Ed Wood? Noooooooo!
October 12, 2008 5:45 PM Subscribe
Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans have been enjoying Rifftrax for a while now [previously], but the movie riffing experience just isn't the same without Mike and the 'bots at the bottom of the screen to watch the movie with us. Now a MST3K and Rifftrax fan has brought the 'bots back in this ten minute "proof of concept"-type video of a MSTed Plan 9 From Outer Space.
how about writing a plugin for vlc or whatever that adds mike and the bots to the bottom of the screen? if we can add subtitles on movies in real time, why not this?
posted by darkripper at 6:16 PM on October 12, 2008
posted by darkripper at 6:16 PM on October 12, 2008
Yeah... If I really need the robots that bad, I can just, you know, cut them out of construction paper and TAPE them to the bottom of the screen.
posted by BrianBoyko at 6:44 PM on October 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by BrianBoyko at 6:44 PM on October 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
Fans of MST3k's 50s sci-fi movies might also enjoy
The Ghastly Love of Johnny X
TEENAGES FROM OUTER SPACE! THEY SING! THEY DANCE!
They even re-create the filming style!
posted by The Whelk at 6:47 PM on October 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
The Ghastly Love of Johnny X
TEENAGES FROM OUTER SPACE! THEY SING! THEY DANCE!
They even re-create the filming style!
posted by The Whelk at 6:47 PM on October 12, 2008 [1 favorite]
how about writing a plugin for vlc or whatever that adds mike and the bots to the bottom of the screen? if we can add subtitles on movies in real time, why not this?
FFdshow on Windows will do this with a bitmap image, i'm sure VLC can do it as well.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:00 PM on October 12, 2008
FFdshow on Windows will do this with a bitmap image, i'm sure VLC can do it as well.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:00 PM on October 12, 2008
Good stuff, Servo.
For MST3k fans, there's also a 20th Anniversary Collection due for release on October 28th. Two of the more notable episodes featured are 1996's "Werewolf" and 1997's "Future War."
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:04 PM on October 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
For MST3k fans, there's also a 20th Anniversary Collection due for release on October 28th. Two of the more notable episodes featured are 1996's "Werewolf" and 1997's "Future War."
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:04 PM on October 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
how about writing a plugin for vlc or whatever that adds mike and the bots to the bottom of the screen? if we can add subtitles on movies in real time, why not this?
But then you wouldn't be able to see mike stand up and tweak the nipples of a character on-screen. And that's just not right.
posted by puke & cry at 7:06 PM on October 12, 2008
But then you wouldn't be able to see mike stand up and tweak the nipples of a character on-screen. And that's just not right.
posted by puke & cry at 7:06 PM on October 12, 2008
FFdshow on Windows will do this with a bitmap image, i'm sure VLC can do it as well.
No, the way it should be done is have them bob around randomly, very slightly, when a character is talking. It could be done by having the plug-in analyze the waveform to figure out who might be speaking, and not moving anything if the RMS error on the sample is too high. I guess now all we need is a programmer/MST3K fan with way too much free time.
posted by crapmatic at 7:15 PM on October 12, 2008
No, the way it should be done is have them bob around randomly, very slightly, when a character is talking. It could be done by having the plug-in analyze the waveform to figure out who might be speaking, and not moving anything if the RMS error on the sample is too high. I guess now all we need is a programmer/MST3K fan with way too much free time.
posted by crapmatic at 7:15 PM on October 12, 2008
I'm proud as hell to say that some of the actors in Future War are my friends. (The movie that packs more "Huhs" per second.)
posted by Kloryne at 7:21 PM on October 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by Kloryne at 7:21 PM on October 12, 2008 [2 favorites]
I'm proud as hell to say that some of the actors in Future War are my friends. (The movie that packs more "Huhs" per second.)
Daniel Bernhardt?? I loved "Mortal Kombat: Conquest" and all the "Bloodsport" sequels.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:30 PM on October 12, 2008
Daniel Bernhardt?? I loved "Mortal Kombat: Conquest" and all the "Bloodsport" sequels.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 7:30 PM on October 12, 2008
There is also Cinematic Titanic, which features Joel and a lot of the other former cast members riffing a movie while silhouetted on both sides of the screen. You can see some short clips on youtube here to get the idea.
I haven't seen any of their full-length movies, but all this new stuff just makes me miss the old show more.
posted by Horatius at 8:06 PM on October 12, 2008
I haven't seen any of their full-length movies, but all this new stuff just makes me miss the old show more.
posted by Horatius at 8:06 PM on October 12, 2008
Kloryne: Wait, Future War? Wasn't that guy from Soultaker in that one?
I bet you have some stories to tell about that.
.
.
.
