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Post by kmorgan on Jan 30, 2018 19:16:57 GMT -5
Sorry, late again. Sounds like a broken record, right? Anyway...
"The Last Shark" is such a blatant rip-off of "Jaws" that, as I understand it, Universal actually too legal action to get it pulled from release in the U.S. You'd have thought the fact that the movie is lousy would be enough to get it out of the theaters. Basically, a shark shows up and it falls to a writer (James Franciscus) and a shark hunter (Vic Morrow) to stop it because...just because. And there's the local businessman who won't let a man-eating shark disrupt his windsurfing regatta. You can guess the rest. The effects are lousy, the acting is poor (Morrow's accent is all over the place), and it just begs to be riffed. The guys do a great job with the jokes, including a couple that nearly had me on the floor. I was surprised they didn't do any "Longstreet" references towards Franciscus, and I'm glad they had the integrity to be careful with Vic Morrow, given his awful fate. In any case, this one was top notch.
As for "Avalanche", the movie is the usual 70's disaster flick, but without the production values of "Poseidon Adventure" or "Towering Inferno". They build up characters we never get to know, only to knock 'em off. And the ineptitude and foolishness of some of them is staggering. Rock Hudson, old pro that he was, tried to do a good job, but Mia Farrow was just...there. Not one of the better disaster movies. I had a few of problems with this episode. First, again, the jokes came along a bit too fast, at times. Second, I think they cut too much of the movie, making it seem worse than it was. It makes me wish they'd make some episodes maybe fifteen minutes longer; I wouldn't mind. The host segments were OK, especially the preventative title rundown (even though you know TSNWSRN is certainly making a couple of those movies). The Felicia/Neal Patrick Harris duet was good, though I've never seen their previous appearances in "Dr. Horrible". The whole "Max loves Kinga" subplot was another problem for me, but not a deal breaker.
Things worked out OK, I guess. So, on to Week 140. For the Outsiders, we're going with..."RT: Fist of Fury"... - Starring Bruce Lee, making this a rare good movie that gets riffed. ...and our next Season 11 title is..."Beast of Hollow Mountain" (Show 1105). - Well, at least it ain't "Beast of Yucca Flats".
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 7, 2018 23:35:34 GMT -5
I need to invest in a clock...and a calendar...and pay attention to them.
"Fist of Fury" is not Bruce Lee's best movie; that would probably be "Enter the Dragon". But this one is OK. Sure, it's slow in spots (i.e. whenever Bruce Lee isn't beating people up), and it features perhaps the most ineffectual cop in movie history. But the action scenes are well done, and it has a surprisingly anti-revenge message. The guys do a great job riffing on this. They focus on the previously mentioned slow spots, while admitting that Lee was tremendously cool. A very good effort.
As for "Beast of Hollow Mountain", I agree that its kind of schizophrenic. It's pretty much set up as a typical Western: bad guy rancher out to get rid of good guy and take over neighboring ranch, with local girl in middle. Then they throw in the monster. I didn't really mind, though; the movie itself isn't too bad. At least they didn't turn young Panchito into a Kenny-style monster child. And the monster VFX by Willis O'Brien are pretty good. The episode itself turned out OK. The riffing was a bit fast in spots, but it's improving. They also throw in some neat callbacks here and there. The host segments were good, and I especially liked the fashion show (which they improved on for the "Argoman" live show), and the reaction to the...whatevers wandering around the SOL bridge. And I agree that the new version of "My Dinner with Andre" would be great.
Two good ones this time. So, let's move to what's left of Week 141. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."This is MST3K"... - It's the first "making of" special, narrated by (ugh!) Penn Jillette. ...and we continue on Season 11 with..."Starcrash" (Show 1106). - Featuring Caroline Munro and...people who aren't Caroline Munro.
Please stand by...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 13, 2018 23:19:10 GMT -5
Well, I'm not quite as late as last time. Anyway...
