So first off, Happy 20th birthday to Super Mario Bros. 3, which turned 20 on Feb 12! (in North America that is). Anybody else almost getting teary eyed just thinking about that? 20!! I remember getting the game the day it came out. That may not seem all that odd to a lot of people, but here’s the thing. I lost my freaking mind that day.

I had just gotten the game out, and was in awe of the Bros return. When my father walks in and says, “we’re going to Disneyland today, surprise!” Now, most 7 going on 8-year-old kids would have pissed in their pants, and packed their bags right then and there. I went BALLISTIC. Looking back, I would have slapped my little fat face, and taken away the NES for good, if I was my Dad. “Forget Disney boy, I’m putting you in the damn cleaner cupboard.” Nevertheless my father took us all away for a couple weeks in the most magical place on earth, and I waited patiently….

Upon my return, I slid that game into the slot like a virgin. Lo’ and behold, the bloody light started to blink! Oh great, I finally get the thing in, and I prematurely… Right, so I pull the cart out, and blow in the slot. Not in the game of course, it was new after all. Slid it back in, more gently this time, and watch the opening sequence like a dog on a squirrel.

I spent the following day, in it’s entirety, thinking about going home to play that game. The crazy new outfits they had suited good ol’ Mario up with. What kid wouldn’t want to be a fat greaser of a plumber, in a raccoon suit, or frog pajamas deep in the ocean with goblin looking fish (Boss Bass)?

You got your Goombas, Troopas, Buzzies, Lakitus, Paranhas, Koopas, Boos, Bones, Thwomps, Fire Snakes, Bob-ombs, the list goes on… OK one more, since Bullet Bill is pure awesome!

Well, I triumphed over Bowser that night, and you know Peach was more than grateful. Turned it off, went downstairs, grabbed a sandwich and milk if I recall. Took in the awesomeness that I had just experienced, and returned upstairs to start it over again.

Memories like these are all too common, when somebody brings up anything from Final Fantasy, to Trog!, yes Trog!. To the people who helped make these memories, I thank you. Happy Birthday again Bros., may our future be full of them, and may my kids have memories of their own.

gary:

Crush It Charity Music Video
I got involved in this Charity from My Friend mark Fitz back in the fall and we tapped this Music Video and have a song on itunes and amazon and all the proceeds go to The Caring House Project and obviously with what has happened in Haiti since this has even more meaning. This Music Video is maybe the funniest thing I have done.

http://www.crushitcharity.com
What do you think?
This 99 cent song feeds 6 people, please support it!

Has anybody ever noticed that a trailer is quite often leaps and bounds above that of the film itself? Granted, they get to take the whole film and filter out the junk (wish I could do this sometimes). But I have more often than I like, watched a trailer and finished it absolutely pumped by the music and flow of the cuts, ready to pay the atrociously large ticket price to get the rest.

Then there I am, my $40 eyedropper of soda, and sandwich baggie of popcorn. The lights dim, the curtains come up, and I’m bombarded again by pure awesome “gotta see that!” Here’s where things get confusing for me. That summer blockbuster ‘hit’ starts, and progresses like a cat with an elephant carcass. Leaving me wondering to myself, “how the hell did I get duped again?”

Sure our minds have a short attention span these days (and yes I blame mainstream media), but that is no defense for the trailers that are better than their origins. I think the directors/producers need to take a lesson from their own film’s advertisement, and stop copping out on it to fill seats.

And to those films who live up to the challenge, I tip my hat to you.