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Post by Phantom Engineer on Nov 5, 2003 0:15:57 GMT -5
I think this one, like all of them, is based more on copywrite avilability than content. It's just economics, they can't afford to chose just anything. Hamlet is public domain.
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Post by mauto on Nov 5, 2003 14:02:29 GMT -5
Hamlet is in Public Domain? Rhino's cheap. That's all there is to it. I love Space Mutiny, and I really like Girl in Gold Boots. But Hamlet....eh, it's really one of the very few poor episodes. I would agree that Hamlet is not a very good episode. But then again I'm not a Shakespear fan anyhow. I can't understand what they are talking about. The rest of the episodes are good, so I have no problem with the others. I hope they stop delaying the release.
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donmac
Moderator Emeritus
Beedee Beedee Beedee This Sucks!
Posts: 1,290
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Post by donmac on Nov 5, 2003 20:30:59 GMT -5
The Screaming Skull is also in the Public Domain, so they could've done that one instead of Hamlet. (Then again, maybe the Gumby short isn't in the PD and there are rights issues with it.)
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Post by Unsavory on Nov 5, 2003 20:35:06 GMT -5
Hamlet was somewhat of a snooze fest. The movie was boring, but not bad enough to fuel the good MST3K material we're all used to.
My ultimate box set would be The Brute Man, The Final Sacrifice, Zombie Nightmare, and Santa Claus.
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Post by Skyroniter on Nov 5, 2003 22:29:37 GMT -5
Hamlet has NO moments that I recall. It is one of the few episodes that I don't really want to sit through again. I will soon though as I am watching all episodes in order of broadcast and am up to 912. Better start taking my vitamins now.... I will try to give Hamlet an open minded view soon. And I likely will buy the set as I want to support the Brains for all their fine efforts over the years.
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Post by Unsavory on Nov 6, 2003 2:22:08 GMT -5
Mocking of Joe Don Baker? Huh. I must have already fallen asleep by then because I don't remember that. Sounds funny though!
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Post by Unsavory on Nov 6, 2003 21:55:52 GMT -5
I'll definitely check it out. I don't know how I could have missed it.
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Post by mightyjack on Nov 6, 2003 22:30:39 GMT -5
Hamlet, gah... I finally FORCED myself to watch it for the review.
The one big laugh I had was when the Kings making out with the Queen and Polonius steps in, Crow has the King saying...
"What is it 'cold water on the groin', I mean Polonius"
I'll get it to support the Brains, but I'd take anything over Hamlet. I wonder about the Gumby short too, they left it off of "Assignment Venezuela" tape. They can air, but perhaps video/DVD rights aren't secured? I dunno...
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Post by Unsavory on Nov 6, 2003 23:27:41 GMT -5
Wasn't there a news post not too long ago on the Satellite News about a court case involving the public domain?
I was under the impression that there are NO public domain movies that are featured on the show, but I may have misread something.
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Post by Afgncaap5 on Nov 7, 2003 0:13:52 GMT -5
I dunno. I hated Hamlet the first time I watched it. Then I read Hamlet, critically analyzed the play, and forced myself to figure out what the dialogue all meant.
Then I watched it and it was hilarious. I dunno, maybe you just have to be in the right mood for it. Not sure if I'd think it was quite as funny the 3rd/4th time around as it was the 2nd/3rd.
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donmac
Moderator Emeritus
Beedee Beedee Beedee This Sucks!
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Post by donmac on Nov 9, 2003 23:52:54 GMT -5
I have some books on the Public Domain and plan to eventually do a write-up for the site on it. And there were a number of Public Domain movies featured on MST, such as Giant Gila Monster, Teenagers From Outer Space, The Screaming Skull, The Phantom Planet, The Killer Shrews, The Commando Cody serial, Ring of Terror, Attack of the Giant Leeches, Crash of the Moons, Teenage Crimewave, Bride of the Monster, Invasion USA and a number of others. Also, I think both Santa Claus and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians are in the PD as well.
Some of Rhino's releases have been of episodes with Public Domain movies (such as Eegah!, The Brain That Wouldn't Die, and The Atomic Brain), so why they haven't released other PD titles makes no sense.
(P.S. There was a new PD law in 1998 that extended existing copyrights for an additional 20 years, but anything that was already in the PD stayed in the PD, such as all the movies above.)
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Post by Unsavory on Nov 10, 2003 1:32:30 GMT -5
That would be a great addition to the site. I had no idea that there were that many public domain movies used on MST3K.
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Post by mightyjack on Nov 10, 2003 18:52:01 GMT -5
Money makes the world go 'round. Truth is, we are a devoted but small army. If the MST episodes made Rhino bucketfulls of cash they might be more inclinded to release not only more episodes, but DVD's with a lot more extra's. A running Commentary by the cast and crew would be sweet for example.
I am grateful that Rhino releases what they do. But at times, they seem clueless, I.E their re-release of the Monkees (Music) box set, which you would think, would have been better and bigger than the initial release. It wasn't, in fact it's a weaker version.
Why do that?
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Post by mightyjack on Nov 10, 2003 19:19:22 GMT -5
I hear what your saying and that's true for the movie rights, but there are other costs to consider.
Still, If they are releasing episodes then they are at least making back something on the investment of producing of the items. I.E, the raw materials to create the DVD and box with art, merchandising costs, the percentage paid to Best Brains, etc
They wouldn't make them if they were losing money. But I wonder what their profit margin is? If it were huge then I think they'd be more aggressive than they have been of late.
I think we make them money, just not a large enough pile of it.
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Trumpy
Tibby
Look at that crappy special effect-how'd they get away with that?
Posts: 62
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Post by Trumpy on Nov 10, 2003 19:26:51 GMT -5
Rhino just doesn't care: as long as we buy whatever they put out it doesn't matter to them what episodes they release. Not only that, they are poor quality. One of my DVDs has a crack in it (not my fault) and the boxed set box is falling apart. They act as if putting the uncut version of a movie is a "special" feature. Yeah, like people are dying to see the uncut, non-MST version of The Wild World of Batwoman. They also screwed up some covers by putting a Joel picture for Mike episodes. I shouldn't complain that much though--at least a company is sensible enough to put out some episodes for us.
Notice how the next few weeks of SciFi eps are the same ones that are in the new boxed set?
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