Rifftrax: Wide World of Shorts - from the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 Review

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(More customer reviews)Take ten shorts, mix them with riffing from three former MST3K Vets, shake 'em up and the result is the very funny collection, "Wide World of Shorts". Along with it's companion, "Shorts-tacular, Shorts-straviganza" we have two worthy DVDs for your collection.
The shorts live up to the Rifftrax title as they range from carnivorous plants to drinking kids to being scared of water to cramming food down one's piehole. We start with the dangers of suicidal depression because someone got a "B" instead of an "A" in the short, "Snap Out of It". The riffing is side-splitting, especially when the principal sits in his oddly plain office while Mike sings under his breath, "...you spin me right 'round baby right 'round..." A great start which sets the tone for the rest of the shorts.
Highlights include the pointless, "Alcohol Trigger Films" made during the '70s which shows the dangers of 10 year olds sipping beer and tearing up a rather shabby apartment, a tipsy Mother driving a stationwagon which apparently is not as dangerous as her embarassing behavior, and pre-teens slammin' schnapps in a park. "Why Vandalism" shows that boredom leads to accidentally killing a large, docile rabbit. And the pro-beer "As We Like It" which encourages what "Alcohol Trigger Films" is against.
My fave is the earnest, but hopelessly naive "The Terrible Truth" which tells the story of a young, beautiful teen who shoots up with herion non-stop, gets arrested, and destroys her life. Afterwards, she looks just as hot. I guess being on "the dope" isn't all that bad.
"Aqua Frolics" suffers from the dreaded "YouTube" strobing effect seen on other Rifftrax DVDs. Though admittedly it's not too distracting.
The DVD Menu is as plain as it gets, but it's complimented by Kevin Murphy belting out "When a Man Loves a Shark" on the soundtrack. It's hilarious, just like the riffing on the shorts. Get this today.

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Rifftrax: Night of the Living Dead - from the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)This old black and white movie was cheaply made but became a Cult Hit shock horror film that started the Flesh-Eating Zombie movie craze. The old MST3K crew of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett take it on with quite a few funny riffs. Some don't quite hit the spot, and the guys miss some choice moments to riff, but that's always the case with Rifftrax. One of the better ones was, "A Zombie's Worst enemy, a Clothesline." The clueless young couple who try to escape the zombies and the ultra-Angry family man get lots of attention. Rifftrax does not include old MST3K things like skits, sets, or the Bots. You never See the guys in any form. You simply HEAR them from the beginning to the end of the movie. Not even an Intro!
I also recommend Rifftrax "House on Haunted Hill." It's terrific.

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RiffTrax: Shorts-a-Poppin' - from the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 Review

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(More customer reviews)Nearly two hours of fine, family entertainment await with this Rifftrax release, "Shorts-A-Poppin".
Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, & Bill Corbett of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame rip their way through nine insane shorts beginning with the sad death, embarressment, and finally rebirth of a local safety nut in the overlong epic "The Case of Tommy Tucker". Admittedly, this short is one of my favorites as the riffing is excellent over a story that desperately tries to convince you that a 12 year old is the most important person in the county.
Years before America wondered just how he bagged such a hot wife in "Bewitched", Dick York learns in "Shy Guy" that to overcome shyness, one must conform. Three annoying youths represent a town's most dangerous criminal element in "What About Youth Delinquency?"...well, what about it?
"You and Your Family" promotes discussion over whether lying to you Dad isn't such a bad idea. "Cork-Crashes and Curiosities" is a real winner, a confusing short about some kind of grand prix style race in Ireland with a not-so-coherent narrator (it's Ireland, what should I expect?). "Molly Grows Up" continues the "youth in confusion" theme and "The Bill of Rights in Action" proves that idiots standing on a corner screaming about Hitler get way too much attention.
The highlight of the DVD for me is the wonderfully insane "The Tale of Moose Baby" which follows the first year of a baby Moose. Bill Corbett's riff over a small bird is one for the ages...tweet. And we end with the guy who played Mayberry's favorite town drunk "Otis" in a somewhat less drunk version in "Following Instruction Game" in which attention deficit disorder in children can be cured by paying attention...assuming you have no pencil or paper to write down what Mommy tells you to do.
The only extra is an interesting one as we have "alternate riffing" of the first five minutes of "The Case of Tommy Tucker". Too bad the "Menu music" is of the generic kind rather than a song from the Rifftrax crew that were in previous releases.
For Rifftrax fans, this one is a must for your collection. Get it today!


