Education Inside

From its humble beginning on KTMA Minneapolis to its final incarnation on the Sci-Fi channel, MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 spent ten years teaching us how to enjoy the worst Hollywood has to offer. Unfortunately, after its cancellation by the Sci-Fi channel, MST3K episodes became harder and harder to find. Boxed sets containing four shows each began being released, but it wasn’t until the release of the twentieth anniversary edition that the show really seemed to find its home with Shout Factory.

Shout Factory’s MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 Volume XVII (available March 2010) features four of the show’s best episodes, two with MST3K’s first host, Joel Hodgson, and two with Mike Nelson. THE CRAWLING EYE, THE BEATNIKS, THE FINAL SACRIFICE and THE BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z are the features that Joel, Mike and their robot pals lampoon and each is fun in its own way.

I could talk about the movies themselves, but if they were great films then MST3K wouldn’t have shown them. So instead I’ll talk about the special features on the boxed set. Each disk comes in its own case that has a re-imagining of the film’s movie poster featuring robot hosts Tom Servo and Crow. Tom and Crow also appear in the computer animation videos that run on each disks menu screen. Usually animations on a DVD menu are just there to fill space on the screen while the view choose to press play or chapter select. The menus on the Shout Factory disks however are much more entertaining and feature skits based on the films (I especially like the one on THE BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z).

Each one of the disks also feature some impressive special features. THE CRAWLING EYE, which was the show’s first episode on The Comedy Channel, has an interview with the Joel Hodgson talking about the early days of the show and that first episode. THE FINAL SACRIFICE features an interview with the film’s star Bruce J. Mitchell. THE BEATNIKS has a rare convention appearance by Trace Bealieu (The original voice of Crow) and Bill Corbett (Crow 2.0). The two discuss everything from building the shows unique props to why you should never take your robot puppet home with you! THE BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z has the fewest unique features with only some promos, trailers and stills. However, the before mentioned DVD menu skit for this episode helps make up for the lack of other features.

THE MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 Volume XVII boxed set is a real treat for fans of the show. The special features, cool packaging, and fun animated menus all compliment the entertainment value of the original MST3K episodes the set features. So if you’re wondering how he eats and breaths and other science facts… just repeat to yourself “It’s just a show, I should really just relax” and check out the MST3K Vol XVII DVD boxed set from Shout Factory. But remember to pick up some wine to go with all the cheese in these films!

Rating: 5 / 5

March 2010 will be another big day in the lives of many MST3K fans where Shout Factory releases the next Volume of MST3K titles. And it is quite the set.

Looking at these titles (lots of OMG hit the MST3K fan base)

EPISODE 101 – THE CRAWLING EYE – Forest Tucker (F-Troop) stars in an atmospheric scifi low budgeter against giant eye creatures that hide in a cloud. They either rip the heads off humans or take control of them to do their evil bidding. They are linked to Janet Munro who plays a telepathic of sorts. This is actually a really good movie (at least to me) and it is credible. Due to the low budget the effects are sub-par but the story has a lot of atmosphere & creepy moments ..and saving the monster until the end was a great idea

This episode is indeed the VERY FIRST episode of MST3K on Comedy Central. It is a very important title to own as only the KTMA season is older. Season 1 gets mixed rants and raves but this was pretty high on the old Rhino Poll due to its historic important. The episode itself isn’t up to the usual Season 2 & up standards but it is still fun to watch..

On a personal note I am 100% THRILLED that this is coming out. I own the Wade Williams/Image widescreen DVD of this and I really find this movie to be enjoyable on a cold winter day. Its underrated if you ask me.

Joel Hodgson will be doing an intro on this before the movie which to me is just more icing on the cake.

EPISODE 415 THE BEATNIKS – This is one of those cheesy (JD)juvenile delinquent movies that were popular in the 1950s. The story is simple. We have this gang of hoodlums and the leader Eddy Crane (played by Tony Travis) can sing , of which a talent agent recruits him for the chance to become a rich and famous recording star. A gangster headed for stardom ? Unfortunately for him , his gang will not let him move on , holding him back. The good in Tony’s character is there, but his gang just wont let go. Like the line in the movie, they have a hold on him. Most notably on this is Peter Breck as Mooney, the gang’s psychopathic member who gets kicks out of stabbing people. He has some really rich dialog ( ” I killed that fat Barkeep!!”) & is great when he really loses it. Listen to Tony when he sings “Leather Coat” and other musical melodies..A gangster musical ??

