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Post by mst3krom on May 2, 2008 12:04:37 GMT -5
315 - [glow=green,5,300][shadow=green,left,300]Teenage Caveman[/shadow][/glow] with shorts: [glow=blue,5,300][shadow=blue,left,300]Aquatic Wizards[/shadow][/glow] [glow=red,5,300][shadow=red,left,300]Catching Trouble[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on shorts:Aquatic Wizards ... now that's a stupid title, if I ever heard one. Anyway, a lesson about water skiing or an excuse to watch the ladies in bathing suits, you decide. During the second short, we're forced to hear a narrator talking about his boyfriend, Ross, a big game hunter who catches animals for the zoo, while inflicting upon them as much physical and mental trauma as he can in the process. Tom Servo couldn't have put it better when he said: "If you enjoyed Catching Trouble in any way, there's something wrong with you." Thoughts on movie:Oh, good, more Roger Corman. This time he's going right back to prehistory and tells us the story of a young tribesman, played by Robert Vaughn, who dared to discover more about the world around him, questioning so the law of the tribe. Nice ideas, but not that good of an execution. A thing I noticed during this viewing: Teenage Caveman is surprisingly similar to the 2004 Shymalon movie, The Village. Think about it, a young man tries to break the law and go beyond the limits of his community, the surrounding lands are guarded by a monster (the goofy-looking monster suit used in Teenage Caveman would later be used in the MSTied movie, Night of the Blood Beast) and both movies have incredibly lame and completely out-of-left-field endings. Oh, and they're both really bad too. Now I won't deny Teenage Caveman is a very dull and boring movie. But the reason why I think it's better than Shymalon's stink-ball, The Village, is because it's has a cheesy charm. Hell, even It Conquered the World at least had the goofy-looking killer pickle from outer space. Now I know I'm gonna get flamed for this, but M. Night Shymalon's pseudo-intellectual boring artsy crap can never reach the level of enjoyment I had seeing Robert Vaughn act like George of the Jungle. ;D Now try and top that, M. Night Shy-a-Puss! Note: Stock footage galore from three other MSTied movies: King Dinosaur, Robot Monster and She-Creature. The first two, being previous episodes, actually get recognized. Thoughts on episode:This episode is not a favorite of many, but I found it really enjoyable. The shorts are really good and provide a few big laughs before the main feature. Though, I should warn you, the second one could get unbearable, especially if you deeply hate seeing animals mistreated. The movie also gets some good riffing. And, why not, it's got so many weird situations, even the most simple riffs had me laughing out loud. It slows down a bit in the middle part, but then it gets up again providing some quality riffs right before the end. The host segments are a good bunch as well. It's a rainy day on the SOL and the guys are really bored. The Invention Exchange is one sided as Joel and the Bots come up with Rainy Day Ipecacs and the Mads' don't get to show their invention because they start fighting over it. The next one is one of my all time favorites, as the gang really make Ross, from the Catching Trouble short, suffer. Next Frank and Dr.F still keep fighting and J&tB discuss the theme of the movie. Finally, Servo and Crow spoof the ending and the Mads make up. Overall, a good episode that definitely a good time waster for rainy days. Favorite riff from short no.1: "And here's their teacher, Chad Slab-Body. Hello, Chad!" - Servo Favorite riff from short no.2: "Hey, he says he likes you as a friend, but he's not your boyfriend!" - Joel Favorite riff from movie: "Hey, cross your legs Robert, you can see the squirrel." - Crow Favorite host segment: Segment 1, I love every minute of it. Grade: **** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on May 3, 2008 10:10:16 GMT -5
317 - [glow=navy,5,300][shadow=navy,left,300]The Viking Women and the Sea Serpent[/shadow][/glow]
with short: [glow=purple,5,300][shadow=purple,left,300]The Home Economics Story[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on short:
A very long short about the importance of home economics study and teaching men and women about "home building". Don't know much about that, but, damn it, the hospital food was really rich in fat back then!
Thoughts on movie:
Two words: Roger Corman. That sums up the movie. If you expect the presence of viking women to make the movie more enjoyable, you're wrong. All we've got here is a paper-thin plot as the viking women and a guy named Todd, who gets his butt kicked every time, are captured by barbarians led by a guy wearing a sheep's pelt, when they venture out to look for their men. The movie's a bore, with plenty of boring dialog and many plot-holes. Though I was a bit surprised that Corman could afford matte paintings and special effects (well, as special as a sock puppet can get) for this movie.
