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Post by eimag on Dec 10, 2009 1:07:44 GMT -5
Thanks for all the support thus far, and now we're onto the first non sci fi movie and my first guilty pleasure......
Untamed Youth
I am a tad ashamed to admit I love these old-fashioned 50s teen rebel movies. Dated as they are, the innocence and the fact that music with a somewhat quick tempo and that was just a tad more direct in it's sexual references than the popular music of the time just amuses me to no end. It's hard to believe that the events by the characters in this film were considered bad and dangerous. Not the smug sexist pigs that are Tropp and the Sheriff. That continues to be pathetic to this day.
Apparently alcohol was used during the writing of the episode, and I don't necessarily know if it shows or not, but this is the first real embracing of the goofy nature of the crew's writing. Not just puns and observations, they make the kinds of jokes that require you to know on one level to understand the level that the joke is on. The first scene in the cotton field is a perfect example. The talks between the Sheriff and the other worker was wonderfully sublime.
That said, it's still far far from the greatness the show would show. There were many times where I didn't laugh at all, and was disappointed between the second and third host segments, the riffs were again sparse, and not very good. And the final stretch wasn't that good either, but I admit I was a little caught up in the story.
What's odd about this film and it's my weakness as a viewer, but all the offensive stuff (smug men aside) doesn't bother me, because the film seems like it's in a time capsule. The world of the movie is so self-contained that I don't see how anyone could be mad at it. It's not a good movie, of course, the plot stinks, the characters aside from the fry cook are boring and predictable, but the songs and mentality of it's protagonists make it feel as earthly as the ground they're forced to work on.
If'n you love slang and 50's innocence, step right up for some Untamed Youth. Don't worry, it's 50's Untamed, so it's PG at best.
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Post by eimag on Dec 11, 2009 4:18:10 GMT -5
The only episode I had never watched prior to this undertaking.....
The Black Scorpion
For me, the spit take wasn't worth it. The party at the beginning of the episode was apparently just a setup to get Joel to spit out his punch. At least it was brief. But this episode was home to one of Dr. F's funniest moments, his appearance as a skeleton, complete with even more Trace puppetry, just sold the whole concept to me. I love it when I see something completely ridiculous try to act serious, and Trace speaks his lines with such unflappable determination I couldn't not laugh when the two Mads were on screen.
This movie was hard to pay attention to. I have to admit though, the scorpions were really really cool. They looked horrifying and the scenes where they attacked the trains and people were very fun to watch, but the close ups of the scorpions got to be too much, and not as in too terrifying, as in TOO MANY CLOSEUPS! A rule of horror is that such devices are better used sparingly, and there wasn't any of that here. Though, that may be a good thing, considering the story and the characters were as interesting and charasmatic as stale dog poop.
If you want a synopsis of the story, think of Gamera, but make it set in mexico, and scorpions instead of a giant turtle. Juanito is about as annoying, but not as psychopathic. Sure he gets everyone in danger, but at least he's brushed away and pretty much disappears after that. The two Americans who "save the day": Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland Bland.
The skit with the cast speaking Spanish is a version of an old joke done well. I admit I've seen this sort of gag many times, and admit embarrassingly that the first time was during an episode of Home Improvement, but here the text was silly enough (seriously, in Crow's long translation, pause it and read all of it) and the scenery made up for it. The last time we would see such a simply decorated Satellite of Love.
All in all, an okay episode, good for season one, a minor decent ep overall.
With The Black Scorpion, my look at Season One ends. I really liked where the show was here, in it's own way it was really humble and unassuming about what it did. It wasn't prop heavy, the sketches were nicely paced, the riffing got there eventually, and was the only season to be so visual in the riffing. Joel never moved that much in the theater afterward to my recollection, and it really broke up the monotony a lot in some of the more boring movies. Good job, Brains, a very good, if slow at times, start to a (in my fantasy world) cable show paradise.
I'm going to break for a few days, then I'll return with Season Two!!!! Don't Miss it! Or do, I mean it's the holidays, I'm sure you guys (and gals) have stuff to do. Until next time, enjoy life!
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Post by eimag on Dec 16, 2009 2:14:49 GMT -5
Once in a while a film comes along that makes me glad it's not the 50s anymore..........
Rocketship X-M
This is a hard episode to judge. I mean, 1st appearance of TV's Frank, 1st episode of Kevin Murphy as Tom Servo, and the SOL set is now what we are used to seeing. It's worth a viewing on that aspect alone.
You can tell they worked really hard on this episode. In all areas, the comedy and the routines are tight as can be, and for the first time, a skit idea was way beyond my realm of understanding. I have no doubt they would have gotten here with Josh still being Servo, but there is just much more confidence in their material in this episode, especially the skits.
The skit i didn't quite get was the report on all the reporters in the press scene. It seemed to be an "In Memoriam" type of feel, but I don't get why this was chosen to be singled out. I like it just because it thoroughly confuses me, but doesn't hit my head over and over with it's jokes.
The other bizarre skit, the visit from Valeria, obviously doesn't confuse me because I know the episode, but I do wonder why they chose to produce it. It's just a hilarious "WTF?" that gives me much joy. Unfortunately the execution doesn't match the concept. I didn't find much of the actual sketch funny. The Hexfield was soooo new, and I couldn't stop staring at Mike after the light went off, and wondered how long we were going to see him standing there. Not the good kind of bizarre in this case.
I'm not going to talk about the Floating sketch because I feel the same way the majority opinion of what i've read feel about it, it's brilliant in the way that only MST can pull off.
The movie: Perfect for them. Absolutely perfect. And instead of finding one character to riff on with expertise, they do it with everybody in this film. They attack all the asshole male members of the crew with deserving sharp blows. I wanted to slap all the men in this movie, and the "White Male Fantasy" agenda of the film with all of my being, but Joel and co. took care of it for me in spades.
Sad to say, this misogynistic film parade, for all my berating of it, has only begun in the MST world. When Dr. Van Horn's system of travel was rejected, I wasn't mad about that. And if they explained it was because she should acquiesce to the superior officer, I would be fine with that too. But when she was refused just because of her sex, I was shocked. But the capper was when Lloyd Bridges character was questioning her, and she says, "So you think all women are supposed to make babies, cook and clean for you?" He responds, "Isn't that enough?"
The word Castration popped into my head instantly.
I am not going to go into this much detail on sexism in movies unless it is prevalent to the story from now on, because nearly all movies are hateful toward all it's characters, not just females, and I don't want to get any more repetitive than necessary.
What makes me said about the Texan is that I've met guys that make him look restrained. I don't mean to say that all Texans are narrow-minded, unfunny jerks, but this movie doesn't make a good case for them.
But hey, it's not all bad, at least they all die! WOOO!
One thing I did like about this movie was the stereotypical 50s use of theremin for it's alien soundtrack. It helps the movie achieve the sort of cheesiness I wish it would've had all throughout.
Necessary viewing for the sake of the characters and fleshing out of the concept of the show, but really funny riffing and skits make it just a darn good episode overall. What a terrific way to start a season.
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Post by eimag on Dec 20, 2009 21:27:39 GMT -5
It's the second episode of the second season, has the second appearance of Frank, the second non sci-fi movie of the cable series and two songs in the host segments. Two-Face would be proud........
The Sidehackers
When I first watched this episode when I was about 11, it took me many times to get all the way through it. I fell asleep no matter what. I thought it was because it was so boring that it would just not register. Many years later I finally got all the way through it, and I was wrong. It was also very ugly and depressing.
A major question/problem I have with this movie is concerning it's "Star," Ross Hagen. I mean, it was clearly designed as a vehicle (har, har, har) for him, and revenge flicks are definitely good ways to get audience sympathy when they're done right. But that is my main problem with the movie: It makes Rommel just as unsympathetic and stupid as JC. At least JC is clearly supposed to be mean spirited and annoying, but Rommel just doesn't really elicit much likability. I wish the movie had starred his married friend.
It would have been hard to make the laughs overpower the stink of the movie, but Joel and co. diffuse the moods pretty well. They don't really attack the viciousness of the characters as much as the previous episode, but I kinda feel that their disgusting nature speaks well and above for itself, which makes riffing, and laughing about it, hard.
