If like a lot of the world you spent your weekend inside a cinema packed with kids, millenials and Gen Z’ers all keen to see Mario’s latest adaptation to the big screen courtesy of Universal Pictures Australia & Illumination Studios, you certainly weren’t alone. The animated adventure raked in over 10 million dollars at the Australian box office over the weekend showcasing just how big the appeal of this film is. If like me, you saw horror stories of cinema experiences on Tik Tok of kids running around, screaming and influencers coming in cosplay and making the movie all about their next Instagram Reel, you would understand my initial apprehension of going to see it. Fortunately Imax Melbourne is one of the only places showing the movie in 3D and mastered in IMAX Laser on their 32 metres wide by 23 metres high screen. It was not only a superior way to watch the film, but adding the 3D and IMAX ratio allowed this already colourful film to really pop, morphing into an experience I will never forget.
Located in the Melbourne Museum complex in Carlton South, the IMAX Melbourne theatre shows a mix of IMAX branded documentaries mixed with the biggest blockbusters like John Wick 4 and Avatar : The Way of Water. There are also anniversary screenings of classic films like Interstellar and the always popular The Lord of the Rings IMAX Trilogy screenings.
The first time I saw The Super Mario Bros. Movie was at a critics screening on a regular cinema screen. The colours were beautiful and the score sounded incredible. I was not prepared for just how much the colours popped on the IMAX Laser presentation. Each colour was accentuated with the crisp detail and expanded aspect ratio on the IMAX screen and the thunderous roar of the surround sound accentuated the score with the iconic Mario theme song delivering an experience I’ll never forget.
We booked the premium seats to ensure we could sit back, recline and enjoy ultimate comfort for the 90-minute movie. The crowd was a mix of adults and kids who were as equally as excited as we were to be there and watch this movie. Hearing kids squeals of delight when they see Mario and Luigi on the big screen, and their parents equally as excited to be there made the experience so much more memorable.
There is so much more to IMAX Melbourne than the huge screen and incredible sound, the 3D effects in this movie are worth talking about. In particular, the Mario Kart sequences look spectacular with the 3D effects. Kart items explode off the screen while the vehicles veer around the rainbow road look breathtaking in these sequences. The platforming sequences at the start, middle and ending of the film with Donkey Kong also look effective using 3D effects.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie is becoming the ultimate theatrical experience. With the movie being an inter-generational experience with grandparents, parents, children and young adults all wanting to see their favourite video game mascot come to life on the big screen, there really is no better way to experience that in IMAX 3D.
You can purchase tickets via the IMAX website here
