by i was a lion @ 06/05/2003 01:40 AM EST

First, let me say this.

GET THE POWER!
Nintendo Power!
Get the clues that you can use
NINTENDO POWER!
Higher and higher
Fighting your way through the wind and the fire.

Announcer that sounds kinda like a hyperactive Spongebob Squarepants: NOW! Get Nintendo Power TWELVE TIMES A YEAR! Six great issues plus six FREE strategy guides on a hot new game, that's twice the power for still 15 BUCKS, WOW! Call now.

GET THE POWER
Nintendo Power

Perhaps time has faded my memory of this inane movie, but as far as I can remember, the presence of the magazine Nintendo Power itself was suspiciously missing from The Wizard. Yes, we had a Nintendo Game Counselor (I remember when that was the coolest job ever. Who here wanted to be a Game Counselor when they got older, show of hands?), but I can't remember anyone reading an issue of Nintendo Power or there being an issue of Nintendo Power for product placement purposes (you'd think Lucas would have had a whole stack of back issues at his disposal). But I can't remember there being a single Nintendo Power logo in the movie. Can somebody provide for me a screengrab if I'm wrong?

Chestnuts roasted by Kev @ 06/05/2003 05:33 AM EST

Does anybody remember the actual Nintendo tournaments? I remember around that time they came to Dallas, at a convention center, we were kids so it was great. They had a bunch of the games set up that hadn't been released yet, so you could play games months before they came out, then you could compete in the little tournament, which was pretty much like the movie. You started on Super Mario, the kids who scored the most points in a 5 minute time moved to the next bracket, and so on.

I also had a chance to be a Playstation advisor a couple of years back, their call center is based here in Dallas (Irving), but I didn't have a valid driver's license at the time and that was a requirement (oops!), plus I wasn't thrilled on making the commute (about 45+ minutes each way but the traffic is normally horrible). They were paying pretty well too considering it was an entry level job.

Chestnuts roasted by photocdclub.com @ 06/05/2003 07:10 AM EST

Hey Kev, Haily *did* have Nintendo Power, but they don't show a good shot of the cover. And she just says 'I got these Power magazines to help Jimmy'.

And yeah photocdclub, I was at the Nintendo World Championships 1990 when it came around Philly. There was a looooong line for SMB 3. It was a lot of fun. I still wear my hat I got while I was there. Because people need to know just from looking at me that I'm a dork.

Chestnuts roasted by Toad64 @ 06/05/2003 09:05 AM EST

Also, Lucas was reading Nintendo Power (or something very close to it) at the diner where Christian Slater interrogated the kid who stole Fred Savage's filthy, disgusting, ugly, putrid baseball cap.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 06/05/2003 09:10 AM EST

great clips... i watched the one at the tournament, and when they unveiled Super Mario Bros. 3, my adrenaline raced and my heart pumped. i remember as a kid how flipping exciting all this Nintendo stuff was (it still is, but not in the pants-wetting way it was when i was 7).

and being a girl, i can appreciate the power of the statement "HE TOUCHED MY BREAST!" i will be using that technique from now on.

Chestnuts roasted by zann @ 06/05/2003 09:43 AM EST

OH MY GOD was that video clip funny.....I love the power glove, it's so bad.....What in the holy hell were they thinking back then? Although, I definitely remember being enamored by the prospect of seeing Super Mario Bros. 3 in action on a humongous screen. That is definitely still one of my all-time favorite games. That, and Metroid. And Mike Tyson's Punch-Out. Damn Nintendo. They have taken my childhood, and made it into one of the worst freaking movies that I have ever seen. Of course, at the time, I was too young to care how bad it actually was. It was, after all, all about seeing Super Mario Bros. 3 in action, as well as seeing Fred Savage in his pre-pubescent splendor without that goofy ass voice over that always followed him around on The Wonder Years. Anywho, thanks for the wonderful editorial, matt, and I of course look forward to reading the next review that you will do of whatever other crappy movies that are out there, because believe me, they ARE out there.....

Chestnuts roasted by GraphArtist @ 06/05/2003 09:45 AM EST

I also remember getting a free mini-sized issue of Nintendo Power when I went to see this. Of course, it was mini-sized, and paled in comparison to the real thing.

Chestnuts roasted by Tony @ 06/05/2003 10:02 AM EST

Anyone notice the inclusion of Jim J. Bullock from Hollywood Squares in the Power Glove clip?

