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Post by mst3krom on Mar 9, 2008 10:00:45 GMT -5
Gamera vs. Barugon was a pretty good episode last time I saw it. You forgot to mention one of the best riffs: "The monster can destroy everything with its tongue." - General "You try saying that without laughing." -Crow
I haven't seen Stranded in Space (no idea why it's called that) in a long time and I'm not that excited to see it again.
However, I loved Time of the Apes. A japanese rip-off of Planet of the Apes? I need to get to my Joel episode reviews faster. I can't wait to see this one again.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 9, 2008 15:14:03 GMT -5
Want some?
Next episode!
307-Daddy-O w/short Alphabet Antics
Short:
A terrifying little short where children are neglected, animals tortured and foreign nations embarrassed.
Movie:
Phil, trucker and part-time crooner with a pants impediment, has a run-in on the road with the bitchy Janet. They later meet up at the local bar where, after a quick song by Phil, they bet each other to a drag race. During the race Phil’s friend Sonny is run off the road by the portly and villainous Mr. Chillas and his no-sighted side-kick Bruce.
Phil and Janet team up to investigate and infiltrate Mr. Chillas’s drug smuggling ring, Phil adopts the name Pete Plum. There’s a climactic fight in a wine cellar, Phil gets the girl and thankfully he doesn’t sing again.
Host Segments:
Prologue: The boys talk around the water cooler. Segment 1: The air-freshener mobile. The alien face-hugger teething nook. Segment 2: The Pants Up song. Segment 3: Tom and Crow race. Segment 4: Joel demonstrates spit-takes but is interrupted by Bruce. Segment 5: Joel studies the apple-hitting scene and tries it out, Frank does the same. The button’s broken.
Things that I noticed: -Whoever played the giant baby does a pretty good job of emulating one.
-It isn’t obvious until Segment 3 when he’s close to the camera, but Joel is sporting a goatee; it just isn’t as defined as when he had it in Season 2.
-I’ve gotta say, Mike looks pretty good in that tight shirt.
-The broken button bit is a neat, unexpected variation that works pretty well and breaks the fourth wall.
Favorite riffs or quotes: Tom: What the hell is checher?!?!
Crow: Its evil!
Narrator: ...and run, cheif run. Tom: And unsafe toys for everyone!
Narrator: They say the Dutch make very good cheese and it’s true. Tom: It’ll plug you up for an hour or two.
Phil: She could’ve pulled away from me in two seconds with that car. Joel: Yeah, but she was delirious from the smell of bleach!
Crow: He’s singing the left side of the menu!
Janet: I know what you’ve got on your mind. Joel: Yeah, like six handfuls of Pomade.
Tom: I hate all of you, you inanimate objects! You mock me with your silence.
Joel: Bruce’s Gym, now with three full pieces of equipment.
Tom: Look at that set, looks like he’s going to beam up.
Crow: She got her backfat caught in the door, she’s trapped!
Overall: The short is easy to tear about and they do so thoroughly with great results.
The film easily lends itself to riffing and isn’t that bad on its own which makes it easier to follow, especially during the musical numbers. The riffing stays about on par with the last episode, albeit a little slower. The host segments are all winners, especially the extended Segment 5. Another highly recommended episode, though maybe not quite as highly as 306.
Score: A-
Leave a comment, this means you!
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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 11, 2008 16:58:32 GMT -5
Okay, before I finish writing my next review for 308, I’d like to take the opportunity to introduce a new element to my review thread: MST3K: The Eras.
Basically I’ve taken the entire series, chopped it up into different distinct eras in its history based on general episode quality and behind-the-scenes goings on. Most of these eras are then divided into different periods (usually with a witty and descriptive name).
I think this system is a good, easy to understand, organized way to interpret the evolution of the show.
The chart (to the point of where I am in reviews):
Pre-History
The Primordial Era K00 to K22
The Medieval Era 101 to 113
The Renaissance Change in Form-201 to 205 Change in Function-206 to 211
The Early Classical Era Pre-Classical Transitive Period-212 to 308
As my reviews progress, at the beginning of each era/period I will write up a description of why I’ve separated and labeled it as such. I’ll also give a general grade as to the quality.