Thoughts on episode:
The short featured here is one that has grown on me. I used to consider it merely average with only a few great lines, but now I hold it among the best. A big laugh from start to finish. The work on the feature doesn't do as well as on the short, in fact it's my less favorite from the Season 3 Corman trilogy. But, nevertheless, the guys don't let this one go and provide a good enough riffing to keep you from falling asleep. And trust me, without the guys, that'll certainly happen.
The host segments are on the weird side as they center on ... waffles?! The invention exchange is hilarious as the Mads invent reanimated chicken and Joel, hoped on waffles, comes up with the waffle flattener. The next segments are more or less funny ramblings about waffles with a reference to the Season 10 short, "Spring Fever".
Nothing much else too say here, if you can stomach through Corman's flicks give this one a whirl. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Favorite riff from short: (singing) "Look, look, look at my crotch ..." - Joel and Servo Favorite riff from movie: "Sorry about the costume, Corman's poodle died and he doesn't like to waste anything." - Crow as the barbarian chieftain Favorite host segment: Invention exchange, Frank fighting off the chicken is a gas ;D
Grade: **** out of *****
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Post by Donna SadCat Lady on May 3, 2008 14:14:36 GMT -5
I entirely agree with you about "Home Economics," King. Their riffing on that short is some of their best work, IMO. I never get tired of Joel's whispered "Listen to the flowers, they will tell you sweet secrets!" I've also never understood it. I also agree with you about the Invention Exchange with Frank fencing the chicken. A quintessential Mad experiment gone wrong in the funniest and most bizarre way. Pure comic gold!
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Post by mst3krom on May 4, 2008 12:53:30 GMT -5
406 - [glow=brown,5,300][shadow=brown,left,300]Attack of the Giant Leeches[/shadow][/glow]
with short: [glow=blue,5,300][shadow=blue,left,300]The Undersea Kingdom Part 1[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on short:
Another 12 chapters serial that rivals Phantom Creeps and Commando Cody in boredom, though this one is a little better. An over-dressed evil emperor wants to take over Atlantis and, then, over the world. At the same time an expedition led by Crash Coorigan (who played the alien in It! The Terror from Beyond Space)arrives at the underwater city. Then there's a lot of confusing horse chases, tanks with walking water-coolers and Crash accidentally groping a lady reporter. Also keep an eye out for Lon Chaney, Jr. in one of his first roles.
Thoughts on movie:
Another Corman film, but this time it's just produced by him, not directed. Made by the same guy who brought us Night of the Blood Beast (the score is the same and even two of the Steves from Blood Beast star here). A red-neck community is attacked by garbage bags, eh, I mean giant leeches. Then the townsfolk, being their own stupid incoherent selves, want to blow up the creatures out of the swamp with dynamite. A chunk-headed zoologist warns them not to, but they go ahead anyway. Also, there's a subplot about a fat grocer named Dave and his wife, who's cheating on him.
Thoughts on episode:
Wonder what made the guys change their short selections and go back to serials? Anyway, this first part receives some good riffing with a few big laughs along the way. But, by the time they do the second (and last) part, most of the riffing material just repeats itself. The movie does a bit better and riffing during the first half is great. A lot of great jokes are made at the expense of the blabbering red-necks, the drama unfolding between Dave and his wife and the skeptic sheriff (played by Gene Roth, who also plays a sheriff in Earth vs. The Spider). Unfortunately, the riffing grinds to a halt by the end with only a few minor chuckles.
The host segments, on other hand, are way better. The intro with the holo clowns from the previous episode, is hilarious. And it keeps going on with the invention exchange: Joel's Insty Adolescent Kit and Dr.F's leech. Frank, especially, gets the biggest laugh: "Say, this is the most action I've gotten ...". The next segment with villains in goofy get-ups starts tame, but ends with a big laugh. The coffee segment is a bit of a throw-away, but the "A Danger to Ourselves and Others" song more than makes up for it. Lastly, the gang discusses giant leeches and Dr.F removes Frank's leech (who's stayed a little bit too long).