God I hate Jim J. Bullock

Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Goots @ 06/05/2003 11:48 AM EST

I wish Lucas had been peddling the Powerpad instead of the powerglove....we'd see him Jazzercize jumping up and down tap dancing on the floorpad controller. "I love my power pad." (tappity tapity, stomp) "Its so bad."

on another note:
"Trust the Fungus"

I need to see the other Nintendo Vehicle reviewed: The Super Mario Brothers movie. Jesus I just thought of it...Scary plumbers in Goomba land or some crap...
Sci-Fi Mario tales. God.

And Like the Wizard, I saw it in theatres too.
Mario Brothers 3 has a weird place in my heart in that I never owned it, just played it at friend's houses. So I never really saw more than the first few levels. it was like a mystical grail...HammerBro costumes, a racoon, (magic invisible Statue!)...When my friends weren't looking i'd steal away into their saved files just to see. It was sort of done in the manner similar to swiping my parent's pornography.

I blame the Wizard.

Chestnuts roasted by OhGodtheRats @ 06/05/2003 11:50 AM EST

Did anyone else notice that the Power Glove plays the Close Encounters tune?

Nintendo had a ton of useless peripherals, starting with ROB, which they never really intended to do anything with anyway. The U-Force was supposed to detect the movements of your hands, and I seem to remember hearing about a voice-activated headset thing that never actually materialized. I think they had learned by the time the SNES came out, though it did have a light gun that wasn't too successful.

Chestnuts roasted by Action Jacktion @ 06/05/2003 12:20 PM EST

The best part was that they were giving away little mini-nintendo power pamphlets, including a tip that helped me beat Dragon Warrior. It wa s either the use and location of the flute or Edrik's Amulet.

Chestnuts roasted by Vinz Klortho @ 06/05/2003 12:27 PM EST

What's up with the scores at the end? Were they just trying to create EVEN MORE tension?

On closer inspection, you'll notice Lucas is in first place with 68,720 points. Jimmy isn't too far behind with 66,820 points, and Mora (nameless pigtailed girl) is trailing way behind with 56,980.

Why then are their graphic representaions so scewed? Lucas appears WAY ahead of Jimmy, and Mora is also beating him. Maybe they thought anyone who would actually go see the movie would have rotted enough brain cells not to notice, and admittedly, it's taken me 14 years to notice. Maybe they thought if they put Jimmy in dead last, it would make more sense that his Nintendo experience had somehow "eased his pain."

Or maybe this is just a crappy movie.

I have to echo everyone's sentiment. I remember SMB3 from this movie and that's about it. Except for Haley screaming "He touched my breast!"

Chestnuts roasted by Rono @ 06/05/2003 01:05 PM EST

Mr. Fred Savage has brown eyes.

Chestnuts roasted by wack0 @ 06/05/2003 01:42 PM EST

Not when he's sad.

Chestnuts roasted by Sad Savage @ 06/05/2003 01:44 PM EST

I knew it was just a matter of time before you got to this movie, Matt, and if anybody diserves to review it, it's you.

I remember this movie very well. Back when I wasn't even aware that women had breasts.

Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Mr. Mr. @ 06/05/2003 02:06 PM EST

This movie came out in one of the greatest points of my childhood. Nintendo was the pimp, and I its lowly whore. The NES controlled every element of my being. Unfortunately for this movie, its time in the theatres was so short that I didn't see it in its silver screen glory. A friend of mine did see it and gave me his copy of the Nintendo Pocket Power. Then when the video came out, I rushed to Blockbuster and rented it...three times. Finally I bought a used copy from them which I still watch to this very day. And I'm 25.

One thing that should be said about this flick is the superb soundtrack. Some of the great pop stars from back in the day are featured on this film. NKOTB, Bobby Brown, New Life and Bo Deans are all featured on the film. And I'll be damned if I can find a copy of Sally Dworsky's "I found my way" from the flick.

Did anyone else notice how much Vision Wear was in this movie? Lucas and his bitches were all sporting Vision clothes. Corey's skateboard is from Vision, and I'm sure he's got a shirt or two from them too. Nintendo and Vision, a winning combination.

Excellent review Matt. I love X-Entertainment. It's so bad.

Chestnuts roasted by Hypnotix @ 06/05/2003 03:14 PM EST

Great movie!

If I could suggest another fine piece of motion picutre for review, I would reccomend Ready 2 Rumble, the WCW movie from a few years ago.

Chestnuts roasted by Timmy @ 06/05/2003 03:20 PM EST

Wow, I just bought this movie about a week ago from a store that was clearing out its VHS stock to make room for DVDs, and I was shocked and surprised that there wasn't a write up for it on XE.