(Waiting patiently for stories about Future War.)
posted by JHarris at 8:10 PM on October 12, 2008
I bet you have some stories to tell about that.
.
.
.
(Waiting patiently for stories about Future War.)
posted by JHarris at 8:10 PM on October 12, 2008
There is also Cinematic Titanic, which features Joel and a lot of the other former cast members riffing a movie while silhouetted on both sides of the screen. You can see some short clips on youtube here to get the idea.
I haven't seen any of their full-length movies, but all this new stuff just makes me miss the old show more.
I've purchased every release (the fourth one just came out), and it's well worth it. Nothing can be like the original, of course, and it takes some getting used to to have five riffers onscreen. The first episode was a little stiff, but it gets better each time. As with the original MST, and RiffTrax, it helps to be in a light and silly mood.
And no need to miss the old shows, in addition to the mrzarquon's post, there are more available for sale than you can afford to buy. Well, more than I can afford. I have about 7 or 8 box sets plus a handful of individual ones. I plan on getting all that are available as budget permits.
Oh, and if you think you can do as good a job as the pros, RiffTrax is callin' yer bluff, mister! Check out iRiffs.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:31 PM on October 12, 2008
I haven't seen any of their full-length movies, but all this new stuff just makes me miss the old show more.
I've purchased every release (the fourth one just came out), and it's well worth it. Nothing can be like the original, of course, and it takes some getting used to to have five riffers onscreen. The first episode was a little stiff, but it gets better each time. As with the original MST, and RiffTrax, it helps to be in a light and silly mood.
And no need to miss the old shows, in addition to the mrzarquon's post, there are more available for sale than you can afford to buy. Well, more than I can afford. I have about 7 or 8 box sets plus a handful of individual ones. I plan on getting all that are available as budget permits.
Oh, and if you think you can do as good a job as the pros, RiffTrax is callin' yer bluff, mister! Check out iRiffs.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 8:31 PM on October 12, 2008
I dunno what the point of this is. If you follow the RiffTrax forum, fans suggest this all the time, and it's been shot down resoundly every time.
The little silhouettes did not make MST3K good on its own. It was a package deal, and a big part of that were the characters of the bots, the intermission skits, and the entire concept. If you actually listen to RiffTrax, there's no pretense of an overarching story. In fact, the humor is completely different. They don't play robots, they play themselves making fun of movies, so it makes no sense to map their voices to little robots.
I enjoy RiffTrax for what they are. I loved MST3K, but this just isn't MST3K. Time to move on. RiffTrax may lack some of the charm the original series had, but it brings some new stuff which I'm really enjoying: It's riffing on actual popular movies that deserve some criticism instead of less-than-B-grade sci-fi; It features a lot of Internet-based humor (instead of very obscure film geek references) which is what passes for pop culture in my world (I laughed uncontrollably at the Dick in a Box joke); and at center stage are people being normal people watching a bad movie, instead of roleplaying. I always thought about MST3K that "I could do that!" with a bunch of my friends, watching a bad movie. Of course I could never be as funny as Mike Nelson, but RiffTrax's theme of "I'm just a normal cynical guy totally overwhelmed with how BAD THIS SHIT IS" brings the fantasy home to me.
It's just a totally different show entirely, and I like it a lot for what it is. If you miss Mystery Science Theatre so much, buy or download the originals and rewatch them. There's hundreds of episodes and they are still totally hilarious.
posted by cj_ at 10:49 PM on October 12, 2008 [7 favorites]
The little silhouettes did not make MST3K good on its own. It was a package deal, and a big part of that were the characters of the bots, the intermission skits, and the entire concept. If you actually listen to RiffTrax, there's no pretense of an overarching story. In fact, the humor is completely different. They don't play robots, they play themselves making fun of movies, so it makes no sense to map their voices to little robots.
I enjoy RiffTrax for what they are. I loved MST3K, but this just isn't MST3K. Time to move on. RiffTrax may lack some of the charm the original series had, but it brings some new stuff which I'm really enjoying: It's riffing on actual popular movies that deserve some criticism instead of less-than-B-grade sci-fi; It features a lot of Internet-based humor (instead of very obscure film geek references) which is what passes for pop culture in my world (I laughed uncontrollably at the Dick in a Box joke); and at center stage are people being normal people watching a bad movie, instead of roleplaying. I always thought about MST3K that "I could do that!" with a bunch of my friends, watching a bad movie. Of course I could never be as funny as Mike Nelson, but RiffTrax's theme of "I'm just a normal cynical guy totally overwhelmed with how BAD THIS SHIT IS" brings the fantasy home to me.
