The Forum

Errybody?
If you're missing the WIT episode, fret not. The Club's ALWAYS had a randomizer.

See that riff at the top of every page? That's a random riff, from a random episode. Click it, and you're routed to that episode. That's been here for as long as I've known, and I suppose I'm a member of the Club's "old guard". Refresh the page, and you've got a new one. Go to another page at the Club, it changes again! Ain't it grand?

Sure, it's not quite a WIT episode, but hell, you can set those up here in the Forum. Have fun rolling the dice, kids! :-)

Not a riff, but it was awesome when Jonah says "Now that I think about, it's EVERYBODY'S birthday!!!"

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj27MHz8NTUAhWBaiYKHaMvBeEQqUMIKjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvariety.com%2F2017%2Fdigital%2Fnews%2Fmystery-science-theater-3000-mst3k-twitch-free-streaming-marathon-1202476723%2F&usg=AFQjCNGM64jfaSEhnMD-PSFnkRY0d_IF7w I dont know if I am going to be able to marathon them all but I will try.

The Britriff team are dropping a new one tomorrow.

aaaand in unrelated news, Matt Elliott and Ian Potter have a new riff out June 23rd.

♫ "...Bolster
So its couches
Can look snazzy..." ♫

I'm watching the new season in order, very slowly, and just finished this episode earlier today. I get the impression I'm in the minority, but I liked it a lot! The riffing was really fun and clever; Jonah and the robots really stick it to Cor and Simon, and they have a field day with the Chewbacca knockoff Golfax. The movie is just so poorly produced and the sets so cheap, that any chance for real action or adventure is cut short by the limited budget. And yet I get the feeling it was intended to at least be a B-grade movie catering to a family audience. (I agree with Zeitgeist that this one IS a kids' flick).

I laughed during this one more than any other episode in Season 11 so far, with the possible exception of Beast of the Hollow Mountain. However, Wizards is more entertaining, in terms of having a lot going on with the silly dialogue, ham acting, and goofy creatures (which show up before the last 15 minutes of film, unlike the dinosaur in Beast).

I’m about to contradict myself. While I’m generally “for” Season 11 and really enjoyed some episodes, there’s something that feels off about it to me. I think I know what it is: Almost all of the movies are children’s films. I say this because almost half of them are definitely aimed at kids, but as well, by the era that these movies were made, films with rubber monsters or dinosaurs were also aimed at a juvenile audience. During the Comedy Central/SyFy seasons, the crappy horror/scifi films were aimed at teenagers and actually intended to frighten, with the exception of the serials.

The reason it feels off to me is that the movie-making bar is so much lower from the start for kids’ movies. Children will sit quietly mesmerized by the worst piece of rubbish, and most filmmakers basically rely on those low expectations. Kids don’t care about character development, rational plot or motivation, and almost require no real tension or menace. Ragging on such weaknesses is just too easy and doesn’t offer the opportunity for true vitriol. Movies that are aimed at adults and fail dismally are a true test of incompetence and are better fodder for a high level of bitter riffing.

At least I think so.

What do you think, sirs?

What happened to the random episode of the day? Its gone from the front page. I loved that feature.

Some people at something called 'The Ringer' spent a lot of time deciding what makes bad movies good bad movies (much like we have here from time to time). They're apparently a young group since the movies are all (relatively) recent and they depend heavily on Rotten Tomatoes reviews to guide them.
At the very least this should start some lively discussions about which movies should/shouldn't be part of their list. Enjoy.

https://theringer.com/the-50-best-good-bad-movies-a9add81b5b7f

dead or alive?

What's the best MST3K for Father's Day? I Accuse My Parents? Watcha got?

Sold a comic the other day to a Guy named TOR. I guess there's a first for everything. I wanted to ask him if he ever watched MST3K or movies with Tor Johnson but since I didn't know him or if he would be offended..I bit my tongue and kept quiet. Anybody else encounter this dilemma before? Anybody know a Rowsdower or Torgo ;o)

This was the quote for the Celebrity Cipher in the paper today:
"I've done...mediocre movies...you do what you gotta do...I'm just trying to put my kids through school." -Ron Perlman
No sh*t, Hellboy! (said the unemployed guy living with his parents)
I liked Alien: Resurrection tho...

I was watching one of the season 11 episodes and they had a quick fanmail segment, does anyone know what the PO address is? Unless its the one they show in older seasons. i just really want to send fanart;;

Ricky Raccoon, that Safety short and the Baggs things all defied description. New family riff whenever anyone falls over "SAFE!!!"

I found the article about Bridget Nelson inspiring. I have read comments on the old MST3K Usenet group of how the series positively affected some of the posters. I find that laughter is very uplifting and the show was brilliant at providing laughter. Anyone care to share their stories of how it has affected you?