Host segments let me down. With the exception of the "Peep" at the beginning, I didn't laugh much. The songs are neat, but in that "A nice way to recover from the movie for a second" way, rather that adding it's own nice spin on the film itself.
So basically, the movie is so repulsive that with all the hard work of the Brains, it barely breaks even. I can kinda recommend it, especially if you like the songs, but if you're one of the "Can only like the episode when the movie itself is watchable" types, you won't find much here.
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Post by eimag on Dec 24, 2009 4:06:29 GMT -5
Wacky, Fun and Hateful!
Jungle Goddess
Upon reflection, my review may have sounded a bit condescending. When I wrote about the people who can't stand the episode if they don't like the movie, and also not really recommending it fully even if you can see past the pain of a bad movie, I should have explained that I don't believe they have reached the point where they can redeem a truly awful movie yet. So I gave a kinda-sorta recommendation to Sidehackers on that principle. Now I feel that I have sufficently explained my criteria on reviews for these episodes, and that leads me to describing the show itself.
I don't remember too much about the movie, or the short. The Phantom Creeps gave the feeling that it was trying to set up three or four story lines at once, which is just dang confusing for a short that lasts, what, 15 minutes? Because of that, my mind just shut off and I just tried to enjoy Legosi, the robots, the spiders and the explosions. It didn't work.
The film, unfortunately, was very easy to understand. Plot was simple, but what I don't remember are the little moments that make a film rewarding to watch, or at least interesting enough to take. White men come to African Village, one white man shoots before thinking. The set up couldn't be done today, unless it was explicitly told that his actions were wrong. This film doesn't seem to care at all. The fact that he is going to be executed seems barely an afterthought. I mean, if it wasn't for the fact that he was speared in the back, I wouldn't have realized that there were any reprecussions at all in murdering people that aren't white.
I am very fond of the gobo sketch. I love visual puns done well, and this sketch nails it. The fact that tom and crow riff on a concept that is already amusing and make it funnier, augmenting Joel's introductions and showing that their material is strong enough in itself to riff on. I know that is a big critique of people who don't like the show, that the original material is no better than the movie. One look at this segment will prove them wrong in my eyes.
The sitcom My White Goddess is also an excellent supplement to the film. It reminds me of all the old 50s sitcoms and makes fun of the movie at the same time, while also giving Frank some great character development. Short on original inspiration, my butt.
I've been defending the episode and the show this whole review, but now unfortunately I have to talk about where I feel the show lags: the riffing. It's not that it's not funny; I laughed a lot. But I went without laughing even longer. After kicking butt with Rocketship X-M, the next two episodes just are disappointments to me.
The show is still very uneven, the eps that have great host segments kinda lack in riffing, and vice versa so far. We haven't come upon many shows that have the best of both worlds yet, but the series is still young, and I thank you for continuing to read my stuff.
Next up, Catalina Caper!
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Post by Justin T on Jan 1, 2010 15:43:25 GMT -5
These are really good reviews, keep em coming.
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Post by eimag on Jan 11, 2010 3:36:00 GMT -5
Thank you for the continued support, and I do apologize for such a pause between reviews, I was overcome with a huge hit of lazy after New Years.
Catalina Caper
It's like a PC Scooby-Doo without the dog, and The Pink Panther replacing the diamond with a painting. Oh, and take away the successful goofy factor of both. And the comedy, but I think that goes without saying.
An unsuccessful joke is really the most offensive thing on the planet to me. Because the only thing that can't really be turned into something funny, ironically enough, is comedy itself. You can tell how so much of this movie was meant to be funny, and yet you just can't get there. For that reason I just want to break this movie's kneecaps.
What is special about this experiment, though, is that I watched it with my family, on Christmas Eve night. We all loved it. The jokes were just right for everybody's mentality, and the movie was bright, colorful, and simple enough for all of us to get the jokes at our own pace. Joel's reaction to the question "Have you ever been diving?" got the loudest laugh I'd heard from my stepfather in a very long time. So thank you, Best Brains, for that alone.