Overall, a good episode. Not a brilliant classic like Night of the Blood Beast, but enjoyable nonetheless.
Favorite riff from short: "He's a great diplomat." - Crow Favorite riff from movie: "Thanks for comforting me with a gun." - Crow Favorite host segment: Segment 3, a perfect sketch for this kind of movie
Grade: ***1/2 out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on May 8, 2008 12:59:08 GMT -5
416 - [glow=beige,5,300][shadow=beige,left,300]Fire Maidens from Outer Space[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on movie:I gotta wonder where did the Brains find this one? You think a movie with that title would have some appeal, but no, it's just a painful dull parade of boredom and padding. Some astronauts discover some remote planet where, supposedly, the descendants of Atlantis established their new home. Yeah right! Other than that, all we have is long drawn out scenes of people sitting around, staring, wandering, dancing, looking endlessly at the camera, playing "Strangers in Paradise" music over and over again ... God, it's enough to drive you insane! And as a final insult they have a guy in a leotards with a stupid mask on who's supposed to be some sort of monster. Cy Roth, shame on you! Thoughts on episode:Considering the sheer dullness of this flick, the riffing seems quite good. There are some big laughs to be had (lots of stabs at the inappropriate music, the astronauts who are nothing but leering pigs and ... gas grenades ;D), but there are some quite patches as well. Still, it's enjoyable enough if you can get past the movie. But the real reason to see this episode is in the host segments. Right from the intro we are introduced to Crow's evil doppleganger, Timmy, and my favorite MST3K visitor ever. During the invention exchange Dr.F comes up with the Big Checkbook and Joel brings out the Cheese Sneaker. Next the gang discuss double entendre (Crow comes with a few too direct ones) and the Universal controller. Timmy, especially starts playing with it, and it really messes up Joel and Servo. You have to see for yourselves to believe it. Next up is one of my favorite segments: a little homage to "Aliens". Servo, especially cracks me up during this one. In the end, Servo and Crow are traumatized by the movie and, in Deep 13, Frank found a new friend ... well, sort of. Oh, and be sure to watch the theater seats during the movie segments. It seems Joel and the bots were not alone in there... A good episode improved by outstanding host segments. Timmy's the greatest! Favorite riff from movie: "Here, watch this, gi ... give me a dollar!" - Joel as the drunk old guy Favorite host segment: Segment 3, "Kill me, kill me ... say, Crow, would you mind killing me?" - Servo Grade: **** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on May 8, 2008 15:39:45 GMT -5
421 - [glow=maroon,5,300][shadow=maroon,left,300]Monster A-Go Go[/shadow][/glow] with short: [glow=pink,5,300][shadow=pink,left,300]Circus on Ice[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on short:A vivid example of what happens when you have to much time on your hands. I got to wonder, did people actually watched this? Were people's lives so empty they accepted everything as entertainment? Thoughts on movie:Whoever dug up this turd and decided to pad it out with more boring scenes and then release it upon the world, deserved to be beaten savagely. There is no hope of redemption for anything in this flick. It's beyond bad! The actors have no clue where they are, the lighting is so horrible that some of the actors' faces dissapear completely, the monster is a joke, it's poorly shot, it's padded to the max and the soundtrack will literally make your ears bleed. They even had a guy imitate a phone sound! You'll have to hear it that one for yourselves. Oh, and by the way, in the end, there was no monster! WHAT??!!! You mean I stayed through this for no reason at all?! Alright, get bent, movie, I'm outta here! Thoughts to episode:Despite the overwhelming badness of the movie, Joel and the Bots really earn their pay on this one and make it a better episode than it should be. The riffing was outstanding through-out and, I swear, if the guys hadn't given one of their best efforts, I wouldn't have survived with my mind unscathed. But the film isn't the only one that receives first class riffing. The short is great as well. The incredibly weird decision to combine ice skating with the circus inspires some great riffs from our boys. And the highlight is definitely Tom Servo's "Pink" song, in which the colour pink becomes truly evil. ;D The host segments aren't on par with the theater work, but they aren't too bad either. After all, with what host segments could you come up, when you're dealing with that nothingness of a movie? In the intro Crow and Servo go into the cheese business. Next an invention exchange contest: the Mads' Johnny Longtorso action figure sold separately (and I do mean separately) against J&tB's Informative Action Figures. It's no big surprise who wins since Frank is the judge. After that Gypsy doesn't get Crow and Servo, the guys have a ball game and discuss the Pina Colada song. And, lastly, Joel tries to cheer up the bots by dressing them as happy kings. No doubt a mind-numbingly bad movie, but one which I'd brave any day since this is a truly great episode. Favorite riff from short: "Bravely? That thing was grazing!" - Joel Favorite riff from movie: "There is one terrifying word in the world of nuclear physics." - Narrator / "OOPS!" - Servo Favorite host segment: Invention exchange, (singing) "Johnny Longtorso, Johnny Longtorso, the man who comes in pieces ..." - Dr.F and Frank Grade: ***** out of ***** Final grade on set: **** out of ***** A really good set that's worth checking out, but, be warned, the featured movies are a real bore. Next set: 309 - The Amazing Colossal Man 313 - Earth vs. The Spider 319 - War of the Colossal Beast 402 - The Giant Gila Monster 411 - The Magic Sword 420 - The Human Duplicators
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dharmabums
Nanite
By day, an ordinary comic magician...
Posts: 42
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Post by dharmabums on May 27, 2008 22:26:24 GMT -5
I'm really enjoying all these reviews! They're very, very well written and entertaining to read (I was excited to find that someone was writing these!) and for the most part, I agree with a lot of what you're saying. Keep 'em coming!
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Post by mst3krom on May 28, 2008 13:18:08 GMT -5
As you wish... 309 - [glow=orange,5,300][shadow=orange,left,300]The Amazing Colossal Man[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on movie:"What kind of sin can a man commit in a single lifetime to bring this upon himself?" - Glen Well, if you're gonna run stupidly into an atomic testing zone, that's what you gonna get, Glen. But, anyway, this little entry from MST regular Bert I. Gordon, isn't all that bad. Sure it's got quite a few campy and cheesy moments (Glen wearing an expandable diaper and walking around Las Vegas picking up various huge objects like a crown or a shoe, not to mention the giant syringe) as well as bad science (single celled heart, my a**), but all in all, it's a pretty decent '50s flick and probably one of the best sci-fi ever shown on the show. More than made up for Bert I.'s previous disaster, King Dinosaur. But, still, I'm not letting you off the hook that easy, B.I.G.! Thoughts on episode:I don't why, but whenever the gang takes on one of these cheesy '50s features, somehow it makes the experience more enjoyable. Maybe it's just me, I have a thing for these old flicks, but Joel and the Bots, in my opinion, turn this little movie into comedy gold. The riffing starts out good, but it really lets loose as soon as Glen starts growing. J&tB don't miss a beat and every crackpot idea the movie puts forth, they twist it around and get a big laugh at the result. One of the best parts is one of the scenes where Glen snaps and goes paranoid on an army sergeant: "You're not gonna put me again in your mouth, are you Sir?" - Joel as the sergeant The host segments also, aren't only great, in fact, they're among the best ever. The opening with Crow and Servo hiding from Joel is really funny. The invention exchange is clever too, as the Mads come up with a plant that reviews music (played by Kevin Murphy, in his first screen appearance) and Joel with the Non-Permanent Tattoo. Crow and Servo being "sensitive" to Joel is also hilarious. Next up, Joel starts whining and complaining like Glen (gotta love the questions the bots ask him ;D) and they even get a visit from the real Amazing Colossal Man (superbly played by Mike Nelson). In the end J&tB discuss things the Colossal Man could have done and Dr.F takes out his own giant syringe. Guess who's he gonna use it on? An outstanding episode and one I'd highly recommend. You can't go wrong with a whiny diaper wearing giant. Favorite riff from movie: "Oh, my goodness, my fiancé's a sumo wrestler!" - Joel as Glen's fiancée Favorite host segment: Segment 3, a classic visit. "Who do you know that can take a satellite to the gut?" Grade: ****1/2 out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on May 28, 2008 16:27:00 GMT -5
313 - [glow=purple,5,300][shadow=purple,left,300]Earth vs. The Spider[/shadow][/glow] with short: [glow=navy,5,300][shadow=navy,left,300]Speech: Using Your Voice[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on short:Just another one of those instructional shorts that can help you be a better public speaker. Well, it does point out that plenty of lip and tongue action is a must, so it's most definitely useful. Thoughts on movie:Now let's see: Bert I. already ripped off "The Incredible Shrinking Man" with the complete reversal "The Amazing Colossal Man" and "The Attack of the Puppet People". What to do next? How about a rip-off of another one of Jack Arnold's movies, this time "Tarantula". Let's give it a title similar to "Earth vs. Flying Saucers" too. You gotta hand to good ol' Bert, his films may be complete