MST3K fans, this is what you've been waiting for. The golden era of movie riffing has returned. A rifftracks funnytrack is all well and good, but there's an indescribible charm about watching a bunch of dudes in front of a movie mocking it.

And man, does it feel good to be back. The originators of the original MST3K - Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu (both Crow and Dr. Forrestor), J. Elvis Weinstein (the original voice of Tom Servo), (TV's) Frank Conniff and Mary Jo Pehl (Pearl Forrestor) have gotten on their new stage, sat down, and had a wonderful riff fest with another peice of crap film dredged from the darkest recess of Hollywood - the Oozing Skull (AKA the Brain of Blood).
The new set is a wonderful invention. While I do miss the classic theater seats, their new set goes up the sides, allowing more screening area for the movie. It also allows for a number of wonderful new sight gags that invoke, in my mind, some of the most clever bits of the original MST3K run.

The jokes are steady, and never miss a beat. Heck, the only thing I can really critisize them for is being too nice on this mess of a film. (Which involves a foreign dictator getting his brain acidently transplanted to an ugly coneheaded guy. I'd like to say I ruined something, but I didn't.) It is not as funny the greatest episodes of MST3K, however it is good, funny, solid, and completely worthy of the title 'MST3K's Heir.' 9/10 Easy.

Now, all that aside, there are some minor problems that have nothing to do with the episode itself. The shipped DVD is, well, just a bit amature. Obviously built on a low budget, it's got no special features, and not even a really fancy menu.

The second big complaint is the DVD is shipped by EZTakes, which has a really pathetic shipping system. They basically shoved the DVD (Just the DVD, not even a plastic case) in an envelope and toss it in the mail. I've heard reports of it arriving scratched, and even mine's a little scuffed (It still played ok though). So be cautious. If you can get it fine, it's more then worth it, in my opinion (Especially is your a MST3K lover, as I am).

I suppose I do have one other complaint. Cinmatic Titanic, at the moment, has no back story, though I have a feeling Joel and Co are going to work it in (due to a mysterious thing that shows up at the end of the episode). It's just a bunch of guys watching a movie. And that's fine by me, but I do kinda miss the exterior 'bumpers' of MST3K, where Joel, Tom and Crow are harassed by the Mads. Are the CT crew part of a mysterious plot, or do they torture themselves just for the fun of it?

Ah well. Still a wonderful bit that I'm glad to have around again. Order it peeps! It's worth it!


THE SITE: http://cinematictitanic.com/wpmu/index.php

THE TRAILER: http://cinematictitanic.com/wpmu/trailer/

 

I'm going to wait until they offer them as downloadable, since they're supposed, especially considering the shipping problems you mentioned. It sounds pretty great though, especially considering the cast. What with this and Rifftrax (well, and the other thing, which didn't start out so great) us MSTies are in for some good times!

 

I actually found out about this a few weeks back since I have Frank Conniff on my myspace friends list. I've been debating getting this - especially since Joel's in there. MST3k just wasn't the same for me after Joel left. Mike was fun - but the invention exchange went away (and Joel's creativeness was just something that I found to be a great inspiration), and Joel just had a certain charm to him. I would love to get this, but only if I can order it in a way that would involve it getting to me without scratches. Too bad the new shoe doesn't have any robot puppets made from spare junk.

Have you seen Frank Conniff's Cartoon Dump?

 

Once I can get this in a standard DVD case and such, I'll get it. If it's just a disc in an envelope, I'll pass unless I can rent it from Netflix.

But I'm itching to see it...

 

Good, rifftrax was lame.

I'd much rather see bad jokes about bad movies, rather than attempting to be funny trying to make bad jokes about new movies. Plus that audio sync scream that happens every 5 minutes is irritating.

 

I was following this a few weeks ago but forgot so thanks.

MST3K went to hell when Trace left, he WAS crow, I also always preferred Joel over Mike. I only wish Kevin Murphy was involvled as I liked him as Servo the best. But I still will check this out.