Note: I haven’t actually reviewed the KTMA/first seasons as I own hardly any of the episodes so descriptions of those eras should be fairly succinct.
Enjoy this bold new area of MST3k reviewing, I know I will!
Leave a comment, concerns, praise, etc.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 11, 2008 19:26:00 GMT -5
Before I start reviewing, a bit of...
Pre-History, The Gathering Storm:
MST3K as we know it was spawned by the meeting of two camps: the creative camp and the production camp. I'll start by discussing the creative camp, headed by Joel.
In the beginning, there was Joel...
Joel Hodgson, an aspiring and somewhat well-known comedian from the midwest had made a name for himself throughout the early 80's as a creative and comedic genius; appearing a dozen or so times on Letterman, SNL and HBO specials.
While in LA, Joel became disillusioned with the Hollywood ideal and in his pursuit to not be fitted into a mold, quit comedy and headed back to Minnesota. There, he taught a comedy class to a (very) young Josh Weinstein. Soon after in another class Hodgson met the young stand-up: Trace Beaulieu.
The Production camp:
Jim Mallon, a free sprit from Wisconson, was a low-budget director working at KTMA 23 as the production manager. He and fellow employee, Kevin Murphy, created their own content at the station.
The Beginning:
In early 1988, the head of the station instructed Mallon to make a show to fill up two hours. Mallon went to Hodgson, whom he had met previously and asked for his help. Not long after, Joel got an idea for a show set in the not-too-distant-future.
The two camps merged and the founding fathers of MST3K; Hodgson, Mallon, Murphy, Beaulieu and Weinstein; set out to make a new type of show.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 11, 2008 20:26:18 GMT -5
Running through these quickly...
KTMA: The Primordial Era Low-budget TV at its best. The crew did their best with what little money they had and small amount of time to prepare for each show. Generally, KTMA episodes are bad. Very bad. The host segments are pretty scarce and the theater segments, while improvisation can be fun, are very lacking. They do have an undeniable charm however. But its beyond me how a cable channel could pick up a series based on it. These should really only be watched as a a history lesson and not for serious enjoyment.
Era Grade: D-
Season 1: The Medieval Era A step up from KTMA, that's for sure. At the start of the season, Weinstein had recruited a comedian he had met to join the writing staff, Mike Nelson. The added writing and organization definatly helped the show get better, but the sets were crude, the host segments usually pretty lame and the theater segments still sparse.
Interesting to note though, most of the inventions presented were directly from Joel's act and the most thought-out, technical and good inventions presented on the show. Hell in a handbag, anyone?
Era Grade: D+
Next time...the show evolves quickly in form and function...
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Post by quinnmartin on Mar 12, 2008 8:37:32 GMT -5
Running through these quickly... KTMA: The Primordial EraLow-budget TV at its best. The crew did their best with what little money they had and small amount of time to prepare for each show. Generally, KTMA episodes are bad. Very bad. The host segments are pretty scarce and the theater segments, while improvisation can be fun, are very lacking. They do have an undeniable charm however. But its beyond me how a cable channel could pick up a series based on it. These should really only be watched as a a history lesson and not for serious enjoyment. Era Grade: D-Season 1: The Medieval EraA step up from KTMA, that's for sure. At the start of the season, Weinstein had recruited a comedian he had met to join the writing staff, Mike Nelson. The added writing and organization definatly helped the show get better, but the sets were crude, the host segments usually pretty lame and the theater segments still sparse. Interesting to note though, most of the inventions presented were directly from Joel's act and the most thought-out, technical and good inventions presented on the show. Hell in a handbag, anyone? Era Grade: D+Next time...the show evolves quickly in form and function... You mention earlier you own hardly any of these episodes...so which episodes are you basing your era ratings on? In both seasons the quality varies pretty wildly.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 12, 2008 9:32:18 GMT -5
Good question. I was considering putting that information in, but just plum forgot!
Back when I first got into MST3K, I went to a tape seller and, being poor-ish, decided to go cheap and instead of buying KTMA and Season 1, just get everything else.
