TV Show Reviews

Mystery Science Theater 3000 1988-1999

Season 5, Episode 7: The Killer Shrews

2/5

This was probably the worst Joel MST that I've seen, they get off a few good ones but not worth watching the entire feature for. This disk also contains 3 short films, however, that ARE worth seeing, esp. the first one (Assignment: Venezuela). They're gut-busters, esp. because the last two have nothing to do with the actual titles. (The two stars this one gets are for the shorts, not the main feature)

Season 5, Episode 8: Hercules Unchained

4/5

This was a pretty good Joel, with an appearance by Mike with the Mods that was interesting. The riffs were good, but fewer than I like--I had to run the movie back a few times as I missed what they were saying because I'd started to listen to the movie dialog! The movie itself was an atrocious Italian-made version of the Hercules legend and whatever they could get wrong, they did. Not only was the acting atrocious, the story was stupid enough that it got its share of picking on. Still, they got enough really good wisecracks in that I'd recommend this one for an evening's amusement.

Season 5, Episode 21: Monster a Go-Go

1/5

This was definitely not one of the better MSTies. Though a Joel, which we usually prefer, the riffs were lame and few and far between. I fell asleep about 20 minutes in, and being an old hand at MST, knew that was this episode's death knell. Not recommended. 

Season 5, Episode 24: Manos: Hands of Fate

5/5

A very good MST with an even worse movie than "Glen or Glenda" if you can imagine that. This is a Joel, which I've always preferred mostly because I like Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank better than Pearl and Brain Guy and the ape dude. The DVD is HIGHLY recommended for the outtakes (Poopie Reel). As for the movie, it sure gives Joel and the 'bots a lot of good fodder, esp. the rasslin' women wearing bras and bedsheets ("This is the whole reason this movie was made!"), and the so-well-trained Doberman that has to be walked on a leash. The short at the beginning is good too and gives some excellent lines to use later such as "But he BOUGHT THE CAR!" :-D

Season 6, Episode 3: Swamp Diamonds (a.k.a. Swamp Women)

3/5

This was a very good MST--not a great, but a good. Joel and the 'bots missed quite a few riffing ops in both the short and the feature, but they had some great lines nonetheless. The bits about the woman "drowning" in the bayou when she's clearly in a swimming pool about had me on the floor! Well worth seeing even if not one of the best.

Season 6, Episode 11: Gunslinger

5/5

This is possibly one of THE best MST3ks that I have ever seen. The only thing better to heckle than an Ed Wood movie is a Roger Corman movie, and this one is just perfect for Joel and the 'bots. The 'tween sketches and Mod bits are brief yet funny, but it's the movie remarks that really make it worth seeing. The bits with the bad guy's room door had me rolling on the floor! If you like MST3k this is a must-see and if you're not familiar with the show, this is a great one to start you off.

Season 7, Episode 13: The Sinister Urge

5/5

This is a great MST'ing of a wonderfully bad Ed Wood film. If you're a fan of MST3k it's fun to watch but if you're a fan of Ed Wood as well, it's absolutely hysterical. My son and I, who are veterans of "Glen or Glenda?", "Plan 9", and "Bride of the Monster", laughed twice as much as my husband who has never watched an Ed Wood film (now he knows what he's missing, heh). There are dozens of hidden belly laughs, from posters for Ed's movies on the fictional film producer's walls to Ed's cross-dressing cameo. I do hope that "The Sinister Urge" is released on DVD without the MST treatment, this is one that I've got to see without the 'bots. Worth mentioning is the short beforehand, which had us all laughing so loud and so hard that we had to keep stopping the DVD and running it back to hear what Mike and the 'bots were saying. The MST part was Mike with the mods, which is amusing though not as funny as Joel and the mods, but better than when Pearl & her gang came along, IMHO. Overall, worth seeing for everyone from a green MST newbie to an experienced Ed Wood fan, and just be sure not to be drinking anything when the "intrepid" police captain mentions that he knows of a man who likes to wear ladies' clothes who can help catch the killer of innocent young girls being ruined by the smut industry...

Season 9, Episode 10: The Giant Spider Invasion

5/5

This is probably one of the top 5 MSTs I've seen, and I'm pretty sure I saw the film in the theater in the 1970s--it sure seemed familiar. At any rate, it's a real stinker with TONS of great material for riffs, including several that had us laughing so hard that we had to stop the DVD and catch our breath. The "Moses says move the bike" and "Are we dead, Mike?" were among the best riffs, but there were plenty between the white trash, Skipper, polyester pantsuit, and Packers running gags. The 'tween skits were amusing with a takeoff of pod people, though it seemed a bit odd because it had nothing to do with the movie. Still, HIGHLY recommended both for experienced MSTies and newbies of all ages. 

Season 9, Episode 20: Space Mutiny

5/5

As an old-time MSTie, I highly recommend this one. Possibly one of the best of the entire show, it's one that you have to keep stopping and running back to catch the wisecracks missed while laughing uncontrollably. My favorite line was "She's presenting like a mandrill!" and the repeats of the "hero's" girlish scream were just hysterical. Even the 'tween bits are funny, and I don't care for the Pearl, Brain Dude and Bobo. If you like MST3k, don't miss this one.

Season 9, Episode 21: Time Chasers

4/5

As an old-timey MSTie, I can say that this is clearly one of the better episodes. Although I don't care for the 'tween bits, the bad movie is expertly picked apart by the crew with no mercy from the opening credits to the end titles. All I could think during the whole time was, "they offered this to the MST crew?!" I agree with Mike; I don't know what they were thinking! 

Season 9, Episode 22: Overdrawn at the Memory Bank

2/5

Despite the glowing reviews I've read, both my husband and I were very disappointed in this offering. Though there were a few good laughs, overall this was a very lukewarm episode with a really, really bad movie that deserved better (worse?). A lot of good riffing chances were missed, and that 'tween parts were lame. I also missed seeing a short at the beginning, as the Mike episodes seem to excel at blasting the shorts. 

Season 10, Episode 2: The Phantom Planet

3/5

Although I wouldn't call this a bad episode, it's certainly not one of the best. A few good laughs, but I kept dozing off during it and this was in the middle of the day. Probably best for hardcore MSTies.

Season 11, Episode 6: Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues

2/5

While most MSTs are well worth taking the time to see, this isn't one. The writing is very lame and there are no real belly-laughs, just a few chuckles. They really miss some good opportunities, too, such as the chick who invites herself along on the camping trip and then complains the whole time. We did better heckling than Mike and the 'bots. Get "Eeagh!" or "Prince of Space" instead.