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Mystery Science Theater 3000: Vol. XX Review

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(More customer reviews)This set is a departure from other recent 4-disc releases in that all four episodes are from the Comedy Central era of the show and all four episodes feature show creator and original host Joel Hodgson, most recently of Cinematic Titanic fame. Again, Shout! Factory has compiled four really strong episodes for a MSTie-must-have set!
* 109- PROJECT MOONBASE (with shorts: Commando Cody, parts 7 & 8)
This 1953 space exploration film was co-written by famed SF author Robert Heinlein. It's set in 1970 when the United States supposedly wants to build a moon base. Three astronauts, two men and a woman, are sent to explore the moon. One of the men is revealed to be a spy who endangers the mission and the free world. Unintentional comedy ensues, especially how the movie cheerfully resolves itself. As if the dated attitudes toward men and women working together in space aren't hilarious enough, we have two Radar Men From The Moon shorts featuring Commando Cody. This is a terrific and hilarious Season One effort and I'm looking forward to having a great commercial DVD release for it.
* 322- MASTER NINJA I
Master Ninja is an edited version of episodes from the 1984 TV series "The Master" featuring Lee Van Cleef and Timothy Van Pattern. Lee Van Cleef plays a veteran who became a ninja master while living in Japan after the Korean War. Timothy Van Patten is his unlikely apprentice. These particular episodes also feature Shô Kosugi and a young Demi Moore. This MST3K episode also features the quite memorable musical gag, "Master Ninja Theme Song!" The "film" is an odd mix of fine movie actors and young aspiring newer actors in a fairly mediocre TV series. There's plenty of action and goofiness for MST3K to make fun of and that they do here extremely well. Well worth a look.
* 324- MASTER NINJA II
This one is more mildly goofy TV episodes edited to look like a movie from the series "The Master". Lee Van Cleef and Timothy Van Patten reprise their roles as The Master and his apprentice still traveling around righting wrongs wherever they encounter them while The Master continues his search for his long lost daughter. In one host segment you get to check out the 'Bots' custom van designs. It's hilarious fun once again.
* 505- MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD
This 1962 Americanized version of the 1953 Russian folktale movie originally entitled, "Sadko" is a must see episode for all MSTieS! For my taste it is simply one of the funniest episodes ever produced. The jokes are incredibly dense, well-thought out and well timed from beginning to end in this beautiful but corrupted foreign film. The hero, Sadko, is renamed with the more familiar, Sinbad, in this American version dubbed into English. Sinbad returns from sea and is distressed to find his hometown on hard times. A water princess, some magical fish and an incredible sea voyage searching for the Bluebird of Happiness should set things right. This is one of those episodes I never get tired of no matter how many times I see it or how close together. One of many episode highlights is the host segment where Joel and the 'Bots dress up like jesters from the movie. Don't miss it!
Extra Features Include:
* A featurette on the look of MST3K with DP Jeff Stonehouse
* An intro to Magic Voyage of Sinbad by Trace Beaulieu
* Mystery Science Theater Hour Wraps
* A look back at Master Ninja with guest star Bill McKinney
* Servo vs. Servo at Dragon*Con
* Original Trailers
* Mini-posters by Steve Vance
Even the animated menus have been hilarious on recent MST3K releases. This should really be something MSTies will want to own.

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