"This is MST3K" turned out pretty well. It doesn't have as much behind-the-scenes footage as other, similar efforts, but it works as an intro to the show. I liked the comments from the cast (boy, do they look young!), especially Joel's now-time-honored "the right people will get it". The bits from fans (including future guest star Neil Patrick Harris) were also OK, and Penn was even tolerable. It was nice to remember a time when TFNWSRN actually supported the show.
As for "Starcrash", it's one of the cheesier "Star Wars" rip-offs from the late 70's/early 80's. I suppose it does have a certain charm, and Caroline Munro looks staggeringly attractive. Unfortunately, her voice is dubbed over and her character becomes a standard damsel in distress too often. Marjoe Gortner's character is too smug too often, the script is full of things that are just pulled out of thin air ("Stop the flow of time"?), and the villain is barely one-dimensional. Well, at least Christopher Plummer got a nice trip to Rome out of this thing. The riffing was good; by this one, they really had the rhythm going. I liked the UFO song, and I thought the host segments were OK, though I'd have preferred Seinfeld to have more interaction with the cast. Oh, and I could've warned Servo to avoid the Mouse's wrath.
Well, it worked out OK, I guess. So, let's move on to Week 142. The Outsiders selection is..."RT: Short & Sweet" (with Bridget & Mary Jo)... - Just got this one and I'm really looking forward to it. ...and the next Season 11 title is..."The Land that Time Forgot" (Show 1107). - Hi, I'm Doug McClure. You may remember me from show K-13, "SST Death Flight".
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 19, 2018 23:06:04 GMT -5
I think I'm improving, since I'm not as late as last time. Anyway, week 142...
I'd been waiting, and whining, for a DVD devoted to Bridget & Mary Jo for quite a while. Well, I got it and it's great. It features six of the shorts they've riffed on, and all but one are female-focused. The shorts are "The Maturing Woman" (with vignettes on common aging clichés, including two new bits from our hosts), "Marriage is a Partnership" (meaning, "do what your husband says"), "Duties of a Secretary" (a suspenseful story of the consequences of being a bad secretary), "Prom: It's a Pleasure" (about the strict dancing etiquette and COCA-COLA of a prom), "Naturally a Girl" (the "other movie" the girls watched while the boys were sent to the gym), and the studio version of "The Griper", the short they riffed on for the "Summer Shorts" live show. The riffing is great, and they both are clearly enjoying themselves. They even got Kevin to make a brief, but perfect, audio cameo in one short. Definitely worth waiting for, and I hope they release more of them. (And Mary Jo, if you're reading this, I didn't go to my prom, either. Nobody was interested in dating me, and the evening was way beyond my price range. So, I saved my money and bought my first car, a red 1974 Ford Mustang II. I was better off, in the long run.)
As for "Land that Time Forgot", this is actually a good movie. Sure the effects can be pretty cheesy, and parts of the story strain credulity. But the screenplay and acting are actually rather good. The story, as a whole, works, and the bittersweet ending is something of a surprise. It's one of the better movies to end up on the show. My main problem with the episode was the way the movie was cut down for time, though at least they acknowledge it this time. The riffing was good and well-paced. I was surprised that there were no riffs directed at Anthony Ainley, best-known as the Master in 80's "Doctor Who"; I can only assume the guys didn't recognize him without the beard. The host segments were OK, especially the dinosaur BBQ. (Wonder if it's next door to Clay & Lar's Flesh Barn...)
Two good ones this time. So, on to week 143. The Outsiders selection is..."RT: Megaforce"... - Haven't seen this movie in years; I do remember the ads on the back of my Marvel "Star Wars" comic books. ...and our next Season 11 show is..."The Loves of Hercules" (Show 1108). - So, is this day dedicated to Uranus, too?
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Feb 26, 2018 8:44:35 GMT -5
OK, let's review week 143.