This episode is all about the details, when it comes to what I like. Creepy Girl was amusing in it's own right, but I loved the incredibly appropriate bland 50s musical backing. It could have been any song from the film's era, and it would have fit perfectly. Didn't hurt that Tom's affectations on the vocal kinda felt like he was channeling the time instead of any specific singer.
Joel's explanations of the 60s was funny of course, but the points where he felt to make an odd aside, and when he found some childhood scars coming up to surface just made him instantly endearing and gave him more personality, which makes him so much easier to root for.
The aforementioned diving laugh aside, I wasn't laughing at the jokes so much as enjoying the vibe Joel and the Bots set forward, it was like they hypnotized my family, we felt what they felt when they felt it. It was like a nice cozy movie theater we were all in. A wonderful holiday memory.
The updates will be back with some regularity now.
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Post by eimag on Jan 16, 2010 12:02:53 GMT -5
The tie!!!! The tie!!!!
Rocket Attack U.S.A
We've come to a favorite subgenre of film of mine, riff-wise: Cold War films. They basically write themselves, there is next to no continuity, no doubt that it all takes itself way too seriously, and there's always bad things happening, since it's always a worst case scenario designed to warn you what will happen if YOU DON'T GIVE ALL YOUR FAITH AND POWER TO THE GOVERNMENT!!!! Booooooo! I almost expected a ghost to appear and spell out the message.
One thing I've really respected about Joel as a comedian is his generosity, in letting other people take the spotlight on a joke, and it clearly doesn't bother him when other people have taken the glory. But this episode is all his. He gave me almost all the big laughs, skit-wise and riffing-wise, and he did it with a confidence that we'd always assumed, but now that he asserted his comedic presence, it just gives us more reasons to watch.
The sketch explaining the Cold War was pretty clever, especially if you know anything about the C.W., the facts are there, just hidden under different names. Joel's explanation involving Gumby's horse, Pokey, gave me the biggest laugh since starting this chronological journey through MST.
The riffing is getting a lot faster and more plentiful, the comments are almost coming too fast, like in a couple of beginning expository scenes, we don't even have time to hear the characters talking because we're hearing J and the B's reactions to them.
What made this experiment interesting for me is that it felt like a three part show. There was the next installment of the Phantom Creeps, which had its moments, but nothing really memorable riff-wise for me, the beginning of the main feature with the agent trying to stop the Russians and failing, and then the ending with the message and the people of New York dying as a result. It felt like watching three movies in 90 minutes. Which made things move by a little faster than it would have otherwise, like if we were forced to watch the movie unriffed.
A step in the right direction, but the last half the laughs dropped considerably, and all that really kept my attention was the bad editing, making the movie feel like it's a really lame dream you would have if you took a bunch of Nyquil right after badly studying for a Cold War history exam.
Recommended for people who can take bad movies and love how bad they are, because there is nothing in the way of cheesy redemption here, folks. This one just bites.
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Post by eimag on Jan 25, 2010 2:33:55 GMT -5
I'm going to try to get these at least once a week now, everyone, and now that the count is over 200, I'm feeling inspired!
Ring of Terror
Another opposite. Rocket Attack USA felt kinda breezy because it felt so sectioned off, and this one felt like it was just trying to add to the running time every second it got. I mean if you take the title literally as the basis for the plot, then the story is about 4 1/2 minutes long and the film is about 75. Not the first or last film MST used that had pointless scenes, of course, but I mean, were we supposed to be taken away by it's brilliant pieces of comedy? "Oh look, fat people are trying to be romantic and have fun! That is hilarious!"
Joel and company got revenge on those characters, though, with their nonstop (and deserved) barrage on the ages of the characters. "We just made out...........our wills." That one sticks most, but even though that was good fun, when the main characters were talking about things to do to prove they are fraternity-worthy, Crow blurts out "some wilding!" Seemed like a punch in the face of dark humor. Nothing against dark comedy, but it just came so unexpectedly.
That said, the first half is much better than the second half. Phantom Creeps was an overly touchy relative refusing to leave. Incoherent, rambling, inert, and just plain boring, part three was just an amalgamation of what we had seen in the previous two installments without any story content. At least none that I saw.