rip-offs, but they're still enjoyable in a cheesy way at least (except for King Dinosaur, of course). Only it would have been better if they tried at least to fix some of the process shots. In some parts it looked like hell. Nevertheless, the movie is entertaining enough, albeit in a '50s B-movie way. Also look for a less than subtle product placement: a poster of "The Amazing Colossal Man" and a mention of "The Attack of the Puppet People". Thoughts on episode:The reason which makes this episode worth checking out is that Josh Weinstein, the original Tom Servo puppeteer and Dr.F's original henchman, gets mentioned. Once in the invention exchange when Dr.F and Frank both do his trademark "Thank you!" and in the theater segments when one character who looks remarkably similar to Josh gets munched by the spider. It's good to know that the Brains still remember the beginning days. Other than that, the riffing on both the short and the feature is great as one would expect. I loved the jokes J&tB pull on the professor from the short and, as for the main feature, they go with the flow of the movie and that's what makes it more entertaining. Be sure to watch for a reference to the "X Marks the Spot" short and, since where on the subject of big bugs, a reference to the famous "Them!". The host segments are pretty good too. They start out with an interview of sorts or it could be a spoof of some of those talk-shows on TV. The invention exchange is composed this time of the Mads' Cheese Phone and Joel's CD player hair dryer. Not very memorable, but interesting. In next one Crow presents his first screenplay, "Earth vs. Soup", which would be mentioned quite a lot in future eps (in "The Incredible Melting Man" it actually gets produced and released as a trailer). The next segment is a bit odd as J&tB form a rock band and the janitor from the film stops by (a little bit of host segment arrangement error as in the theater segments they haven't gotten to the part where the janitor is introduced). The dangerous toys segment is very funny, but doesn't really stand out that much. Although I liked the end segment, where Servo and Crow presents their essays on Bert I. Gordon. Gotta love how Crow mixes Bert I.'s filmography with that of Orson Welles. Also in Deep 13, there's a big need for sawdust. ;D Another great episode from the great Season 3. Just keep 'em coming boys, we ain't done with Mr. B.I.G. just yet. Favorite riff from short: "He's got it all wrong, he's the dummy and the ventriloquist." - Joel Favorite riff from movie: "You know, that spider's really neat, but there's something more interesting on that wall over there." - Joel Favorite host segment: Segment 1, "Earth vs. Soup" ... you know something, it just might work. Grade: ****1/2 out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 2, 2008 12:43:23 GMT -5
319 – [glow=red,5,300][shadow=red,left,300]War of the Colossal Beast[/shadow][/glow]
with short: [glow=blue,5,300][shadow=blue,left,300]Mr. B Natural[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on short:
Possibly the weirdest short ever shown on the show. An androgynous pixie visits a lonely boy and teaches him about the value of music by prancing around in a goofy getup. Ahh … they don’t make ‘em like this nowadays, now do they?
Thoughts on movie:
Dr.F describes this sequel perfectly in the opening: Unwanted, Uncalled for, Unnecessary. I could use it to describe a few sequels myself. But anyway, what was the point of this movie anyway, besides showing more colossal man (of which I’m all in favor of). It gets quite a few things wrong (in the original Glen didn’t have a family, and now, all of a sudden, he has a sister), and, for the most time, there’s a lot of sitting around, while Glen is captured. Not to mention the anti-climatic ending where the B&W movie suddenly turns color!
But, on the good side, Glen has this time quite a badass look. Must have spooked several people back in the day when he first showed up in the movie.
