Yeah, the movie was funny, but not as much as the series. I love the shorts and my favorite episode I've ever seen would be 'Cavedwellers', as befitting my love of sword-and-sorcery fantasy (my favorite anime is Slayers.) That and the movie only had Dr. Forrester and without Frank to play off of, he wasn't as cool.
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 08/03/08 | Reply
Huh, I had no idea production of the movie was a such a nightmare for them. MST3K: The Movie was the first DVD (of anything) that I bought, and I still find it incredibly funny, although the profanity meant I couldn't watch it around Mom.
I remember seeing This Island Earth years ago on AMC. The film really is good for it's time, but MST have proven to me that ANY film can be used as riff fodder, not just the bad ones.
Eh. I can see how it would upset people, but no movie is too good to make fun of. I've participated in MST sessions mocking some of my favorite movies ever lol.
"Eastman -- he came out of the east to do battle with The Amazing Rando!!"
I mentioned this to Katana already, but Harry Knowles from AICN once said that he openly hated how this movie ripped on This Island Earth for that very reason that it was actually a pretty good movie for its time before the 21st century ironic looking-back. So that part upset him. That said, I saw this on a bus during a band trip with a large group of people who didn't get MST3K (and most of whom probably never will . . . damn kids and their music . . .)
(This comment was brought to you by THE AMAAAAZING RANDO!!!)
Yeah, I definitely think the movie is good enough to get people into the show. The length might actually make it perfect for people who are not sure they will like it.
MST3K is not above "low humor" -- I have heard drug references a few times (the "Mmm, good dope" line from The Final Sacrifice leaps to mind immediately), the hosts swear occasionally (though never stronger than "damn," "hell," "ass" or "dickweed"), they REALLY attack boozed-up characters (Rowsdower, as you said, and the wife from The Giant Spider Invasion come to mind) and they have their fair share of toilet humor. However, when they use those jokes, they're actually used in a situations where they are funny rather than forced.
[I had a really good comment, then I clicked off and it poofed. I'm sad.]
The MST3K movie suffered from the age-old and cliched TV premise of taking a cult show and trying to make it appeal to the general populace for the purposes of - what else - money. And again, to go with that TV premise, all the edits and requirements made of it really killed the spirit.
Though that isn't to say it's bad. I want to see the movie...very badly...and I know a good handful people who've gotten into the show because of the movie. In that regard, it did its job - getting people who normally wouldn't watch it as a show to watch the movie and have them interested in the concept. But this seemed to happen way late, as in when the movie was released on home video.
Concerning the profanity and drug references...man, now that you mention it, the show is really tame there. I can only think of one drug ref off the top of my head [from "The Incrediibly Strange Creatures..." ], though they do enjoy their booze jokes [and who doesn't, Rowsdower?]. Swearing is kept at a minimal, and it's not even that bad when they do. Wow.
This was a great article and read, Shin. Whenever I need to talk about the movie [or the show, really], I'm going to point them in the direction of this.
cougarsama
LDS Fangirl! (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 08/05/08 | Reply
Yeah, the movie was funny, but not as much as the series. I love the shorts and my favorite episode I've ever seen would be 'Cavedwellers', as befitting my love of sword-and-sorcery fantasy (my favorite anime is Slayers.) That and the movie only had Dr. Forrester and without Frank to play off of, he wasn't as cool.
TimeChaser
Madman With a Box (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 08/03/08 | Reply
Huh, I had no idea production of the movie was a such a nightmare for them. MST3K: The Movie was the first DVD (of anything) that I bought, and I still find it incredibly funny, although the profanity meant I couldn't watch it around Mom.
I remember seeing This Island Earth years ago on AMC. The film really is good for it's time, but MST have proven to me that ANY film can be used as riff fodder, not just the bad ones.
Bazinga!
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 08/03/08 | Reply
@SomeGuy:
Eh. I can see how it would upset people, but no movie is too good to make fun of. I've participated in MST sessions mocking some of my favorite movies ever lol.
"Eastman -- he came out of the east to do battle with The Amazing Rando!!"
Love thy Evangelion.
SomeGuy
Canadian Liaison (Team) | Posted 08/03/08 | Reply
I mentioned this to Katana already, but Harry Knowles from AICN once said that he openly hated how this movie ripped on This Island Earth for that very reason that it was actually a pretty good movie for its time before the 21st century ironic looking-back. So that part upset him. That said, I saw this on a bus during a band trip with a large group of people who didn't get MST3K (and most of whom probably never will . . . damn kids and their music . . .)
(This comment was brought to you by THE AMAAAAZING RANDO!!!)
Shinmaru
Baron of Terribad (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 08/03/08 | Reply
@Katana:
Yeah, I definitely think the movie is good enough to get people into the show. The length might actually make it perfect for people who are not sure they will like it.
MST3K is not above "low humor" -- I have heard drug references a few times (the "Mmm, good dope" line from The Final Sacrifice leaps to mind immediately), the hosts swear occasionally (though never stronger than "damn," "hell," "ass" or "dickweed"), they REALLY attack boozed-up characters (Rowsdower, as you said, and the wife from The Giant Spider Invasion come to mind) and they have their fair share of toilet humor. However, when they use those jokes, they're actually used in a situations where they are funny rather than forced.
Love thy Evangelion.
Katana
Goggalor (Otaku Eternal) | Posted 08/03/08 | Reply
[I had a really good comment, then I clicked off and it poofed. I'm sad.]
The MST3K movie suffered from the age-old and cliched TV premise of taking a cult show and trying to make it appeal to the general populace for the purposes of - what else - money. And again, to go with that TV premise, all the edits and requirements made of it really killed the spirit.
Though that isn't to say it's bad. I want to see the movie...very badly...and I know a good handful people who've gotten into the show because of the movie. In that regard, it did its job - getting people who normally wouldn't watch it as a show to watch the movie and have them interested in the concept. But this seemed to happen way late, as in when the movie was released on home video.
Concerning the profanity and drug references...man, now that you mention it, the show is really tame there. I can only think of one drug ref off the top of my head [from "The Incrediibly Strange Creatures..." ], though they do enjoy their booze jokes [and who doesn't, Rowsdower?]. Swearing is kept at a minimal, and it's not even that bad when they do. Wow.
This was a great article and read, Shin. Whenever I need to talk about the movie [or the show, really], I'm going to point them in the direction of this.
...Article for the MST3K hub FTW!
"In Kat's wor we trust."