I missed "Megaforce" back when it was first released in theaters, though, as I wrote, I did see ads for it on the back of a whole lot of comic books. I finally caught up with it on cable. On the one hand, the vehicles are cool and the action sequences are good. And Henry Silva is great as a far more sympathetic and amiable villain then you'd expect in this sort of movie. On the other hand, the movie takes a long time to get rolling; it's almost half over before we see Megaforce actually do anything substantive. The romance between hero Ace Hunter and love interest Maj. Zara is just too instant to be believed, even with the initial forced conflict and male chauvinism. And, while the movie tries to make a statement about politics hampering the good guys, it doesn't really work. It's not an awful movie, but I can see why it didn't catch on. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if they tried a reboot soon. As for the RT treatment, I'm glad I bagged this as soon as it was offered, since it's currently not available. The riffing is great, focusing on the less-than-stellar effects (especially one at the finish), the good guys wardrobe, and the bloodless violence. And, during the final battle, there's an extended bit involving a meeting between...no, I won't spoil it. I'll just say it's hilarious.
As for "The Loves of Hercules", thus far it's my least favorite Herc movie (yes, that includes "Hercules in New York"). Herc is surprisingly lame for a demigod, with little charisma or superstrength. The plot is the usual routine, what with Herc as the target of a beautiful but evil villainess, and the power struggles of yet another ancient Grecian kingdom, and yet another peasant uprising. Not to mention the deeply lame Hydra puppet and Bigfoot's guest shot. I was impressed by Jayne Mansfield, though. While her voice was dubbed, she really did try to give different approaches to her dual roles, as can be seen by her expressions and body language. The riffing was fine and, for the most part, well-timed. I was surprised there were no Ed Ames quips during the ax-throwing scene. The host segments were OK, including the quick appearance/disappearance of M. Waverly. (I bet he'll be back in Season 12.)
Two good ones this time. So, moving on to week 144. The Outsiders selection is..."Movie Sign with the Mads: Citizen Kane"... - I hope Hearst doesn't go after Trace & Frank for this. ...and the next Season 11 show is..."Yongary: Monster from the Deep" (Show 1109). - I'm on my way to the R.O.K.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 4, 2018 7:59:01 GMT -5
Well, let's review week 144.
I really enjoy "Movie Sign with the Mads". I haven't heard all of the programs, but the one I have heard feature them talking about movies they like. Frank, Trace and co-host Carolina Hidalgo can be critical of a movie, but I've never heard one where the rip a movie to shreds. (Well, nit yet, anyway...) In this case, they all have a good deal of admiration for "Citizen Kane", and they talk about both the movie and the career of Orson Welles. They even include a couple of Welles' commercials, but not the "frozen peas" outttakes. And I really appreciated Frank putting in a good word for "How Green was My Valley".
As for "Yongary", I'm not a fan of this one. Somehow, the filmmakers wanted to rip-off both "Godzilla" (ancient monster terrorizes the world) and "Gamera" (monster & kid form bond), and failed at both. The effects are extra cheesy (dig the flame nozzle!), the characters are flat, the pacing is slow, and the ending is drawn out. And, worst of all, there's Icho, my new standard for "worst monster child". He's a sadistic, annoying creep who somehow gets to barge into top secret areas and has the ear of government. Hey, at least Kenny had an excuse; he was clearly emotionally disturbed. Icho's just annoying. The riffing is good in this one, and the host segments are OK. I particularly liked the song at the end about the genuinely disturbing death scene and the guys' reaction (though I could see the last joke coming a long way off).
Two good ones from opposite sides of filmmaking. So, on to week 145. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."House on Haunted Hilll" (Mike-Only Version)... - A man's home is his William Castle. ...and for the Originals, I'm taking a break from Season 11. Tonight is Oscar© night, the NIGHT THE STARS SALUTE THEMSELVES! So, I'll be watching..."The MST3K Little Gold Statue Preview Special"... - Featuring Not-Ed Asner. ...and since that runs less than 30 minutes and the guys haven't made a third Oscar© preview show (not yet,,anyway), I'm supplementing it with another Oscar spoof..."Futurama: That's Lobstertainment!" - So, when do we get to riff on "The Magnificent Three"?
