MST3K fans, I need your help!

[Gavok]

So at my job, we have a deal coming up throughout June where employees can buy two CDs or DVDs and get another for free. Obviously, this would be a great time to get ahold of a handful of boxed set DVDs. Stuff like Justice League Season 2, for instance, which comes out towards the end of the month.

But just the other day I realized how many boxed sets of MST3K there are and bought one (prior to knowing about the upcoming deal). The thing is, with so many sets to choose from, I'm going to need help in picking out what to get. So here's a list of each set and what four movies are on it. Movies in italics mean I've seen it.

Collection 1:
- Bloodlust!
- Catalina Caper
- The Creeping Terror
- The Skydivers

Collection 2:
- Angel's Revenge
- Cave Dwellers
- Pod People
- Shorts Volume 1 (featuring 8 shorts)

Collection 3:
- The Atomic Brain
- The Unearthly
- The Sidehackers
- Shorts Volume 2 (featuring 6 shorts)

Collection 4:
- Girl in the Gold Boots
- Hamlet
- Space Mutiny
- Overdrawn at the Memory Bank

Collection 5:
- Boggy Creek II: And the Legend Continues
- Merlin's Mystical Shop of Wonders
- Time Chasers
- The Touch of Satan

Collection 6:
- Teenagers from Outer Space
- Attack of the Giant Leeches
- Gunslinger
- Mr. B's Lost Shorts (featuring 6 shorts)

Collection 7: (which I already bought)
- The Killer Shrews
- Hercules Unchained
- Hercules Against the Moon Men
- Prince of Space

Collection 8:
- Monster A-Go Go
- The Dead Talk Back
- Phantom Planet
- Hobgoblins

Collection 9:
- Women of the Prehistoric Planet
- The Wild Rebels
- The Sinister Urge
- The Incredible Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies

Damn. Still no sign of Puma Man.

[Utils]

They're all so great. Oh man, so many flashbacks.

I would choose between 1&3 simply because you HAVEN'T seen them. You could always relive those funny moments in your mind. I'm doing it now! HAHAHA, "Long torso vison". Oh Tom.

So yeah, choose between 1&3.

My choice is two. Those shorts can be incredicble.

[Demonicuss]

Agreementing with Utils, some of those shorts are pure comedy. I'd suggest 2&3, I have them and laughed with regularity. Also, Rhino released a two-pack called "The Essentials", with Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and Manos: Hands of Fate. I recall getting that on the cheap, so try to look for that as well.

"Sidehack'll quench your danger thirst..."

[Gavok]

I should point out that with Collection 7, I not only got it because I absolutely love Prince of Space (A-HAAAAA-HAAAAA-HAAAA-HAAAAAR!!!) and those Hercules movies look interesting, but because as an extra they have A Case of Spring Fever. Coily made the decision for me.

[Hiryu no Ken]

I agree on 2. Not only does it have shorts, it's got TRUMPY.

[The Million Dollar Street Fighter Fan]

I like them all, but I choose Volume 3 for Overdrawn At The Memory Bank.

Mom.... My Nuts!

[Azathoth]

I agree on 2. Not only does it have shorts, it's got TRUMPY.

Y E S

[Adrian_Tepes]

All of them, eventually.

I would put in a vote for 2(Trumpy), 6 (Leeches I believe is one of the earlier episodes) and 9 for obvious reasons.

[TODE]

shit, there's a collection 9 now? I have like 30 tapes (as in, "keep circulating the") which only accounts for like 50 episodes.

Anyway, check out 2 and 3. Pod People has Trumpy, who can do magic things!

[TODE]

Eps I have on tape, from the Comedy Central run:

Hercules Against the Moon Men
The Indestructable Man
The Magic Sword
Attack of the the Eye Creatures
Jungle Goddess
Stranded In Space
Gamera Vs. Gaos
The Amazing Colossal Man
Fugitive Alien
The Castle of Fu Man Chu
Gamera Vs. Zigra
King Dinosaur
Space Travelers
Cave Dwellers
Hercules Unchained
The Giant Gila Monster
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
LaserBlast
War of the Colossal Beast
Zombie Nightmare (starring Adam West!)

I also have Mitchell on DVD, as well as every Rhino-released VHS tape.

[CABINET SMASHER]

Collection 4, jesus christ COLLECTION 4.

[Spira Miribilis]

Whew. Tough call. It seems a lot that you have seen were the Sci-Fi channel episodes. Do you have any preference as to Mike or Joel as host? I've got my tattered episode guide (made before the final Comedy Central season seven) and can tell who was on what episode. Or any genre or color preference, anything like that?