The whole time that I was watching the movie, I would wonder to myself, "What would XE say here", well now I know. You'll get more of a kick out of this review if you've seen the movie recently, so I'd recommend everyone go out there and find a copy.

Also, I think more should have been made about Christian Slater being in this movie, I just got done watching Broken Arrow and I can't believe that he did a movie like this.

And they should get some credit for pronouncing Ninja Gaiden correctly, good for them.

Chestnuts roasted by de la @ 06/05/2003 03:27 PM EST

I see someone above mentioned Rilo Kiley. Hell's yeah, they're an awesome indie rock band from LA. Jenny Lewis (Haley) is the lead, and the actor who played Pinski on Salute Your Shorts is also a part of it. Check 'em out!

Chestnuts roasted by Death By Stereo @ 06/05/2003 04:05 PM EST

matt, your right about being several years older and not watching this movie, I was 12 and in six grade when this movie came out and recall my buddies and I agreeing how lame this movie looked. besides this was the christmas of the genesis system. nintendo was old news by this point, at least as far as we were concerned.

Chestnuts roasted by naturekid @ 06/05/2003 04:20 PM EST

I miss the old Power Glove. I wanted one so bad, but never got one. It was great for playing Faceball. God, I'm such a nerd. I'm looking for an old Power Glove now, and I'll wear it everywhere. I'll never take it off. Hey, Matt, are you ever going to tell us about your arena tour of Delaware?

Chestnuts roasted by Bansheex @ 06/05/2003 04:37 PM EST

Wizard is better than that Super Mario Brothers movie! Lou albano acting is better than that mario bros movie.

I just saw a lunchables commercial, I think I'm gonna puke.

Chestnuts roasted by iyllflf @ 06/05/2003 04:50 PM EST

I have a power glove that I want to get rid of, but I don't want to put it into the land fill.

Chestnuts roasted by ghccghk @ 06/05/2003 05:01 PM EST

You know, this movie is alot like so many others in the respect that every single actor has a movie that they regret being a part of, regardless of how much of a good idea it may have appeared to be in the beginning. I'll bet if you were to ask Christian Slater about why he was in this movie, he would most likely run to his trailer and hide himself from the shear shock that he was indeed in a humongous Nintendo infomercial. And what about Beau Bridges? What in the hell is HE doing in this movie? That's most likely what he is wondering right at this very moment. God help them out of this memory of having been in one of the biggest marketing schemes that ANY company has or ever will put up on a movie screen. I have to agree, I could not imagine Sony or Microsoft making a movie about their video game systems, and then trying to sell people on the idea that it's actually a really good movie. I also love XE...It's so bad....:op

Chestnuts roasted by GraphArtist @ 06/05/2003 05:22 PM EST

Jeez, I meant enacting not inacting. Advantage Agassi and Bo Knows...

Chestnuts roasted by Michael @ 06/05/2003 05:44 PM EST

RE: Rilo Kiley

I've never really listened to Rilo Kiley, but their label, Saddle Creek, has some of the most best bands in the business (Bright Eyes, Cursive, etc.)on their roster right now. So, I'm sure RK probably kicks ass too.

Chestnuts roasted by NutfuZ @ 06/05/2003 05:51 PM EST

Re: Rilo Kiley

Ronny Pinsky from Salute Your Shorts is also in Rilo Kiley.

Chestnuts roasted by Riloy Kiley @ 06/05/2003 05:56 PM EST

Hmm, I don't remember the diner scene with Lucas and the Nintendo Power. Of course, you saw it more recently than I did, Matt so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. (I WOULD still like to see the screengrab of Lucas and the alleged Nintendo Power, just to be sure. NP seemed like such a natural plug in The Wizard that it seemed odd I didn't remember seeing it.)

So, umm.....

*points at Matt* HE TOUCHED MY BREAST!

Chestnuts roasted by Kev @ 06/05/2003 07:41 PM EST

Dude. I've seen Bright Eyes 7 times in the past 12 months. I've driven all up and down the East Coast for their shows. I am the biggest dork in the world. But they are unquestionably the best touring band in America, and Conor is a brilliant songwriter.

If you like Bright Eyes, definitely check out Rilo Kiley, because of the other Saddle Creek bands, I think they're the most alike musically, and in terms of the themes they deal with. I'm going to see Rilo Kiley next month, maybe I can get Jenny to sign my VHS of The Wizard. Or my bare chest. We shall see!

