OPINION Awful adaptations: remastered

Adaptations shouldn’t be too similar to the source

One of the most popular video game franchises of all time, “Super Mario Bros.” has just received its first theatrical adaptation since 1993. “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” released on April 5, 2023, was met with a $377 million global box office opening, the biggest opening for an animated film ever. It will most likely go down as one of the most lucrative adaptations in cinema history, alongside the “Lord of the Rings” and The Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Audiences loved “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” giving it a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, but critics not so much as the critic score on Rotten Tomatoes is 59%. In one word, the critical response has been “meh,” with many citing the lack of characterization and plot. Critics and audiences are butting heads once again, and I find myself somewhere in the middle.

As a Mario fan, I enjoyed “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” but as a film lover, this movie plays it too safe. There is a reference to the source material in every frame. It’s like jangling keys in front of a toddler in hopes of calming them. Even characters original to the movie are references. Take for instance Mario and Luigi’s father and uncle, who have never been seen or mentioned in the source material. Even though they are “original,” they bear a striking resemblance to Talon and Ingo, two characters from another Nintendo intellectual property, “The Legend of Zelda.” So even characters original to the film are references to pre-existing characters.

It’s a shame, because the parts of the film that were original were the parts I enjoyed the most, especially Bowser’s musical number. It’s as if the film is constantly on its knees begging the audience to pay attention, and it’s very patronizing.

I know my last article on video game adaptations called for more faithfulness to the source material, but a complete regurgitation of the material still can’t replace a compelling story, good writing or unique characterization.

In my last article, “The last of awful adaptations,” I talked about season one of “The Last of Us” on HBO Max, and how it’s so great because it follows the game closely.

At the time of writing that article, only the first two episodes of that show had been released. After the release of the article, I saw episode three and my mind changed. The meat of episode three of “The Last of Us” was completely original, yet it was a televised masterpiece. Critics and audiences agree as well, with IGN even giving it the highest score among any episode in the season. Even though it wasn’t from the game, “The Last of Us” episode three was amazing, and by far one of the most popular from the season.

This is evidence that taking risks with the source material can yield something audiences and critics can equally like. By stepping outside the comfort zone of telling the exact same story as the game, “The Last of Us” show gave us something new for old and new fans to enjoy.

Some may argue that “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” doesn’t need to be a groundbreaking film. After all, “Super Mario Bros” as a franchise is not known for its compelling stories. Mario is meant to be a versatile mascot and is used in a number of different video game genres.

But a character like Joel from “The Last of Us” would look out of place playing tennis or racing a go kart. Despite this, the “Super Mario Bros” is known for originality. Every new Mario game features new ideas, new ways to play, new settings and characters. Mario games do not dwell on old ideas, but instead expand on new ones. However, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” didn’t try anything new. The newest thing it tries is that Luigi is captured by Bowser instead of Princess Peach. As such, originality is one of the lacking references in “The Super Mario Bros Movie”

“The Last of Us” and “Super Mario Bros” video game series are on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to what they are trying to achieve. “The Last of Us” show wants to create stories, and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” wants to create family fun, no matter what.

Just because “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” prioritizes family fun, doesn’t excuse it for heavily depending on references to create that fun.

If you’ve played a “Super

Mario Bros” game, you’ll know the best part is how unique each game is, and how that uniqueness and risk strengthens the game instead of diluting it. Wouldn’t you want the same standard to be applied to a Mario movie?

Studios need to realize that 90 minutes of cameos and easter eggs may work to make an egregious amount of money, but it won’t keep audiences engaged forever. I think audiences need to watch out for adaptations that play it safe, because there is no reason to watch a Mario movie that only shows you everything you’ve seen in a Mario game. There were many original moments in the film I liked. However, the film does push the limit for how many references I want in a film, and I definitely don’t want to encourage the making of films that rely so heavily on recognition instead of plot and character arcs.

“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” could set a precedent for all adaptations to become indulgent of the source material instead of respectful, which would be tragic.