Thoughts on episode:
Has this ever happened to you: you come across an episode that’s largely not that talked about, and you love it so much, you think it’s one of the greatest episodes ever? Well, that’s how I feel about this one. Oh, sure the short is considered a classic and there’s no denying that (the terror the bots display through-out the whole thing is priceless), but since they are in top shape through-out the movie as well is enough to add this one among my favorites. And, of course there are plenty of things to mock: the goofy plan to capture Glen with drugged bread, the occasional sub-plots that pop out of nowhere and, my personal favorite, the scenes where Glen is captured and brought to an abandoned hangar, which inspire some of the best riffing ever from our boys.
The host segments are also really funny. The opening with the different names for Mexican food gets me every time (be sure to watch for a little blooper and see how Joel flawlessly moves on). The invention exchange is also food themed as the Dr.F tries out his Breakfast Bazooka on Frank and J&tB unleash their Between-Meals Mortar. The spirited discussion between Servo and Crow to decide if Mr. B Natural is a man or a woman is one of my favorites. Then we get another visit from Glen (Mike Nelson). Though it’s not as funny as the last time, it’s fun to see that Glen became friendlier this time around. The KTLA segment, on the other hand, is forgettable. In the end, J&tB read letters (and so does Glen), as Dr.F keeps having fun with his bazooka.
A classic episode, that more than deserves its place among the greats. Musical pixies terrorizing little boys, a giant crushing everything in his path, superb riffing, great host segments … a definite must-see.
Favorite riff from short: “I think Oscar Wilde only wished he was this gay.” – Joel Favorite riff from movie: “Everybody’s afraid of the Red Cross in this movie.” – Joel Favorite host segment: Segment 1, hilarious, simply hilarious …
Grade: ***** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 2, 2008 15:48:51 GMT -5
402 - [glow=green,5,300][shadow=green,left,300]The Giant Gila Monster[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on movie: There's one word to describe this movie: BORING!It's not one of the most horrible films on the show, but it's really tedious. I swear, if it wasn't for the giant gila monster, there wouldn't be any redeeming factor: the characters are uninteresting and get in the way more times than you can count, the plot wanders around without any goal and you barely understand anything the characters say (really bad sound recording here). Also, what's with all the knee-up positions? Was the director trying to make a point or was he completely clueless? cough::latter::cough Thoughts on episode:A pretty good episode, though I expected something a little better. The riffing is steady enough with a lot of play on the goofy characters, but there are also quite a few dead spots. But, a few moments of sheer brilliance (an interplay between the sheriff and the town drunk turns into an Abbott and Costello/ Marx Brothers sketch) make this a fun episode in my book. The host segments are the ones that really shine here. It opens with a funny experiment as Crow and Servo become the thing with two heads (wonder if they wanted that movie for an experiment). The invention exchange is middle of the road. Joel's TV shows radio station is forgettable, but the Mads' invention, Ren-Fest punching bags is one of the best ever, accompanied by one of TV's Frank's best performances. The cafeteria reenactment scene is hilarious as well (Joel plays the "Stupid Jerk" ). The drunk segment starts out good, but loses steam by the end. However, Servo and Cambot's research on the knee-up positions from the film is great. In the end, J&tB start another rock band and receive a letter from TV's Frank. A good episode, no doubt, though, for experiments about giant lizards on the loose, the guys have done better in the past. Favorite riff from movie: "Gotta go drain the lizard, gotta go drain the lizard, real bad..." - Crow as the Gila monster Favorite host segment: Segment 3, another great montage... Grade: ***1/2 out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 3, 2008 12:49:22 GMT -5
411 - [glow=orange,5,300][shadow=orange,left,300]The Magic Sword[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on movie:
Bert I. Gordon branches out and goes into the fantasy genre. The result is a typical fairy tale of a knight who sets out to free the princess he loves from an evil sorcerer and his two-headed dragon. Surprisingly, it’s a fairly good movie, considering it came from Mr. B.I.G himself. If you’re into fantasy films, you should be able to enjoy this one. Notable mentions among the cast are Gary Lockwood, Basil Rathbone and Estelle Winwood. There’s also an uncredited Richard Kiel, but I haven’t been able to spot him.
