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Post by mst3krom on Jun 9, 2008 12:20:03 GMT -5
324 - [glow=teal,5,300][shadow=teal,left,300]Master Ninja II[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on movie:
More monotonous adventures from barely-understandable Timothy Van Patten and looking-bored-as-hell Lee Van Cleef. If the whole series was like this, it's no wonder it got canceled right after first season.
Thoughts on episode:
Now, as much I as liked the first one, this one just didn't do it for me. It's an average episode with quite a few big laughs, but that's the word: few. I wonder why they dropped the ball on this one? Must have something to do with the horrible film they had to deal previously, no doubt. In short, the first half has some of the best riffs, (one of my favorites is when they help an injured construction worker, it's a hoot)and, while the other half isn't on the same level, it does have a James Bond to toy with (George Lazenby from "In Her Majesty's Secret Service).
The host segments are the same as the ones from the previous "Master Ninja". First off, Joel, Tom and Crow do a little improv. After that, Dr.F comes up with the Conveyor Belt Buffet and Joel presents his Gerbil Bio-Dome. Next the bots come up with van designs, Crow does a General Patton bit and Servo is an expert on TV shows detectives and what pets they should have. Lastly, Joel dresses up a Lee Van Cleef doll and Frank mourns the cancellation of "The Second Hundred Years" show.
Season 3 didn't go exactly with a bang, but it's a decent episode and it has its moments, just not that many of them.
Favorite riff from movie: "Epilogue, where you always get to see Lee's gut .... and there it is!" - Servo
Favorite host segment: Segment 3, "Charles Darwin isn't fictional" - Crow
Grade: *** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 11, 2008 13:56:45 GMT -5
401 - [glow=blue,5,300][shadow=blue,left,300]Space Travelers[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on movie:
Excerpt from the last segment of Rocketship X-M
"Wow, nothing more depressing than being trapped in a capsule watching a movie about people dying in a capsule." - Crow
"Yeah, why don't you show us Marooned instead?" - Joel
As you wish ... 37 episodes later and here it is, the cult classic Marooned, under the TV title, Space Travelers. First off, it's got a great cast: Gene Hackman, Richard Crenna, James Franciscus, Gregory Peck, but, that's about it. It's not that the film is bad, but it's a bit too bland and boring in some parts. Still, it's enjoyable enough, thus making it one of the better films on show. Oh, and let's not forget the special effects, which are great, but it's no surprise since it probably took a hint from last year's 2001: A Space Odyssey, the movie that brought space movies back into the spotlight.
Thoughts on movie:
For an episode that's not that talked about, this one was quite good. Not an 'excellent' ep, since it had a few bland spots, just like the movie, but it was entertaining. The riffing shines especially when the targets are the cast themselves. Crow really lets loose with his spot-on Gregory Peck voice and it's a hoot. Joel tries it out too, but it doesn't work that well. And Gene Hackman also gets a few good ones, mostly when he's acting screwy.
The host segments revolve mostly around the space theme. In the intro, Crow tries out a magic act that, of course, doesn't end well. Then Dr.F and Frank try out their Celebrity Tissue Papers and Joel comes up with the non-sensical dollar bill that has your face on it. Next, it's objects of every-day life developed by the space program, Crow doing his Gregory Peck once more and what would happen if someday J&tB would be faced with the same decision from the movie (of course, Crow and Servo shoot that one down quickly). And in the end, it's "Find the Finder of Lost Loves" and Dr.F and Frank act ... well, mad and push the button.
A middle-of-the-road episode, but one with a bit more sparks that makes it a whole lot more enjoyable.
Favorite riff from movie: "I want this man savagely beaten!" - Crow as Peck
Favorite host segment: Segment 1, I didn't know the meatball was developed by the space program?!
Grade: *** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 16, 2008 4:55:21 GMT -5
403 - [glow=brown,5,300][shadow=brown,left,300]City Limits[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on movie:
More post-apocalyptic nonsense from the '80s. Or, as our boys would call it, "Sad Max". I have to be frank, I don't remember absolutely nothing from this one. I recall some bikers dressed up in stupid outfits and some evil corporation, but, other than that, it's a big blur. There were a few known names such as James Earl Jones, Kane Hodder, Kim Catrall and Dean Devlin, but it's a piece of garbage nonetheless. I truly despise this kind of poor excuse for film-making.
Thoughts on episode:
It's not a popular episode and I can clearly see why. The gang try their best and they dish out as much as they can (especially near the beginning: "I can't get there, they keep freeze framing me." - Joel), but the movie's too much of a chore to work through. I admit, the movie does have those moments of sheer stupidity and goofiness that J&tB can twist around, but, unlike Wild Rebels or Warrior of the Lost World, there's just not enough of them to make it worthwhile.
The host segments don't fare any better either. They start out good with a skit involving ping-pong balls and a invention exchange that involves the Mads' Tupperware Pop Star Morrisey and Joel's Mr. Meat & Potato Head, but then it spirals down with Crow's admiration for Kim Catrall, naming new super-heroes and the City Limits game. There are, however, a few bright spots: Joel as a cop was pretty cute (SWITCHER!!!), a line about comic-books and plastic bags that had me on the floor and Mike Nelson's memorable spot-on performance as Morrisey. Did I mention that he cried?
