Who Saw Mystery Science Theater 3000:The Movie?

[Mr. Manager]

I wanted to but my local theater didn't show it. I can't find it on video or DVD. I read it will air on The Sundance Channel so I'll check it out.

[Scirel]

You can find it onlien fairly easily. I loved it personally, but I`m surprised your rental store dosen't have it.

[Rover_Wow]

I've seen it. Gives you a good idea of the madcapness of the show it's based on (although it doesn't come with the theme song or stinger). Very hilarious.

[Lord Dalek]

Fooooooooooooooorward Viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiew!

[Rover_Wow]

Fooooooooooooooorward Viiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiew!

It's "Normal View", Dalek.

[SilverKnight]

I saw it. :D

"Aw, damn, I spilled my Big Gulp!"

"If I was a kid, you'd know what I say?"
"You're not my real father!"

"I'm gonna crawl in his sock drawer and sleep for days."

"It's the Hubble! You killed the Hubble!"

:D Great movie.

[EinBebop]

I used to own it, but I saw it was selling for an absurd price so I took the money and ran.

[Elven Moon]

Yes, I've seen it. Hilarious stuff. If you can't find it at a rental, watch it on the Sundance Channel and tape it if you can. If you want to own the official DVD release be prepared to pay a pretty penny - they go for $50+ these days since it's long out of print, and for some reason nobody is re-releasing it..

[Lord Dalek]

It's "Normal View", Dalek.You hush up, I haven't seen the film in six years.

[TheMecca]

Funny story.
My local library has alot of old stuff (Including, but not limited to, Weird Al's biography which is now out of print) and it turns out they had a VHS copy.
I take it out.
It doesn't
freaking
work.

So, I was VERY close, but no cigar. I reallly want to though.

[Chris Wood]

Actually it's not very good. I've seen episodes of the show that were much funnier. I think they made a poor choice of material for the film.

[TnAdct1]

Actually it's not very good. I've seen episodes of the show that were much funnier. I think they made a poor choice of material for the film. I think the problem here wasn't due to the film choice, but rather some of the things that Universal wanted them to change in the film (for instance, a few riffs were changed into things that more people will get, a segment where the Satellite of Love gets stuck in a meteor shower is cut, and the ending was changed). However, it was still a fun experience. Among some of the more memorable lines:

"What's this 'and the rest' crap?" (since the film features the Professor from Gilligan's Island)
"Normal view, normal view, normal view, normal vieeeeeew!"
"Captain's Log: I lost my toupee and girdle, and I can't leave my room."
"Eastman, he came from the East to do battle with the Amazing Rando."

[Lord Dalek]

Actually it's not very good. I've seen episodes of the show that were much funnier. I think they made a poor choice of material for the film.I disagree, "This Island Earth" proves that MST3K can smash a perfectly decent film to a pulp without much trouble. Something they'll do again with Revenge of the Creature and Time Chasers in '97.

[Chris Wood]

I disagree, "This Island Earth" proves that MST3K can smash a perfectly decent film to a pulp without much trouble. Something they'll do again with Revenge of the Creature and Time Chasers in '97.

But why use a semi-decent film when they'd done so many hysterically bad films before? It's easier to get laughs when the source material is obviously laughable to begin with.

[eJm]

I've seen it twice and still find it hilarious. I agree with Lord Darlek about how the film showed how MST3K could take a film as proclaimed as This Island Earth and smash it to bits.

[John Pannozzi]

But why use a semi-decent film when they'd done so many hysterically bad films before? It's easier to get laughs when the source material is obviously laughable to begin with.
Because non-fans would be watching the movie, and they didn't want audience members turned off by such a bad movie.

In the end, Gramacy really *****ed Best Brains over. Gramacy made BB dumb down certain jokes and gave it little advertising and released it in few theaters.