May I have the envelope, please...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 10, 2018 20:44:01 GMT -5
Well, it's been a couple of days since we dug out from the last snowstorm, so let's look at week 145...
"House on Haunted Hill" is a pretty enjoyable movie. It's not a horror or suspense classic, but it's OK. Vincent Price was always great with these stylish, sarcastic roles, and he does very well. Sure, it's a good idea not to give the plot a whole lot of thought, but I can handle that. I have to admit that, if I had a TARDIS, I'd like to go back and see that in a theater equipped with William Castle's Emergo gimmick; that must've been fun. Mike's solo riffing is good, though I think the live, three-riffer version from RT was an improvement. It helps that the material lenfs itself so well to riffing.
As for the "Little Gold Statue Preview Special", the only real downside is that they didn't try to riff on the movie clips. Still, the commentary from Tom & Crow was very funny, especially their Best Director analysis. It'd be nice if Joel could put together a new Oscar© preview special with the current crew, or, failing that, if we could get one from RT. And I can just imagine how much mileage they might've gotten with this year's roster. ("Wait a minute! Where's the ball-on-a-stick? Where's John Agar?") As for "That's Lobstertainment", I understand that it's not one of the better-liked episodes of "Futurama", but I thought it was alright. There's one joke that now takes on greater significance following last year's debacle, and it helped that I'd actually watched a Harold Lloyd movie the night before I watched this episode. (I know none of that last sentence means anything if you haven't watched the show, but just go with it.)
Well, on to week 146. The Outsiders selection is..."'The Masked Reviewer' w/ Mike & Kevin (2003)"... - This is an audio-only item, so I don't know if the guy really wears a mask. ...and for the Originals we return to the Season 11 rerun with... "Wizards of the Lost Kingdom" (Show 1110). - Suddenly, "Delta Knights" seems not too bad.
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 21, 2018 16:36:09 GMT -5
Sorry, I'm late again folks. I was distracted waiting for this week's snowstorm. Anyway, week 146...
I'm not familiar with "The Masked Reviewer". About all I know is that he uses the fanfare from "Remo Williams" as his theme, which is an interesting choice. His talk with Mike & Kevin took place at a fan event (The Vegas Valley Book Festival) in 2003, post-MST but pre-RT. It lasts about 18 minutes and was pretty good. The questions are pretty familiar ("Have you ever talked back to a movie in a real theater?", "What's your all-time favorite movie?"), but the answers are interesting and funny. The only problem is the sound quality; it appears to have been recorded with one area microphone in a good-sized room, so it's tough to understand at times. That's not a deal breaker, though. (I should acknowledge that I got this, and most of the other audio items I have, from cheesyflix.com.)
As for "Wizards of the Lost Kingdom", I'll echo my earlier comments that it's like a cheaper, lesser version of "Quest of the Delta Knights", with some "Deathstalker" thrown in. The "hero" is whiny and something of a dolt, the battle-weary warrior sidekick doesn't help matters enough, and the plot makes little sense. Meanwhile, the script features lesser dialogue and lots of anticlimactic moments. Well, at least Thom Christopher, basically reprising his "Deathstalker" character, makes an effort. It's a pretty lousy movie. The riffing is good, though. The jokes during the credits are very much like the post-movie fates from "Soultaker", and, to me, pretty much summed up the "Star Wars" ST, thus far. (But that's another story...) The host segments were OK, and I liked the "Magic Inside of You" song. Unfortunately, there's more of the unrequited love story arc, which I wasn't much of a fan of. By the way, I'm pretty sure that this is the only episode where they actually tell what next week's movie will be. Can anyone confirm this?
Well, split decision, I guess. So, let's continue with what's left of Week 147. The Outsiders selection is..."RT: Rifftrax Plays with Their Shorts" (1st half)... - Well, as long as they've been freshly laundered... ... and the next Originals choice is our next Season 11 re-run..."Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II" (Show 1111). - Who actually asked for a sequel?
