View Full Version : "The Wizard" coming to DVD
Martianinvader
05-24-2006, 03:36 AM
Send me an angel, ooo-wee-ooo, right now!
Old school Nintendo fans will be happy to hear that Universal is finally releasing the gamer classic The Wizard on DVD in America on August 29th. For those of you not in the know, The Wizard is a 1989 take-off on The Who's Tommy that followed a pair of brothers (one played by The Wonder Years' Fred Savage) on a journey to California to the Nintendo World Championships. Along the way, they meet a girl (played by a very young Jenny Lewis, now singer for indie-rock band Rilo Kiley) and get into some trouble with a kid named Lucas who is way too into his Powerglove. In the end, it turns out the whole movie is a commercial for Super Mario Bros. 3, but you won't really care.
I hope they do this right and put in bonus features that cater to the kind of people that are going to buy it. The problem is that the ones that will be releasing this aren't going to be young enough to have memories of it. There's a risk here that they'll release it as bare-bones with nothing.
And I'm surprised Jenny Lewis isn't dead.
Michael24
05-24-2006, 03:51 AM
Man, I haven't seen that movie in years. My brother and I used to watch it all the time. And I had quite a crush on Jenny Lewis. :D It would be nice for some kind of special features, but I imagine it will be badly mistreated.
Spike Mcdougal
05-24-2006, 04:23 AM
And I'm surprised Jenny Lewis isn't dead.
Hey! What warranted that one?
PRdude
05-24-2006, 07:05 AM
Send me an angel, ooo-wee-ooo, right now!
I hope they do this right and put in bonus features that cater to the kind of people that are going to buy it. The problem is that the ones that will be releasing this aren't going to be young enough to have memories of it. There's a risk here that they'll release it as bare-bones with nothing.
And I'm surprised Jenny Lewis isn't dead.
What's your source of this information?
Here are some links with information:
http://www.dvdnn.com/movieIndex.asp?page=viewMovie&titleID=753
http://homevideo.universalstudios.com/title_old.php?titleId=1615
The original cover art that's on the VHS version is better.
Frank Castle
05-24-2006, 09:29 AM
I'll definately be picking this one up. When I first saw the movie it was fun just picking out the games that were in the movie. I thought it was funny when Christian Slater just had to play Ninja Turtles at the motel for no reason whatsoever.
chris3116
05-24-2006, 12:46 PM
I present to you: SUPER MARIO BROTHERS 3 - the announcer at the competition. Bring that arrogant Lucas again with his Power Glove. :evil:
I'm so getting the DVD when it will come to Montreal. It's a must buy for old-school gamers. And now, Nintendo will bring old games (NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis and Turbografx) on the virtual console on Wii.
It's a good year for the old-school gamers.
This is very interesting news. Allow me to offer a rebuttal:
HECKZ YEAH.
I'm done. I swear.
PRdude
05-24-2006, 05:22 PM
I present to you: SUPER MARIO BROTHERS 3 - the announcer at the competition. Bring that arrogant Lucas again with his Power Glove. :evil:
I'm so getting the DVD when it will come to Montreal. It's a must buy for old-school gamers. And now, Nintendo will bring old games (NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis and Turbografx) on the virtual console on Wii.
It's a good year for the old-school gamers.
I have the VHS version and I watched it a few months ago and it took me back. Even I was trying to identify games in it.
It'll be nice to be able to play older games on Wii, but some of them will cost money though, right?
Well of course they'll cost money. How else would they profit from it?
They're supposed to be fairly cheap, though. A couple dollars for NES games, around 5 dollars for S-NES, and around 10 for N64 (though that's only for first-party Nintendo games). Given that at places like GameCrazy, the prices range a couple bucks higher than that, it's pretty good.
Yeah, identifying games in the movie is fun. Plus I have more knowledge of older games now, so it should be easier.
Dark Fact
05-24-2006, 09:59 PM
Yes! The movie with the all time greatest line:
"I love the Power Glove! It's so bad!" :D
Yes! The movie with the all time greatest line:
"I love the Power Glove! It's so bad!" :D
I still like "HE TOUCHED MY BREAST!"
And the dad getting hooked on the NES.
Matthew Williams
05-24-2006, 11:42 PM
And I'm surprised Jenny Lewis isn't dead.
Well, duh, she isn't - she's just switched careers. She's the lead singer for the indie rock band Rilo Kiley and just put out a solo album. And she's damn good, by the way.
I remember watching this movie about 12 years ago on Nick, i'd really like to see it again though i'm not sure if i'll buy it, seems something i'd buy if it was on the 5.50 pile.
I really want to see it again sometime though.
PRdude
05-25-2006, 01:02 AM
Well of course they'll cost money. How else would they profit from it?
They're supposed to be fairly cheap, though. A couple dollars for NES games, around 5 dollars for S-NES, and around 10 for N64 (though that's only for first-party Nintendo games). Given that at places like GameCrazy, the prices range a couple bucks higher than that, it's pretty good.
Yeah, identifying games in the movie is fun. Plus I have more knowledge of older games now, so it should be easier.
Well you know I got my NES about the same time The Wizard came out in theaters? I was a late bloomer. I know.
straw_hat
05-25-2006, 03:09 AM
While I have no problem getting a bad movie solely on its cheese factor I wouldn't bother plunking down any money on The Wizard. Unless it comes with some good special features I'll pass.
felixthunder
05-25-2006, 09:23 AM
this is so being bought i used to have this on tape. i taped it from the movie channel on sky in 1990 but the tape has bit the dust long ago found memorys indeed:D
Speedy Boris
05-25-2006, 12:21 PM
I've never actually seen this movie. If this is REALLY cheap I might buy it.
