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Post by natesean on Jun 20, 2011 15:21:15 GMT -5
There's another thing that makes me actually like Rifftrax even more. Don't get me wrong. I love MST3K and some of my best high school moments were spent busting a gut at Tom, Crow Mike and Joel. Gypsy too.
But lets face it. MST3K didn't endure because of the puppets alone. It's major selling point was that it was three guys making fun of the movie. People had been doing that for years and MST3K basically capitalized on that concept and invited a whole generation of people to really hurt bad movies. (Even the relatively good ones have to open the Seven Cuts of Shame)
While the segments involving the bots, Mads, Joel and Mike could be funny, it was the commentaries that had you busting a gut. Which, when you take away the fancy packaging is just what Rifftrax is.
To me, it's just more honest and somehow even funnier when I know it's Kevin and Bill, not just Tom and Crow. I also like that it's mixed up with different commentators like Neil Patrick Harris, Doug Walker, and Mary Jo Pehl. (We need Joel, Trace, Frank and Elvis to do one to make the circle complete) And I like how they invite you to do your own commentary and try to see if it gains success. (As soon as I have the recording equipment necessary there are a few childhood favorites I plan to take great pains to hurt)
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Post by beljah on Jun 22, 2011 13:03:12 GMT -5
While the segments involving the bots, Mads, Joel and Mike could be funny, it was the commentaries that had you busting a gut. Which, when you take away the fancy packaging is just what Rifftrax is. To me, it's just more honest and somehow even funnier when I know it's Kevin and Bill, not just Tom and Crow. Agree completely. I like the fact that when they shifted from the Film Crew to Rifftrax the Introductory and Intermission segments, while not horrible, were dropped. Same for Cinematic Titanic when they started doing live DVDs. I like just getting through the movie, it improves the flow IMO. And it's also nice to know the people making the riff are the actual people and not personas. Finally, you don't need a premise to to riff on a film. I know what you do, just get down to it. It's a great time to be a MSTie, even though there haven't been any new shows for over a decade and it's been off the air since 2004. I still love the 'bots, but life goes on and trying to recapture the past isn't a fruitful venture.
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brett66
Anteater
with bernaise sauce
Posts: 7
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Post by brett66 on Dec 2, 2012 20:09:10 GMT -5
I think the delivery was better when the riffs were filtered through their respective MST characters. It was more of a subdued sarcasm, and had an added dimension of humor in that they were being forced to watch those movies. Now it mostly feels like the guys are overly aware that people are paying for the commentaries and so they have to "sound" funnier and stretch out jokes longer.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2012 18:49:47 GMT -5
I think the delivery was better when the riffs were filtered through their respective MST characters. It was more of a subdued sarcasm, and had an added dimension of humor in that they were being forced to watch those movies. Now it mostly feels like the guys are overly aware that people are paying for the commentaries and so they have to "sound" funnier and stretch out jokes longer. Nailed it.
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Post by tracedrbillcrow on Feb 14, 2013 2:38:36 GMT -5
Couldn't disagree more on that last comment. I think everyone has basically acknowledged the differences and why it would be welcome & why it would also be a terrible idea.
If you guys are saying that the writing's different, that's because you have to remember that we live in a different age and they always kept up with the headlines and most of pop culture so that to me is what seals the deal because so many other older comedy groups who get together for reunions just rely on the nostalgia alone and they're relying on that plus more.
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Post by Cubey on Feb 14, 2013 3:24:36 GMT -5
I think the delivery was better when the riffs were filtered through their respective MST characters. It was more of a subdued sarcasm, and had an added dimension of humor in that they were being forced to watch those movies. Now it mostly feels like the guys are overly aware that people are paying for the commentaries and so they have to "sound" funnier and stretch out jokes longer. At times Rifftrax seems like they are trying too hard. And some of the jokes are too immature. I can't quote something off hand.. but it seems a little less intelligent than MST3k did at times. They reference current pop culture TOO much at times I think. MST3k had jokes that could appeal to a wide range of viewers. Rifftrax seems to be trying to be trying to appeal to a much more narrow audience. Maybe it's due to being mostly an internet source instead of television.. I don't know. CT seems to be more in tune with MST3k in style.. and not just due to the silhouettes. They stick to crappy B movies only from what I have seen. I mostly enjoy the Rifftrax shorts since they are similar to MST3k in content... the old educational shorts and the like.