I'm glad we've turned the X-E forum into a place to blather about indie rock.

Chestnuts roasted by i was a lion @ 06/05/2003 07:45 PM EST

Off-topic, does anybody remember that commercial for Metal Gear, Defender of the Crown and Skate or Die? You know, with the "Creator of Ultra Games", that creepy guy that looked like Max Headroom if he were a pedophile?

Remember, I'm never fahthah than YOUR TV.....

Chestnuts roasted by Kev @ 06/05/2003 07:49 PM EST

My absolute favorite bit of product placement in this movie comes when they've arrived at the theme park where the game faceoff takes place.

In the original film, there's a short, blink-and-you'll-miss-it establishing shot of the crowds of people having fun at this theme park: the scene-stealer here is a little kid who cries "Andy Panda!!!" and launches himself into the giant costumed character's arms.

Andy Panda?! Some kid cares so deeply about this forgotten Walter Lantz character that he's willing to jump into a costumed monster's bearhug for his sake? Was Universal Studios that low on marketable characters, that they had to use Andy Panda?

I remember seeing that as a child, but haven't seen it on video or cable... presumably, the Andy Panda guy got cut out, being too far to the right or left of the letterbox, and the quote was edited out too. Feh. Anyone else pick up on this, or did I fabricate this memory?

Chestnuts roasted by G'Tron @ 06/05/2003 08:00 PM EST

I'm almost embarrased to say this, but I bought the Wizard laserdisc a few months ago, and I've watched it about 5 times since. This has to be one of the most ridiculous movies ever, but its like a car wreck... with a NES set up alongside of it.

Chestnuts roasted by Jdoggg @ 06/05/2003 08:07 PM EST

You don't actually see "Nintendo Power" magazines in the movie. The mags that Haley and Lucas look at are generic Gamepro-like publications. Also, Haley mentions "power magazines", but we all know she's talking about "Nintendo Power."

Apparently, the only time the word "Nintendo" is spoken in the whole movie, is when Haley calls the Nintendo Hotline.

Whoa, shameless promotion for Nintendo AND Universal Studios! Growing up, that Kongfrontation attraction gave me the creeps.

The 2 huge dinosaur sculptures at the end of the film, as Matt mentioned, were also used in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. They're located in Cabazon, California, if you ever want to visit them. The site ain't what it used to be, tho, as there is now a Burger King and a Denny's built right in front of them, along with many trees around the dinos...kinda takes away from the surreal atmosphere the site had back in the day.

Great article, Matt! The video clips were a real bonus :-)

Putnum: (panicked when being approached by the angry truckers) "Drivers license numbers! I want all of your drivers license numbers!!"

Chestnuts roasted by Death By Stereo @ 06/05/2003 09:56 PM EST

did anyone notice Toby McGuire in the movie?

Chestnuts roasted by Toby @ 06/05/2003 11:55 PM EST

Ha! I KNEW there was a severe absence of the Nintendo Power logo in the movie. Jeez, you'd think if you're gonna make an infomercial about Nintendo and half-heartedly disguise it as a movie, then ditch any semblance of there actually BEING a movie to just hock NES products halfway through that you'd go balls-out and just go "screw it, they're gonna call this a 100 minute commercial anyway so let's just show Nintendo stuff for the rest of the film".

A thinly-veiled reference to NP as a "Power magazine" isn't considered product placement. In fact, it was just crappy dialogue. WE knew what they were talking about, totally but the noob gamer would've just gone "WTF?" and missed it.

Prime opportunity to plug the magazine right down the tubes....

....And I guess I AM the only one that remembered that creepy Ultra commercial.

Chestnuts roasted by Kev @ 06/06/2003 02:26 AM EST

I hate to run.

Chestnuts roasted by Det. Nick McKenna @ 06/06/2003 03:17 AM EST

Rain Man for the Nintendo fan.

The real reason to see this film was to be the first in your school to find out about that white hill warp passage for the new Mario 3. But when one guy sees it, then tells it to all his class, they had no reason to go to the movie.

That and the fact that parents realized it was a giant commercial and that any kid seeing wanted to own about 80% of all the crap they saw.
(Now I know why we took the long way home after the film, that didn't pass a Toys 'R' Us, or Childrens Palace.)

No wonder why it only made 14 Mil.

Hey... How the hell did Jimmy even know about the secret flute warp thingee?!
He was good at games but that's frigging ESP! He is a demon... the antichrist... a gamer.

