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Post by kmorgan on Nov 27, 2015 21:32:06 GMT -5
As I posted on "Satellite News", I figure they should do "Gamera vs. Viras", one of two flicks from the original Gamera run that they didn't feature on the original show. It provides great riff fodder, plus a good connection to the original.
I'd also like to see them do the movies CT featured on live shows they didn't record. That'd be "Astral Factor", "Doll Squad" and the Samson movie I can't remember the title of.
And, while Joel wants to shy away from b/w, non-widescreen, PD movies, I think at least one early Bela Lugosi movie would work. I'd go with either "Devil Bat" or "Bowery at Midnight".
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 26, 2015 12:52:32 GMT -5
Okay, first, an explanation.
Back in the day, on the old Deep Blurting board, we had a separate site called "Deep Blurting New Stuff", where we would post articles, reviews, or whatever. (I think it might still be accessible via the Internet Archive.) And, one year, we were asked to contribute an article for Thanksgiving. So, I put together the article you see below. And, like the Wall Street Journal with their annual Thanksgiving editorial, I reposted it every year across the original board and the Even Deeper Blurting successor. Well, now that I'm here, here it is for those who haven't seen it. Hope you like it. ***** The following is a reprint of an article first posted in 1999, with a brief addendum:
This week, I was asked to write an article about a good and memorable Thanksgiving Day in my past. Personally, I had no problem with this; I’m sure you won’t get upset at having to wait for my review of “Angry Red Planet”. But, I’m going to have to alter the premise a bit. You see, every Thanksgiving Day is a good and memorable one for me. That’s because, for a while, I had a run of really rotten Turkey Days. I’ll explain:
In mid-November of 1991, I went into the hospital for abdominal surgery. To be specific, doctors performed an illeostomy; to be general, they rearranged my internal plumbing. Due to complications, I was hospitalized for a solid month. So, that year, I spent Thanksgiving in bed, doped up on a variety of medications and connected to various bits of medical technology via various tubes. I recall seeing some of the Macy’s Parade, and some of my family visited. But, on the whole, it was a miserable day. Plus, no MST3K! (On a side note, that provided an odd experience, later. My stitches pulled and hurt whenever I laughed. When I got back home, I watched the “Posture Pals” short and suffered what could only be called “hilarious agony”.)
Flash forward about a year. In mid-October of 1992, my parents retired and moved up to our ancestral home in Pennsylvania. I was sharing our old house with my brother Pat, my other brothers having found other digs. Just before Thanksgiving, my Dad’s father passed away following an illness. That year, I spent the day before Thanksgiving serving as a pallbearer. The following day, with my family scattered and Pat with his friends, I had dinner alone. Plus, I had to fill in for the holiday at my radio job. Actually, that wasn’t too bad; it got my mind off things.
Over the next couple of years, it was pretty much the same thing. My brothers Bruce and Don, both married, spent Thanksgiving with their respective families. Mom and Dad were up in Pennsylvania with my Mom’s parents, who by that time were in, respectively, a senior care home (Grandpa) and a nursing home (Grandma). My brother Brian (a frequent contributor to “Caption This!”) had moved in with me and Pat. But, they both had other plans for Thanksgiving. So, there I was, alone with my dinner and watching the clock to get to work. I did watch some MST3K (one time it was the extremely funny “The Violent Years”), but it didn’t really help.
By 1995, I’d had just about enough. I went to my parents and asked (correction, begged) them to come back to Jersey for Thanksgiving. They agreed, thank heavens. That year, and each year since, we’ve had a real Thanksgiving dinner. Pat and Bri are there, as are my brother Don’s family. My brother Bruce’s family usually has dinner with his in-laws, but they make it here in time for dessert. And I’m happy. I don’t even mind when I’ve got a TV or radio slot to do; I know that at least part of the day went fine.
So, you see, every Thanksgiving Day is a good one for me. Having seen low I could get on Turkey Day, practically anything would be an improvement. But, still, things have worked out fine. Since I come from a large family, I just can’t spend a happy Thanksgiving Day alone. Now, I know I won’t have to.
