Post by Commander Kalgan on Jan 1, 2009 15:59:49 GMT -5
I thought I'd add my two cents and try doing a review of an episode. Since this is my first ever MST3K review, I decided to pick an episode I had seen many, many times- enough to have practically memorized the whole thing. Since I spent my first year and a half of MSTie-dom with only 23 episodes I had taped on Sci Fi, I decided on Giant Spider Invasion. OK, enough with the intro- let's get down to business.
Post opening skit: Servo is a cheerleader. He wants an "A", but the best Mike and Crow can give him is a "MRxL"
I like how Mike and Crow won't even play along with Servo's cheerleader bit. In the days of Joel and the early Mike episodes, this is the kind of thing they would all have happily joined in on.
First segment: Pearl, Bobo, & Brain Guy are on the Camping Planet, and have found some strange zucchinis, or whatever they are...
So, 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers', huh? OK, seems out of the blue, but I can dig it. Does anybody notice how hyper Servo has been up to this point? Also, the routine with Servo hitting Crow & Mike with the canoe is a variation on the old 'board gag', that goes all the way back to vaudeville.
Second segment: Something's not quite right with Gypsy.
Gypsy actually comes off as calmly sinister in this segment. It's accentuated by Crow and Tom not getting it. Can't they see Gypsy's blatant hypno-eye?
Third segment: Mike & The Bots try to stay awake, but Crow goes overboard.
Do Crow & Servo actually need to sleep? Anyway...Crow overdoes it on caffeine, and freaks out. (One of his drinks is Surge. Remember Surge?) Crow's caffeine overdose continues into the theater, and his rapid heartbeat slowly trails off after a minute or so.
Fourth segment: Servo vs. Pod Servo.
Pod Servo makes a pretty convincing argument that he's the real Tom, but reasonably concludes that nobody in their right mind would have an underwear collection. He's right, you know.
Ending segment: Pod Crow & Pod Servo attack Mike, and it's all up to Bobo to save the universe.
Did you notice Crow's eyes get flipped around backwards when Mike "hits" him, then tries to twist them back around? Pearl makes the guy watch the movie again! Can't she just wait for the rerun?
Okay, now for the movie. Dear God, another Bill Rebane movie! Hasn't he learned his lesson? Seriously though, even though this movie stinks, at least it has a storyline that you can follow all the way through. I had no idea Wisconsin was so "Southern". I also like how the actors are clearly enjoying themselves. The riffing is very good on this one. A lot of it probably has to do with the movie being Wisconsin-based, so many jokes hit close to home for the Brains. They throw in several Minnesota vs. Wisconsin jokes, and I'll bet there were a bunch of these left on the writer's room floor due to lack of time. Alan Hale is relentlessly picked on by Mike & the Bots, using many of the same kinds of jokes they used on Joe Don Baker and The Fat Chairman (from Overdrawn at The Memory Bank), tempered with the jokes about Gilligan's Island. Even Alan Hale can't distract them from the disgusting, repulsive Dan Kester (played by Robert Easton). This guy is what makes the movie worth riffing. He's a goldmine for riffs, and boy, do the guys deliver. Once he's been eaten by the spider, the riffs noticeably slow down. Also of note are the jokes about Barbara Hale and Doughy Guy rolling, Ev Kester's nonstop drinking, and Dutch's tainted meat sandwiches. Stinger: Jeweler Charlie Manson's witty retort.
Favorite riffs:
Mike: "It's a Giant Spider Invasion of savings at Menard's!"
Preacher: The joy you're feeling right now is only the beginning!
Mike: "It'd better be."
Crow: "Not a joke, but an incredible simulation."
Mike: "I love tick infested hounds, slaughterin' a deer, and beer."
Crow: "Oh, Alan!"
Servo: "He's the urpy sheriff, with a delicate constitution!"
(During mob scene)
Crow: "Free Bobby Seale!"
Servo: "Free Mumia!"
Mike: "Free beer!"