Note to Lucas
I had a Power Glove, it sucked, and you cost me what would have been three better Christmas presents that year... bastard!
Any wonder they slapped a normal controller on the back of the thing, since no one can get the sensors to work, you end up relying on the second control.
(Also you get yelled at when your parents find out you slapped a gooey velcro tab on thier TV.)

I could have had a Freddy Krueger talking doll... damn you Lucas.

Sega!

Chestnuts roasted by Aconite @ 06/06/2003 11:33 AM EST

^ Damn straight. I live in the UK and had to have a Power Glove modded to work with my UK NES, and after all of that it sucked ass hard.

It made Rad Racer twice as hard. I'll bet Lucas just bobbed his arm in time to someone playing the game with a controller when they filmed that scene.

Chestnuts roasted by PhotoBoy @ 06/06/2003 01:33 PM EST

I was incredibly young, but I remember seeing the commercial for the power glove on TV, and it seemed like the fucking coolest thing ever created. I begged my parents for one for about a month, and they absolutely refused to get it for me.

...Oh, now how I appreciate their fine parenting..

Chestnuts roasted by JRockBishi @ 06/06/2003 01:48 PM EST

Like I'm the only one whose been to a video game store in the past week:

I saw some big box with a powerglove-esque looking, well, glove in it. Said it was compatible with the "Hitman" game or something. I'm not a huge gamer (keep saying it) so I'm not sure what the deal is. Anyone know if the gloves been revamped by someone else and even better....does it work?

Chestnuts roasted by OhGodtheRats @ 06/06/2003 03:09 PM EST

I'm an old school Sega fan from the Master System days but I'm man enough to admit that the Wizard was a much better video game system product placement film, relatively speaking, than was Surf Ninjas, with the magic, future-predicting Sega Game Gear and Borg Leslie Nielsen.

Chestnuts roasted by Steve Brandon @ 06/06/2003 05:05 PM EST

I remember noticing Tobey Maguire the last time I watched the movie, Toby. He is outside the tournament with Lucas if I remember properly.

Steve, I was also a Master Sytem fan/owner. It would be great to see X-E's take on the game cards for the system.

It is tough explaining to my nephew that back then Game Gear, Lynx, and the portable Turbo Grafix 16 had better screens than the latest Game Boy Advance. I was shocked that the latest GBA has a built in light to illuminate the shit screen.

Chestnuts roasted by Richard @ 06/06/2003 06:18 PM EST

I saw a movie on the lifetime channel the other day that had the redhead girl from The Wizard. She played a prostitute addicted to heroin (or some other drug). Yasmine Bleeth was in it too as a talk show host. Pretty crappy movie.

Hey, I had Turbo Grafx 16. Does anyone remember the Turbo Duo?

Chestnuts roasted by stats @ 06/06/2003 09:15 PM EST

Did I really just read Borg Leslie Nielson?

Chestnuts roasted by WHAT?-ohgodtherats @ 06/07/2003 08:12 AM EST

Man, I remember the Turbo Grafx 16! That was quite an amazing system for its time, considering it was the first video game system to play cd games, whereupon Sega followed suit with their own cd system, as did Neo Geo. I remember thinking Keith Courage In Alpha Zones was the coolest game ever. Oh, matt, you gotta do a review of old-school arcade games, like Street Fighter 2, cause that game ALONE has spawned countless versions, as well as the fact that so many other game companies have used Capcom's control scheme in their own fighting games. Now THAT game is a classic! Even if you're not a serious gamer, as is the case with me, you HAVE to know what Street Fighter 2 is! It's the quintessential game, cause that's the game that started it all! Shoryuken!! :op

Chestnuts roasted by GraphArtist @ 06/07/2003 09:08 AM EST

I'm gonna say that from now on.. "I LOVE the power glove, it's so BAD." XP

Does anyone remember that Sega Handheld that let you play Sega Genesis games? I remember it came out when this game that involved a comic artist getting sucked into his comic by some villian and has to kick ass through the panels? What was that game called?

Chestnuts roasted by Karma @ 06/07/2003 12:12 PM EST

http://www.chud.com/news/june03/june06brad.php3
TENACIOUS WIZAR-D
6.06.03
By Andrew Sweeney
Contributing sources: THR

Not since Fred Savage and his retarded pal went cross country has there been a more exciting prospect than this one...

