1993's Super Mario Bros. film fails to impress, but it's not alone in the sea of subpar video game cinematic outings from that era.
In the world of video game adaptations, the 1994 film Double Dragon often finds itself overshadowed by its more famous counterpart, Super Mario Bros. The lead actors in Double Dragon may not have achieved the same level of notability as Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo in Super Mario Bros., but this is not to say that the film does not have its own unique qualities.
John Leguizamo, who played Luigi in the Super Mario Bros. film, expressed his joy at being part of the project, despite facing some criticism. On the other hand, the Double Dragon movie introduced a less favourable reception, with critics taking issue with its expanded lore and setting in a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles named New Angeles in the year 2007.
One of the most iconic characters from the Double Dragon series, Abobo, makes an appearance in the film as a monstrous character. However, the author finds Abobo's portrayal in the movie less appealing compared to his appearance in the games. The film also introduced half-medallions that gave wearers special powers, a concept that did not resonate as well with audiences.
Scott Wolf plays the hero, Billy Lee, in Double Dragon, and Mark Dacascos plays his brother, Jimmy. Alyssa Milano also features in the film as a resistance leader, a role she previously played in the first game.
Despite its shortcomings, the Double Dragon movie marked a turning point for the franchise, leading to an animated series, a fighting game, and a Neo Geo title based on the movie. The franchise, in some ways, got "weird" after the release of the Double Dragon movie.
Interestingly, the first Super Mario Bros. film has its defenders, including the author, who found Bob Hoskins' portrayal of Mario to be well-received. Dennis Hopper's portrayal of King Koopa was also deemed acceptable given the film's overall weirdness. In contrast, the setting in Double Dragon is not as interesting as the setting in Super Mario Bros., contributing to its forgettability.
Ultimately, the Double Dragon movie is often criticised and considered forgettable, not in a "so-bad-it's-good" way. The author, in ranking the best video game movies, did not consider Double Dragon for the list due to its forgettability. However, the film remains a significant part of video game movie history, offering a unique perspective on the Double Dragon series.