Besides, my Mom is an infinitely better cook than I am. ***** ADDENDUM: Well, this year my Mom has once again driven down from PA to handle the cooking. And it'll be Mom, my brothers Pat, Bri and Don; my nephew Donnie, and I for dinner. My brother Bruce's family is together for their dinner, and my niece Nicole and her kids are, sadly, unable to get here this year. It ain't perfect, but its better than a hospital bed.
And, with RT going strong and the MST3K revival building steam, things are looking up. But, you know,even if they weren't, it's nice to get the family together for something other than a memorial service. And I wish you all a Happy & Safe Thanksgiving.
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 25, 2015 13:37:14 GMT -5
And let's look at week 30, shall we?
I may be a longtime Whovian (since the Tom Baker/Howard DaSilva shows), but I have no problem with "Dr. Who and the Daleks". Yes, they make a lot of changes, some good (Susan is a lot more self-assured) and some not-so-good (Barbara is a lot less self-assured), but the movie works OK. Peter Cushing is fine as the Doctor; makes me wish he'd been on the TV at some point. Roy Castle's Ian can be over-the-top annoying, but he got a couple of brave moments. In addition, this was the first time (sort-of) the show was in color, the matte paintings worked OK, and the did a passable job boiling down seven 24-minute episodes to less than 90 minutes of movie time. As for the RT version, the riffing was great. I liked Bill's initial inability to understand the whole non-canonical aspect of the movie, while the jabs at the Daleks (especially their voices) were welcome. Now, if they can get around to riffing on "Vengeance on Varos".
As for "Mighty Jack", I'm going to have to check if the original series is available in its entirety. That's probably the only way I'll know just what was going on. There was some decent action once in a while, and the VFX were passable for the era. But, on the whole, it's a mess. The episode, though, is top notch. The riffing was plentiful and very funny. The show opening was one of the best ones, and the other segments were good, finishing with one of the better songs, "Slow the Plot Down".
Two good ones this time. Now for Turkey Day. Unfortunately, I can't do a whole marathon on my own, nor can I watch Joel's marathon on-line as it happens. But, I can fit in three episodes and a couple of other things in between dinner, football, Charlie Brown, WKRP and visiting my niece. So, the two random selections are..."Gunslinger" (Show 511).. - Roger Corman flicks of the Old West! ...and "Touch of Satan" (Show 908)... - This is where the cranberry sauce lives. ...and, for the third movie, I'm going outside the rotation for..."Riding with Death (Show 814). - Turkey Volume Guessing Man strikes again!
And I'll also watch the segments from Joel's marathon from last year, as well as a segment from Shout's Vol. 31 on how the Turkey Day tradition developed. I'll also be posting something else tomorrow.
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 20, 2015 21:34:05 GMT -5
Saw "Blood of the Vampires" again last week, as noted in my post on the MST General Chat board. Good riffing, lousy movie. And I have a feeling the blackface thing would get the whole thing banned in some circles, which may be a good thing.
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 20, 2015 21:28:30 GMT -5
So, how was week 29? Glad you asked.
"Casablanca" is, of course, one of the best movies ever made. With a great script & direction, a top notch cast, and a perfect ending. And the Rifftrax commentary doesn't detract from it. It's good that they acknowledge that it's a great movie right at the start. The jokes are good, but they don't really blast the movie. This one was a good experience, I'd say. Two thoughts, though. First, I don't mind them joking about a classic movie like "Casablanca". I have no problem with jokes being made about good movies. One of Carol Burnett's funniest sketches was a spoof of "Gone with the Wind", "Your Show of Shows" did a memorable takeoff on "From Here to Eternity, and SNL parodied both "Citizen Kane" and "It's a Wonderful Life". As long as it's within reason, it's not a big deal. Second, in the "Casablanca" riff, they threw in some harsh jokes about the "Star Wars" prequels. Yes, guys, I understand that you seem to hate anything George Lucas has done since, probably, "Last Crusade". May I suggest that you move on. (I'll admit that I'm biased, in that I enjoyed the Prequels and "Crystal Skull".)