Thoughts on episode:
Pretty good, I must say. It’s not as excellent as the Season 3 Bert I. episodes, but it’s got a steady paced riffing and plenty of laugh-out loud moments to make it worthwhile. There are quite a few references that got me the giggles: “Open the pod bay doors, Hal!” (Gary Lockwood starred in 2001: A Space Odyssey), as well as the many jabs at the many mystical elements: a troll that looks like a cross between Teddy Ruxpin and Ron Perlman, the wild antics of Estelle the witch, the evil sorcerer’s minions who look suspiciously like mimes, and many, many more.
The host segments are on the same level as well. In the intro Joel becomes a caricaturist and draws Gypsy. Then, in the invention exchange, Joel and the bots present “Big Gulp Berets” and Frank tests out Dr.F’s nuclear absorbent throw-pillows. Next up, it’s the very funny “Basil Rathbone dog food” segment. After that, Joel, Crow and Gypsy pretend to be medieval characters, but, of course, Servo gets a bit too serious. Then we find out that Crow has another crush: on Estelle! In the end, J&tB discuss words you can’t say on TV (a George Carlin reference) and we find out that Frank may have absorbed a bit too much nuclear waste.
A good episode and another Bert I. Gordon film turned into great comedy. No surprise here. ;D
Favorite riff from movie: “Dragon trainer?! … They’re kidding us, right?” – Servo Favorite host segment: A tie between Segment 2 and 3, Servo practically owns both of ‘em
Grade: **** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 6, 2008 14:17:49 GMT -5
420 - [glow=navy,5,300][shadow=navy,left,300]The Human Duplicators[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on movie:Richard Kiel stars as a huge alien named Kolos who's sent to earth by some supreme beings to create a race of androids. Why? Who cares, it's a movie. Once there, he takes a cybernetics professor hostage and begins to built robot duplicates of some of the world's most brilliant scientists. Investigating this matter are Hugh Beaumont, in his most crankiest performance ever, a smug N.I.A. agent and his obnoxious girlfriend, who's an undercover agent, as well. Of course, Kolos' plans fall apart when he falls in love with the professor's niece, and, in the end, it's ends with a typical nonsensical battle, and everyone goes home happy. Say what you will, but this movie is way better than Kiel's other well-known MSTied movie, "Eegah!". It can drag at times and some of the effects are downright laughable (the androids are supposed to be invincible, but one bump to the noggin and their head shatters like fine porcelain), but it's so cheesy, you can't turn it down. At least we don't have to see Kiel's tongue in this one. Thoughts on episode:Season 4 has always had this hit-or-miss trend, but, towards the end, they got their act together and came up with some great episodes. And this is no exception. This movie was standard made for MST3K. A lot of good stuff is particularly targeted at the characters, especially Kiel and Beaumont (the guys mimicking Kiel's accent and playing on Beaumont's surly personality is a riot). Not only that, but there are many situations to joke about as well: a gut-bursting scene where an android robs a research center (that looks more like a motel), the part where the N.I.A. agent discovers a bunch of androids stored in coffins and the secret laboratory is a laugh as well (not to mention his escape from the bad guys' prison) and the end fight where everybody starts beating up everyone else. The host segments are a joy to watch as well. In the intro the bots ask Joel for a few updates (Servo, especially, has quite a lot in mind). The invention exchange isn't that memorable as the Mads' laugh hysterically as they present the "William Conrad Fridge Alert" (sounds more fun than it is) and Joel brings out his Beanie Chopper. Next, is the "Build your own spaceship" crafts project that ends on a really awkward note. Inspired by the movie, Tom duplicates himself into hundreds of clones, that ... don't do his bidding that well. Next up, it's one of my favorite host segments: Hugh Beaumont visits the Satellite of Love, once again. Mike Nelson easily tops his previous performance in Lost Continent. The moment where Hugh blows his top is a gas. In the end, Servo and Crow confess to Joel that they're robots (?!) and, in Deep 13, the fridge alert pays off. A cheesy Richard Kiel movie that'll make you laugh 'till you cry. What are you waiting for? Favorite riff from movie: "You must never create a robot that can out-smart you." - Professor / "Too late, Joel!" - Servo Favorite host segment: Segment 3, Hugh's back and he's mad as hell! Grade: ****1/2 out of ***** Final grade on set: ****1/2 out of ***** A great BIG set with some of the best episodes that you'll ever see. Highly recommended. Next set: 305 - Stranded in Space 322 - Master Ninja I 324 - Master Ninja II 401 - Space Travelers 403 - City Limits 405 - Being from Another Planet