Jack Black has signed on to produce and perhaps star in a movie about the world's greatest video gamer (aside from the Murphys, of course). Rad Brad, Modern Warrior is a pitch by Phillip Stark, who gained notoriety with his incisive look at teenage life with Dude, Where's My Car and its upcoming sequel. The sequel promises to be a frank discussion on the complexities of adolescence. Or a bunch of dick and butt jokes, they haven't decided yet.

Rad Brad focuses on Brad, the world's most famous and accomplished video gamer who, amidst his numerous gaming exploits, is recruited to battle a faction group of the military. This group has constructed a robot with superhuman (super-robot?) powers that enjoys a little of the smashy-smashy. Sort of a 21st century Tron, without all the smarts. There's a million different directions that this thing could go in right now, but getting Jack Black in the lead would be a hell of a first step.

Chestnuts roasted by Richard @ 06/07/2003 12:33 PM EST

I also begged for a Power Glove after seeing it in this movie, and it sucked even though I got whatever that game was that was designed for it. For a time, there was some demand for Power Gloves on the used market because VR geeks liked to tinker with them. I don't know if that is still the case though -- that was many years ago.

I think I'd have trouble sitting through that tournament scene in a theater now, with the big speakers blaring. I do like how the announcer says 'Super Mario Brothers Three!' though.

Chestnuts roasted by Kit @ 06/08/2003 03:12 AM EST

the sega genesis handheld was the 'nomad', if i remember right it was pretty big and sucked down batteries like a hooker with an oral fetish, so it wasn't too popular. (some say the reason the game boy has been so popular is simply it's efficiency with battery usage).

but i agree, street fighter 2 has to be the classic of all time. it's really the only thing of past glory that i could still play today and have fun with (sorry, but pac man is boring as hell now).

Chestnuts roasted by photocdclub.com @ 06/08/2003 04:30 AM EST

The game with the comic artist getting sucked into the comic book was called Comix Zone, if I remember correctly.

Chestnuts roasted by DeadCousinTed @ 06/08/2003 04:23 PM EST

Matt, you are my personal messiah. Heheh... I didn't think anyone else had ever seen this movie. The Wizard rocks, man! I'm still waiting for your NES Quickie on Rainbow Islands you promised me!!

Chestnuts roasted by DJ Peety @ 06/08/2003 08:02 PM EST

I have an old ati all in wonder pro
Before the radeon. I used my computer as a TV when I had it. It was a great tool I could record TV shows on my computer and I could also take screen shots it was a nifty device to own.

Right now my brother has it but I now want to get the latest ATI all in wonder pro if its preformance for playing games is close enough to the non all in wonder pro.

Man it was neat had my 19 inch monitor instead of my 14 inch TV had my nintendo and other crap wired to it ahh it was great.

If you don't care for games or graphics I am sure you can find a non radeon one real cheap on ebay.

I wouldn't recommend using your TV as a monitor though. and if you do make sure you can alter the size of your text unless you don't like reading.

Chestnuts roasted by Geek @ 06/08/2003 10:23 PM EST

Something funny I remember was when Beau Bridges and Christian Slater were leaving a truck stop or something, they left in a hury and Bridges ripped the NES system away from the TV it was hooked up to and ran off- leaving the ac adapter still screwed in - NOOOOOO!! Also, the night in the hotel where Beau played TMNT ALL NIGHT LONG and he only made it up to.. - The DAM (level 2). This proves Beau Bridges really sucks at video games. How could he bring up the Mech-Turtle when that was in far later levels? At the tourney, how would the kid know where the warp whistle in the first fortress? That always got to me.. And when he uses the whistle his point total almost doubles.. you don't get points for using the whistle! Also when the "master gamers" are playing SMB3, someone dies from running STAIGHT into a Koopa troopa! I know it's the first time you're palying the game, but nobody's that stupid, especially being you guys are the "best" gamers in north america! More importantly, why am I bringing any of this up?

Chestnuts roasted by maniacmatt @ 06/09/2003 12:34 AM EST

I remember Comix Zone. Wasn't that the plot for the first half hour or so of Cool World?

Chestnuts roasted by Kev @ 06/09/2003 04:48 AM EST

Okay I MUST say this. In the movie, outside at the competition there IS be a scene with the guy who "loves the glove". Behind him you will see a kid with a mullet. This kid, If you look really close IS a Tobey Maguire. See, this movie was made so long ago Spider-man is playing second fiddle to a glove-loving freak. What a movie!