Club member Such As Seals and I, in our never ending quest to gawk at some creepy uncles, have stumbled into an astounding discovery.

Click it. ...or TICKET
http://creepyuncles.com

Off-topic: Seen any movies without bots in front of them lately?

I took the day off from being jobless to watch some movies. Have three short reviews, courtesy of a guy who wishes his job was to review movies.

I started my day with It Comes At Night---I'd seen the positive critic reviews and negative audience reaction on Rotten Tomatoes and wanted to know what's up. The movie was marketed much differently than what it actually was---and while that's a factor, I think there are other reasons the audience hated it. It looks great. It's acted very well, especially the main father and son. It achieved what it sets out to accomplish, which is to make you feel absolutely miserable. It Comes At Night is a slow-burning, frequently boring, psychological horror that wants nothing more than leave its audience feeling despair. It's a bleak, nihilistic film that left an awful taste in my mouth. On a technical level, it was a good movie, hence the critical reception. But I left the movie feeling like nothing was worth anything.

To get the taste out of my mouth, I looked at the marquee. Wonder Woman was the next film I'd watch that was playing. I had major trepidations about it---despite positive reception to it, it was still as DC movie. As a fan of DC comics, their current franchise (starting with Man of Steel) has left me extremely unhappy. Man of Steel and Batman v Superman were epic---in terms of of how much I hated them. I won't get into that, but I will say that I had no hope for Wonder Woman going it. That changed quickly, and, except for some really awful CGI, I loved WW. It did her source material and character justice, (which is something I can't say for my favorite guy, Superman, in his recent movies). While WW had bits of Zack Snyder influence, like the poor CGI action (and a very questionable story credit), this movie had a very different feel to it than previous DC entries. It was brighter, more cheerful, with a lead you could root for. Gal Godot and Chris Pine were great, and the scene of Wonder Woman going up against a machine gun is one I won't forget soon. WW is the female-driven superhero movie we've been lacking.

To finish my day, I watched a movie not in theaters---The Gift (2015) written directed, and starring Joel Edgerton, who coincidentally was the best part of It Comes At Night. The Gift is a psychological thriller the likes you don't see often. Some of it reminded me of Mientras Duerme (aka Sleep Tight, an excellent Spanish psych thriller), but there were plenty of twists and turns and amazing acting from the three leads. It was a captivating watch, and my heartiest recommendation of the three movies I saw today, especially if you're a genre fan.

It Comes At Night: 2/5
Wonder Woman: 4/5
The Gift: 4.5/5

Rewatching season 11 for the 6th time and i cant help but wonder, when the hell did frank and forrester procreate??? And with who?? They were always so awkward and scared around girls (the few times they were around them.) Any theories?

Anyone else going to see Rifftrax this Thursday? Mary Jo and Bridget are going to be there, which I always enjoy their riffs!

Quick reminder for everyone:
- Please check out the "Other Vids" section (on the left of this page) for a bunch of cool goodies such as the four The Film Crew (pre-Rifftrax) movies
- Also listen in every week for a new episode of Movie Sign with the Mads https://soundcloud.com/user-340711944

what other stuff did I miss?

Hi guys! I've only recently joined the fan base and I was wondering if anyone could recommend me a few episodes? I'm still in season one and watching through some of season 11, but i'd like to be able to watch a few of the more popular episodes. any suggestions?

A fairly substantial article I just found linked on Twitter, which gives a little background on Mike's better half and what makes her tick: http://www.stthomas.edu/news/bridget-nelson-roasts-these-films-just-for-you/

My Daughter was thinking of dear old Dad when she snapped this photo.So I thought I'd share it with Y'All. Strangely 2 Tom Servos and no Crow. The guy dressed like Dr. Forrester has the expression and pose goin' on. Oh yeah..Maddy had a blast and heck I'm thinking I might even go next year/.

Mickey Hargitay is Eddie Vedder as Hercules!
I've just started this episode, and in the span of about 3 mins, the bots have referenced 3 Pearl Jam songs when Hargitay Hercules is on screen. It's nice to see a sword and sandal episode on the reboot, in deference to the original series. The Hercules movies are some of MST3K's most iconic, in my opinion.

https://www.facebook.com/myherowhizzo/photos/a.353459601435789.81827.353456801436069/1357170611064678/?type=3&theater

Sad, she was GREAT in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, quirky and funny woman! RIP Glenne Headly https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/09/theater/obituary-glenne-headly-dick-tracy-dirty-rotten-scoundrels.html?_r=0

Ths is, as I believe the youth of today put it, an actual thing: http://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/4492

Aged a very respectable 88 years old. We shall never forget him.

Someone should set this to (very metal) music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNkCtOkcPhY