Super Mario Bros: Super Show [DVD] [1989] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

First of all, being shot in the 1980s and therefore pre-Charles Martinet (who does Mario's voice on the games now), all the characters have gruff Brooklyn accents. That includes Toad. The sound effects are kinda strange too, mixing sounds and themes from the actual games, and songs from the (then) charts.

Secondly, before and after each cartoon we are treated to "hilarious" live action skits starring the Mario and Luigi voice actors. It's basicly a little story set in their Brooklyn apartment that starts before the cartoon itself and concludes afterwards. They usually have a guest star with them - vague 80s stars that nobody can really remember. Now, I can't recall these truly awful live action parts from watching them as a kid (aside from the "do the Mario" dance over the credits, which is pretty funny) - maybe they were cut from the episodes I saw then.

Each of the six episodes all follow pretty much the same storyline - Princess Toadstool (or Peach as we know her today) is captured by King Koopa (now re-named Bowser) and Mario and Luigi have to save her. Sometimes slightly amusing, these episodes are well presented enough (although now I would have thought they'd be anime - Mario originating from Japan and all), and they do display a certain charm, but Luigi is really quite useless. He's perceived as cowardly and never really gets the limelight - for instance it's always Mario who gets the power-up or Fire Flower first - even though it's named the "Super Mario BROS Super Show". Also, being made in the 1980s means that it's pre-Yoshi too, so he never appears on any of the episodes on this DVD.

Anyway, if you're buying this for nostalgia, I guess the price is right, so go ahead (but maybe get Volume 2 instead - it's cheaper). If you're buying this for a younger relative, then the rest of what I said is pretty much redundant - kids'll love it.
Perfect for anyone under the age of 7 (but watch out - if they watch this without previously owning any Mario games, DON'T let them get wind of the games - you'll have to fork out for them too!). Anyone else - only if you love Mario and/or have never seen any of these old cartoons.