Half a marathon, whole lot of fun Students run 13.1 miles around the San Diego Bay

When most people hear the word “marathon,” images of Olympic gold medalists and “Forrest Gump” pop into their minds. Originating from the city of Marathon, Greece, running a marathon has become popularized all around the world as a bucket list item or a lofty athletic goal. San Diego hosts many running events throughout the year, from marathons (26.2 miles) to 5K races (3.1 miles). On Sunday, April 23, thousands of runners lined up to participate in the annual San Diego Beach & Bay Half Marathon, including many USD students and faculty.

While running a marathon, or even half a marathon, may seem like a daunting task, you do not need to be a “runner” to participate.

One self-described “nonrunner” who ran the half marathon is USD junior Kate Haarmann. Haarmann signed up for the race in November with a group of friends just for fun and started at the beginning of the spring semester. At first, Haarmann was not sold on the idea of running for so many miles.

“I didn’t get the hype…why would you willingly run that far at one time?” Haarmann stated.

Nonetheless, she participated in a 12-week training program, during which she ran four times a week with an increased mileage every week, building her endurance from barely finishing two miles, to confidently running ten. Haarmann emphasized the importance of being disciplined and showing up for yourself every single day during training.

USD senior Maile Nomura also began her training with nearly no previous running experience. Similarly, Nomura began training in February by running five times a week and sticking to an organized schedule through a running app. Nomura decided to sign up for the race to surprise her family and friends, trying to disprove the assumption they held that she does not exercise much.

Alongside runners who began training specifically for the marathon were people like USD senior Oscar Rubio, who has been consistently running since he was in high school. As a member of USD’s cross country club team, Rubio signed up to join some of his friends on the team only a month before the race. While a seasoned runner, Rubio still faced roadblocks during his training. Unfortunately, he injured his Achilles tendon only two weeks before the race from running twenty seven miles in two days. This did not stop Rubio, however, and turned his perspective from running as competition to running for fun.

Like most half marathons, the San Diego Beach & Bay race started early in the morning at 6:30 a.m., forcing runners to wake up before the crack of dawn to prepare. Experienced or not, everyone felt the nervous anticipation in the air.

“I was a bundle of nerves,” Haarmann recounts. “I don’t think I slept at all the night before.”

The race began by the bay on E Mission Bay Dr, and continued past SeaWorld to South Mission Beach, up to Pacific Beach before looping back to the start.

While running is a solo sport, the half marathon participants emphasized how it was the support of their friends and family that helped them cross the finish line. Haarmann explained how her sorority sisters, roommates and parents stationed themselves at different points on the course to give her a boost of encouragement.

“At mile eleven, I saw my friends drive alongside me in the parking lot, videoing me and cheering me on,” Haarmann explained.“That’s when the run got really hard, so they kept me going for the last tough bit.”

This sense of community was also created within the half marathon runners themselves. Both Rubio and Nomura met people along their run who encouraged them to keep going.

Rubio met a fellow college student at mile eight, who he built an immediate bond with. The pair pushed each other until the very end, supporting each other when the other felt tired. He also noted that he ran into one of his USD professors, who gave him a handshake after completing the race.

Nomura, who ran the race alone, felt support from complete strangers running alongside her.

“At mile 10 I started walking, but a woman behind me wouldn’t let me and yelled at me in support to keep going.”

All this encouragement led these USD students, alongside the 2,500 other runners to the finish line. Just having completed a major accomplishment, crossing the finish line entails a huge celebration of hard work and (finally) being able to sit down. Subsequently, the rest of the day requires lots of rest, food and water for the runners. While physically draining, the adrenaline and pride a half marathon provides is unmatched.

“It’s a different type of reward,” Nomura said.

As it was their first ever half marathon, all three of these USD students did not know what to expect. After training, running and recovery, the consensus was unanimous: everyone who’s able should run a half marathon at some point in their lives.

“Do it, do it, do it!” exclaimed Haarmann. “You are so much more capable than you think.”

Even without much official training and an injured ACL, Rubio was likewise enthusiastic about anyone running the race.

“It surprised me what your body could do if you really set your mind to it” Rubio stated.

He shared plans of signing up for the next half marathon in San Diego on May 20 in La Jolla, as well as hopefully a full marathon in the future.

The half marathon brought together a community of seasoned and new runners alike, demonstrating that as long as you have good running shoes and determination, you can push yourself past your limits and cross the finish line.