Host segments seemed throwaway, none seemed memorable to me, not that they were bad, I just easily could have skipped past them. Well, "If Chauffeurs ruled the World," excepted, of course. Frank can make annoying funny better than nearly everyone i've ever seen it perform.
It's a mood episode, if you are up for a long draggy movie and very specific jokes, go for it! If you like variation, look elsewhere.
My favorite fat joke, for good measure:
"Music is a fine way to exercise" "Let's Eat Some!" Guy/Crow
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Post by eimag on Feb 7, 2010 13:32:29 GMT -5
Catalina Caper meets Sidehackers!!!!
The Wild Rebels
Gypsy emerges as an important and strong character! I enjoyed her development in this episode a great deal. I like how Tom and Crow kind of embodied what had to have been the audiences view of her up to this point, the attitude, the facetious "Why is she here?" mentality, and the doling out of responsibility by Joel shows a clear favor towards Servo yet again:
"Tom Servo, keep the heat rays pointed toward the sun. Crow, do everything else."
The movie itself is really goofy. It was a lot easier to take than both the aforementioned movies, because unlike Catalina, it's attempts at humor, though not really successful, were at least much less labored, and unlike Sidehackers, the tone is much lighter and easier to get through in one sitting.
That said, it still really stinks. The protagonist, as usual in the types of movies the crew does, doesn't really do anything close to heroic, the "love scenes" have none of the necessary components of a love scene other than the (rather disgusting) physical contact, and none of the characters change in any discernible way.
One thing I will give it credit for, though, is the differences in the characters themselves. They do achieve archetypical characters that anyone can recognize. They don't go anywhere or change or do anything that characters usually do, but at least they exist. Which is more than you can say about Ring of Terror's protagonist. Or most of his supporting cast.
All the host segments were really fun, and aside from Gypsy's development, the Wild Rebels Cereal was neat because it brought back memories of those commercials i'd watch on saturday mornings. It also brought me a great Mads moment:
Dr. F: You might wonder why we are dressed like this. Frank: I wonder. Dr. F: Shut up.
Riffing was funny, it tapped into the essence of the problems i had with the movie very nicely, but it peters out in the second half. It's hard to sustain that tone, but they'll get there. Overall a light and breezy episode that I heartily recommend for anyone who likes to see change in our SOL companions.
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Post by eimag on Feb 14, 2010 12:57:20 GMT -5
Fighting for our sanity here..........
Lost Continent
Sam Newfield, what a glorious bad film director you are. Bad stop motion, attempted comedy, and death!!!! Plenty of room for our riffing crew.
I like the pep talk at the beginning. The little poke at itself where Tom Servo asks for working arms and Joel refuses, and then yells at him for it. This may be Tom Servo's first wimpy cry of the series. Don't worry folks, there's tons more where that came from.
Lame invention from the Mads? Sure, but that's okay, because also for the first time I can see, Dr. F and Frank really team up, evil-wise, to talk about the movie. It was a nice moment, seeing Frank be evil too, in his own way. They said 'rock climbing' so happily and gently, for they knew the frustrating repetition of the movie speaks for itself.
And boy, does it. I've seen this episode a couple times, and that sequence doesn't get any shorter. Joel, Tom and Crow, it's moments like this in film we all need you most. Do you completely rescue the film? No, but you really help assuage the boredom in an uncharacteristic moment from Joel, getting mad at the movie. I'm with you 100 percent, sir.
The riffing I like a lot, though. They've got their "white male fantasty" bashing down so well that the skit in which they talk about it isn't really necessary. And near the end of it, I think they realize that too. But never fear for bad host segments, it's Hugh Beaumont to the rescue!!!! A wonderful pop-culture nudge while also being very complimentary to the characters. The best kind of Hexfield visit.
A nothing movie, perfect for lazy Saturday afternoon viewing, as I did for this episode. I thank you all for continuing to read these, and I wish you all a good Valentine's Day!
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Post by Justin T on Feb 17, 2010 23:47:28 GMT -5
Glad you liked Catalina Caper, I saw that for the first time recently and I enjoyed it.
Lost Continent isn't bad, but man does the rock climbing get to you after awhile. Not my favorite episode, but I love it when they make callbacks to the rock climbing in later episodes.