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on Mar 25, 2018 20:13:11 GMT -5
Time to make the doughn-; sorry, time to review Week 147.
The shorts collections from RT always turn out good, and this one is no exception. Four of the five shorts I saw are in black & white, and all feature the dated attitudes that make for good riffing. The shorts featured were "What It Means to be an American" (it means large farms, badminton, freedom of speech, rivers and ending fatigue), "Going Steady" (it involves lack of communication), "Understanding Your Ideals" (they mean nothing if you don't have a car), "A Circus Wakes Up" (I like cats, but those guys are way too big for me), and "Highway Mania" (people in NJ drive like crazy people, which I already knew).
As for "Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II", I know this has gotten slightly better reviews than original. But I find this in-name-only sequel to be worse. It looks cheaper, the dialogue is lousy, and the villains aren't very intimidating. Our supposed-Chosen One looks like a cross between Adric pre-Cybermen and Keanu Reeves circa "Bill & Ted", and is just plain inept, even compared to the kid from WOTLK I. Yeah, David Carradine is in this one, and I noticed Sid Haig and Henry Brandon, but it's not enough. The riffing was OK, if a bit fast in spots. (I do wish they'd have done a big-time callback to "Robot Holocaust" whenever the Dark One was mentioned.) I thought the host segments went OK, and it was good to see the Widowmaker crew return. The Invention Exchange was good; I'd have preferred an emoji version of "Catcher in the Rye" over reading that lousy book, and I can see Joel scolding the Mads over the Punt Bunnies. ("That's the sickest thing you've ever done!") And while I understand the idea behind the whole wedding subplot, I'm still not particularly big on it.
Well, I guess it turned out OK, lousy movie aside. So, let's move along to Week 148. The Outsiders selection is..."Return to Eden Prairie (Pt. 2)"... - Do I have to fly Northwest to get there? ...and the Originals selection is our next Season 11 title..."Carnival Magic" (Show 1112). - ♫ I don't know what to say; the monkey won't do. ♫
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 3, 2018 19:55:19 GMT -5
Well, I'm late again. The Easter weekend threw me off. Anyway, week 148...
"Return to Eden Prairie (Pt. 2)" is subtitled, "The Locations". That might seem like a mistake, since the show only went on location once, to the "Sylvan Glade" during "Prince of Space". Actually, it's a retelling of the show's origins, with looks at KTMA, BBI and even Joel's house. Running about 30 minutes, it featured some details I wasn't aware of, like how they got the space in Eden Prairie for BBI, and details of the SOL Bridge set construction. It features comments from Joel, Trace, Jim and Kevin, and is very interesting. Actually, no matter how often I hear these stories, I really enjoy them. Partially, it's because I can relate, to an extent; around that time, I was fully involved in local radio (WAWZ-FM, Zarephath) and local television (Piscataway Community TV). Those were the days...
As for "Carnival Magic", it's a pretty odd movie. Directed by Al Adamson (who helmed at least two of the movies CT featured), it's pretty dark for a supposed family-oriented movie, what with partner abuse, attempted suicide, attempted vivisection and all. The cheap production values and lesser script don't help. I understand that the DVD of the original movie includes a commentary track giving details on the making of the film. But, I really don't feel like watching it that way. The riffing was very good, especially the self-referential routine that points up one of the central ironies of the show, itself. The first two host segments were OK, but the third one was excellent. Mark Hamill was perfect in his role, and they should really do whatever is necessary to get him to make a return appearance (preferably actually interacting with the cast). Like I've previously written, I'm not a big fan of the wedding/love pseudo-triangle storyline, but there's not much more left.