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 7, 2008 13:42:26 GMT -5
305 - [glow=yellow,5,300][shadow=yellow,left,300]Stranded in Space[/shadow][/glow] Thoughts on movie:STRANDED ... IN ... SPACE!!! ... Doesn't have the same impact? I thought so. Mainly this is the story of an astronaut that, during a spaceship flight, has a seizure and then wakes up in a parallel universe that looks a lot like earth. Except the planet is called Terra (yeah, right ), everyone is left-handed, they all listen to marching music on the radio and there's no Florida. Oh, and there's some evil organization led by Cameron Mitchell (Santa from Space Mutiny) that's after him. Basically, think of this as The Fugitive and Equilibrium combined with a parallel dimension thrown in for interest. Nope, I don't buy it. Plus, this movie (well, a canceled TV pilot) is incredibly boring, predictable and, just not that exciting. I'd say skip it and watch the other two previous movies instead. Thoughts on episode:Try as they might, Joel and the bots barely make this a worthy experiment. The movie's boredom gets in the way more times than you can count. There are a few noteworthy riffs like the astronauts spazzing out in the beginning, the fact that no-one never heard of Florida, a grandpa that gets high and Crow's hilarious references to "Silence of the Lambs", but other than it's mostly forgettable stuff. The host segments are a little better, but not by much. At first, Joel turns the robots into a shooting gallery. Then it's the battle of the "BANG" flags in the invention exchange. Next it follows up with the bots' TV shows card collections, a discussion about what Ward E is and J&tB acting like TV shows thugs. In the end, Joel and Crow try to pitch a TV show idea to Servo and Forrester and Frank dress up as the bad guys from the movie. Season 3 has many great episodes, but this is not one of them. Might be worth at least a look for completists. Favorite riff from movie: "Uh-huh, that's good smack, uh-huh-huh!" - Joel as grandpa Favorite host segment: Segment 2, the Ward E segment is the best of the bunch Grade: ** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 8, 2008 14:23:27 GMT -5
322 - [glow=teal,5,300][shadow=teal,left,300]Master Ninja I[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on movie:
Just like Fugitive Alien and Riding with Death, this "movie" is actually two episodes of some '80s TV show called "The Master" stitched together. On the good side, they're two consecutive episodes, so it's a bit more coherent. Timothy Van Patten and Lee Van Cleef star as a snot-nosed punk and an old ninja with a beer belly (that suddenly disappears when he's in the ninja costume ... stunt double!). Together they team up to find Lee's long lost daughter, while, on the way, helping out those who are in trouble. And I guess you can figure out how it goes on from here.
Thoughts on episode:
Well, what can I say about my first MST3K episode I experienced? When I first found it, I thought it was an asian karate film, like Drunken Master. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was an '80s film with Lee Van Cleef as the ninja. Talk about an MST wake-up call. It didn't have that much of an impact to me back then, (since it was overshadowed by my next episode, Prince of Space, an episode that I loved it from the start and I still do) but, over time, it grew on me and I've grown to appreciate it more. It's definitely not an A+ episode, but it's a fun one. There are many riffs that get me, most of them targeted, as expected, on Timothy Van Patten and Lee Van Cleef and their student-mentor relationship. Plus, in the second part there's also this ex-dancer that looks remarkably like Jack Perkins who's also a hoot ("Prancing Ninny", he-he...).
The host segments are mostly middle-of-the-road. The intro comes out of left field ... and stays there. The invention exchange is better with Dr.F's Intravenous Dinner and Joel's Adult Pop-Up Books (and a hilarious end to the segment). The Van Patten project isn't all that funny, but the Theme Song showdown redeems it. We then visit an old gag from the early days of KTMA, the num-clucks, as well as other 'chucks. It ends with the annoying Master Ninja Theme Song (not as annoying as Servo's JEEED! from Leech Woman, but still .... and they play this one during the ending credits too) and Frank getting back at Forrester.
An episode that just got a well deserved grade boost from me. It's a lot of fun and one I'll never forget.
Favorite riff from movie: "The tranquility of post-war Japan?!" - Joel Favorite host segment: Invention Exchange, "Who says a coma can't be delicious?" - Frank
Grade: **** out of *****
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