Chestnuts roasted by FauXanadu @ 06/09/2003 06:17 AM EST

P.S. Soory for teh crpapy Speling an; gr4mmar off teh preeviois post. I thning I am a retrad. moo

Chestnuts roasted by Fauxanadu @ 06/09/2003 06:20 AM EST

For a great article about useless Nintendo peripherals, including the PowerGlove, PowerPad, R.O.B., PowerGrips and U-Force:
http://www.seanbaby.com/nes/periph.htm

"R.O.B. is a high precision toy. He does not like places that are very hot or cold. Never hit him or drop him. Don't take him apart!"
- R.O.B. Instruction Manual

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 06/09/2003 07:30 PM EST

Porn for kids. Minimum plot with maximum video games. Who couldn't love it though? My sis and I rented this and watched it at least 7 times in three days. I was 6, so I'm exempt from being made fun of for that... or am I? My sister, however, was 14... My god. I could not stop drooling over SMB3. OH MY GOD, MARIO CAN FLY. Eat that, SMB2 Luigi. Jumping 60 feet in the air while flailing your legs just won't do anymore. I begged for weeks for my mom to make me a raccoon tail. I believe I have destroyed all photographic evidence of its existence. Let's all hope and pray that nobody decides to revive the commercial and movie in one concept. I can just see it... Chuck Norris in... TotalGym Mania! Keep up the good work, Matt, and sorry to hear about the fluff. =(

Chestnuts roasted by phillip @ 06/10/2003 05:34 AM EST

Great article, brought back the memories of when this movie was so cool. In my mind, though, it was just for having SMB 3..that was the only reason I paid it any attention even back then. Not about the power glove, or all the other Nintendo placements..just SMB 3.

About the only thing I remember clearly, though, is Fred Savage turning to the audience and saying for every kid's benefit, "If you get the whistle, you can skip levels!" Now, how did he know that? All those calls to Nintendo finally broke their will and made them give up secrets to an unreleased game?

"Fine, we'll give you all the secrets to SMB 3, just take that damn `California` kid off the line!"

Ah, nostalgia.

Chestnuts roasted by J.T. Wilson @ 06/12/2003 07:34 PM EST

J'adore le gant pouvoir. Il est si mauvais!

Chestnuts roasted by Fauxanadu @ 06/13/2003 11:12 AM EST

Just one thing. Why the Fugg was this movie called "the Wizard?". It's TOTALLY misleading!

Chestnuts roasted by Fauxanadu @ 06/13/2003 11:16 AM EST

Cause Jimmy "Califooooornia" Woods is a "Wizard." Haley even says so in the movie; "He's a Wizard." omg!

and maybe because it sounds very similar to The Wizard of Oz. Maybe they wanna be somewhat connected to one of the most popular movies of all time....???

Chestnuts roasted by Death By Stereo @ 06/13/2003 11:07 PM EST

All the talk about this has most likely died down but i must mention that i am the proud owner of "The Wizard" LASERDISC! yes i own the laserdisc of this classic :) ....... well i'm happy about it
Neil
Out

Chestnuts roasted by Neil Merschbrock @ 06/16/2003 06:37 PM EST

Wow... I can't believe I found an up-to-date fan site of the childhood classic, THE WIZARD!

Okay, okay, I admit the movie was a shameless plug for Nintendo and all, but come on... it was a a great movie! Ya had to love Fred Savage, despite the senseless script. I love this movie, and to this day I still watch it... it brings back so many great memories and emotions. Hell... the whole reason I even came to this page was to try to find more information about the movie's closing song "Sally Dworsky - I Found My Way". ***Hypnotix - Any luck yet?!?!

Anyways, I remember considering to become a professional gamer after watching this movie for the first time. Boy did my parents like that one!

Oh yeah, just thought I'd mention just one more stupid scene (since no one has mentioned it yet). The game Lucas was playing was Rad Racer. This game was timed and gave bonus time for passing certain checkpoints on the track. Each track, if I rememeber correctly was about 10 minutes long with about 5 checkpoints. This would mean that in that 40 second scene of Lucas was "racing" with the Power Glove, he didn't come even close to finishing the race or even passing a checkpoint for that matter! So when the music stopped and he turned and made his daunting Power Glove comment, the race would have still been going... no wonder they never show him crossing the finish line.

Anyways, if any of you guys can locate an mp3 of "Sally Dworsky - I Found My Way", email me at skaterbug5@netzero.net.

Chestnuts roasted by skaterbug5 @ 06/17/2003 01:45 AM EST

No magic or spells or any of that shit in it whatsoever.

Speaking of TMNT I hate underwater levels. BASTARDS!