Well you know I got my NES about the same time The Wizard came out in theaters? I was a late bloomer. I know. I was born after the NES era, but I did have one (never got a decent amount of games for it, though, just the Mario series really).
I only saw The Wizard a couple years ago, though. Well, about 5-6 years ago. Give or take.
PRdude
05-26-2006, 02:36 AM
The DVD will be an anamorphic release if anyone is wondering. Today I found myself wondering if it would just be a fullscreen release, but I recently read what the deal is at davisdvd.com.
Also, remember that girl Jenny Lewis from the movie? She's in an indie band called Rilo Kiley. This is what she looks like now:
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3966/48cb.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6144/15pv3.jpg
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9103/24bx2.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7364/38bd.jpg
Martianinvader
05-26-2006, 04:04 AM
Also, remember that girl Jenny Lewis from the movie? She's in an indie band called Rilo Kiley. This is what she looks like now:
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3966/48cb.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6144/15pv3.jpg
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/9103/24bx2.jpg
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7364/38bd.jpg
Thanks for that....I was wondering. And her hair is STILL frizzy (see picture 3).
Man in bar: "Hey, haven't I seen you from somewhere?"
Jenny Lewis: ".....No."
Man in bar: "Yes I have! You're from The Wizard!"
Jenny Lewis: "*sigh* Yes......."
Man in bar: "You know what you have to do for me....."
Jenny Lewis: "No. Never again. I have a life beyond that stupid film."
Man in bar: "AW C'MON! Please?"
Jenny Lewis: "NO! I'm not doing it!"
Man in bar: "I'll buy you a drink! Come on, just one more time!"
Jenny Lewis: "If I do it will you leave me alone?"
Man in bar: "Sure, sure."
Jenny Lewis: "Fine. ONE more time."
Jenny gets up from her stool, looks up slightly to the ceiling, points in the direction of the restroom, pauses dramatically and yells:
"HE TOUCHED MY BREAST!!!"
The whole bar claps in applause.
Jenny Lewis: "You know, I have a CD out."
Man in bar: "That's all I wanted out of you, thank you." He pays for his drink and leaves.
Jenny sulks.
RAINMAN
05-26-2006, 06:32 AM
How old she was when staring in that movie?
PRdude
05-26-2006, 05:31 PM
How old she was when staring in that movie?
She was born in 1976 on January 8, the movie came out in 1989, so she was probably 12 or 13 at the time.
ShadowGUN
05-28-2006, 09:28 AM
:lol:
They should make a sequel call "The Wiizard" featuring Super Mario Galaxy.
"I love the nunchuck! Is sooo bad ! :lol:
Seriously I might pick this up just for the cheese factor.
PRdude
05-28-2006, 08:49 PM
Okay I put my VHS copy up for sale at amazon.com on Friday night, and it got snagged yesterday. I hope I don't come to regret this. I might not, but oh well.
Oh yeah, since Martianinvader quoted those lyrics from Real Life's "Send Me An Angel", I forgot to mention all along that I like that I get to hear that song in the movie.
Martianinvader
06-03-2006, 03:27 PM
The price has been announced.......$9.95. With a price like that, it doesn't look good for the possibility of extras.
Lord Dalek
06-03-2006, 06:07 PM
The price has been announced.......$9.95. With a price like that, it doesn't look good for the possibility of extras.They already said this disc is going to be as barebones as a golgatha.
PRdude
06-03-2006, 07:24 PM
They already said this disc is going to be as barebones as a golgatha.
And who are these "they", of which you speak?
Lord Dalek
06-03-2006, 10:16 PM
And who are these "they", of which you speak?Press release.
PRdude
06-04-2006, 01:38 AM
Press release.
Sorry for asking, but where would I see this?
Meh, barebones or not, at least it's on DVD.
*hears the nagging voice in my head from my mother telling me I shouldn't settle for "at least"* :sweat:
Leaping Larry Jojo
06-04-2006, 03:01 AM
This is going to be one of those DVDs that is crappily transferred just because nobody raves about it publically and it got bad reviews on release. Just like other underrated guilty pleasures such as "Commando" and "Three O'Clock High."
Craig Crumpton
06-04-2006, 02:55 PM
Crap. I thought this thread was about "The Wizard" (http://imdb.com/title/tt0090547/) TV series from 1986, about a height-challenged inventor and his adventures. Show didn't last very long, but I really liked it. Probably won't ever get released on DVD unfortunately.
PRdude
06-04-2006, 05:11 PM
In case anyone is interested, the release date has been pushed up. It'll be out a week earlier.
Space Lion
06-06-2006, 07:37 PM
I'm all over this disc on release day. It's one of my all-time favorites, and I'll buy it, barebones or not. And hey, we're getting an anamorphic widescreen transfer... can't really complain about that.
"A new game?! You didn't say there'd be a new game!"
...so much suspense there. :D
PRdude
06-06-2006, 08:35 PM
Well the release date has been pushed up to August 22.
PRdude
06-11-2006, 07:04 PM
Well this one will be rather barebones all right. Just look at the main menu for the movie:
http://davisdvd.com/images/menus/thewizard.jpg
It doesn't even have a scene selection feature.
vBulletin® v3.6.4, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.