It's just a totally different show entirely, and I like it a lot for what it is. If you miss Mystery Science Theatre so much, buy or download the originals and rewatch them. There's hundreds of episodes and they are still totally hilarious.
posted by cj_ at 10:49 PM on October 12, 2008 [7 favorites]
(As a matter of fact I just rewatched Manos: The Hands of Fate a few days ago and I think it was even funnier than previous viewings. MST3K is timeless and there's no need to pressure RiffTrax into emulating it.)
posted by cj_ at 11:06 PM on October 12, 2008
posted by cj_ at 11:06 PM on October 12, 2008
Well said on all points cj_!
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 11:10 PM on October 12, 2008
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 11:10 PM on October 12, 2008
(Waiting patiently for stories about Future War.)
Somehow I expect they're all box-related.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:22 AM on October 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Somehow I expect they're all box-related.
posted by Servo5678 at 3:22 AM on October 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Yeah... If I really need the robots that bad, I can just, you know, cut them out of construction paper and TAPE them to the bottom of the screen.
They actually sent little stencils out in the early days of the Info Club, if memory serves. That and the official MST3K Info Club card, which they suggested you "laminate in one of those machines at the bus station."
posted by Spatch at 5:54 AM on October 13, 2008
They actually sent little stencils out in the early days of the Info Club, if memory serves. That and the official MST3K Info Club card, which they suggested you "laminate in one of those machines at the bus station."
posted by Spatch at 5:54 AM on October 13, 2008
(Waiting patiently for stories about Future War.)
Oops, sorry - I toddled off to squish people's heads using forced perspective.
No I don't know the guy from Soultaker or the Runaway dude, sadly. BUT, I do know the nun, the hilarious TV reporter, as well as some of cops. When I first became friends with these folks and they mentioned being in this movie, I swear I did a spit take.
posted by Kloryne at 9:19 AM on October 13, 2008
Oops, sorry - I toddled off to squish people's heads using forced perspective.
No I don't know the guy from Soultaker or the Runaway dude, sadly. BUT, I do know the nun, the hilarious TV reporter, as well as some of cops. When I first became friends with these folks and they mentioned being in this movie, I swear I did a spit take.
posted by Kloryne at 9:19 AM on October 13, 2008
I loved MST3K and I love Rifftrax and Film Crew, and I don't miss the silhouettes in the slightest.
Cinematic Titanic was distressing to me -- Oozing Skull, at least, the only one I've wanted to see. I never thought I could be disappointed in TV's Frank. A dumb extended vomit joke? Uh, thanks, I guess.
posted by tomboko at 10:25 AM on October 13, 2008
Cinematic Titanic was distressing to me -- Oozing Skull, at least, the only one I've wanted to see. I never thought I could be disappointed in TV's Frank. A dumb extended vomit joke? Uh, thanks, I guess.
posted by tomboko at 10:25 AM on October 13, 2008
I saw my first Cinematic Titanic last night ("The Doomsday Machine") and thoroughly enjoyed it. We watched it in a group, which certainly helped, and not all of the jokes worked -- but it was still a fun time.
The Cinematic Titanic Blog is pretty good as well, moving between some fairly personal entries to just talking about fishing.
After listening to Joel and TV's Frank on The Sound Of Young America I really felt wistful, and then glad that these guys decided to share their humor with us again. The overall feel I get from the CT guys is different from RiffTrax, and that might be due to the personality difference between Mike and Joel.
Then again, maybe I'm biased toward Joel due to other concerns...
posted by headlessagnew at 11:20 AM on October 13, 2008
The Cinematic Titanic Blog is pretty good as well, moving between some fairly personal entries to just talking about fishing.
After listening to Joel and TV's Frank on The Sound Of Young America I really felt wistful, and then glad that these guys decided to share their humor with us again. The overall feel I get from the CT guys is different from RiffTrax, and that might be due to the personality difference between Mike and Joel.
Then again, maybe I'm biased toward Joel due to other concerns...
posted by headlessagnew at 11:20 AM on October 13, 2008
Crow's lips (beaks?) keep moving after the dialogue ends. Aside from that, part of the attraction of MST3K is the fact that they could only feature films that had absolutely zero commercial worth because no one else would allow MST3K to cover their films (idiots!). Leaving stuff you never heard of (lucky you) and school instructionals from the 50's/60's. To me, that element of obscurity is essential to the MST3K experience.
posted by telstar at 11:01 PM on October 13, 2008
posted by telstar at 11:01 PM on October 13, 2008
On the RiffTrax blog it appears they've been conducting a Most Awesome State Quarter contest since January. Today is the final in the Keanu region.
There was an unexpected upset during the Arnold region final.
posted by Tehanu at 10:38 AM on October 14, 2008
There was an unexpected upset during the Arnold region final.
posted by Tehanu at 10:38 AM on October 14, 2008
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posted by LSK at 6:01 PM on October 12, 2008