From KTMA I've seen everything on the scrapbook tape, which I assume they considered their "best" efforts (its what they sent to the Comedy Channel) plus some stuff on youtube.
For Season 1, I own 101, 104 and 113. I've watched 111 (which I kind of liked a little) on Youtube along with bits and pieces of other Season 1 episodes.
I'd call my viewership of those episodes scattershot at best, but good enough to get a general feeling of the seasons. I have a feeling one more episode of either season isn't going to make me drastically change my scores.
Have no fear though, I own all of the other episodes. My previous and future reviews are based on actual viewings. I just wanted to get those first two out of the way.
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Post by mst3krom on Mar 16, 2008 1:04:23 GMT -5
Are you going to make an individual review of all the Season 1 episodes once you get them all or are you just going to leave it at that? It'd be a shame, I like some of the early efforts the Brains made and, even though there are a lot of quite patches during the theater segments, I'd gladly rank some of them above quite a few of their later efforts.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 16, 2008 12:57:12 GMT -5
Once I go through the REST of the episodes I have (up to 1013), I'll start getting Season 1 written.
But for now, I'm giving reviewing a small break. Spring break is coming to a close and next week I have some late midterm papers that need my attention.
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Post by Fred Burroughs on Jul 13, 2009 5:53:58 GMT -5
Wow don't listen to that one jerk from page 2. Your reviews are great, keep up the good work.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Jul 16, 2009 13:00:34 GMT -5
Well...Ok. It might take a bit to get back into it, but I'll try.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Feb 23, 2010 19:21:31 GMT -5
Dear god…sorry about the wait. Life got distracting.
Next episode!
308-Gamera vs. Gaos
Movie:
A greedy construction company wants to build an expressway through rural Japan but the farmers in the area don’t want to part with their land. Tensions run high as the yellow helmeted construction workers and the pitchfork-toting farmers square off. Only a little fat boy can stop the insanity. Truly a modern tale for our time. A symbolic post-modern drama between urban and rural Japan. Truly Shakespearean in its depth of range.
Or…it’s just all a cheap framing device for giant monster fighting. They occasionally eat people, destroy buildings and swim in fountains of blood. It helps if you try and forget that they’re just sweaty Japanese guys in rubber suits.
Host Segments:
Prologue: The bots have a raspy conversation. Segment 1: Gypsy is the Sunday Night Mystery Movie. The Mads make personality printers. The fax machine/Kleenex dispenser. Segment 2: Joel does a craft project. Segment 3: The Gameradamerung. Segment 4: Crow does Sullivan, Joel spins turtle plates. Segment 5: Tom and Joel discuss ways to snuff Gaos, Crow takes it too far.
Things that I noticed:
-Joel shaved off his goatee.
-Look at Frank’s face after he says “tiny, itchy diodes”. Hilarious.
-Crow makes reference to Rex Dart: Eskimo Spy.
-Crow understandably mixes up Itchy with Kenny. Personally, I hate both.
-Gypsy would make an interesting Gertrude Stein.
-Like in the movie, there are yellow helmets scattered around in Segment 5.
Favorite riffs or quotes:
Dr. F: Walk quietly among other men but know their power, for they are your enemies. Quietly crush them as you work diligently through the night. Pay attention to the man behind the curtain, for he is your ally. Drink deeply and lustfully from the foamy drought of evil. Do it to the other guy before he does it to you and be bad to the bone. Won’t you? Thank you.
Goofy guy: Even when there’s a chance there’ll be another eruption? Crow: On my face?
Crow: We thought it would be funny to split a helicopter in half…
Forman: Bring the stuff along. Crow: Yeah, bring the stuff, the crap and the junk.
Crow: Welcome to this week’s edition of Eat the Press.
Overall:
As with every Japanese movie they do, it’s goofy enough on its own. The riffing only adds to the fun. The little kid in this one is more annoying than Kenny ever was, though. So points off for that.
Good paced riffing, much like Daddy-O. Not the best quality, but enough to make it a pretty good episode. The host segments are okay, but nothing really sticks out. A solid episode all around.
