Get ready for the family movie of 2023 as The Super Mario Bros Movie is now on 4k, Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital. The Nintendo and Illumination-produced pop-culture spectacular of the year comes home in a next-level experience, unlocking over 30-minutes of bonus content that is sure to delight all Super Mario Bros. fans – from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

BONUS FEATURES ON 4K Ultra HD, BLU-RAYTM, DVD and Digital:

• Getting to Know the Cast – In these short behind-the-scenes pieces we get up close and personal with the stars of the film and learn what they leaned on to inhabit their on-screen persona.
• Leveling Up: Making THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE – Bringing one of the world’s most beloved video game characters, and the world around him, to life was no easy task! Filmmakers and cast give an in-depth look into the making of the film.
• THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE Field Guide – Join the cast of THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE as they take viewers through the various Power-Ups and Bonuses that appear in the film. This immersive video will allow the cast to interact with custom on-screen graphics as they select a Bonus or Power Up specific to their character and then explain what it does, how to use it and its effects.
• “Peaches” Lyric Video – Jack Black is known for his big personality and really no one else could play the part of Bowser, so get ready to sing-along to his big musical number as he serenades Princess Peach.
• Leadership Lessons with Anya Taylor-Joy – Let’s face it: being a princess isn’t easy. Thankfully, we have Anya Taylor-Joy, custom graphics and movie clips to give us Princess Peach’s guide to being an awesome leader. We’ll provide some real-life tips and power-ups that kids of all ages can use in their daily lives.

Fans can grab a copy of the movie from Amazon.com (affiliate link).

I got the chance to review The Super Mario Bros Movie Power up Edition and here is what I thought.

Warning Spoilers below.

‘Official’ critics can take a back seat when it comes to the new Super Mario Bros Movie. Their dislike and attempted destruction of the new Mario movie seemed to be an almost across-the-board coup in order to bring down a beloved game series. Their focus seemed to be more on the story and less on the amazing voice actors and art of the movie.

Unlike the critics, I find it wonderful that we have a Mario movie that sticks to the Mario genre. For the most part, we get our over-the-top characters that are capable of doing amazing things real world science would never allow. Where critics hate that nothing new is added, I love the nostalgic piece and adore the fact that we finally get something that sticks to the crazy Mario story. Granted, there are a few dull moments in the movie when the writers try to humanize the characters instead of leaving them action-packed wacky animated beings, but these moments are few and can be passed over quickly.

The story of Super Mario Bros isn’t that farfetched. Mario and Luigi are attempting to be the best plumbers in New York City. In order to prove themselves, they go down in the sewers to fix a leak. This is where the insanity begins, and normal becomes the world of animation. Mario and Luigi find a warp pipe and end up in different worlds. Mario finds himself in the Mushroom Kingdom and Luigi ends up in the hands of Bowser. Big surprise, Bowser wants to marry Peach. Another big surprise, Mario falls in love with Peach. Even bigger surprise, Mario teams up with Peach to save the kingdom and his brother from Bowser.

Along with the lovely, expected plot line, fans are given several Easter Eggs throughput the film along with recognizable Nintendo characters. We get to see rainbow road, Donkey Kong, shy guys, toad, and much more. Coming from a person who’s first gaming system was the original Nintendo, I love seeing all the characters on screen. The art and colors are amazing making the film fun to watch.

Of course, character art isn’t everything, the voice has to be spot on as well. I thought their choices were fantastic. A couple of my favorite voice actors from Super Mario Bros Movie are Chris Pratt and Jack Black. Chris Pratt voices Mario, which actually works. He may not be Italian, but it isn’t bad either. Pratt’s voice is iconic, recognizable, and easy to understand. This actually made me happy, because I really didn’t want to read the subtitles just to understand the easy to understand plot. Jack Black is making his way into everything recently from Star Wars to this Mario movie. He voices Bowser, and let me just say…He nails it. From the songs to the energy, Jack Black carries Bowser into the 21st century and beyond. I don’t think they could have found a better voice actor for the character. His skills as Po from Kung Fu Panda have paid off.

Sticking to the Mario genre, producing amazing art and colors, and adding the best voices to the characters, Super Marion Bros Movie nails the franchise! It is a family friendly, funny film that fans and new fans will come to love. For the overboard fans there are Easter Eggs, for the newer fans it is a great film to get to know the beloved characters from Mario to Bowser. This colorful animated film of lovable characters will catch the viewers as we watch our classic video game creatures enter into a new generation. It is amazing and I give The Super Mario Bros Movie 5 stars.

UPDATE 6-28-2023
Hello readers, Due to a date error, we had to end the giveaway early. All who have entered up to this point will still have a chance to win. We will be doing a drawing this evening We do apologize for the inconvenience.

To celebrate the release of The Super Mario Bros Movie on 4k, Blu-ray, DVD, and digital we are hosting a giveaway! use the form below to enter for a chance to win The Super Mario Bros Movie Power Up Edition on Blu-ray! Fans can follow, tweet, and/or comment for entries. Many will enter only one will win!

Fans of Transformers are getting a new heroic story in an all new series called Transformers: EarthSpark. This new series features the Malto family, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and other fan favorites! Follow the Kids Robby and Mo Malto as they discover the first Earthborn Transformers bots called Terrans, help the Autobots band together to stop the evil half-human/half-robot cyborg “Mandroid”, and so much more! Transformers: EarthSpark is produced in partnership between Nickelodeon Animation and Hasbro’s Entertainment One (eOne). Be sure to grab Transformers: EarthSpark: Season 1, Episodes 1-10 on DVD (affiliate link)to enjoy the new series!