For more info on how Gramacy mucked up MST3K: The Movie, go to http://www.mst3k.com/mstfaq/movie.html

And I didn't see it in theaters. I remember back in 1995 or 1996, I saw in a catalog I got in the mail (can't remember the name, but it mostly sold videos and film-related merchandise), an MST3K shirt for sale and it had a little blurg saying that an MST3K movie was coming soon. But I didn't see it in theaters because I wasn't a MSTie (MST3K fan) yet (I had seen about a minute of the episode of MST3K where they watch that weird Spanish "Santa Claus" movie with the devil and his lackey Pitch, and was weirded out), and even if I was, I don't the film played anywhere in or around my hometown (I checked Providence Journal on microfilm at the library looking for info on the movie a few years back, and couldn't find anything).

But I rented the film on tape in spring/summer 2002 (when I first truly got into MST3K) and enjoyed it. To tell you the truth, it's not thing that MST3K ever did (IMHO, that would probably be Eegah or Hobgoblins or Manos or Mitchell or Merlin or Space Mutiny), but it's still enjoyable. It's a real shame that it was meddled with by stupid execs and did so poorly there's no chance (unless some kind of miracle happens) of another MST3K. And I want to end my post by saying that I truly miss MST3K, it's a shame that I didn't watch it in its original run as I fell I really missed something special from the late 1980s and the 1990s (the era I consider to be the golden age of my childhood), but I'm glad I was there for it in its final years of reruns and managed to watch some of its best episodes and that episodes of the show are still coming to DVD. I really hope that MST3K somedays airs in reruns on TV again, and that new episodes are made. Heck, even if a show that had nothing to do with Best Brains or Joel Hodgson or anyone involved with MST3K, but retained the same idea/premise/format of MST3K (people wisecracking at movies), IMHO the world would be a much better place. Hey, Steven Spielberg is/was a fan of MST3K and he's rich of course, maybe he could bring back MST3K or make a show in the same vein of MST3K or help get more old episodes of MST3K on video and TV reruns, because one of the main reasons MST3K ended and there's not much chance of it coming back (even in TV reruns) is because of how expensive it is to get the rights to movies. If only someone who was a true MSTie and really rich would revive the show....

[Chris Wood]

Because non-fans would be watching the movie, and they didn't want audience members turned off by such a bad movie.

Except that no one was going to watch the movie itself.

If only someone who was a true MSTie and really rich would revive the show....

Hear, hear!

[Nin-Nin69]

"Hey look Orion's broke."

"G.I. Joe action set. Nerdy Joe not included."

"Increase the Flash Gordon noise and put more science stuff around!"

"Wow this must be what its like inside a bong! Whehue!"

"It's the Brak show!"

"So they worship the ever lasting gobstopper?"

[don Jaime]

It's pretty good, though studio meddling reduced the riffs by about half, I'd say. It's actually shorter than an episode of the TV show. A special edition DVD with more jokes would be fantastic.

[mikestorm]

I saw it in the theater when it came out...and went straight home and dragged about eight friends right back to see it with me again. Personally, I thought it was much funnier than an average episode.

My friends and I used to randomly quote that movie all the time.

"Are you ironing in there?"
"Noooo."
"Are you building an Anterocetor in there?"
"Noooo."

"It's the Brak show starring..me! I'm Brak!"

"Self cleaning mu-tant. Leaves nothing but the fresh scent of pine."

"Inserting breakfast pastry."
"Yum."

"And there you have it...a letter opener."

at dinner: "I'm not an alien"

(Cal wrestles with his stick trying to land plane)
"Should we be seeing this?"

[Pupmon 4.0]

To answer your question, yes I saw Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie. It was actually the first episode of MST3K I ever watched, up until then I had only been reading the fanfics.