It's hard to choose, but if you want seasonal variety I'd go with either 3 or 9. I only say 9 because it has an episode (Women of the Prehistoric Planet) that was from season one, whose episodes were rarely rerun on Comedy Central. The set was completely different, done in purple, and Tom had a different voice.

3 has a Mike episode (Atomic Brain), two Joels and the shorts, which are always funny.

No Space Travelers I see....nuts.

[Riskbreaker]

Go with Collection 2. Pod People is arguably the best episode of the Comedy Central run.

[booshemee]

Collection 4 is a no-brainer. And #6 for Teenagers and Leeches.

[Gavok]

Whew. Tough call. It seems a lot that you have seen were the Sci-Fi channel episodes. Do you have any preference as to Mike or Joel as host? I've got my tattered episode guide (made before the final Comedy Central season seven) and can tell who was on what episode. Or any genre or color preference, anything like that?

I've seen more Mike than Joel, obviously, but I don't have any real preference. And for the love of God, I hope this doesn't start the debate.

I have seen a good chunk of Comedy Central episodes, but only one of them is featured in any set. This is in contrast to SSJ2 Jared's collection, where I've seen about half (including that zombie movie starring Tia Carrerra and Mayor Adam We).

I also have that MST3K Collossal Episode Guide somewhere. I know Riskbreaker does too.

[Spira Miribilis]

I've seen more Mike than Joel, obviously, but I don't have any real preference. And for the love of God, I hope this doesn't start the debate.

I have seen a good chunk of Comedy Central episodes, but only one of them is featured in any set. This is in contrast to SSJ2 Jared's collection, where I've seen about half (including that zombie movie starring Tia Carrerra and Mayor Adam We).

I also have that MST3K Collossal Episode Guide somewhere. I know Riskbreaker does too.

Oh no. Let's nip that flamewar before it begins. Both hosts rock. And for good measure both the Comedy Central seasons and the Sci-Fi seasons had awesome episodes, so let's not go down that path either.

If you had to pin me down, I'd go with 2 or 3...leaning towards 3.

And that Guide is wonderful, if only for the worst things they've seen and list of memorable quotes.

[The Million Dollar Street Fighter Fan]

Yes, let's not get into another "Joel Vs. Mike" discussion, both had their strengths and weaknesses.

I thought Mike was better

[Gavok]

For reference, here's a list of the shorts on each shorts-specific DVD:

Collection 2:
- The Home Economics Story
- Junior Rodeo Daredevils
- Body Care & Grooming
- Cheating
- A Date with Your Family
- Why Study Industrial Arts
- The Chicken of Tomorrow

My mistake. Only 7 shorts on this one.

Collection 3:
- Catching Trouble
- What to Do on a Date
- Last Clear Chance
- A Day at the Fair
- Keeping Neat and Clean
- The Days of Our Years

Collection 6:
- Mr. B Natural
- X Marks The Spot
- Hired!-Part 1
- Design for Dreaming
- Johnny At The Fair
- Are You Ready for Marriage?

[MyFinal]

X marks the spot.....

[TODE]

I have that guide, it's really useful.

Oh, and as for recorded-off-Sci-Fi episodes, I have:

Werewolf
Invasion of the Neptune Men
Hobgoblins (TOP TIER)
The Touch of Satan
PUMAMAN
Time Chasers
Parts: The Clonus Horror (which really isn't that bad of a movie)
Phantom Planet
The Screaming Skull
Diabolik (final ep)
Soul Taker (also rad, plus Joel returns!)
The Giant Spider Invasion
Space Mutiny
Track of the Moon Beast
It Lives By Night
Future War
Squirm
The Horror of Party Beach
Devil Doll
Hamlet
Quest of the Delta Knights
The Final Sacrifice
Merlin's Shop of Mystical Horrors (grampa tells a kid R-rated tales of doom)
Overdrawn at the Memory Bank (Raul Julia had roles worse than M.Bison)
Boggy Creek II
Prince of Space
Girl in Gold Boots
Devil Fish


Man, I don't even remember half of these. I basically watched them once on Sci-Fi when I taped them.

[Vic Viper]

I'd like to see the Godzilla ones on there. But I'd like to get Collection 7 of that, since it has 3 of my favorite episodes on that.

[Metaljedd]

I still have the Pyoumaman video on my hard disk if you want to see it again if that helps at all.

[Gavok]

Parts: The Clonus Horror (which really isn't that bad of a movie)

Which I guess is why they plagarized remade it into The Island... only without giving any credit whatsoever.

