Rifftrax - Galaxy Invader

 

I don't believe I've ever seen a Don Dohler film before. Everything I know about him is from the frequent mentions by Red Letter Media. The impression they give is that his films are all people wandering around the woods and often in the dark. (And also rundown houses are a "Don Dohler House")

Well, it is that, but I was pleasantly surprised that it's not as dreary as it sounds. It's goofy enough that it stays fairly fun.

And if you're wondering what that crazy accent is, this was filmed in Maryland.

A Few More Observations from Rad Live and a Letter Concerning Toleration

 Watching "Rad" on the big screen, especially in contrast to the letterboxed VHS tapes, you really see so many more details that you never have before. When I saw "Rad" last year I noted many such details. Seeing it again, I have just a few more...

First, the big one: in one of the "Rad" deleted scenes, in preparation for the big race, Cru is gifted "the Murray from your store." That Murray, the shop owner and the store are established in the opening "walk this sucker" montage. The store is 7-11. The bike:

The bike has a sign on it. I wish I had memorized it from the theater but it's like a prize for Hell Track or an advertisement or something.

The store owner is someone Cru delivers to on his route:

In the scene where Cru is tempted by The Devil and resists the temptation, the trash can in the background is Pac-Man themed. The opening on the left is Pac-Man, the opening on the right is Ms. Pac-Man. She has a bow in her hair.

The third thing is a repetition... I am once again reminded that every Rad shirt available for purchase on the web is inaccurate to the props in the movie. Oh well.

In the era before this blog, I did some in-depth research to try to figure out where Cochran was. I believe I found it was in Canada, perhaps because imdb lists one of the shooting locations for the movie as Cochrane, Canada. Of course that's a dead end of sorts because the fictional Cochran was in the U.S.. Regardless, the decoding of the BMX magazine has already revealed the Cochran of the movie is in Oregon. It should be noted that the spelling is not consistent even within the movie: sometimes "Cochrane," sometimes "Cochran."

That said, seeing the movie on the big screen, I noticed the license plates in a way I never have before:

You can see how front-and-center this one is but it just blends into the VHS brown fuzz. I was able to find Oregon license plates from the past that look like that but not from the 1980s and not for passenger vehicles. This one is left to the viewer. Someone with access to the higher res will hopefully be able to take a look.

Finally, in preparation for this post, I found an old email of mine that notes there is a sign in the film that labels the date of Hell Track as June 26th. I don't have the original source on this, I don't know where I got it from but I trust myself. Somehow I never followed through with commemorating that day... we should all add it to our calendars.

Reminder: Rifftrax Live: Rad in 1 Week

 

Just a reminder that "Rifftrax Live: Rad" is showing in theaters in one week, 8/17. Get your tickets.

Don't get left out... If I were you, I'd go over there and buy as many as you can!

Rifftrax Live is Doing Rad

 Rifftrax has announced a new Kickstarter - they will be riffing over the 1986 BMX classic "Rad." Does anything else need to be said?

One thing that should be said is the tier that allows you to contribute a riff is already sold out. That was probably my only purpose in life and I didn't get a chance.

The live event is August 17th, so still a lot of time.

I wanted to list the stretch goals but don't see any listed.

Rifftrax - Birdemic Discussion

This is one of my favorite videos of all-time. And yet, as far as I can tell, I never posted it. Is that possible? How is that possible?

The full Rifftrax movie is now on youtube: here.

Rifftrax - Replica

I thought this one was quite good. Rifftrax covers "Replica," another movie from James Nguyen, creator of "Birdemic." This one came before "Birdemic" so, you know, it isn't as polished or sophisticated.

When the dollar amount came out to be a childishly round number, I stood and clapped.

Rifftrax - Halloween Party

 Another short film with no purpose. It seems there was an era where professors from Arizona State College would make shorts that have no entertainment, artistic or educational value. Just wasting everyone's time.

Rifftrax - Setting Up a Room

 It's finally here. I don't know how, but the folks at Rifftrax have somehow made "Setting Up a Room" available for free on youtube. Isn't that a major rights issue with the Hollywood production companies? Well, I don't care how they did it, the point is they did it.

Give in to the block-putting-away...

MST3K New Season Trailer

It just so happens that April 13th Rifftrax's viewing of "Samurai Cop" comes to theaters and then the new season of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is released on Netflix on April 14th. Not just the first episode, the entire season. And then Red Letter Media has a screening of "Samurai Cop" on April 16th but in 2011. Still a weird coincidence, if you ask me.

Netflix just released the trailer for the new season. Nothing very exciting, in my eyes. It's all about the movies and the jokes for me.

Feels like a Road House Saturday

Rifftrax recently released a new "three riffer" track for "Road House" (they had previously released one that was just Mike. Today felt like the day for it.... It could be my new Saturday night thing.

Paper covers Rock, Mijo.

I think the reason "Road House" has such timeless appeal is that even after multiple viewings, it still remains enigmatic. (Incidentally, this fact may be the only thing "Road House" has in common with "Citizen Kane".) The movie comprises two totally different tones but transitions from one to the other very slowly. I always wonder why they didn't keep it lighthearted and happy as we watch the Double Deuce succeed as a business. I'd sure love to see that movie. But instead the real end of the movie is a dark revenge story full of throat-ripping kill-murders. It's actually not far off from "Miami Connection" in that regard.