[Speedy Boris]

Except that no one was going to watch the movie itself. Of course not, but I've had a hard time sitting through some of the MST3K episodes with movies that are SO bad that no matter what jokes the bots make, it's a test of endurance. Some of those Gamera movies... (shudders)

Anyway, the MST3K movie has one of the highest laughter/minute quotients in any movie I've seen. Nearly every line is classic.
"Watch your lips!"
"Into the Weenie-mobile! Weenie Man away!"
"Eh I'll read this on the crapper."
"You're not my real father!"
(falsetto voice) "HEIL HITLER!"
"You know other people need to use this ladder, ya know."
"The amazing RANDO!"
"....Should we be seeing this?"
"I'd like to thank me for flying Me Airlines."

The interstitials weren't nearly as good as the TV show, though.

[Gatomon41]

I saw it a long time ago and thought it was great.

[g_UnIt_GaNsTa]

Time Chasers
Don't you dare say that was decent.

[Speedy Boris]

Don't you dare say that was decent. Are you referring to Time Chasers itself, or the MST3K episode where they talked over it? :p

[Michael24]

I actually just watched this last night. It's a great choice to put on when you've got a little time to kill because it's just barely an hour long. I still find it pretty hilarious, with tons of great lines. Of all the MST3K shows I've seen, this is my favorite. (I've read that the DVD is out-of-print now, so that may be why you're having trouble finding it in the stores, though I do still see a lone copy every now and then at Suncoast.)

And I actually got to see it in the theater when it came out. My dad and I drove to this little art house place about 50 minutes from where we lived to see it.

"Should we be seeing this?" (As the main character jostles with his jet's control stick.)
"He touched me!" (When one character puts his hand on another's.)
"Glad you could join us here at the Buddy Ebson Society."
"The secret government Eggo Project."
"Eew! It's Michael Stipes' head!"

[g_UnIt_GaNsTa]

Are you referring to Time Chasers itself, or the MST3K episode where they talked over it? :p
The movie...ugh...

"What would MacGyver do?"

"Make a nuclear device out of a paper clip and a piece of gum...and I'm all out of gum."

WOWZERS! This is the movie's "Hasta La Vista, Baby" line, so that shows how bad it is.

[Brandon Pierce]

I own it on VHS, but I hope a special edition DVD makes it soon.

I liked the film, and despite the executives' meddling (it's there job, isn't it? Sucks) it was a decent film.

This Island Earth was a good choice, and it doesn't bother me if the film was good or not. Good movies can be tarnished. It just wasn't done that often due to expenses.

My only complaint was that it was only 74 minutes long instead of 90 minutes, because of Gramercy making them cut some theater segments out, as well as a few host segments. Mike Nelson himself complained about the length of the film in his book "Movie MegaCheese", a book no MST3K fan should be without.

I unfortunetely did not see it in theaters. Mainly because I didn't have Comedy Central at the time (nor Sci-Fi Channel), and was oblivious to the series. But even when I obtained the Sci-Fi Channel in 1997, MST3K still slid past my eyes until 1999, but sadley that was the last season, and I regret not discovering the show sooner.

[Adam Tyner]

I wanted to see it theatrically but never had a chance, living in Charleston, SC and all. I had it on VHS (and probably still do, somewhere), but I haven't seen it in years. It's the only MST3K DVD I don't have, but hopefully Universal will come around and release it eventually.

I think it still holds the record as the only TV show where the feature film version is shorter than an episode of the show.

[HellCat]

MST3K is pretty much gold dust here so when ITV showed it about 2 years ago I made sure to tape it. Overall I liked it but there are two problems:

1. You can really see how the studio changed it

2. There's various elements cut from the second half of This Island Earth which make that movie dull even with the jokes (most reviews I've read of the MST3K take agree after they leave Earth it gets pretty dull)

[Michael24]

What exactly did the studio change? Maybe it's just me, but I never saw any signs of studio inference, watching it then or now.