Then again, I've always thought the concept of Santa Conquers the Martians was really good as a kids movie and should be remade with Kyle Gass as Santa Claus and Jack Black as Droppo.

[Tentacle Rape D]

While I totally agree with what the others have said about getting 1 and 3, if it were me, I'd get Collection 4. Hamlet, Overdrawn at the Memory Bank, and Space Mutiny are some of my favourites. I'm pretty sure I liked Girl in the Gold Boots too...

[Nezumiiro]

I wonder what Tom Servo & Co. would say about the Jason Bateman/Mr. Belvedere/Alyssa Millano Mario Bros. on Ice. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue4Bca8DbAQ)

[Utils]

Oh God. Now I'M going to have to buy these collectins. I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE TIME!

[Tentacle Rape D]

Oh God. Now I'M going to have to buy these collectins. I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE TIME!

To watch them or buy them?

[Adrian_Tepes]

I wonder what Tom Servo & Co. would say about the Jason Bateman/Mr. Belvedere/Alyssa Millano Mario Bros. on Ice. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue4Bca8DbAQ)


Poll:

Is the above better or worse then Double Dragon the Movie?

[The Million Dollar Street Fighter Fan]

I wonder what Tom Servo & Co. would say about the Jason Bateman/Mr. Belvedere/Alyssa Millano Mario Bros. on Ice. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue4Bca8DbAQ)

I thought I was on a severely bad acid trip when I saw the first part of the video with Mr. Belvedere prancing around with the Koopas and Goombas.

And If I knew how to make GIFs, the Luigi blowing the shit out of the Koopa Troopers would be a perfect opportunity to make one.

[TODE]

Oh God. Now I'M going to have to buy these collectins. I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE TIME!I know what you mean. I have a collection of CC episodes on VHS that I bought off eBay a year ago and I've only watched a couple of them:

Godzilla Vs Megalon
Godzilla Vs The Sea Monster
Gamera Vs Barugon
Star Force: Fugitive Alien II
Master Ninja
Master Ninja II
Viking Women and the Sea Serpent
Time of the Apes
Gamera vs Guiron (Gamera does stunts on the moon!!!)
Earth Vs The Spider
Mighty Jack

It was part of a deal where he would send you any 12 episodes from the first four CC seasons you wanted. (I also had the original B&W Gamera but I copied over it accidentally.) Add a VHS copy of MST3K the movie and I think I'm finally done listing the episodes I have, save for listing the individual Rhina VHS episodes.

I also have a copy of Mitchell, uncut and un-mocked. There's this really retarded scene where John Saxon and another guy take on Mitchell in those little grand prix rally carts in the desert. That would have been GOLD but I understand why they cut it (for time). Also, in the uncut, there is another sex scene and Linda Evans writes "BASTARD!" on Mitchell's windshield, not "JERK!".

[Tentacle Rape D]

I thought I was on a severely bad acid trip when I saw the first part of the video with Mr. Belvedere prancing around with the Koopas and Goombas.

Not so much "prancing" as "sitting on top of a moving castle in plaid pajama bottoms."
The funny thing is I understood everything he said, up until he started singing. After that, I think his mic broke or something.


And If I knew how to make GIFs, the Luigi blowing the shit out of the Koopa Troopers would be a perfect opportunity to make one.

Did someone use GameGenie? I don't remember the Mario Bros. having a rocket launcher at any point, even in Doki Doki Knockoff.

[Zazzarius]

i only got Vol. 7 and 8, but FUCK i got a Big McLargeHuge need to get Space Mutiny

also got The Essentials because its got FRIGGIN MANOS

[Gavok]

Collection 7 has three extra shorts on it. The first two are Case of Spring Fever (NO MORE SPRINGS!!!) and the other is that one where the two overly whitebread kids go to a fair and see a bunch of futuristic phone technology. One of the things they were predicting was that we'd be able to call home to activate our air conditioners for when we'd get there. What the hell ever happened to that idea? Warren Ellis, make it happen.

The third short on there is called Assignment: Venezuela, which was never shown in any episode. They even have the time stamp thing in the upper-left corner throughout. The reasons they didn't use it seemed to be 1) it's kind of long (about 25 minutes without commercials) and 2) the source material is really, really boring. Mike and the Bots do a good job with it, still.

[Adrian_Tepes]

Does anyone remember which collection has the "Russ ???" animal hater in it?

[Gavok]

So as it turns out, my initial post was wrong. It's not a "buy 2 get one free" deal for employees, but for everyone in general. So if you got a hankering to buy some DVD box sets, check out your local Barnes and Noble in June. I'm pretty sure the deal is nation-wide.

*pockets cash from mysterious man in suit nearby*

Man, Hercules Against the Moon Men was one hell of a ride. Easily funnier than Hercules Unchained and for a while the movie itself didn't seem that unbearable. That is, until the last 20 minutes. Egads.

Loses points for using the same exact Princess Bride jokes they used in the first Hercules movie. But any time those rock monsters were on-screen was gold.

[Dourmalynn]

Monster A-Go Go was more brain rotting than Manos. Go for Collection 8.

[Zazzarius]

Man, Hercules Against the Moon Men was one hell of a ride. Easily funnier than Hercules Unchained and for a while the movie itself didn't seem that unbearable. That is, until the last 20 minutes. Egads.

Loses points for using the same exact Princess Bride jokes they used in the first Hercules movie. But any time those rock monsters were on-screen was gold.i have fond memories of seeing the original airing on Comedy Central

seeing the "DEEP HURTING" sand storm broke my fragile mind

but the Monsters of Rock tour fixed that quick

[TODE]

PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA

actually when I watch MST3K I find that I have to set my brain back 10 years to get some of the references. But I pick up on other things I didn't before like references to Beatles songs.

[Spira Miribilis]

Does anyone remember which collection has the "Russ ???" animal hater in it?

Collection 3's cluster of shorts. Specifically it's Catching Trouble and the guy's actual name (not that you probably care :p) is Ross Allen.

[The Million Dollar Street Fighter Fan]

Space Mutiny was hilarious if only for the constant berating by Mike and Co. about the main character's stupid name.

[Ham]

Out of interest, do these DVDs offer the option to turn the commentary and shit off and just watch the movies in their original format?

[Orochi]

If I remember correctly from my sets, the ones in the sets don't, but the ones you buy individually do (like Mitchel and The Beginning of the End)

[McGuirk]

Someone say Hobgoblins?
from Greg Helphenstine: Former Director of Photography for the WWE Rick Sloan said in a recent interview with Filmmaker Magazine that he is finishing up principle photography for his upcoming movie 'Hobgoblins 2'. "The first movie was released back in 1988, but this movie will be taking place after the events of the first one. I was lucky to find a cast that resembled the cast from the first one." The movie is due out on DVD this fall.

[TODE]

Oh God, now I have the urge to watch it again.

If I remember correctly from my sets, the ones in the sets don't, but the ones you buy individually do (like Mitchel and The Beginning of the End)Mitchell does not :( It's only certain movies... Eegah and Manos do, IIRC.

Finding a good copy of Mitchell uncut isn't easy, you'll have to go to eBay for it.

[Gavok]

So far I got collections 1 and 2. I'll get 3 later this month, when I can buy it with JL Season 2. Over the past couple days, I've checked out Angels' Revenge and Cave Dwellers. Two great "rip-off" movies.

Angels' Revenge was a fun piece of shit, which for those of you who haven't seen it, is an attempt to capitalize on Charlie's Angels. In it, a frumpy teacher, her annoying student, a pop singer, a sassy black stunt driver, an Asian chick with a katana, a sex-starved model and... some other woman team up to destroy all the drugs in the world. Or a cabin. Either way.

What's great is that occasionally you'll see a MST movie with a celebrity in it. Once in a blue moon, you'll see a movie with two. But Angels' Revenge had like 4 guys in there who are recognizable, including Jack Palance. Good God.

The best quip comes from when the sassy black stunt driver says, "I got an idea." It immediately cuts to the model in a bikini, to which Tom yells, "THAT IS A GREAT IDEA!!"

Cave Dwellers... sweet crackers. This is why the show was created, folks. A bad 80's Conan ripoff that was the second part of a trilogy I'm sad to say wasn't fully covered on the show. It should be noted that the clips shown in the opening credits and the closing credits AREN'T EVEN FROM THIS MOVIE! The Cave Dwellers that the movie is named after don't show up until 35 minutes into it and are only around for about... oh, let's say 7 minutes. Plus this movie features so many anachronisms, like an extra wearing sunglasses or obvious tire tracks in the background. This is a complete must see.

With some research, I found out that the movie's star Miles O'Keefe ("How much Keefe does this movie have?" "Miles O'Keefe!") is a great sport about the episode and loves the show. Even better news is finding out that the hot warrior chick in the movie went on to do an explicit lesbian sex scene.