Chestnuts roasted by FauXanadu @ 06/18/2003 06:38 AM EST

skaterbugg5, I've been looking for the longest damn time on Kazaa and no one has it. Of course, since Gateway upgraded this comp to Windows XP, I can't get half of this shit working anyway.

Here's a website that has a handful of songs from the movie that are great for nostalgia. But don't expect to find the greatest Sally Dworsky song ever. Still, it should tide you over.

http://www.angelfire.com/film/thewizard1989/files/information.html

Chestnuts roasted by Hypnotix @ 06/24/2003 07:35 PM EST

After Nickelodeon decided to air this movie in 1999, I had to buy it on VHS. Watching it, I noticed something about the Rad Racer scene. The distance meter changes drastically. Look at it.

It goes from >>>
To >>>>
To >>>>>
And then back to >>>.

It took a while to finish one race in that piece of crap game, so Lucas is a fake--has been for 14 years. I'll bet when he picked up SMB3 he played the Desert World and all of a sudden played in an Ice World stage.

Chestnuts roasted by Insanity @ 08/03/2003 12:47 AM EST

I remember seeing this one on cable as a kid and enjoying it. I haven't seen it in at least fifteen years, so I don't know how I'd react to it now. My kid brother, who's familiar with some of the older Nintendo games (thanks to his big sisters), would probably still like it.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 08/16/2003 09:41 PM EST

i am an 80's dork

i have seen the movie about 75 times. I have the same skateboard that corey rides in the beginning of the movie (vision). i would also like to say that I am the proud owner of the same apparel that was sponsored in the movie...vision street wear...and the psycho vision shirt that luke edwards wears is pretty sick...and lucas has some money shirts as well...especially the one he wore to video armageddon.

FACTS QUOTES AND QUESTIONS...

make yourself useful and get me a cold drink...(lucas barton - jackey vinson)

did anybody notice the girl who appears 5x in the video armageddon scenes...the one with the braces and the curly hair...she is playing next to Jimmy wearing the tangerine video armageddon shirt.

jimmy's number 427

lucas barton had his own carring case for his Power Glove....did it have his name on it?

what show was on t.v. before they threw on Rad Racer.

first you play...then you gotta pay...(corey to bully#1)

what flavor slurpee did mr. putnam use to tend to his black eye. and who gave him the eye.

What was the number for lucas at video armageddon.

Who was the third comptetitor at Video Armageddon finals. What was HER nickname? And what does she fail to do in the game that the OTHER TWO OBVIOUSLY ACCOMPLISH!!! (Spade Card)

Where does christain slater suggest Corey and him go to discuss their family problems???

Lucas wears a Vision Street Wear trenchcoat that is just sick...i went out and purchased my own...it is sweet...matches my shoes...they have the same "crackle" design.

like any other tv shows...how about salute your shorts??? or my brother and me??? give me an email...ill talk to you about them...they are a big part of my life...b/c they just were so damn cheesy that i had to watch...
jarrodjob@yahoo.com

you cant do that on television...i love that show...

www.ycdtotv.com check it out

Chestnuts roasted by jarrod nikon job @ 10/17/2003 01:55 AM EST

The redheaded girl is the beautiful and talented Jenny Lewis. I can remember when the movie where she played a teenage heroin addict prostitute that had Yasimene Bleeth in it (Talk To Me) and another I saw on lifetime both came out as made for TV movies in 1996, after I graduated High School (Same Year as her, I believe). I lusted after her in both roles then as I do now. In the other role ("Sweet Temptation" I believe the movie was called) her "bad-boy" stepfather kept on trying to seduce her (in a rather abusive manner). There was one scene where she was in a towell, and she was like, all I can say is, (words cant begin to describe my happiness at seeing that).
Wasn't that her in Korn's video for "Falling Away From Me"? As a short haired brunette (if so, she has a very long and swanlike neck)? I've always wondered about that.

Chestnuts roasted by Joey @ 12/03/2003 11:24 PM EST

i love this movie and i'm not sure why... i'm 23 now, i really should move on!! my tape is kinda wearing thin so i think i'll have to capture it onto a vcd to prolong its life cos NOWHERE in the UK has another copy :(

i'm 2 songs away from completing the soundtrack and yes, one of the elusive ones is STILL "i found my way" so if anyone DID have this, PLEASE HELP ME!!

ace review dude, it was so bad ;)

Chestnuts roasted by i love smoking crack, it's so bad :) @ 12/07/2003 09:25 AM EST