Well, things went OK, more or less. So, on to week 149. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."Gateway Con 2000 Panels (Pt. 2)"... - I was there, but didn't get on camera. Darn! ... and for the Originals, I watched "Christmas That Almost Wasn't" back during the Holiday season, and I'd rather not go back to it before it comes up in the rotation again (in December, 2021). So, we'll finish up Season 11 with..."At the Earth's Core" (Show 1114). - Can you dig it, man?
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 11, 2018 7:11:53 GMT -5
Where were we? Oh, yes. Week 149.
The second panel from Gateway 2000 went very well. The guests were Mike, Kevin, Bill & Mary Jo, with Kevin handling the Donahue-esque microphone duties. The questions ranged from "What's your all-time favorite movie?" to "Does Mike enjoy any form of entertainment?" Made about a year after the original series ended, there were a number of questions about the show's return, including a final question that now looks almost prophetic. As noted, I was there for the event, but I didn't see myself on the video. (If anybody else watches it, look for a rather plain-looking, bearded guy wearing a snazzy red PCTV jacket.) Oh, and Kevin was handing out TimmyBigHands stuff to a few lucky questioners. I really miss that site, and I'm still waiting for a big-screen version of "Kill a Guy".
As for "At the Earth's Core", it was OK. It clearly has a lower budget than "The Land that Time Forgot", and thus has lower production values. But it still comes across as pretty good, if pretty familiar. And Peter Cushing is great, as always. I thought the riffing was good in terms of rhythm. I do think they ran the food-related riffs on Doug McClure for too long, though. The host segments were OK, and I have to figure somebody actually has made steampunk versions of the 'bots. I've already expressed my opinion of the supposed-love triangle/wedding plotline, and I am interested in how they're going to resolve the cliffhanger.
Things turned out pretty well, I thought. So, on to what's left of week 150. For now, we're back into the rotation on both fronts. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."RT: Godzilla (1998)"... - Well, "RT: GINO (1998)", anyway. ...while the Originals selection is..."The Creeping Terror" (Show 606). - Um, people, just walk away from the thing, okay?
Don't touch that dial...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 17, 2018 22:12:16 GMT -5
Ugh! Tax time threw me off. Anyway, week 150...
I once heard a Godzilla fan say that GINO would've been a better movie, or at least better received, if they'd just called the monster by a different name. I think I can agree with that. The movie is pretty campy and obvious, and the human characters (except for Jean Reno's French spy) aren't all that smart, but the same could be said of some of the Toho movies, sometimes. The problem is that the hunched mutant lizard that runs away from choppers bears no real resemblance to the defiant King of the Monsters. The riffing was great, though. It's a shame that the live version isn't available, though.
As for "The Creeping Terror", lousy movie with stupid characters. 'nuff said about that. The riffing was top notch. I liked the host segments, particularly the "Love American Style" spoof. Having watch it when it was first-run, I can say that the sketch is exactly like the show actually was.
I'll say that things went OK this time. So, let's move to week 151. For the Outsiders, the selection is..."RT: Hillbillies in a Haunted House"... - Is JEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED in this one? ...and the Originals selection is..."The Violent Years" (Show 610). - Ed Wood strikes again!
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 24, 2018 16:02:54 GMT -5
And here's the usual late look at our progress. Week 151...
"Hillbillies in a Haunted House" is a pretty innocuous programmer from the 60's; the sort of thing Don Knotts did after he left Mayberry. We have a couple of C&W singers and their very nervous manager on their way to Nashville. They decide to ride out a storm (which never actually arrives) in a run-down mansion that's said to be haunted. Turns out, it ain't. Actually, it's the HQ for a bunch of spies after secret rocket fuel. Yeah, it's pretty much the same plot as a bunch of other comedies, most notably the East Side Kids flick "Ghosts on the Loose". Except, in this one, the horror vet late-career appearance isn't from Bela Lugosi, it's from the trio of Lon Chaney, Jr., Basil Rathbone and John Carradine. There are a few OK songs, some surprising yet mild violence, and a couple of easy-to-predict twists. It's inoffensive, and sort of OK, I guess. The riffing is very good, but there's one odd thing. According to Wikipedia, this movie is supposed to run just shy of 90 minutes. But RT's version runs just shy of 70 minutes. It seems some musical numbers and a few scenes were cut, but I'm not sure why and by whom. It's not a really big deal, but I wouldn't mind knowing the answer. Any ideas?