[TheMecca]

Here's what mst3kinfo.com has to say:

Q: I hear the suits at Gramercy did a lot of meddling. What happened?
A: Skittish Gramercy executives cut and rewrote some riffs, which may explain why -- as many MSTies noticed -- the movie has fewer of the really obscure references that make the TV series so delightful. One example: When "Scrotor" the bug-eyed monster first appears, the original riff was "Bootsy Collins!" This was changed in the movie to "Leona Helmsley!" reportedly because the Gramercy executives had never heard of Bootsy Collins. (The irony of a bunch of white guys from Minnesota trying to explain Bootsy Collins to supposedly hip L.A. movie executives did not go unnoticed by BBI.)
...

For reasons BBI did not understand, Gramercy asked BBI to create a "story arc" within the host segments of the film. Grudgingly, BBI complied (though they felt it wasn't necessary). But when focus groups complained the film was too long, an entire host segment was cut, and the ending host segment completely reshot, utterly demolishing the very story arc Gramercy had asked them to create. (Which is why, in the finished film, you see Crow pick up a chain saw in Tom's bedroom, but nothing more is made of it. In the original ending, Crow returns to his ditch below decks and uses the chain saw in another escape attempt.)

[HellCat]

What exactly did the studio change? Maybe it's just me, but I never saw any signs of studio inference, watching it then or now.
From what Best Brains say, alot of the humour was changed based on focus groups who likely wouldn't even see it. Personally, the host segments also feel different. There seems to be more of Mike and the bots as 'the goodies' whilst Dr Forrestor is 'the baddie'. That angle just feels more subtle in the show, with the two groups more playing off each other.

[Knightmare]

From what Best Brains say, alot of the humour was changed based on focus groups who likely wouldn't even see it. Personally, the host segments also feel different. There seems to be more of Mike and the bots as 'the goodies' whilst Dr Forrestor is 'the baddie'. That angle just feels more subtle in the show, with the two groups more playing off each other.You know I never really thought about but your Dr. F was a little bit meaner and more of a megalomaniac than usual.

And yeah that movie was great and like everyone else it makes me long for a show that left us way too soon.

Personally I'd to have seen the MST3K gang take on The Avengers and Halle Berry's Catwoman, now those would have been some fun times.

[Speedy Boris]

It probably helps that I live in the area where Best Brains was headquartered, and recognized many of the Midwest references they slipped in. Like Downer's Grove or the Dickeyville Grotto, for example. ;)

[Temple Fugate]

Saw the movie after the 8th season ran on SCI-FI. It clued me into the fact that there were 7 other seasons of the show (technically 8 if you count KTMA). From there I bought the episode guide and found the Rhino VHSes. So not only is this movie flat-out the funniest MST3K has ever been (laughs/min wise), it's what fueled my transition between ignorant MST3K viewer to avid lifetime MiSTie. And yes, I have it on video. My roommate actually asked me to bring it back to college with me after this vacation because it's the only MST3K-related thing he'd ever seen and he loved it. I had a couple Rhino DVDs with me already so I showed him "Prince of Space" and we had a good time.

[Mr. Manager]

Are the KTMA episodes on DVD?

[Lord Dalek]

It probably helps that I live in the area where Best Brains was headquartered, and recognized many of the Midwest references they slipped in. Like Downer's Grove or the Dickeyville Grotto, for example. ;)"Shot on location in Spooner, Wisconsin." :p

[Lord Dalek]

Are the KTMA episodes on DVD?No. And they never will be just like the premiere and final episodes of the Scifi years.

[Temple Fugate]

No. And they never will be just like the premiere and final episodes of the Scifi years.Wait, what?! No! I need "Diabolik" on DVD! My VCR just ate that tape last month!

[Lord Dalek]

Wait, what?! No! I need "Diabolik" on DVD! My VCR just ate that tape last month!You can get Danger Diabolik (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000228EJA/qid=1136233135/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/002-8689404-3697651?n=130) on dvd, you just can't get the MST version of it.

[Noukon]

I have the DVD, and pretty much consider it to be the holy grail of my collection.

