The Complete Cinematic Titanic Collection Is Coming To DVD!
I don’t often post news about upcoming releases, but this was too cool to ignore. Everyone’s favorite label Shout! Factory has announced they are releasing all 12 Cinematic Titanic DVD releases in a DVD box set August 8, 2017. For those that aren’t in the known, Cinematic Titanic was an independently made movie riffing series that featured former “Mystery Science Theater 3000” cast members Joel Hodgson, Frank Conniff, Mary Jo Pehl, J. Elvis Weinstein and Trace Beaulieu. The set contains the studio recorded episodes “The Oozing Skull,” “The Doomsday Machine,” “The Wasp Woman,” “Legacy of Blood,” “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians,” “Frankenstein’s Castle Of Freaks,” and “Blood of the Vampires” and the live show recordings of “East Meets Watts,” “The Alien Factor,” “Danger On Tiki Island,” “War of the Insects,” and “Rattlers.” Not only have some of these releases been out of print, but this will be the first time all 12 releases have been collected together. The set will include 2 new extras titled “Between The Riffs” and “A Look Back With J. Elvis Weinstein.” Unfortunately, the 3 unreleased live shows are nowhere to be found on this set, but maybe they will get a release down the line?
Top 10 Netflix Series
Even though I may object to how Netflix has negatively impacted the film and TV industries to some degrees, there’s no question that they are putting out some of the best original programming period. With “Love” season 2, “Iron Fist,” and the much anticipated “Mystery Science Theater 3000” revival on the horizon, the Netflix originals only look to get even better. While we all impatiently wait for new series to come out, I thought I’d take a look back at the best Netflix original series thus far. Without further adieu… Continue reading
Top 10 Most Anticipated TV Series Of 2017
While there are many films to anticipate in 2017, there may be even more to look forward to in the world of TV. This year will see buzzed about new series, the long awaited return of some of TV’s current best shows, and the resurrection of some of the greatest series and franchises of all time. While I could have easily done a top 20 here, I narrowed it down to just 10. On with the list! Continue reading
RiffTrax Live! MST3K Reunion Blu-ray and DVD Reviews
In celebration of their tenth anniversary (not to mention their 20th live show), RiffTrax decided to go big and go big they did with an epic “Mystery Science Theater 3000” reunion live special. The near 2 ½ hour live show (with credits) was comprised of a series of short films. What all was in this show and who riffed what? Read on to find out! Continue reading
Top 10 Favorite TV Series Of All Time
For this week’s list, I have attempted something that proved rather difficult. I have compiled a list of my 10 favorite TV series of all time. Now, I realize the list is heavy with sci-fi series, but what can you do? These are the shows that resonated with me the most. On with the list! Continue reading
10 Most Anticipated Fall/Winter 2016 TV Series
With the largely uneventful summer TV season about to end, it’s time to look towards the fall and winter releases (of which there are many). While most of the best shows tend to premiere in the spring nowadays, there are still a lot of new and returning shows that will be worth your time. Below I have provided a sampling of the 10 I am most excited about. Of course, there are unlisted shows that could surprise or come out of nowhere (much like “The Night Of” and “Stranger Things” did this summer). Enough of my yammering, on with the list! Continue reading
10 Most Anticipated San Diego Comic Con 2016 Panels
Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to attend SDCC myself, but that doesn’t matter. We all know the news and trailers that come out of Geek Mecha is worth getting pumped up for. While this is by no means a comprehensive list of the panels to keep an eye on this week, headlines are almost certain to be coming out of these 10. So, here are the most anticipated panels in no particular order. Continue reading
Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume XXIV DVD Review
Episode-wise, this 24th collection of MST3K is one of the lesser ones.
Part of this may be because, at this point, a lot of the greatest episodes have already shown up in previous boxed sets. Another problem may be that, as a longtime fan of the series, I’d much-rather start collecting sets of entire seasons as opposed to four randomly-assembled episodes, especially since what constitutes a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ episode is so highly subjective.
But without trying to sound too jingoistic, the main reason Volume 24 isn’t as strong is because all four episodes in the collection skewer low budget foreign films (two from Japan, one from Russia, one from Italy). I do not have anything against low budget foreign films per se, but most of them don’t really need the MST3K treatment. Most are funny enough on their own. I always thought, as an American series, MST3K was at its best when attacking movies born from the same culture as its primary audience. Maybe it’s just me, but the MST3K episodes covering foreign films are never as fun.
That being said, this set isn’t without its merits. As usual, there are some funny quips and comments throughout each episode (though fewer and further between). What ultimately makes Volume 24 worth checking out, however, are the bonus features. Included are two shorts, one of which, A Date With Your Family, is arguably the best MST3K short they’ve ever done (and one I’d been longing to have in my DVD collection). For those of you who miss TV’s Frank, an update on his life is included, as well as a feature on Sandy Frank (the guy responsible for importing Fugitive Alien and Fugitive Alien 2, the two Japanese features).
In addition, the Shout! Factory sets are packaged with more creativity and care than the ones Rhino released. I still think all of the MST3K sets are needlessly spread-out over four discs, but at least we get some fun original artwork in the form of faux posters featuring Crow and Tom Servo.
Die hard fans will likely enjoy this set, but I have to think most of them, at this point, would prefer it if Shout! Factory went back to the beginning and started trucking-out full season boxed sets, which would allow Misties to revisit old episodes on their own terms.
Extras include 4 mini posters, 3 MST Hour Wraps, an interview with Sandy Frank, an intro to “Fugitive Alien” by August Rangone, a “Samson Vs. The Vampire Women” TV spot, a featurette titled “Lucha Gringo: K Gordon Murray Meets Santo” and an interview with Frank Conniff in “Life After MST3K: Frank Conniff.”
Cinematic Titanic Live: War Of The Insects DVD Review
Huzzah! The wait is finally over for a new Cinematic Titanic Live DVD release. Continue reading
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Atomic Brain DVD Review
Of course, MST3K is always fun, and this episode, featuring the 1964 stinker, “The Atomic Brain,” is no exception. But why is Shout! Factory is choosing to rerelease episodes that have been available on DVD for years?
Actually, I probably already know the answer to that. This episode was originally part of a boxed set (Volume 3) back when Rhino Home Video was still putting them out and is now out of print (a new copy currently costs $133 on Amazon). So I guess I kind of understand the rationale. But it is also very likely that only die-hard fans (are their any other kind?) would find MST3K episodes worth buying, and probably already own the original DVDs, anyway. I think most ‘misties’ would rather Shout! Factory work on putting out the episodes which have still never seen the light of day on home video.
Plus, this single disc (like other episodes recently released) contains no extras of any kind. Just the film, preceded by the hilarious short, “What About Juvenile Delinquency?”. So if you already have the Volume 3 Rhino set, there is absolutely no reason you’ll need this. Still, it is good disc for the budget-minded, and a very funny episode.
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