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Post by Who Let Servo Drive on Feb 10, 2014 11:40:52 GMT -5
But lets face it. MST3K didn't endure because of the puppets alone. It's major selling point was that it was three guys making fun of the movie. Ok, yes, it's been two and a half years since you wrote this, but I have to differ, for my part. I don't think there was one major thing that sold the show. It was a synthesis of amusing things that really captivated me. I think if you took any one of them out it would seriously affect how fabulously entertaining the show continues to be today, even when seen for the umpteenth time. I've seen video of panel discussions at conventions in which the folks who made the show speak with a bit of embarrassment about the host segments, saying that they put a lot of time and effort into them when in fact all the viewers really cared about was the riffing. I completely disagree! I love the host segments. The time and effort they put into them created some of the quirkiest, most endearing and even fully-realized characters I've seen on TV, despite the absurd concept, homemade sets and the fact that two of them were puppets. The trio in space were perfectly balanced by that deeply dysfunctional but oddly endearing duo in Deep 13. Both on the SOL and in Deep 13 you were served a strange stew of quirky character traits filtered through every sci fi genre known to man. It was pure entertainment, and most importantly, it connected the riffing with characters you really enjoyed and dare I say it even cared about. That's what I think is missing from Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic. Disembodied voices saying sarcastic things about movies can get really annoying really quickly, unless you "know" them -- in which case it can be a very fun experience. Don't get me wrong, I find Rifftrax amusing (CT less so). Mike's still a funny guy. But it's a bit soulless. I think that's why there will always be so much pining for the bots and Joel/Mike for that matter. It's not just nostalgia -- the riffing was just more fun that way.
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Post by zombiewhacker on Feb 21, 2014 3:35:47 GMT -5
That's what I think is missing from Rifftrax and Cinematic Titanic. Disembodied voices saying sarcastic things about movies can get really annoying really quickly, unless you "know" them -- in which case it can be a very fun experience. Don't get me wrong, I find Rifftrax amusing (CT less so). Mike's still a funny guy. But it's a bit soulless. I think that's why there will always be so much pining for the bots and Joel/Mike for that matter. It's not just nostalgia -- the riffing was just more fun that way. Agreed. I think that's why I prefer the Rifftrax live shows. Just watching the three of them interacting on stage, even briefly, as well as hearing the audience reacting to them, gives the live shows a quality that the standard, pre-recorded Rifftrax episodes lack.
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Post by posturepal on Feb 21, 2014 9:46:56 GMT -5
Actually, the host segments were by far the highlights for me in the early MST3K years. Probably because I was young and I didn't get a lot of the riffs (I got much more into the movies later). I would watch the clock in anticipation of the host segments. And yes, the movies and riffs were also fun because of that character development from the host segments. RT and CT are great, but a lot of it is kinda like catching up with friends to reminisce. The MST3K experience can't be fully recaptured for me. There was also something so innocent about MST3K in that much of the riffing was lighthearted to a point. Most of the episodes can be on TV with kids around (particularly the Joel eps), but that's not so with CT (even Joel swearing, Nooo!) or Rifftrax. I guess what I'm saying is I enjoy the goofier humor and not the biting, adult-oriented humor.
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Post by Mantis on Mar 15, 2014 10:28:40 GMT -5
I do wish they would do the silhouettes like CT did but keep in mind it would run up costs just a bit. Doing a voice over is cheap compared to timing silhouettes over a video. Still I do believe Rifftrax should test the water by buying rights to use the bots and then having some episodes where they guest riff.
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