Crow: "I feel shaky, oh so trembly, I've had whiskey and vodka and GIIIINN!!"
Servo: "Man, he's somethin'! When I was his age, I never went on out there."
Crow: "I'm the twin brother of Dutch, a man you murdered!"
Post opening skit: Servo is a cheerleader. He wants an "A", but the best Mike and Crow can give him is a "MRxL"
I like how Mike and Crow won't even play along with Servo's cheerleader bit. In the days of Joel and the early Mike episodes, this is the kind of thing they would all have happily joined in on.
First segment: Pearl, Bobo, & Brain Guy are on the Camping Planet, and have found some strange zucchinis, or whatever they are...
So, 'Invasion Of The Body Snatchers', huh? OK, seems out of the blue, but I can dig it. Does anybody notice how hyper Servo has been up to this point? Also, the routine with Servo hitting Crow & Mike with the canoe is a variation on the old 'board gag', that goes all the way back to vaudeville.
Second segment: Something's not quite right with Gypsy.
Gypsy actually comes off as calmly sinister in this segment. It's accentuated by Crow and Tom not getting it. Can't they see Gypsy's blatant hypno-eye?
Third segment: Mike & The Bots try to stay awake, but Crow goes overboard.
Do Crow & Servo actually need to sleep? Anyway...Crow overdoes it on caffeine, and freaks out. (One of his drinks is Surge. Remember Surge?) Crow's caffeine overdose continues into the theater, and his rapid heartbeat slowly trails off after a minute or so.
Fourth segment: Servo vs. Pod Servo.
Pod Servo makes a pretty convincing argument that he's the real Tom, but reasonably concludes that nobody in their right mind would have an underwear collection. He's right, you know.
Ending segment: Pod Crow & Pod Servo attack Mike, and it's all up to Bobo to save the universe.
Did you notice Crow's eyes get flipped around backwards when Mike "hits" him, then tries to twist them back around? Pearl makes the guy watch the movie again! Can't she just wait for the rerun?
Okay, now for the movie. Dear God, another Bill Rebane movie! Hasn't he learned his lesson? Seriously though, even though this movie stinks, at least it has a storyline that you can follow all the way through. I had no idea Wisconsin was so "Southern". I also like how the actors are clearly enjoying themselves. The riffing is very good on this one. A lot of it probably has to do with the movie being Wisconsin-based, so many jokes hit close to home for the Brains. They throw in several Minnesota vs. Wisconsin jokes, and I'll bet there were a bunch of these left on the writer's room floor due to lack of time. Alan Hale is relentlessly picked on by Mike & the Bots, using many of the same kinds of jokes they used on Joe Don Baker and The Fat Chairman (from Overdrawn at The Memory Bank), tempered with the jokes about Gilligan's Island. Even Alan Hale can't distract them from the disgusting, repulsive Dan Kester (played by Robert Easton). This guy is what makes the movie worth riffing. He's a goldmine for riffs, and boy, do the guys deliver. Once he's been eaten by the spider, the riffs noticeably slow down. Also of note are the jokes about Barbara Hale and Doughy Guy rolling, Ev Kester's nonstop drinking, and Dutch's tainted meat sandwiches. Stinger: Jeweler Charlie Manson's witty retort.
Favorite riffs:
Mike: "It's a Giant Spider Invasion of savings at Menard's!"
Preacher: The joy you're feeling right now is only the beginning!
Mike: "It'd better be."
Crow: "Not a joke, but an incredible simulation."
Mike: "I love tick infested hounds, slaughterin' a deer, and beer."
Crow: "Oh, Alan!"
Servo: "He's the urpy sheriff, with a delicate constitution!"
(During mob scene)
Crow: "Free Bobby Seale!"
Servo: "Free Mumia!"
Mike: "Free beer!"
Crow: "I feel shaky, oh so trembly, I've had whiskey and vodka and GIIIINN!!"
Servo: "Man, he's somethin'! When I was his age, I never went on out there."
Crow: "I'm the twin brother of Dutch, a man you murdered!"