As for "Deathstalker", it is not a great movie. In fact, I really didn't like it at all. The low budget and nonsensical plot didn't bother me that much. My problem was that, except for the wilderness girl who ran off to follow Deathstalker (and got killed for her trouble), I didn't like any of the characters. I thought they were all annoying (especially supposed-hero Deathstalker) and didn't care who won. Quite painful, in its way. The riffing was just good enough to make me continue watching. The Ren Fest host segments were funny, and I thought the Deep 13 segs ("CLAYTON! CLAYTON! CLAYTON!") were, too. One nice touch: check out Crow & Servo's nametags.
Split decision this time. And, on to week 30. For the Outsiders, since Monday is Nov. 23rd, I'm going outside the rotation for..."RT: Dr. Who and the Daleks"... -Please don't say "timey wimey". ...and the Originals selection is..."Mighty Jack" (Show 314). -I'm going to need a flow chart & notes for this one.
And I'll be doing extra selections for Turkey Day. Details to follow. Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 20, 2015 21:03:04 GMT -5
I didn't start posting on the 'Net until after the change occurred, so I missed a lot of it (thank Heavens). There were some occasional posts on Deep Blurting, but only by jerks trying to start something. The regulars didn't follow suit, as I recall.
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 13, 2015 23:49:56 GMT -5
What was cut from "Poopie II"? I have it on VHS from BBI, so I don't think I've seen the Rhino cut.
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 13, 2015 23:47:15 GMT -5
And...week 28.
A while back, "Blood of the Vampires" was the first CT live show I saw. I went to Minneapolis and saw the Titans perform it at the State Theater. Great stuff and a great response. This DVD, though, is the studio version, which is also good, though I could've done without the swipes at religion and Christianity. Still, I've heard worse. As for the movie, I remember seeing it years ago on Channel 9, I believe, back when local TV stations still showed late movies. It hasn't improved. It's a Philippine-made horror flick that tosses in a lot of pretty disturbing themes for empty shock value. And let's not go into the casting, where white actors in blackface appear as black servants. The Titans get a lot of mileage out of that bit of racial insensitivity, and rightly so.
As for "Women of the Prehistoric Planet", I didn't realize until later that this was the second Wendell Corey movie I'd seen in two weeks; I promise it was a random selection. Anyway, while the movie at least features some reference to time and relativistic speeds, it's a real mess otherwise. With low budget effects, casual racism and sexism, some pretty silly sequences (like the dangerous crossing of the acid pool, with dry land only a few feet away), and a too-cute romance. The final twist of the story can be spotted a mile away, and the supposed comic relief of Paul Gilbert (the Hikeeba guy) is painful. Still, John Agar is in a supporting role, so his smugness is turned down a bit. The episode, though, is great. Actually recorded as the last show of Season 1, the guys have everything nearly down pat. The riffing is great, and Joel does some very funny interaction with the screen. There are also some good digs at Isaac Asimov, Mike's first appearance (voice only) on the show, and the show's first original song (outside of the theme), the jingle for "Clay and Lar's Flesh Barn". Good stuff.
That went well. So, week 29. The Outsiders selection is..."RT: Casablanca"... - Not starring Raul Julia. ...and the Originals selection is..."Deathstalker and the Warriors of Hell" (Show 703). - Back to the Ren Fest, guys.
We now pause for station identification...
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 13, 2015 23:21:33 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I don't have the cash or time to go to this one. Sounds like it should be pretty good, though.
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Post by kmorgan on Nov 6, 2015 21:13:44 GMT -5
Hey, I'm actually posting before the last minute. Huh. Anyway, week 27:
"Halloween Party" was originally featured as the opening short for the live "Anaconda" show. (Good riffing, deeply unpleasant movie.) It's only about 7 minutes, but it's very funny. It's also a nice reminder of Halloween was before they decided that jack-o-lanterns were ecologically unsound. Great riffing, too. (For the record, I considered also getting the new Halloween special RT just riffed on, but I really wasn't in the mood for Judd Hirsch as Dracula.) For the holiday, I also watched "The Night that Panicked America" (a TV-movie about the "War of the Worlds" radio broadcast), "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein".