Hi, I'm here for karate hardware store practice.

Has there ever been a time or place where bouncers were legends, whose exploits were whispered in hushed tones from town to town? I'd love it if there was but it's hard to imagine. Has there ever been a business that turned around so completely due solely to the quality of the bouncers? Again, I hope so but it seems unlikely. This movie is part of the "rich guy has an iron grip on an entire town" genre that was so popular in the 80s. Did anything like this ever happen? What happened to the police, or any governmental authority for that matter?

Thought maybe we could have a picnic on my dress.

In the end, the Rifftax of "Road House" is quite charming and I recommend it. "Road House" is certainly the right movie for the Rifftrax treatment.

Rifftrax 10 Year Anniversary Highlights

Rifftrax is 10 years old and they've released a clip montage from the movies of the past 10 years. Enjoy.

Terms of Service Endearment

For the first time since its cancellation the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 returned to Comedy Central. Now the makers of Rifftrax, they appeared as guests on "At Midnight".

I haven't been watching "At Midnight", although I am a fan of host Chris Hardwick. But somewhere along the line, it changed format from a late night talk show to a sort of faux-comedy-game-show. I don't understand that plus I very much doubt that these jokes are "off the cuff" and not prepared beforehand. Still, the bottom line is: it's funny.

This is the one clip available on youtube:



The whole show is very funny, you can watch the full episode here.

Rifftrax - Setting Up a Room

I love that stuff like this exists. Apparently there's a short film which shows two teachers arranging the furniture within a classroom for half an hour. So now Rifftrax have tackled it.




Give in to the block-putting-away.

The credits list "Helen K. Tritch, Director Day Care Association of Montgomery County, Penna. Ambler Branch" as a consultant for this movie. First off, no one ever uses the abbreviation "Penna." anymore, I think we should bring that back. Secondly, I now HAVE to wonder if one of the classrooms I attended was arranged by one of the "stars" of this "movie".

MST3K to Return to TV (In a Way, Maybe)

As you probably already know, after "Mystery Science Theater 3000" was cancelled, Mike Nelson took the essence of the show online in the form of Rifftrax. As the online "show" has become more popular, a TV version felt somewhat inevitable. And so it isn't too surprising that a three episode Rifftrax TV show will begin airing April 1st. What is surprising, however, is that according to Zap2it, the robots Crow and Tom Servo will be returning. The article doesn't say whether Mike Nelson will be reprising his role as Mike Nelson.

Little else is know about the show except the word is that it's going to be mocking TV programming rather than movies.

First off, the prospect of the robots returning is huge. That's the part that would really make it feel like a MST3K comeback. The main reason that's so exciting is because it's so surprising. A word of warning: I have a feeling that the article is simply getting that part wrong, unfortunately. That's a copyright issue.

Only 3 episodes? According to Charlie Bucket, it's not enough. But the main thing is, if it goes well, it opens the door for the possibility of a real series.

Watch for all three 1-hour episodes of the show "Total Riff Off" on the National Geographic Channel (I have to check to see if I get that) starting at 8PM on April 1st.

Rifftrax - Bermuda Triangle

The guys over at Rifftrax have a new riff on the movie "Bermuda Triangle" out. They must have been in a strange mood when they made this new promo to talk about the new release because it's even better than when they discussed "Birdemic"... which was really funny.

Bermuda Triangle:

Rifftrax : Seven Little Ducks

Rifftrax (the writing core of MST3K now with a new company) have a new "short". I receive these new product announcements every once in a while and I always look forward to them because their video descriptions are so well written. The video description for "Seven Little Ducks" follows.

"When police inspector Launchpad McQuack receives a phone call that Huey, Dewey and Louie have gone missing, his initial inclination was to suspect the Beagle Boys - a suspicion that his neighbor Donald Duck was only too happy to go along with. But Donald seemed a little too concerned about keeping Launchpad away from his newly planted garden bed, instead plying the straight-laced cop with a dish he called "Diablo Pato." And that's when the first severed head turned up in a box on Launchpad's doorstep, pulling him down into a twisted web of intrigue, with the case growing more depraved and fiendish with each passing hour.

Sorry about that, that would be the plot of Se7en Little Ducks. Seven Little Ducks on the other hand is a good-natured short about a brace of ducks. You might assume that there would be seven ducks, but you would be a moron for expecting the good people at Coronet Films to do something as logical as naming their educational short in accordance with how many ducks are actually in said short.

The ducks are owned by Carol, who is played by a Gamorrean Guard. Carol has mastered basic duck-care skills such as feeding them gravel and strangling them. The ducks detest their cruel owner, and led by the hideous Father Duck, whose skin condition makes Two Face look like a Noxzema model, plan a coup. I'm sorry, I'm also being informed that that should be "Coop", and is not a bloody takeover, but rather the enclosure within which the ducks reside.

Obviously we can't get our details right about the content of the short, so just tune in to Seven Little Ducks along with Mike, Kevin and Bill and see for yourself. Quack. "