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Post by PimPamPet on Feb 19, 2010 23:03:43 GMT -5
Ah, yes. Rock climbing. That was a painful one.
I'm really enjoying these reviews, good work!
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Post by eimag on Feb 22, 2010 1:55:09 GMT -5
I've been thinking about this one a lot because it's the first time an episode made me sad.........
The Hellcats
Second half of an episode not living up to the first half is a broken record/staple of my reviews, but no one episode lives up to that title more than this one. The first half was completely against all the reviews I've read on this episode. The riffs weren't very complex, but they tapped into the stupidity and lack of preparation on the part of the actors, director, everyone that is supposed to be doing work on a film.
And then, curiously, after the second flashback, the jokes stopped working. Why? I don't fully know. They don't feel lazy, though by all accounts they were rushed. It just felt like it had covered already well mined territory, and i chuckled here and there, it just kinda became, "let's watch the movie and see if i can get into the story," rather than "see Joel and Tom and Crow fight the evil of the movie."
The movie sucks. Ooooh, does it suck. The story is obvious, but only like ten minutes of the film seem to bear any remembrance to the "hunt down the gang that killed my brother" storyline. The movie tried too hard to work on other levels, and it ended up failing on the level it was basing its story on! Oh well. At least Ross Hagen lives this time.
Oh, by the way, spoiler.
The use of Tom as a Vaporizer was very funny. I love the logical jokes that also poke fun at what the bots look like. The pointless screaming of "No!" by all the characters, especially Joel, who looked like he was in on the joke, but joyed in the stupidity of it, was great dumb fun. And a great stinger always ends an episode on a good note.
I do like the mindlessness of 60s and early 70s films, there is something so calming to them, but I do wish I had been engaged by the actions of, well, anybody in this piece of crap. The guy who did the oh so subtle ejaculation of his beer? I wanted to stuff that beer can somewhere not pretty. But overall Ross was a bit more understandable, and the connection with his brother's wife, while not very fleshed out or good, was a good idea, and had promise. Which is more than I can say about Sidehackers.
Recommendation? Not really. I don't like recap episodes. They annoy me. This is an episode you can skip the host segments and literally miss next to nothing new. But at least this episode doesn't repel. We'll get to those a few seasons down the line. I look forward to sharing these views, and I hope you'll enjoy sharing them with me.
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Post by eimag on Mar 13, 2010 13:33:33 GMT -5
Just when you thought I couldn't get any lazier about posting...........
King Dinosaur
I love black and white movies. They feel like they're in another world all on their own, and it helps immerse me so much. Maybe that's why I dislike these films so much more noticeably than the color films: They concentrate their stupidity and condescension toward women (and thanks to Robert Lippert and Bert I Gordon) and civilization itself, in this film.
I got a good kick out of Dr. F getting crushed with the elevator. Reminiscent of vaudeville and Looney Tunes, and got me in a goofy state of mind for this show. Which helped offset the self serious nature of the short and film.
Which was easily deflated by Joel and the Bots. Clear victory on their end, my only regret is that the last sketch of the show isn't based on the last line of the film. It loads so much stupidity, arrogance, violence and demonstrates such a lack of willing to learn new situations or civilizations, it's like White People 101.
Joey the Lemur. I feel the unprepared nature of the skit HAS to be intentional. I mean, there have been some missed lines in scenes before, but it's all been manageable. This is so off the wall that it has to be a reference to something I don't know about. I thought of it in that way, and just saw it as cute, and a little long.
Crow's speech about what to do about things was a bit of terrific, I like that it seemed to cover every base of responsibility, while remaining as generic as possible when it comes to subject matter. He sums up the spirit of those preaching shorts so well, it's a surprise this is only the first one we as an audience has seen. I tip my hat for good writing.
I laughed a lot, definitely a case of awful film bringing out the best in the crew, and would definitely recommend it.
PS. I liked a post I saw on the General MST board about every season having a theme when it comes to the movies, and decided to adopt this for my thing.
Season One: Creature Features Season Two: White Male Reality (i only mentioned that fact eighty billion times, so it makes sense), with the exception of the last three episodes, which I hope to get to soon.
See you all next time!
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