MovieChat Forums > The Wizard (1989) Discussion > How did they know about the warp whistle...

How did they know about the warp whistle?


SMB 3 was revealed for the first time, so how could anyone know about that? Did Jimmy possess psychic powers?

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Also how did he know how to use items acquired such as the whistle.

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I was wondering the same thing. Obviously a plot hole.

Poorly Lived and Poorly Died, Poorly Buried and No One Cried

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Remember when Hailey bought the Power Magazines to help Jimmy. Perhaps they learned of the Warp Whistle there. Just a thought. When they reveal SMB3 none of them look particularly surprised. They also knew about getting the Star at the end of each level. Jimmy knew how to fly. Perhaps he was simply more observant when he read his Nintendo Power than Lucas or what's-her-face were.

Or a huge plot hole. One of the two.

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That might explain it, although I am sure SMB3 was a complete surprise in order to pit the players in a game that none would have any experience with.

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Nope, not possible. Keep in mind that this was supposed to be the worlds first look at Mario 3. Nintendo Power wouldn't feature these tips and neither would the help line.

When they reveal SMB3 none of them look particularly surprised


You need to watch the movie again, because EVERYONE looked surprised. The whole point was that this was the worlds introduction to Mario 3.

They also knew about getting the Star at the end of each level. Jimmy knew how to fly. Perhaps he was simply more observant when he read his Nintendo Power than Lucas or what's-her-face were.


All plot holes as well. They shouldn't know ANY of that because this was supposed to be the first time ANYONE had seen or played the game outside of Nintendo.

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You need to watch the movie again, because EVERYONE looked surprised. The whole point was that this was the worlds introduction to Mario 3.


I've seen it many times. Know it pretty well. When the MC tells them that they will need to play a new game, they look surprised. When he says "SUPER.....MARIO BROTHERS........THREEEEEEEE!!!!!" and the screens open up, there is no reaction from any of them. Doesn't seem to match the reaction one would expect for such an anticipated title.

But I digress. Yes, plot hole, and an intentional one. There is no way Jimmy, Corey or Hailey would have or should have known about any of the details of the game. They did, in order to showcase them for the film.

Nintendo Power wouldn't feature these tips and neither would the help line.


Is this conjecture, or do you know? I'm genuinely curious. I was only 7 when SMB 3 was released. I remember SMW pretty well, but was simply too young to remember at this point. Does anybody know if Nintendo Power had this kind of information about SMB 3 before it was released? Really doesn't matter, just a curiosity.

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I've seen it many times. Know it pretty well. When the MC tells them that they will need to play a new game, they look surprised. When he says "SUPER.....MARIO BROTHERS........THREEEEEEEE!!!!!" and the screens open up, there is no reaction from any of them. Doesn't seem to match the reaction one would expect for such an anticipated title.


Anticipation for games wasn't the same then as it is now. You didn't have sites like IGN or GameSpy. If you didn't follow the video game magazines, you probably didn't know what games were coming out.

I just rewatched the scene and realized there's no actual reaction shots. He announces Mario 3 and all we see is it show up on the three screens, then Lucas walks towards his station. There's a roar from the crowd, but that's pretty much it.

But I digress. Yes, plot hole, and an intentional one. There is no way Jimmy, Corey or Hailey would have or should have known about any of the details of the game. They did, in order to showcase them for the film.


Intentional? It's not even necessary. This plot hole only exists to create false tension. Jimmy is losing because he died twice. But then that tension is immediately ruined by Jimmy magically knowing about items that he shouldn't even know exists.

Is this conjecture, or do you know? I'm genuinely curious. I was only 7 when SMB 3 was released. I remember SMW pretty well, but was simply too young to remember at this point. Does anybody know if Nintendo Power had this kind of information about SMB 3 before it was released? Really doesn't matter, just a curiosity.


Mario 3 was released in NA on February 12, 1990. The first mention of Mario 3 in the magazine, as far as I can tell, was in December 1989(Volume 9), but it's in a story about The Wizard. So the story wouldn't exist in the context of the movie.

The first real article about the game was in volume 10, which was a "making of" behind the scenes story. The first tips in the magazine came in the April\March 1990 issue(volume 11). After the games actual release and well after the movie was released, let alone shot. :P

http://nintendo.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_Power_volumes#1988

The new home of Welcome to Planet Bob: http://kingofbob.blogspot.ca/

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Y'all are forgetting he's the wizard lol he picks up video games like it's nothing, plus could have just been trial and error when he first started playing, I mean he did lose more lives than the other players, but probably still wouldn't have known bout the whistles location or to get the star at the end of the level

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The US aint the world, the game had already been released in Japan (23rd October 1988), the movie was filmed the 5th of June 1989 to 25th of July 1989 and released the 15th of December 1989, the reveal was only for those in NA and the PAL region (9th February 1990 and 29th August 1991 respectively).

They probbly knew about this because of that fact.

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They repeatedly yelled "A new game? That's not fair!" They knew nothing of this game btw. But keep in mind guys its a kids movie meant to sell Nintendo games, this always bothered me even as a kid, but I quickly stopped being bothered when I used that secret to get the warp whistle myself in Mario 3 lol.

Just let stuff like this go.

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Because the writers needed Haley to talk about it and Jimmy needed a quick way to get ahead since he was losing at that point. It was just some cheap screen writing.

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Super Mario 3 was released in 1988 in Japan. Before the internet, it would've been a stretch for the kids to get tips from Japan about games that weren't released in the US. Not impossible though.



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They were calling the Nintendo Power Hotline, who would not be giving out tips for games that haven't been released. Not to mention it would be pointless to ask since Jimmy couldn't have possibly practiced any tips they did pick up, seeing as they didn't have access to the game.

The new home of Welcome to Planet Bob: http://kingofbob.blogspot.ca/

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He's the freakin wizard is how he did that

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That always bugged me as a kid. Of course, if it wasn't for the movie, I wouldn't have known about that first Warp Whistle.

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Because.............California

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