As for "The Violent Years", there's one of the better shorts, "Young Man's Fancy", with squishiness and electrical appliances all 'round. The man feature is that overblown tale of girls gone wild, what with the gas station robberies, the school vandalism, the pajama parties, and that notorious park sequence. If this doesn't cure your twenty-something teen of being a delinquent, what will? This is one of the funniest episodes in terms of riffing. As for the host segments, the opening with Tom's Danny O'Dea head is hilarious, followed by the cast's theme songs, including the classic "Livin' in Deep Thirteen". This one also has Servo's Streisand breakdown scene; I think it's sidesplitting, though I know others disagree. And one more thing: during the Radio Frank playlist recital, one of the singers mentioned is Ferlin Husky, who just happened to be one of the stars of..."Hillbillies in a Haunted House"! I swear I didn't know this ahead of time.
Two good ones, I thought, this time. So, on to week 152. The Outsiders selection is..."FC: Hollywood After Dark"... - If you thought the Harvey Weinstein matter was scandalous... ...and the Originals selection is..."Earth vs. the Spider" (Show 313). - Who did they get to be the ref for this one?
Keep those cards and letters coming in, folks.
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Post by Ford Prefect on Apr 25, 2018 8:29:57 GMT -5
The riffing is very good, but there's one odd thing. According to Wikipedia, this movie is supposed to run just shy of 90 minutes. But RT's version runs just shy of 70 minutes. It seems some musical numbers and a few scenes were cut, but I'm not sure why and by whom. It's not a really big deal, but I wouldn't mind knowing the answer. Any ideas? Perhaps the print for the uncut version of the film wasn't in good shape. They usually try to go with the best quality print they can get for riffing purposes, something they couldn't always do in the show's early days.
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Post by kmorgan on Apr 30, 2018 0:06:00 GMT -5
Well, I'm a bit closer to the schedule this time. Anyway, week 152...
The main reason to watch "Hollywood After Dark" these days is curiosity about Rue McClanahan pre-"Maude", let alone pre-"Golden Girls". That's not much of a reason, really, to see this very sleazy, very bad movie. It's a gloomy, downbeat cautionary tale/heist drama with unlikable characters, and a couple of surprisingly racy stripping scenes that still manage to be very boring. The riffing from the guys is quite good. And I thought the host segments were OK, including the DVD extra of Bill's ode to lunch (which, based on Mind Over Matters, I figure was written by Mike). While I realize that RT was just around the corner, I do wish they'd made another couple of FC productions. I thought the set-up was OK.
As for "Earth vs. the Spider", the movie is typical for the era, with the alleged "teenagers", and typical Bert I. Gordon, with the gigantic whatever. Still, it is an entertaining movie. And it's better than the similar "Tarantula" in that nice guy science teacher Ed Kemmer is easier to take than smug town doctor John Agar. It's an OK Saturday afternoon on Channel 5 type of movie. And the short, "Speech: Using Your Voice" is one of the best of them. The riffing from Joel & the 'bots is great, though I refuse to believe their view that Larry Ehrhardt was one of the victims. The host segments were good, with our first exposure to "Earth vs. Soup" and Joel waxing nostalgic about cool yet unsafe toys. And I liked the "Inside the Robot Mind" opening; it reminded me of the happier days of TFNWSRN.
One bad movie and one OK movie, both well-presented. So, onward to week 153. The Outsiders selection is..."Gateway Con 2000 Panels (Pt. 1)"... - Well, since I saw part 2 recently, I may as well watch this. ...and the Originals selection is... "Werewolf" (Show 904). - Dis iss absoludley fascinating.
Stay tuned...
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