I received the opportunity to review Transformers: EarthSpark: Season 1, Episodes 1-10, and here is what I though

WARNING: Spoilers below

Get ready for a topsy turvy story with new bots, old friends, and new enemies. This series will make your head spin because the enemy of the Autobots, the leader of the Decepticons, Megatron, is now on the side of good. He is reformed and cares deeply for all of the Decepticons. He works with the Autobots to keep the humans and Cybertronians safe. As a Transformer fan, this blew my mind.

Who has replace Megatron as the ultimate bad guy? Turns out there is a new half-man half-robot cyborg named Mandroid. No joke. The new antagonist, the one seeking to destroy Earth and the Cybertronians, is named Mandroid. His real name is Dr. Meridian, but everyone calls him Mandroid behind his back. I love the doctors real name, but apparently, creativity is dead and there was a lack of effort to come up with an epic bad-guy name.

While I am not crazy about the name, Mandroid, Dr. Meridian is an epic villain and certainly an evil doing maniac. Dr. Meridian started out working for G.H.O.S.T. helping the Autobots and the human race. However, he eventually turns to the evil side, believing that all Cybertronians are bad and need to be eradicate for the safety of all humans. Dr. Meridian begins turning himself into the very enemy he seeks to destroy. In his mind, it is the ultimate sacrifice for the people of Earth.

With the Autobots and Decepticons teaming up against an epic bad guy, the series is fun to watch. For the younger audience there are also several learning moments such as bullies don’t win, teamwork, and be yourself. The show ends up being well rounded cartoon series.

A quick note to parents. Transformers: EarthSpark: Season 1, Episodes 10 does bring out some controversial subjects. As always, I suggest the parents watch the show before letting their kids sit to watch the cartoon.

For those who love the Transformers Fandom, we are giving away a DVD of Transformers: EarthSpark: Season 1, Episodes 1-10. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter for a chance to win. Follow, comment, and tweet for more entries. Many will enter, only one will win.

Now available digitally is a brand new magical comedy from Lionsgate called Animal Crackers. The star-studded cast includes John Krasinski (TV’s “The Office”), Emily Blunt (A Quiet Place franchise), Danny DeVito (Batman Returns), Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings franchise), and Sylvester Stallone (Rocky franchise).

When Owen (John Krasinski) and his family inherit his uncle Bob’s rundown circus, it seems more like a curse than a gift. But it becomes an entryway to magical adventure when Owen is presented with a mysterious box of animal crackers — with the power to transform the bearer into any animal in the box! It looks like the circus will be a success, until Bob’s villainous brother (Sir Ian McKellen) learns about the box…and he will stop at nothing to get it!

I received the chance to review the movie and here is what I thought.

SPOILERS BELOW

One sentence that best describes this movie is: It is a film of stereotypical characters, cliché story lines, and sexualized comedy that ends with a predictive climax. This doesn’t mean that it is a horrible movie, in fact, many parts of it are fun to watch and the magical part of the story is cute. I mean who doesn’t want to magically transform into an animal? I do want to state, however, that while the storyline seems perfect for a young audience, what with animal crackers transforming people into animals, the actual adaptation is more for 8-10 year olds. There are comedic scenes of boobs, butts, and even scenes with unwelcomed kisses and advances. Many of these will come across as hilarious, while some will be cringe worthy.

The first few minutes of the movie features the Huntington brothers circus with fun music, acrobats, clowns, and more. Horatio is an egotistical stereotypical brother and Bob is the stereotypical meek brother. The pair seem to work well together and bring in a substantial audience. When Talia, the love interest, is introduced, Horatio desires her because she is beautiful. However, Talia falls in love with Bob, much to Horatio’s dismay. This, of course, places a strain on the brothers relationship causing Horatio to give his brother the ultimatum, either she goes or I go. Bob chooses Talia, kicking his brother out of the circus.

After Talia and Bob are married, Esmerelda, the gypsy and aunt of Talia, pulls a box out from between her boobs and gives it to the married couple. It is a box filled with animal crackers, which, when eaten, the person becomes the animal they ate. It causes the circus to soar in success for 30 years. People love watching animals do tricks, walk the rope, and much more. Even Bob’s nephew, Owen, loves the circus, meats a girl named Zoe, and eventually marries her, continuing the family pattern.

This brings us to present day. Bob and Talia are gone after a fire, Horatio is trying to get his hands on the animal crackers, and Bob leaves Owen the circus in his will. I think we can all see where this is going at this point. Zoe works to recreate the circus, Owen finds his love for the circus once again, Horatio succeeds in stealing the animal crackers and then fails horribly, and we learn about a strange twist that really wasn’t a twist if you give the movie at least 10% of your attention.

I did enjoy the mostly happy ending with the circus becoming a magical place for more than just the performers. I do wish Raven Symone’s character, Binkley, would have solved the transforming problem for Talia and Bob. Binkley was featured enough that, I think, her magical breakthrough would have brought the story to a perfect close with everyone on stage celebrating life and fun. I also really enjoyed the digital art. It was colorful and fun with fine details for hair, smoke transformations, and more. Even the clothes showcase textures, shadows, and reflections. Color me impressed.

I do think the story and comedy needs some work. I don’t think the art of the movie matches the age group that this film is geared towards. By looking at the digital art, one would think 6 years of age would be fine, but I would say the comedy is geared towards more of the 8-10 year old range. On Common Sense Media, parents believe it is more for 10+. With the dissociation between art, story, and comedy, I give the movie 3 out of 5 stars.

While this is my opinion of the film, yours may be different. I have seen some positive reviews where they find the story fun, whimsical, and a great family movie. If you want a copy for your digital collection, we are hosting a giveaway for a Digital Code of Animal Crackers. Use the form below to tweet, comment, and follow to enter the giveaway. Many will enter, only one will win!