I really wanted to like this one, I really did. But it's just a forgettable episode overall, that didn't impress me.
Favorite riff from movie: "Boy, sure was windy last night, the cows got stuck right to the barn!" - Servo
Favorite host segment: Invention exchange, "Did I mentioned that I cried? Is it wrong not to always be glad?" - Morrisey
Grade: ** out of *****
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 16, 2008 7:27:03 GMT -5
405 - [glow=maroon,5,300][shadow=maroon,left,300]Being From Another Planet[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on movie:
Ben Murphy (who apparently lost his mellowness along the line) stars in this lame '80s sci-fi/horror where he plays a professor who discovers a mummy from outer space. Sounds cheesy, right? Well, it's not, it's boring, unexciting and just a plain chore to watch. No redeeming qualities whatsoever, even Servo called it the worst film they've done so far (on par with Castle of Fu Manchu).
Thoughts on episode:
And as dull and lifeless the movie is, so is the riffing. I can barely remember any laugh-out-loud moments. There are times where the movie is just asking for it, but our boys just barely pull-through.
The host segments are the saving grace here. The intro with the "20 questions" game is a bit off. The invention exchange is one of the best, what with Joel's Jack Palance masks and Dr.F's Tragic Moment Figurines. The Billy Mumi segment comes out of left field, but the bots' Horror House, the Holo-Clowns and the TV's Frank Shopping Network are great fun.
Mostly definitely not among my favorite episodes. This one mostly sleepwalks, a lot like our film's protagonist.
Favorite riff from movie: "You've been X-Raying this mummy with ten times the normal dose!" - Ben Murphy / "He could die!" - Crow
Favorite host segment: Invention Exchange, those Tragic Moment Figurines are tragically hilarious.
Grade: *1/2 out of *****
Final grade on set: **1/2 out of *****
A middle-of-the road set. Some episodes are good, others below average.
Next set:
320 - The Unearthly
404 - Teenagers from Outer Space
409 - The Indestructible Man
415 - The Beatniks
503 - Swamp Diamonds
511 - Gunslinger
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Post by mst3krom on Jun 19, 2008 13:31:38 GMT -5
320 - [glow=green,5,300][shadow=green,left,300]The Unearthly[/shadow][/glow]
with shorts:
[glow=red,5,300][shadow=red,left,300]Posture Pals[/shadow][/glow]
[glow=blue,5,300][shadow=blue,left,300]Appreciating your Parents[/shadow][/glow]
Thoughts on shorts:
The first one is about four children who want to win a school contest by improving their postures. And the big prize is ... four stupid-looking "Happy King" outfits. Yeah, who wouldn't want to win those?
The next one is about a little boy that learns how to respect his parents after a disembodied narrator shows him how hard mom and dad work and what a worthless slacker he is. Will it last? Probably not.
Thoughts on movie:
Ah, wonderful, another mad scientist flick! This one stars John Carradine who tries to ........ I don't know, discover some gland or something. The movie just zipped by me too fast and I don't remember much about it (not that it's anything worth remembering). Other highlights include B-movie legend, Tor Johnson as Lobo, the mad scientist's assistant and Allison Hayes from Attack of 50 Foot Woman.
Thoughts on episode:
Tor Johnson's first appearance on MST3K! How could it not be a excellent episode? Sadly, it's not. The work on the movie is way too forgettable, and, apart from some hilarious Tor quips (and quite a few Marx Bros. references), it doesn't stand out. The shorts, however, redeem this fact, as they are among the best ever done.
The host segments aren't too shabby either. The intro with Crow's stunt ending in failure is a good opener. The invention exchange features J&tB's Celebrity Based Products and the Mads' classic Hard-to-Swallow Pills (and I do mean HARD). Next is a little play on the second short as Tom goes into his narrator bit and berates Crow that Gypsy does all the work and he does nothing. After that it's the hilarious "The Many Faces of Tor Johnson" and the "Unearthly Board Game". The ending is a bit weak, however, as J&tB talk the lingo and Dr.F and Frank get in on it too.
A forgettable work on a forgettable flick made noticeable by two outstanding shorts, good host segments and Tor Johnson. Now ....
"TIME FOR GO TO BED!"
Favorite riff from short no.1: "They're gonna take this for about thirty minutes before they end up killing each other." - Joel
Favorite riff from short no.2: "Help, there's an announcer under my bed!" - Crow as Tommy
Favorite riff from movie: "Wait, don't leave Tor hanging, what happen to Ferdinand?" - Servo as Tor
Favorite host segment: Segment 1, Servo's narrating kills me every time.
Grade: *** out of *****
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Post by pinkfully on Jul 7, 2008 7:11:13 GMT -5
These are wonderful reviews! I'm definitely going to refer to these when I watch the new episodes I ordered. Thanks for taking so much time and care to put these together.
pinkfully
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