This was another great episode from Season 4 with great riffs and segments that will knock your socks off. Servo as Eddy Crane is fantastic, just fantastic..as is Crow as Mooney

This also comes with a short – General Hospital, for those that like Soap Operas this ones for you

EPISODE 910 THE FINAL SACRIFICE – Yes , for real. Originally announced as a title that would be extremely unlikely to get the rights to release as the films’ owner did not want it on DVD in an MST3K Volume. According to Shout Factory, he was simply offered more money and money does talk. So here it is..# 2 on the Rhino Poll and fans are still jaw dropping that it is here. Shout really aims to please..This is the one that contains the infamous Rowsdower. It is basically about a cult of Satanists called the Ziox who want to take over the world, starting in Canada. This has some funny chase scenes, a man who sounds like one of Jim Henson’s muppets from the Muppet Show. Hey it gets a 1.5 on IMDB so we have a classic in the works. By the show’s 9th Season everyone involved in Seasons 1-4 save for Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Mary Jo Pehl had left. This is a very VERY popular scifi channel episode and this title made the set for quite a few MST3K fans out there…

EPISODE 1005 BLOOD WATERS OF DR. Z (also known as Zaat) this is another great sci fi channel episode. This is where Dr. Leopold becomes a killer Catfish. Yes a walking catfish that kills people. This also scores a 1.5 on IMDB which has something in common with Final Sacrifice. There is so many weird sounds in the Dr’s lab, and I ‘LOL’ when Servo starts to hum them (A Servo tradition) and just a lot of zero budget acting and schlock going on that is just funny to watch. This is 1970’s regional sleaze at its very best. Filmed in Florida which is known for having grade Z films shot there..

All in all, this set is just dynamite. Nothing really low on the old Rhino Poll, in fact most being on the upper tier of the poll. Even those who don’t collect MST3K volumes may pick this up with all the great titles in this..and yes there are bonus features :

BONUS FEATURES

The Crawling Eye Special Introduction by Joel Hodgson

Mystery Science Theater Hour Wraps on The Beatniks

The Main Event: Crow vs. Crow at DragonCon `09

Blood Waters of Dr. Z Photo Gallery

Original Trailers and Promos

Mini-posters by Steve Vance

And there is supposed to more goodies still added to this set…

Between this set having some great episodes and some of the bonus features announced I have to give this easily my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. No MST3K fan should pass this up because it is a solid set of fan favorite episodes. Plus Shout Factory has achieved a high level of greatness with their other sets. The effort and quality of their sets has been outstanding & surprising to say the least.

Shout Factory has done a fantastic job with all of their previous releases & I fully expect this to be just as good as their other sets.

This could possibly be the best set yet in terms of episodes selected (even if there is no figurine). If they continue like this we will all get sets that contain episodes we’ve wanted for years

Thank you again Shout Factory ! Keep up the great work !
Rating: 5 / 5

Two movies are hosted by Joel and two by Mike. Another noticable change is in “The Crawling Eye,” where a different cast member is the voice for TOM SERVO. Here’s the info on each episode:

“The Crawling Eye” – Joel Hodgson and the Bots host this 1958 Black & White SciFi movie starring Forest Tucker. This was in the early days of MST3K and Josh Weinstein does the voice for Tom Servo. If you haven’t seen the early shows you will definitely notice the difference between Weinstein’s deadpan Tom and the wonderful Kevin Murphy who does an emotive and emotional Tom Servo. The movie, set in a mountain resort, is somewhat scarey at times, especially when the fog comes in and nasty things happen to the humans. The ending reveals the real monster and there’s even more laughs at how lame it looks.

“The Beatniks” – Joel Hodgson and the Bots host this 1960 movie that stars Peter Breck (from The Big Valley). Oddly enough, it doesn’t have one single Beatnik but it does have hoods. One wants to break out of his criminal past because he can sing. He gets an offer that can bring fame and fortune. Stupidity prevails. The short is another segment of “General Hospital.” Really boring old soap opera about depressed, boring medical people who you would never want to stick needles in your arm!

“The Final Sacrifice” – This one is a MUST SEE!! A favorite among most fans, Mike Nelson and the Bots host this really cheesy movie from Canada. This is the first MST3K movie in the set where Bill Corbett takes over to be the personna of Crow T Robot. A pasty, skinny, nerdy kid who lives with his aunt somehow comes across a priceless map that leads to a lost city. Immediately, a Cult of guys are after him for the map. Apparently all you need to be part of the Cult is a pickup truck, ski mask and black clothing from Walmart. A guy named Zap Rowsdower, who formerly belonged to the Pickup Truck Cult protects the kid. Although MST3K went off the air a few years ago, this one sticks out in my mind, for the homage to CANADA. (I’m Joking). Mike and Crow are singing a somewhat disparaging tune about Canadians. Tom breaks in (dressed like a Mountie) and berates them. He soon has a song of his own but goes waaaaay overboard. He winds up apologizing to the entire population of Canada! The Riffing is hilarious too.

“The Blood Waters of Dr Z” – Mike and the Bots host this awful 1975 movie that would make Ed Wood look like Steven Spielberg. A mad doctor transforms himself into a swamp creature and decides he needs mates. Enter pretty women. The beginning is a lot of voice-over and narration which almost takes up one third of the movie. Really, really cheesy creature costumes and very cheap filming make great fodder for the Crew.

In previous sets, Shout Factory added the funniest animation at the beginning of each episode, where the Bots re-create scenes from the movie. The bonus Mini-Posters were shots from the animation. Shout has added more posters with this set. (Click on the link below and you can see the posters from the previous set) Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVI [Limited Edition]
Rating: 4 / 5