Score: B+
Leave a comment, this means you!
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Post by Justin T on Feb 25, 2010 16:38:17 GMT -5
Been going back and reading some of these, I agree with you on the two Godzilla episodes. I really enjoyed both of them. I saw Pod People for the first time last weekend and I loved it. Hilarious
I really enjoy your reviews, keep em coming.
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Post by Diet Kolos on Mar 1, 2010 0:46:40 GMT -5
What sin…could a man commit in a single lifetime to bring this upon himself? Ah! No!
Next episode!
309-The Amazing Colossal Man
Movie:
What’s the title say? Ok, then.
Meet Glenn. Glenn’s a colonel in the Army which is conducting nuclear tests with soldiers close enough that they can run a short distance towards the bomb and be utter annihilated. They HAD to of known about radiation poisoning by then, right? Right? Anyways, Glenn gets shredded by the bomb but lives. This is one of those situations where it’s better to die, I’d think.
His fiancée Carol is at the hospital and gets her emotions verbally assaulted whilst her man gets treated. He magically gets better but seemingly disappears, much to Carol’s dismay. Carol goes on a trek to find her irradiated guy but it ultimately leads to tragedy, sorrow and giant sarongs. Like most marriages…in Hawaii.
Host Segments:
Prologue: The bots are hiding from Joel in their Super Secret Chocolate Fudgy Cardboard Batcave. Segment 1: The music reviewing plant, non-permanent tattoos. Segment 2: Joel tries to teach the bots about sensitivity. They don’t quite get it. Segment 3: Joel is Glenn Manning. He’s not taking it well. Ah! No! Segment 4: Joel and the bots meet Glenn. Segment 5: Joel and the bots discuss things that they’d do if giant. Frank gets a shot.
Things that I noticed:
-You can clearly see the top of Kevin’s head during the invention exchange before Frank turns on the music.
-The movie looks blue, as did Daddy-O. I’m not entirely sure why. It may have had something to do with the older chroma key effect that they used at the time.
-The Brains had a field day with the insensitive hospital scene; it not only makes for a great series of riffs but also a good host segment.
-The scientists in this movie are so full of crap it almost makes me angry.
-In Segment 3 Joel REALLY hams it up and god bless him; I love every second of it.
-How many fish can you name.
-I HATE that annoying “eating” noise that Kevin does whenever someone is eating or drinking. Hate it. It’s annoying and gross sounding and it often goes on waaayyy too long.
Favorite riffs or quotes:
Frank: …we’ve slaved bleak, horrible hours in our stifling lab, our knotty gnarled hands doing black, unspeakable things: twisting God's work into our own hellish, slithering, mutatious…things.
Sergeant: Can we smoke, sir? Joel: I don’t care if you burst into flames.
Carol: We met in the funniest way. Crow: Playin’ chicken with trains.
Crow: Yeah, poor bum's screams were muffled by a throat full of his own blood.
Crow: S enters Korean Wa!
Joel: How do I feel? I feel huge; I’m a fifty-foot man! Oh! Ooh! No!
Announcer: Is he alive or dead? Servo: Or Memorex?
Scientist: I’ve got the answer! Joel: It’s Coco Puffs, Bob! I have no idea why, but it works!
Carol: How did you happen to learn how to fly a helicopter? Tom: I can’t! AGGGHHHHHHHH!!!
Overall:
Ah, the classic 50’s B-Movie, it’s what MST3K was made for. The cheap sets, bad dialogue and awful, awful scientific know-how is the perfect fodder for MST3K. Other bad 50’s B&W movies will be done by the show but this one…this is the standard episode by which all others should be judged. It’s a careful deconstruction of the film, both in and out of the theater, without being TOO harsh on it that perfectly illustrates why this show exists. A must-see.
Score: A+
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Post by Diet Kolos on Feb 7, 2011 14:48:32 GMT -5
Almost a year between reviews! Bad, reviewer, bad!
Next episode!
