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DVD Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Manos, the Hands of Fate
Arguably the worst movie that our lovable pals Joel, Crow, and Tom Servo have ever had the pain of watching, Manos: Hands of Fate is destined to be an MST3K classic for this very reason. Not only is there a sparse, illogical plot, but the cinematography is nonsensical (note Servo's point about the endless countryside ride in Texas). That said, Manos must be watched, and cringed at, and commented on by its viewers because of the director's amazingly awful vision of what a horror film should be. What plot there is involves a vacationing family being trapped in a remote ranch house in the desert that's "managed" by a greasy, what looks to be stoned, oversize bow-legged keeper named "Torgo." As the movie goes on, and one finds the "master" and his harem of semi-dead women clad in see-through white dresses, one wonders more and more what the hell this movie was supposed to be about. Even Dr. Forrester and Frank feel a little sorry for Joel and the boys' being forced to watch this one. Still, you'll find yourself spiraling into hysterics when the women get into a big catty brawl while Joel and the boys liken their antics to a Ladies Guild performing A Midsummer Night's Dream or female dirt-wrestling. An episode you'll love to suffer through. --Karen Karleski
Review(s): DVD Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Manos, the Hands of Fate
Hands, the Hands of Fate
I've always had this wonderful image of Joel Hodgson and Michael J. Nelson as the boys in fifth grade shouting out wisecracks during the science class films and having their teachers tell them, "What, you think you're gonna make a living doing that?"
Anyway, overwhelmed with the choice of which MST3K discs to choose, I was aided by Joe Bob Briggs' tome "Profoundly Disturbing", which discusses "Manos" in depth. Joel and co. do an excellent job of providing levity to what would no doubt be an otherwise painful experience, featuring the satyr Torgo, and various citizens from a small Texas town who'd never acted before and were incensed to find they'd been dubbed. I've seen them tear up films with more verocity before, but I don't think I've seen them screen a worse film.
Definitely worth the price.
A painful film and a favorite episode.
Manos is often referred to as the worst film ever done on MST3K by many fans and some of the show's writers and seeing is believing no matter how many times you watch it. It's an amazing piece of, er, uh, cinema, that will leave you wondering how and why it was made. However, you'll be glad the film's "star" and producer decided it was his dream to make a movie because the MST3K cast and writers do such an amazing job turning this movie from a waste of film into a hilarious comedy (see the Psychotronic Film Guide by M. Weldon for more info on the movie itself). The short before the film, "Hired", is also hilariously handled. The bonus inclusion of the "Poopie" out-takes reel is also something every fan of the show should see and is a great extra feature.
Texas Chamber of Commerce want to burn every copy.
Granted, the juxtaposition of this overlong, grainy home movie and the sublime, versatile running commentary by the bots plus the carbon unit will result in laughter-induced bruised ribs. The eccentric music, though, kinds of grows on one, despite the flat singing. When will the soundtrack become available? I need another guilty pleasure.
Related DVD's Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Manos, the Hands of Fate
This farewell episode for Joel Hodgson is a sentimental favorite but even more worth it for the hilarity spawned by our captured Satellite of Love friends. The movie centers on the hapless, big lug cop named Mitchell (Joe Don Baker), who fights the rich and powerful drug-dealing bad guys. Along the way, Mitchell finds himself investigating murder, falling "in sex" with Linda Evans, helping an elderly woman like a good son, and telling a bothersome wisecracking kid to buzz off. Match that with clothing and music from 1975 and you've got prime fodder for the biting remarks of Joel, Crow, and Tom Servo--which, of course, they take advantage of handily and in abundance. Mitchell has a few quiet areas but these are spotty, and when Joel and his mechanical friends start ... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Andrew V. McLaglen DVD Release Date: Released the 20 November 2001 Usually ships in 24 hours
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A classic episode of the cult television series (in which an amiable space janitor and his metallic pals are forced to watch and deliver a sardonic running commentary on terrible movies), "Eegah" stars the gargantuan Richard Kiel (who would later become known for his sensitive portrayal of Jaws in a couple of the Bond films) in the title role as a still-kickin' Neanderthal looking for a little love in swinging 1960s California. One of the worst (or best, depending on your point of view) films ever to be featured on the show, this excruciating waste of celluloid provides ample fuel for Joel and the 'bots to deliver a wildly diverse, sustained barrage of hilarity (including an in-depth discussion of the widowed dad dichotomy of '60s sitcoms) at the source material's full expense. Enjoy, and... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): Michael J. Nelson - Joel Hodgson - Trace Beaulieu - Kevin Murphy (II) Director(s): Michael J. Nelson - Joel Hodgson - Vince Rodriguez - Trace Beaulieu - Kevin Murphy (II) DVD Release Date: Released the 25 April 2000 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Mystery Science Theater 3000 experienced a changing of the guard with this fifth-season episode. Departed series creator and lead Joel Hodgson was replaced by head writer Mike Nelson, playing a hapless temp named... Mike Nelson, who was sent into space to cover for Hodgson's escape. The opening credit sequence and title theme (warbled by Nelson) were also new, but the show's basic premise--poking fun at atrocious B movies--remained the same.
"Manos" makes "Plan 9" look like "Citizen Kane." But it does prove one thing, anybody, and I mean ANYBODY, with a camera and some film can make a movie. Plot? What's a plot? Actors? Who needs 'em? Focus? Must be that twisty thing on the side of the camera. "Manos" may have the hands of fate...but,his movie only deserves a single finger. More Info about this DVD Director(s): Hal Warren DVD Release Date: Released the 07 October 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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"Joel, don't you have anything better to do than psychoanalyze a bunch of robots?" Apparently not in this hilarious installment of MST3K, in which Joel Hodgson and the robots of the Satellite of Love deconstruct this starched and stiff juvenile delinquent drama with everything from art projects to a giant mobile representing the hero's roiling subconscious. Square high school kid Jimmy is on trial for murder in this cautionary drama told in flashback, in which we learn all about this nice boy driven to lies, crime, and the arms of a nightclub floozy by a negligent father, an alcoholic mother, and his own utter stupidity. The film's cheesy nightclub number inspires Joel and the bots to put on their own version: Gypsy lip-synchs the lyrics while the other three pop in and out of... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Sam Newfield DVD Release Date: Released the 26 March 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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