Post by Jack Burton on Nov 14, 2003 17:23:03 GMT -5
#816 PRINCE OF SPACE
Japan has always been a key importer of cinematic schlokiness for the crew of the SOL. In 1959, Japan created this stink burger, and almost forty years later, it resulted in one of the funniest episodes of the Sci Fi Channel Era. To quote Crow, "Oh, the Japanity!"
The Flick: Menial Bootblack Wally moonlights as the mincy Prince of Space, who equipped with his spaceship and gun, which according to Crow, looks like a grill lighter, defends Earth from the Chicken-y Phantom Leader of Krankor. Later, episode #819 Invasion of the Neptune Men would cover the same territory.
Host Segments: The host segments are excellent. The Sci Fi Channel episodes usually get flack for having weak host segments. While some of them are spotty, Prince of Space has some of the best "hosters" since Joel escaped in a box of Hamdingers. The intro, "Dog & Bear" is a hoot. No matter how many times I hear Crow's monologue about "spewing gore from my wounds", I still crack up. The first segment sets up the "Roman Times" storyline that took up the last fourth of Season 8. The second is a brilliant conversation taking place in a disrupted Space Time Continium, where the crew's conversation is, well, a tad off. Third, Mike is turned into a Robot!!! The fourth segment has a rare non-SOL parallel universe where Mike n' the Bots live in the woods. The fifth has Krankor stopping by the SOL while Pearl and Brain Guy end in up Roman Times.
The Riffing: The riffing starts off very strong, and while it lulls from time to time, never stalls due to an abundance of cheesiness on screen. The crew fall back on some easy Japan targets like, Karaoke, Godzilla, sushi, and "violent porn comics", which, while they're cheap shots, still are pretty damn funny. So are their endless variations on Prince's (Or as Mike calls him, "The Artist")line, "Your weapons are useless against me." The chicken men invaders of Krankor ("Crank Whore?") provide plenty of squaking opportunities for Mike & Co. The best source for cinematic ribbing comes from the Japanese kids with dubbed Bronx accents. This episode is also a must see because halfway through, as a result of going into a wormhole, Mike is turned in a robot. This is the only I time I can think of in the show's history when three robots (not including Gypsy) riff on the movie.
Sum-Up: Prince of Space is one of the highlights of Season 8, and indeed, the Sci Fi Channel Era. With a cool story arc, excellent host segments and great riffing. It is better than the similar, Invasion of the Neptune Men, but that episode is worth checking out after watching Prince of Space. Mike says the movie "made him want to renounce his Toyota", but to quote Mickey, the kid from the experiment, "I like it VERY MUCH!"
Host Segments: A
Riffing: A-
Overall: A
Japan has always been a key importer of cinematic schlokiness for the crew of the SOL. In 1959, Japan created this stink burger, and almost forty years later, it resulted in one of the funniest episodes of the Sci Fi Channel Era. To quote Crow, "Oh, the Japanity!"
The Flick: Menial Bootblack Wally moonlights as the mincy Prince of Space, who equipped with his spaceship and gun, which according to Crow, looks like a grill lighter, defends Earth from the Chicken-y Phantom Leader of Krankor. Later, episode #819 Invasion of the Neptune Men would cover the same territory.
Host Segments: The host segments are excellent. The Sci Fi Channel episodes usually get flack for having weak host segments. While some of them are spotty, Prince of Space has some of the best "hosters" since Joel escaped in a box of Hamdingers. The intro, "Dog & Bear" is a hoot. No matter how many times I hear Crow's monologue about "spewing gore from my wounds", I still crack up. The first segment sets up the "Roman Times" storyline that took up the last fourth of Season 8. The second is a brilliant conversation taking place in a disrupted Space Time Continium, where the crew's conversation is, well, a tad off. Third, Mike is turned into a Robot!!! The fourth segment has a rare non-SOL parallel universe where Mike n' the Bots live in the woods. The fifth has Krankor stopping by the SOL while Pearl and Brain Guy end in up Roman Times.
The Riffing: The riffing starts off very strong, and while it lulls from time to time, never stalls due to an abundance of cheesiness on screen. The crew fall back on some easy Japan targets like, Karaoke, Godzilla, sushi, and "violent porn comics", which, while they're cheap shots, still are pretty damn funny. So are their endless variations on Prince's (Or as Mike calls him, "The Artist")line, "Your weapons are useless against me." The chicken men invaders of Krankor ("Crank Whore?") provide plenty of squaking opportunities for Mike & Co. The best source for cinematic ribbing comes from the Japanese kids with dubbed Bronx accents. This episode is also a must see because halfway through, as a result of going into a wormhole, Mike is turned in a robot. This is the only I time I can think of in the show's history when three robots (not including Gypsy) riff on the movie.
Sum-Up: Prince of Space is one of the highlights of Season 8, and indeed, the Sci Fi Channel Era. With a cool story arc, excellent host segments and great riffing. It is better than the similar, Invasion of the Neptune Men, but that episode is worth checking out after watching Prince of Space. Mike says the movie "made him want to renounce his Toyota", but to quote Mickey, the kid from the experiment, "I like it VERY MUCH!"
Host Segments: A
Riffing: A-
Overall: A
