The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. 12 (1988)

This volume collects four episodes from the cult favorite TV show. In each episode a guy and his robot friends--who are stranded in space--scrape the bottom of the cinematic barrel watching and making fun of a different bad movie in each program. This collection includes the episodes "The Rebel Set" "Secret Agent Super Dragon" "The Starfighters" and "Parts: The Clonus Horror."Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 603497990221 Manufacturer No: 990221 Product Description

A Strike, Two Hits, and a Home Run

This is a rather lukewarm collection. Two of the episodes are average, one of them is painful, and the final one is stellar. If you're a fan, you can't go wrong by buying this set, but this should probably be one of the final ones you get.

The Rebel Set is all right. It's certainly not the first episode I leap to when I need my MST3k high, but it's serviceable. It's a tale of three downtrodden individuals taking place in a bank robbery for a criminal mastermind... and of course, things don't go as they should. For the most part, it's a torpid turd, trudging along until the final third of the movie. It's also one of those movies that ALMOST works, and you'll find yourself watching it and forgetting to listen to the boys every now and then. Because it has its own presence and almost functions properly, it shadows the riffing and is almost impossible for the guys to lift. That said, check out the short, "Johnny Goes to the Fair." It's a fabulous short, definitely one of my favorites. I laugh until I cry every time I watch it.

Secret Agent Super Dragon is average as far as eps go. It's a James Bond ripoff, which is all you need to know. Although the premise sounds hilarious, the movie itself is just not very engaging. Yeah, it's super lame; that's the problem. It fails at being a humorously poor film in and of itself -- a quality that always makes for the best episodes. That said, the constant jabs at the "white-trash Q" and rude protagonist make for a pretty good time. Just don't expect too much from this one.

The Starfighters is horribly, horribly boring. This is basically an airforce propaganda film masquerading as a documentary masquerading as a movie. Refueling scenes take up roughly a fourth of the movie, and there's only so much Mike and the bots can say before you're taking a nap. Furthermore, here's a case of poor product; I popped this pristine, brand-spanking-new DVD into my player and the darn thing skipped a total of 5-6 times. Really, shame on you, Rhino!

Parts: The Clonus Horror is my favorite in this set. The premise is that humans are cloned as organ donors for the wealthy. It's downright hilarious! The movie is just interesting enough to keep you engaged while the guys pop out one-line wonders. This episode is a must-have!

All in all, I can only really recommend this set to the hardcore fan. New MSTies are better off with Volume 2. September 19, 2008

are you mad at me, clone daddy?

Typical formula for the box sets - one must-have, one solid episode, and two fairly good ones.

The Clonus Horror is the reason to buy the set. Hilarious riffs, and a stupid-bad movie. Peter Graves just going though the motions is 10 times better than anything else in this Rockford Files-quality clunker about everyone's favorite bogeyman - the rich and powerful. I wonder how they justify all that money for henchmen to the stockholders?

Super Dragon is a cheesy low-budget completely unoriginal secret agent flick, including several meaningless plot twists just pulled out of the woodwork, that make you say 'what?!'

Starfighters is a valentine to the US Air Force that makes the Green Berets look like a documentary. I'm not anti-military at all, but this is embarrassing, and probably deserves worse than it got. Lots of in-air refueling. Like the guys said about 'Skydivers,' this is one of those movies where they forgot to actually have things happen.

The Rebel Set is a heist-and-double-cross flick, with not-bad production values and not un-watchable, if somewhat impressive for its complete lack of suspense. Gritty 50s realism.

Outside Clonus, which is great, the other selections are basically solid, if not top-flight classic funny, which seem to be doled out one per box set. Grr.
September 14, 2008

Action, adventure, bad movies...

This set has four movies - let us break them down now...
"Picture, Picture, Show Us Holland."
Secret Agent Super Dragon is a mixture of James Bond and Get Smart. Think James West, think Flint, think Holland. Lots and lots of Holland!
"Thank You For Holding."
The Starfighters is about the US Air force, who do more refueling before noon than any other air force. Lots of refueling. Lots of jets refueling. And ladders, bombs and wheels. But mostly refueling.
"A Priest beating the hell out of a guy in a factory."
The Rebel Set, with the short Johnny at the Fair, is one of those gems of movie history which many an actor would have burned if they could. You will KNOW some of the stars and even enjoy the plot. Yes, under all the beatnicks and beards and bars there is a plot. And lots of Train Movie jokes. A lot happens on a train. If you don't like trains, don't watch this movie.
"Peter Graves' Dad"
parts: the clonus horror is a movie that had a mixture of major stars and some major money, yet still had that feel that somebody was making a home movie. There is a joke about a smoking crotch and the skits are pretty funny, yet it seems the weakest of the four films.
This set is wonderful, a real find. Get it used or new. May 28, 2008

MST3K To The Rescue

Tired of watching bad movies? Well, you won't be anymore. Bad movies have never been so good thanks to Mike, Joel, Tom Servo and Crow. Sit back, relax and enjoy some of the worst movies ever made.
Caution: lasting side effect of making sarcastic comments throughout every movie you see can lead to breakups, divorce, butt kickings and other mishaps. May 22, 2008

"The Starfighters" was the only weak link in the chain

The other three films here were a lot of fun to watch (although I really think PARTS: THE CLONUS HORROR is a good film on it's own and deserves a bit more respect. In fact I highly recomend getting the regular DVD of PARTS and watching it with the flimmaker's commentary.) But STARFIGHTERS...ugh.

Here is perfect proof that there are some films that even MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER shouldn't have touched. I never knew that until now. No matter how much Mike and the 'bots wisecracked and tried to keep things interesting, the sheer dullness of the film overwhelmed their efforts to keep it entertaining. I guess the filmmaker must've found the image of planes refueling in midair endlessly facinating and just couldn't imagine anyone else not feeling the same way, because roughly two thirds of the film is just scenes of planes refueling in midair. Seriously, this film made the worst Uwe Boll films actually look pretty damn good. (I mean, at least stuff actually HAPPENS in an Uwe Boll movie.)

Buy the collection for the other three films, but don't bother with STARFIGHTERS. April 18, 2008

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