(count how many time’s “Ken” is said)
310-Star Force: Fugitive Alien I
Movie: A long time ago (the 70’s specifically), in a galaxy far, far across the Pacific…
Earth is being attacked by the Wolf Raiders, a group of aliens from across the galaxy who excel in random thuggery and foppish hats. Most prominent among them is Ken (no last name), a human who, because of his life on another planet, has developed super strength and a great tan. At least compared to his fellow raiders.
Ken is enjoying his life as a hired goon (and who wouldn’t?) until he has an encounter with a little boy, also named Ken (natch). Ken’s (main Ken’s) conscience catches up with him and in a struggle to save the boy, Ken kills his comrade. Ken flees and is now a fugitive, therefore becoming titular in the process.
Ken finds himself on board the Thurston Howell, III, er…Backus III, er…Bachus III. Yes, that’s it. The oldest ship in Earth’s fleet. Piloted by Joe. The drunkest Captain in Earth’s fleet. Along with Tammy, Rocky and some other guys.
Upon arriving Joe finds that his family is dead. He finds Ken trying to steal the ship and, realizing who he is, blackmails him into joining his crew.
With the plot firmly in place, the movie goes off on its goofy, Japanese way.
Host Segments:
Prologue: The bots are farm animals. Joel’s a dairy farmer. Segment 1: Dr F. demonstrates the orbital-oto-rhino-laryngological dropper on Frank. Joel plays the musical chair. Jack Perkins! Wow! Segment 2: Joel and the bots have a hat party. It is unclear whose hat is the grandest. Segment 3: Joel has an episode and pretends he’s Captain Joe. Cigar, Ken? Segment 4: Joel employs Syd Field’s movie guide in an attempt to understand what’s going on. The Mads also try, but have to attend to Jack Perkins first. Segment 5: Joel shows off his buttons to the still chicken-costumed bots. Letters about the Cool Thing which Joel reiterates was just Mexican stoplight candy. Jack Perkins gets a make-over courtesy of the Mads.
Things that I noticed:
-Orbital-oto-rhino-laryngological = Eye-ear-nose-throat. It sounds funnier the way the Mads present it.
-Another rare instance where they reference a future movie. Tom mentions the rescue scene in Marooned, aka Space Travelers. This is the second time they’ve referenced the movie.
-What the hell’s a hat party? The term “hat party” is used several times through season 3. Is it an inside joke with BBI? Do hat parties actually exist?
-After segment 2, the cardboard cutout of the theater seats doesn’t extend all the way to the left side of the screen. A small sliver of the movie behind it is visible.
-As displayed in my synopsis of the film, the plot is rather dense and does not lend to short explanation. I can sympathize with everyone in Segment 4.
Favorite riffs or quotes:
Joel: These hens just aren’t producing. I’m gonna have to spray y’all with insecticide.
Joel: It’s an intriguing mix of genocide and modern dance.
Crow: Is everybody named Ken? Joel: What gives? Planet of the Kens? Crow: A planet where Kens…
Tom: Between Ken and Ken lies…obsession.
Crow: I’m a crappy special effect!
Joel: Now I’m going to spank you, big time.
Crow: No one can beat me at snap-zooms; I was in Time of the Apes!
Joel: New! From the Franklin Mint!
Overall:
Just as the previous episode perfectly encapsulated the show’s connection to the cheesy 50’s B-Movie, this episode is probably the quintessential Japanese episode.
Fugitive Alien is not a rubber monster movie like the Gamera or Godzilla films so it doesn’t get bogged down with 20-minute monster fights. It isn’t as incomprehensibly bad as Mighty Jack or Time of the Apes, so it has a plot and characters that aren’t coming and going with no rhyme or reason.
Its just goofy enough that its distinctively Japanese, but it doesn’t go overboard to become unwatchable. And because of it, the riffing is able to flower and it lends the episode itself to easy viewing.
The riffs are fast and constantly funny. There are instantly classic moments (“forklift” in particular). The host segments are also classic, with the sudden and unexplained first appearance of Jack Perkins who quickly wears on the Mads. The only low-point is probably the buttons bit from Segment 5 as Joel clearly is having a hard time remembering his lines and flubs over a few. But, it doesn’t last too long.
Great episode. Highly recommended.
Score: A+
Leave a comment, this means you!
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