As far as "Agent for h.a.r.m." is concerned, it narrowly edges out "Million Eyes of Su-Maru" as the worst spy movie MST ever did. In addition to the low budget and lousy script, I just couldn't get past how many times I'd seen Peter Mark Richman as a villain on 70's TV, and doing it better than as a hero in this one. Throw in the lack of real action and a downbeat ending, it's a real stinker. Watching it, you get the impression that h.a.r.m. (an really nonsensical acronym) gets all the personnel who were turned down by the CIA, the FBI, UNIT, OSI, IMF and CONTROL. The host sgements were great, featuring Mike's trial for being the Destroyer of Worlds. Crow's bleeped-up deposition and Bobo's devastating cross-examination of Observer are big highlights. And the riffing, once again, is great. A question: when Mike is engaging in extreme rice, he tries to shout, "Bazmatti!" Um, what?
Well, Halloween weekend went well. So, on to week 28. The Outsiders selection is..."CT: Blood of the Vampires"... - You're a little late, guys. ...and the Originals selection is..."Women of the Prehistoric Planet" (Show 104). - Hikeeba!!
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 31, 2015 0:34:43 GMT -5
So, let's review week 26.
"Tom Servo vs. Tom Servo" is from a panel at DragonCon 2010. The production has some limitations; it looks like it was cut down a bit and there's no crowd mic. However, those are overruled by Josh and Kevin. They talk about the evolution of Servo's character (including Beeper), as well as the show's evolution from KTMA to cable. They also touch on the fan's response to the show, and the home video-inspired rediscovery of Josh's episodes. Both are clearly enjoying the appearance, and it's a lot of fun for the viewer. And, they echo the line from the "Crow vs. Crow" video: DON'T TAKE THE PUPPET HOME.
On the other hand, the movie part of "Fire Maidens of Outer Space" is an utter slog. Slow and sexist, it is sooooooo boring. And the constant repeats of "Stranger in Paradise", while inspiring some TV commercial nostalgia, get old real fast. And don't get me started on the traditional meteorite storm, the levers, the weapons, etc. The host segments, though, are fine. We get to meet Crow's creepy doppelganger Timmy, see one of the Mads' better inventions (the Big Checkbook), and Joel gets a great moment of heroism. And the riffing somehow manages to make the lousy movie at least tolerable.
Closer to a split decision this time. So, it's week 27. For the Outsiders, I'm going outside the rotation for Halloween with..."Rifftrax Live: Halloween Party"... - Will it be at Violet's house again? ...and the Originals selection is..."Agent for h.a.r.m." (Show 815). - Judo range?
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 25, 2015 14:18:41 GMT -5
I don't really know about the cast's political leanings, and, to be honest, it's none of my business. As far as the show itself is concerned, there seems to be a sort of neutrality. I remember reading that, at least initially, Lorne Michaels considered SNL to be the "loyal opposition", just as willing and able to joke about Republican Gerald Ford as about Democrat Jimmy Carter. That's the attitude I perceive on MST3K, and it was a good move on their part.
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 24, 2015 5:29:26 GMT -5
And how did week 25 go? Let's check.
"Trace & Frank at Sci-Fi London 2014" is archived on YouTube. It's a convention appearance moderated by Bunny Galore (whom I'm not familiar with). While some of the subjects they talked about were familiar, I enjoyed this one. They talked about subjects ranging from the show's beginnings to movies they wanted to riff on but couldn't get to the development of the characters. The fact that this took place in the UK, where the audience isn't as familiar with the show as here in the U.S., provides an interesting viewpoint. There's also a brief trailer for "Do the Frank", which I'll get to sooner or later. I liked this one.
