Here at our Miso at the Movies column, I wanted to try something different this time. I was able to watch two movies back to back the other day and wanted to try my hand at watching two video game to film adaptations that have been recently released! I check out The Super Mario Galaxy Movie as well as Exit 8, read on for my thoughts below!
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
As a huge Nintendo fan, I was excited when the original Super Mario Brothers Movie came out in 2023. Like everyone else, I was anticipating what the inevitable sequel would provide, and now with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie showing, we’ve got our answer.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie follows Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach as they try to save Princess Rosalina from the enraged Bowser Jr. While Peach and her guardian Toad try to look for clues as to where Rosalina is, Mario and Luigi are stuck tending to the Mushroom Kingdom and keeping a captive Bowser in tow. Yoshi joins the squad this time around, continuing from the stinger from the first movie. What transpires in the film is a galaxy-spanning adventure the whole family will enjoy…
…Well, the whole family that’s played most of the older titles.
Of Plot and Pacing
Put simply, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is chaotic and breakneck in its pacing. While the first film had a simple narrative with some references to different games peppered in, here there are entire set pieces that begin and end in minutes. From a nice gateway galaxy hub reminiscent of Wreck it Ralph to a casino world and different galaxies inspired by the games, there’s really no time to breathe.
I like my references as much as the next Nintendo fan, but cramming elements from Super Mario Bros. 2, World, Galaxy and its sequel, as well as Odyssey and the other mainline Mario games feels like overkill. It’s comparable to fitting both Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and 3 into one film and then lopping off about half an hour from that film’s runtime. I feel like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie could have adapted just the Galaxy games and Odyssey and it could have made for a more palatable pace.
The plot itself is simple enough to follow (Mario and crew need to save a new member from the film’s antagonist), but I just think it gets bogged down immensely by making referencing almost every Mario game made. The film makes these references just because, and as such, the overall narrative feels shallow and messy.
Still a Load of Fun
And yet, I enjoyed this movie immensely. The fun camaraderie between Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi are much more natural than Mario and DK in the previous film. Heck, the fact that Luigi gets more screentime to shine makes this an improvement already. In fact, sans Toad, the main protagonists and Bowser get a lot more character added to them compared to the first movie, which makes for a nicer overall cast dynamic.
The animation is fluid and vibrant, and I do recommend you watch this in a premium format if you have the chance. And while there are still a couple of licensed songs in the soundtrack, this time we have some beautiful renditions of Mario tracks alongside some original compositions. This one is strictly for fans, but Nintendo knows its audience.
Exit 8
On the other side of the video game adaptation spectrum, we have a chilling indie title called Exit 8. It’s an interesting and short game that works well for streamers, so how does that translate to the medium of film?
Exit 8 is straightforward in its narrative. An unnamed protagonist simply named The Lost Man (played by Arashi member Kazunari Ninomiya) leaves a train after hearing he’s going to be a father. However, he realizes he’s trapped in a liminal location, tasked with finding anomalies in an underground metro passageway. If everything’s good, he’s free to advance. Should he find something amiss, he will turn back to reach the next exit. This sounds easy, but later iterations test his sanity and observational skills as the haunting location pokes and prods at his psyche. Will this lost man be able to escape?
This film is based on the 2023 indie game and functions similarly to it. Players do the same work The Lost Man does, seeing if anything like posters or signs have been altered. Likewise, we’re subjected to the man’s thoughts and fear (not helped by an ominous character only known as The Walking Man strolling about in each loop). The film does a wonderful job in keeping viewers astute in the first act, as it lingers on shots that may be important in the future.
The location isn’t always a static hallway, however as the trademark anomalies rear their ugly head at The Lost Man. From blood spilling to The Walking Man popping up behind him, these moments are where the scares shine. They’re few and far between, but when they pop up, they’re meaningful.
An Anomaly in the Adaptation
Of course, the original game lacked a story and only had this initial core gameplay loop, so Exit 8’s film adaptation adds a few more characters to the mix. Later in his journey, The Lost Man encounters a child that assists him in observing anomalies as well as emotionally. We also get some tender moments that dive into The Lost Man’s struggling to accept fatherhood and responsibility, and even an extended flashback sequence in the perspective of The Walking Man.
All these elements were created just for the film adaptation and were made most likely because the whole experience would be repetitive after the first half hour.
Indeed, the minute the novelty of exploring anomalies in the passageway becomes stale, the narrative shift revitalizes it. However, the third act shifts this from a psychological horror to one with more emotional stakes. Those looking for a pure horror flick will be disappointed, but those who want a little more optimism with their scares is in for a treat.
So… Which One Should I See?
The fun thing about video games is that there’s a lot from which to choose! Likewise, the same can be said about their film adaptations. Personally, I think Exit 8 is the better adaptation as it derives from its source material without muddling the experience with supplemental information. It also works well as a psychological thriller rather than a pure horror film. In fact, if it wasn’t for “EXIT 8” flashing constantly throughout the movie, I would have forgotten it was a video game adaptation and just a well-made film.
On the other hand, I had a lot of fun with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Knowing the origin of many of the references made that film much more enjoyable than someone who wouldn’t. It’s goofy and entertaining, and I enjoyed my time with it.
My verdict is both; you should watch both. However, if you could only watch one, it really depends on whether you want to go to a family film. If the answer is no, then Exit 8 is a solid choice. Otherwise, grab the kids and head into the car for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie!
Both The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Exit 8 are now playing in major cinemas. If you want more Miso at the Movies, check out our review for the All You Need is Kill anime. Stay tuned for more reviews here on Miso!
