You all know I’m a little nuts about the MST3K gang. For the uninitiated, that’s Mystery Science Theater 3000, the hilarious show which aired on TV from 1988 to 1999, and is now available on DVD.
Yes, we have all the sets in this household, except for that sought-after, hard-to-get Vol. 9, which includes Women of the Prehistoric Planet, Wild Rebels, Sinister Urge, and The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies. It’s available on Amazon for $215. A little out of our price range. We’re hoping to stumble across a copy at a yard sale. Or if you have a copy, leave a comment below and we’ll talk.
The best thing about all the MST3K sets? They’re really fun, you’ll laugh yourself silly, and they’re great family viewing. We basically wait impatiently for every new MST3K set to be released. The next one, Vol. XXIII, will be out March 27, 2012, and includes King Dinosaur, The Castle Of Fu Manchu, Code Name: Diamond Head and Last Of The Wild Horses. Pre-order your copy today.
In the meantime, fresh from Shout! Factory is MST3K, Vol. XXII, which delivers four episodes from season three, one from season six, and one from season seven, all from the Comedy Central era. Let’s take a closer look:
Time of the Apes (Season 3, Joel Hodgson). This 1987 Japanese show was edited together to make a feature length film. It’s basically a rip-off of the original Planet of the Apes which finds a young woman and two kids surviving an earthquake via cryogenic freezing and waking up in a future ruled by stern apes in cheap costumes. Extras: Introduction by August Ragone (author of Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters); MST Hour Wraps.
Mighty Jack (Season 3, Joel Hodgson). It’s the Japanese James Bond, only way, way more low budget. The 1968 production features secret agents, high tech gadgets, a secret spy organization known as Mighty Jack, and an evil international crime syndicate known as “Q”. Yes, “Q”. Extras: Introduction by August Ragone; The DVD Menus of MST3K.
The Violent Years (Season 6, Mike Nelson). This 1956, Ed Wood-written black-and-white film follows the teenage girl of a wealthy family who rebels and becomes the leader of a girl gang that robs, steal and assaults young men. Includes the short Young Man’s Fancy, about a girl trying to get the attention of her brother’s friend. Extras: Ed-ucation: Archival Interview with Delores Fuller; Ed-ucation: Archival Interview with Kathy Wood.
The Brute Man (Season 7, Mike Nelson). This 1946 black-and-white thriller stars Rondo Hatton as a guy seeking revenge on those responsible for his disfiguring injuries. Includes the short Chicken of Tomorrow, which reveals cutting-edge developments in chicken farming. Extras: Introduction by Mary Jo Pehl; Trail Of The Creeper, Making Of The Brute Man; The Making Of MST3K (1997). Also included in the set are four exclusive mini-posters by artist Steve Vance.
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