October 25, 2007
The Wizard Reunion @ Alamo Drafthouse
In an unprecedented programming feat of nostalgia and star power, the Alamo Drafthouse has announced it will screen The Wizard--the awesome/corny paean to all things Nintendo--with cast members Fred Savage, Luke Edwards (the titular wizard) and director Todd Holland live in the theatre on December 7th!
Sure, The Wizard was really just a 100-minute commercial for Super Mario Brothers 3. But oh what a commercial it was. Starring a just-barely-into-The Wonder Years Fred Savage, a pre-Rilo Kiley Jenny Lewis, a fresh-from-Heathers Christian Slater, and a bitty lil' Tobey Maguire, The Wizard followed a classic 80's kids-vs-evil-adults plot line in which Fred Savage and his autistic videogame-savant younger brother flee their crappy home lives to compete in the California Video Game Championship, and along the way, they encounter a sassy Jenny Lewis, play a lot of Metroid, Mega Man and Zelda, meet kids clad in Vision Streetwear, and experience extreme fetishization of the Mattel NES Power Glove.
In the world of The Wizard, even the adults are obsessed with video games--well, just Nintendo games--and you will get to hear Beau Bridges boast "I got to Mecha-Turtle!" while playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After many quasi-sensical plot twists, the Video Game Championship finale scene (which conveniently unveiled Super Mario Brothers 3 to audiences just in time for the '89 Christmas season) takes place in an elaborate "industrial" arena that really captures the late 80's vision of the FUTURISTIC 90's, with all the promise of virtual reality and Nickelodeon Guts that vision portended.
Whether you're a gamer looking for an excuse to wear your Power Glove out on the town, a Fred Savage fan looking for a close brush with your idol, or just another stylish ironist in fake Wayfarers panting over anything from the 80's-90's cusp, this event is not to be missed. But watch out, because when The Wizard reunion tickets go on sale on Monday, November 5th at noon, they're gonna go fast. Remember, all the Nintendo babies in Austin who now have IT jobs are going to be at work all poised to click "Buy Tickets" as soon as they go on sale. See you there!
The Wizard w/ Cast and Director Live!
Friday, December 7th
Alamo Drafthouse Downtown
7pm & 10pm, Tickets avail. Nov. 5th at Noon
[Tickets]
[More Info]
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omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg omg!
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What, no Jenny Lewis? How else are we supposed to know that in the 80s there were sassy girl gamers, too?
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I totally just squealed out loud at work. yesyesyesyesyes!!!!! I hope all Luke Edwards says the entire time is "California," and breaks out into some Newsies songs.
Don't get me started on Fred Savage. I can barely breathe.....
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callleeefffooorrrniiiiaaaa
i wish lucas was there with his powerglove.
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I heard that every time Fred Savage puts on a condom, he refers to it as his Power Glove.
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"I love the PowerGlove...it's so bad."
&
"Billy found the WARP ZONE!!!"
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gimme gimme gimme jimmmyyyyy woooodddsss!
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...i saw this movie in the theatre...
I like to say there is some other snarky quip but that's it. right there.
I saw this movie in the theatre...
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Aw man, I wish there was "The Wizard" gathering here in Los Angeles. Maybe American Cinematheque could arrange another reunion :)