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Post by BoB3K on Oct 8, 2008 16:44:13 GMT -5
It's probably more more similar to MST3k = The Beatles & ICWXP = Oasis. Now that's probably the perfect comparison. Some people like the Beatles, some people like Oasis, some people like both or neither. But, no one denies that one influenced the other, and no one ever suggested that the Beatles sue Oasis. (Well maybe some diehard Beatles fans. ;D )
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Post by Bix Dugan on Oct 8, 2008 16:50:03 GMT -5
I also hadn't heard of ICWXP until this thread. So I went to the link and watched a couple previews. I laughed a lot. Good riffs, energetic delivery, pretty funny. I'd probably be a fan if I had time for another hobby. I will say that if it is an homage and not a rip-off, they could (should?) have changed more of the premise than they did. However, if none of the Brains have a problem with it, then I don't really care. Ah. The voice of reason. Thank You, Abe. Does the new guy know Pepper Pots is a guy? The letters ICWXP, for some reason, makes me think they're related to Insane Clown Posse, thus the hate comes reflexively. I do get that CT needs a "premise" if you will. But since CT is at the point that MST3K was after their 3rd KTMA episode, how much background could the characters have at this point? But I did notice Wasp Woman's addition of a bit more "premise". They ARE trapped their, at least under heavy armed guard. The opening was great with, "the cable went out last night / The Usual Suspects" comments. But when Josh came in, being escorted by 2 guys that looked like they were carrying Uzi Machine Pistols, that kinda added to the "why are they there" mystery. Did anyone else see the guns? I may be playing too much Grand Theft Auto. Another WW moment was Pearl's Board Meeting. THAT'S a group of people that KNOW eachother, IMO. "Hodgson! You're the Idea Man around here..." Trace sucking up...good stuff! And now, some Beavis & Butt-Head: Journey video plays. Douchebag is strutting towards camera: Butt-Head: "And then there's THIS guy..."
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Post by Shep on Oct 8, 2008 18:23:22 GMT -5
Some people like the Beatles, some people like Oasis, some people like both.... I love em both!
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Post by Mr. Atari on Oct 8, 2008 18:42:30 GMT -5
So does that mean CT is Wings?
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Post by Bix Dugan on Oct 8, 2008 18:50:34 GMT -5
Who's Oasis?
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Post by dangfish on Oct 8, 2008 21:26:34 GMT -5
Just to let you know BoB3k, you're not alone here with your opinion on Incognito Cinema Warriors. This was my first ever fan riff and I was very surprised how funny this was. Their writing, timing, and delivery were all very impressive for newbies and I laughed hard and often. I understand now why Mike endorsed them. Although I have to admit that I fast forwarded past the majority of the skits. I do the same thing with MST3k. For me, it's always been about the riffing and the silly sketches just get in the way. I'm always in a hurry to get to the good stuff!
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Post by BoB3K on Oct 8, 2008 21:36:02 GMT -5
The letters ICWXP, for some reason, makes me think they're related to Insane Clown Posse Ditto. Whenever I talk about them to my wife I usually end up calling them the Insane Cinema Warriors, or worse, Insane Clown Posse XP. And thanks dangfish. I say again, I'm not an ICWXP fanboy, but I do think they've come out of the gate funny, and I hate to see people just dismiss them because of some kind of protective/loyalty to MST3K thing.
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Post by Mighty Jack on Oct 9, 2008 3:50:48 GMT -5
Does the new guy know Pepper Pots is a guy? How dare you sir, I am 100% woman. I'll see to it that Mr. Stark has your job! I hate to see people just dismiss them because of some kind of protective/loyalty to MST3K thing. For my part I only dimiss things I've seen and didn't like . I love riffing -mst or not- so I'd have preferred to have enjoyed it.
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Post by strangefate on Oct 9, 2008 4:49:50 GMT -5
I'm sort of with you Bob. CT hasn't really wow'ed me either. I'm curious what you thought about Film Crew in fact. I much preferred it myself.
In fairness, I should add that, unlike you, I don't really love early MST3K all that much...although it is a bit more fun to watch just because of the host segments and the overall feel. The bots, Dr. Forrester, etc, add a light-hearted tone to the show that's kind of neat even when the riffs aren't all that funny (to me). CT is certainly missing that. In fact, it's rather cold, given the facelessness of the whole thing. (Why the identical suits for example? I don't get that. Where's the goofy fun of robot puppets and mad scientists? There's a definite stiffness to CT, in both delivery and presentation).
That said I haven't given up on CT, and am not even close to doing so really. But it's the weakest of the Mads work so far IMO. I'll certainly have to check out the guys you linked to. Maybe they'll be more my style as well. (And if it rips the premise off from MST3K, well, I;m okay with that. I rather like MST3K's premise after all. That sort of thing is hardly uncommon in the entertainment biz, especially when the predecessor is long dead).
