Mystery Science Theater

Back in the 80s there was a show called the “Canned Film Festival”. The conception was simple. Show a film so bad that humans would get enjoyment from watching it. This idea was later expanded to “Mystery Science Theater” where not only the films were shown but dialog and remarks added to them which made the watching even more hilarious. The initial conception didn’t last long. As a matter of fact, you could only see the “Canned Film Festival” in the summer of 1986. But it was long sufficient to see galore of the worst movies ever made.

Like what?

Let’s begin off with the laughable “Robot Monster” said to be THE worst movie ever made right up there with another one that we’ll review later. This movie is when it comes to an invasion from the Moon. A monster is sent to the Earth as an advance scouting party for the invasion. The monster is a gorilla in what looks like a Diver Dan diving suit by the name of Ro-Man. At one percentage of the movie when it appears that Ro-Man is starting to have sensations for the Earth girl, the leader from the moon asks him “Are you a ro-man or a hu-man?” Seeing this movie will leave you in stitches for hours. One of the most unintentionally amusive science fictions of all time.

Then of course there was the cult classic “Plan 9 From Outer Space” which was regarding invaders from another planet hatching their “Plan 9″ to infiltrate the government by sending zombies into it. Bela Lugosi passed away after just two days of production and the man they got to replace him was a head taller, looked not one thing like him and expended the whole movie walking around with his cape in front of his face. Watch this and “Robot Monster” the same night. You’ll be laughing until bed time.

Looking for more laughs? There’s always “Bride Of The Monster” starring Bela Lugosi before he died. Of course, looking at this movie you’d never recognise it. The plot is gorgeous simple Dr. Varnoff, played by Lugosi, captures twelve men for this experiment which involves turning them into supermen using atomic energy. Well, a newspaper woman by the name of Loretta King, played by Janet Lawton, gets too nosey for her own good and falls into the evil clutches of Varnoff. For the laughs, there’s an octopus that in the end is strangling Varnoff. The problem with the scene is that it is apparent that Lugosi himself is actually wrapping the arms around himself. Then, if that isn’t enough, as the good persons escape, there is an atomic explosion and mushroom cloud no more than a few hundred yards away from them and yet they are not even touched by it. Just too amusive for words.

The Canned Film Festival gave us some moments like these. And even though the series itself only lasted that one summer, it made others realize that there was a market for actually bad movies, a market that would suck in those who just couldn’t get sufficient of them. Mystery Science Theater picked up where the festival left off. And while it was okay, it never actually gave us what the original gave us. And for that we will always be grateful.

Mystery Science Theater Photo

Mystery Science Theater Image

Mystery Science Theater Picture

Mystery Science Theater Pic

Most helpful client reviews

48 of 49 persons found the following review helpful.
Fantastic 5-Disc All Gamera Set. Ah, Gamera!
By Valnastar
This set is a departure from all former and recent MST3K DVD set releases in that it holds five sequences all from a single series of movies, Gamera! All five sequences are hosted by show creator, Joel Hodgson and all are from the Comedy Central era of the show. If you’ve ever wanted to see a robot sing a love song to a turtle or you’re a fan of the “Gameradamerung” then you must buy this set!

2 of 2 humans found the following review helpful.
I already know I will love this.
By Michael A. Kepler
Ok, so it doesn’t come out for another couple of months, but each MST3K set from Shout Factory thence far has been superb, with lots of outstanding extras and awful packaging, and this one has ALL of the Gamera MST3K episodes! Finally, all of the Gamera theme songs sung by Joel and the bots, and Tom’s ode to Tibby, and the unforgettable Cornjob and the Bicycle Song, all on DVD together at last!

Themed follow-up release suggestion: the remainder of the MST3K sequences featuring Japanese films or TV shows that may be licensed, all as one set.

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