As for "Warrior of the Lost World", it's one of the really good ones from the show. The movie, a "Mad Max" wannabe, is funny on its own, particularly the very unsympathetic "hero" and his annoying motorcycle sidekick. And the low budget makes the post-apocalypse Earth seem...not much worse than what we have now. Not even the awesome screen presence of MEGAWEAPON can save the movie. The ep is really funny, with great host segments (I especially liked the Steve Allen reference) and one of the best Invention Exchanges (Loved Forrester's voice-over, and I figure somebody must get around to making actual Bittersweet Hearts). One goof, though: Frank is actually imitating Curly when he works on his Shemp area. And the riffing was great (and, no, I have no fruit to declare).
This one turned out fine. So, on to week 26. The Outsiders selection is..."Tom Servo vs. Tom Servo"... - Or Josh not-really-versus Kevin. ...and the Originals selection is..."Fire Maidens of Outer Space" (Show 416). - But did you know the original theme is from the "Polyvetsian Dance, No. 2" by Borodin?
Stay tuned...
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 17, 2015 8:29:52 GMT -5
Hello again, from the MSTie with the worst sense of time in the Western Hemisphere. Anyway, week 24...
"The Giant of Marathon" is a pretty good movie, actually. It has some good production values and a few good action scenes. One problem, though, is that it's very familiar, even down to the love interests (one "bad", one good). Another problem is that Steve Reeves isn't playing Hercules, the demigod. Instead, he plays Phillippides, a strong yet ordinary guy who's lacking in charisma. It kind of hurts the movie. This, of course, is one of the entries from short-lived Film Crew series. Like the first videos from "Cinematic Titanic", it functions as a middle ground between MST3K (where you have a framing story) and Rifftrax and the later CT entries (where it's just riffing). This one turned out good, with great riffing and a funny host seg where Bill explains the Battle of Marathon. The DVD also features a couple of good extras: Mike's less-than-effective apologies, and a sort-of cast member commentary. Good stuff.
As for "Diabolik", the movie is certainly off-the-wall, but it's well-made and watchable. It shows a lot of imagination, a good score from Ennio Morricone, attractive lead characters, and Terry-Thomas. Of course, you have to forget that Diabolik is, basically, a murderous thief and terrorist, but...hey, the Sixties! The riffing is top notch. And the host segs are fine, as we say goodbye (for now) to the show. One of the best series finale shows, in my opinion. (At least they didn't go all "Blake's 7" with it.)
Well, that went OK. So, on to week 25. The Outsiders selection is..."Trace & Frank at Sci-Fi London 2014"... - Should I be drinking tea while watching this? ...and the Originals selection is..."Warrior of the Lost World" (Show 501). - Guest-starring MEGAWEAPON!
Oh, by the way, while back I wrote an article for the old Even Deeper Blurting board on the scenes BBI cut from "Diabolik" for the episode. Should I post it?
We'll be right back...
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Post by kmorgan on Oct 9, 2015 23:14:14 GMT -5
How did week 23 go? Let's take a look.
The Rifftrax Live show for "Miami Connection" went very well. The opening title cards were funny, as always, and the songs were catchy. The short, featuring Measuring Man, was a scream; I can only hope they'll find other shorts in that series. The brief teaser for the upcoming "Santa & the Ice Cream Bunny" show looked promising. And, as for the main feature, "Miami Connection" was pretty inept; I guess that's the best way to put it. Poorly shot and acted, with a rather nonsensical premise (martial artist boy band vs. redneck thugs and a ninja drug cartel?). It also featured many things about the 80's that I, a child of the 70's, was trying to forget. Great riffing, though.
And "Hercules and the Captive Women" is a real favorite. Lots of action, even if it doesn't make much sense. And, Herc, even if he is initially lazy, shows some sense once in a while (like not swallowing the drugged drink). It was tough to follow at times, though; I'll have to watch an uncut print to get the full story. The riffing was great, as were the host segments. And it was nice to have Gypsy have a shot at riffing with the guys.
This turned out well, I thought. So, here's what's set for week 24. The Outsiders selection is..."Film Crew: Giant of Marathon"... - Swords & sandals, folks...again! ...and the Originals selection is..."Diabolik" (Show 1013). - The end of an era...again!
Don't touch that dial!
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