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Post by BoB3K on Oct 9, 2008 11:39:35 GMT -5
I'm sort of with you Bob. CT hasn't really wow'ed me either. I'm curious what you thought about Film Crew in fact. I much preferred it myself. I really, REALLY liked the Film Crew. The riffing was on par with current RiffTrax, except the movies were old cheese, which I like the best. And I know that a lot of people thought the skits were weak, but I thought they were easily as consistant as MST3K skits over the years. I loved Kevin's "map" that showed Wongo on it. And the "DANCE" extra was great! I really didn't see why they needed to make some skits extras, and instead just have two breaks. Probably a DVD selling thing--ALL DVDs must now have extras. I believe it was a Constitunional Amendmant or at least a UN Resolution. I think that if you liked the later years of MST3K and don't mind the idea that you're going to be watching a direct "re-imagining" of MST3K, there's a very good chance you'll like ICWXP. They have a good 10-minute portion up for free preview, so there's nothing to lose.
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Post by dangfish on Oct 9, 2008 21:28:08 GMT -5
Well, Rifftrax, Film Crew, Cinematic Titanic...I enjoy them all. At first I wasn't crazy about CT but they have improved a bit on repeat viewings. They're still my least favorite of the bunch but I'm sure they'll improve as they go along. I've been a little disappointed that Rifftrax doesn't seem to get more love on this board. I know that there are no skits and they don't do old films anymore but I don't see how true fans of movie riffing cannot appreciate the amazing body of work Mike has produced on there. The majority of them have been very funny and the riffing is right up there with mst3k standards (not surprising since the guy behind the whole thing was the head writer of MST). And, just like MST, I find that many of them get better with repeat viewings. It's a shame that rifftrax can never be released as DVDs like CT. Then it would get the love it deserves.
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Post by BoB3K on Oct 9, 2008 22:39:49 GMT -5
It's a shame that rifftrax can never be released as DVDs like CT. That's the big gotcha for me. I'm just too lazy to do the syncing. I've enjoyed almost all of the RiffTrax I've seen, but those have been the shorts that you could get already spliced, Missle to the Moon with Fred Willard was AWESOME, and then there might be the ones here or there that I somehow got already spliced versions of (BUT THAT I STILL PAID FOR THE TRAX!!).
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Post by wedestroymyths on Oct 10, 2008 10:57:32 GMT -5
up there with mst3k standards (not surprising since the guy behind the whole thing was the head writer of MST). And, just like MST, I find that many of them get better with repeat viewings. It's a shame that rifftrax can never be released as DVDs like CT. Then it would get the love it deserves. Since this threat started, I've been seriously thinking about the criteria I judge these things on because I do find it strange that people who like the same root show, can have such wildly different opinions on various branches of it now. I think what hasn't worked for me on Rifftrax is a certain lack of structure. There are some very, very funny moments in the episodes, but because they do so many, they don't seem so concerned with making everything count. I remember big chunks in, I think it was the Lost pilot, where Kevin would just ramble on about crap to fill up space. This is why the 'more casual' approach doesn't work for me--I like the sense that people are really watching the movie and making jokes, not just talking to each other over it. The other thing I'm starting to suspect with RT, I got into it a little late in the game, is if they're running into Stephen King or Robert Pollard issues--they have stellar material, but they're doing so much that the truly outstanding stuff is mired in mediocrity.
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Post by Captain Hygiene on Oct 10, 2008 11:10:53 GMT -5
The other thing I'm starting to suspect with RT, I got into it a little late in the game, is if they're running into Stephen King or Robert Pollard issues--they have stellar material, but they're doing so much that the truly outstanding stuff is mired in mediocrity. I think Rifftrax's release schedule is its biggest strength and weakness. I agree that with this much stuff coming out, you can sometimes wade through a lot of lesser material to find the gems. Sure, there are a ton of commentaries to choose from, but I haven't even pretended to keep up with them in ages. I wait mainly for releases that have largely positive reviews and are for movies I'm interested in. That way, I skip a lot of the lesser material. CT is a bit hampered in that regard - if you don't like their riffing, you don't have a hundred other releases to choose from, and it's a lot more than a couple weeks between releases.
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Post by BoB3K on Oct 10, 2008 14:02:38 GMT -5
I remember big chunks in, I think it was the Lost pilot, where Kevin would just ramble on about crap to fill up space. This is why the 'more casual' approach doesn't work for me--I like the sense that people are really watching the movie and making jokes, not just talking to each other over it. The first time I noticed something like this in a RiffTrax it really hit me--these guys are selling the trax only and so they MUST riff over everything, and if it's a 2.5 hour movie, they have to riff the WHOLE thing. Kind of gives you a whole new appreciation of why/when MST3K would edit its movies down to a little over an hour (2hrs minus commercials minus skits). And why CT would do it even though they're doing direct to video with no content or time constraints.
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