[Tobias]

I seriously hope this movie gets re-issued someday. I have the VHS, but I'd love to have it on DVD.

"His coffin will be made entirely of coconuts, thank you."

"You can't tunnel through space!"

"Yes, I'm a naughty boy! NAUGHTY NAUGHTY NAUGHTY!"

"When in California, visit beautiful- (sees Washington sign) Oh."

So many classic lines...

[g_UnIt_GaNsTa]

No. And they never will be just like the premiere and final episodes of the Scifi years.

There are a few people who own some of the KTMA eps on tape, and a lot own the last episodes. You can buy them all over.

[Adam Tyner]

You can buy them all over.Lord Dalek means "officially". The movies were never cleared for the KTMA episodes, and the cast/crew are embarrassed enough by them to just as soon have 'em disappear from memory. Season one episodes can be released (The Crawling Hand snuck out), but again, the cast/crew would just as soon not have them available.

[Speedy Boris]

Season one episodes can be released (The Crawling Hand snuck out), but again, the cast/crew would just as soon not have them available. Also remember that when MST3K was on Comedy Central, the crew didn't want CC to play the Season 1 episodes after a certain point because they didn't find them all that good.

[Michael24]

If anybody can find THE MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 AMAZING COLOSSAL EPISODE GUIDE, there's a pic or two from a KTMA-era episode, and . . . well, the show looked even cheaper than it did when it first started on Comedy Central. It's pretty amazing, actually, just how bad it looked at the very very beginning. Just from those few images, I can see why the guys would never want the episodes from that time to be seen.

By the way, what is Joel Hodgson up to nowadays? I remember his half-hour special "The TV Wheel" that aired after the first series finale on CC (the movie was "Laserblast"), but that was the last time I ever saw anything from Joel.

[Speedy Boris]

If anybody can find THE MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000 AMAZING COLOSSAL EPISODE GUIDE, there's a pic or two from a KTMA-era episode, and . . . well, the show looked even cheaper than it did when it first started on Comedy Central. It's pretty amazing, actually, just how bad it looked at the very very beginning. Just from those few images, I can see why the guys would never want the episodes from that time to be seen. That guide is amazingly funny, and they clearly have a talent of the English dictionary. ;) It's a shame they wrote it in 1996 and thus leaving out all the Sci Fi episodes.

[Michael24]

Yeah. I hoped for a long time it would be expanded to include those, but that'll probably never happen. I wish I could have seen the live performance they did, which there's pictures from in the guide.

I hardly saw any of the Sci-Fi Channel episodes, though. At the time the show returned, it was about the same time I was starting college, so it was a hectic time and I couldn't keep up with it.

[TnAdct1]

Yeah. I hoped for a long time it would be expanded to include those, but that'll probably never happen. I wish I could have seen the live performance they did, which there's pictures from in the guide. I kinda wished I attended one of their live performances as well. However, I did get to experience the next best thing in the form of Mystery Anime Theater 3000 at Otakon 2001, 2002, and 2003 (of those three, the most memorable was definitely 2002, when they riffed Attack of the Supermonsters).

[Speedy Boris]

Never attended a con, but I went to a book reading at Barnes & Noble where Mike Nelson read excerpts from "Death Rat".

[Bogey B]

The movie was the first bit of MST I had seen and I instantly enjoyed it
there were so many great lines like...

Exeter: Place your hands above the rods. they're magnatized.
Crow: "And if your hands were made of metal, that would mean something"

[Adam Tyner]

It's a shame they wrote it in 1996 and thus leaving out all the Sci Fi episodes.They've written guides for season seven on.

http://www.mst3kinfo.com/guide/index.html

Also remember that when MST3K was on Comedy Central, the crew didn't want CC to play the Season 1 episodes after a certain point because they didn't find them all that good.:nods: That's what I was referring to.

[Speedy Boris]

They've written guides for season seven on.
Outstanding! I never knew this addition existed. I've got some reading to do. :D