The Wizard

I had never seen this movie but my husband talked about it all the time. If you grew up playing the original Nintendo then this movie will bring back lots of memories. Loved it and reminded me of being a kid.

I consider myself a very unbiased reviewer here. I went to see this movie in the theater back in 1989. At the time I kinda liked it. I mean what kid wouldn't? It had kids like us who were playing Nintendo in order to win copious amounts of money at Universal Studios in... CALIFORNIA!!! It also had some obnoxious backstory about the kid's dead sister or something. I didn't know what. It's only all these years later that the only good drama from this movie stems from Pinball Wiz Jimmy's inner conflict that we eventually learn has to do with his deceased sister. There's no detail given about this, and it is very, very loosely connected with the main story of Jimmy(Luke Edwards), Corey(Fred Savage) and Haley(Jenny Lewis) who are trying to get to California and win at Video Game Armageddon. Along the way the kids are robbed, harassed and assaulted by some of the worst human beings in the world. I guess the movie was trying to portray things in a realistic light, but it really goes over the top at times with its sadism. Here's why I only give this movie 1 star though: It is ONLY about playing Nintendo games and promoting it's cheap poorly made products(The Power Glove). The movie spends a whole lousy 30 seconds on poor Jimmy's mental problem and doesn't delve any deeper into his persona or psyche at all. It's just a movie that over-reaches. It wants to be more than a cheap promotion for Nintendo, but it just isn't. It tries to convince the audience that it's not a wolf in cheap clothing(yes, I mean to say CHEAP). Sure, the Wizard has some minor nostalgic value, but when it's all over you'll be left feeling empty and wishing the movie could have offered more.

This is an old classic for me. It's a great family movie but it is old and shows it. What a great look back at video gaming also. Once you see the power glove it brings back so many memories. Highly recommended

I watched The Wizard a thousand times as a child and loved every second of it. Then I went about 15 years without watching it and after passing the dinosaurs on the side of the 10 freeway in California, I realized I needed to own this film. I just watched it for the first time as an adult, and the combination of nostalgia and genuine entertainment has confirmed that this movie will always be in my top 10. If you didn't grow up playing Nintendo, don't bother. But if you did...order this dvd!

The movie had SUPER MARIO BROS 3. Now if you have read several of these reviews you hear that mentioned a lot. Because back in 1989 Nintendo was king. In fact Nintendo is the only video game system I can think of that was a phenomenon. Nintendo ruled the world. They even used the NES Advantage joystick on Ghostbusters 2. Damn Nintendo can you shill your products even harder. Mario 3 is what Halo and GTA are today. Mario was the man, and seeing his latest game on the big screen. As a kid I could have died right there in my seat. Now it seems like the review is for Mario 3 and not the movie. This is actually a very good family movie. Kids on the running ditching the man. You got to love that. And that is what holds up today. The original NES is in the history books. Kids will see those games and will not see the excitement and thats fine. Hey things come and go. But, the story is solid and it is a fun watch. I'll end with the coolest line atleast to me in the movie. When the tourniment is at its climax and they open to show the new game. The crazy host uters these words "Welcome to video Aramagedon"