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Mystery Science Theater 3000 experienced a changing of the guardwith this fifth-season episode. Departed series creator and lead Joel Hodgsonwas replaced by head writer Mike Nelson, playing a hapless temp named... MikeNelson, who was sent into space to cover for Hodgson's escape. The openingcredit sequence and title theme (warbled by Nelson) were also new, but theshow's basic premise--poking fun at atrocious B movies--remained the same.

Nelson's debut "experiment" is the delirious 1960 head-transplant horror TheBrain That Wouldn't Die. And while Nelson is occasionally stiff,particularly during the invention exchange (a longtime Hodgson staple, and soonto be excised), he and robot pals Crow and Tom Servo rise to the occasion duringthe film, which is filled with memorable zingers (Crow: "He's keeping her alivewith Grey Poupon!"). Rhino's DVD presents the uncut, slightly gory version ofBrain with and without the MST3K treatment. --Paul Gaita ... Read more

Description

Join Joel and his "robot friends" as they're forced to endure two of the worst movies ever made. To maintain their sanity, they hilariously skewer the films' performaces, special effects and dialogue. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Thank you, Rhino!!!!
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is one of the all-time best MST3K episodes ever. Manos, while previously available, is too. But, of course, it's Santa Claus that's the true draw of this set b/c it's the first time it's available on DVD.

More! More! More! The Comedy Central era is MST3K's finest hour. I repeat: More! More! More!

By the way...words could not express how grateful I would be to see a "Master Ninja I and II" Essentials set...

Wonderful choice for an MST DVD Release!
It's about time that there was a release of one of the classic MST3K holiday experiments, just in time for the season. 'Manos' is the definitive example of an MST experiment - goofy, meandering movie with cutting riffs. The 'Poopie' outtake collection is a longer-than-normal selection of bloopers and alternate takes - a must have for any MSTie.

But the real treat of this dual set is "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians". If you're tired of normal holiday fare such as "Home Alone", "A Christmas Story", and "It's a Wonderful Life" place this disk in the player and watch your kids' squeal with delight. "Santa Claus" is a bizarre tale about pathos and depression - among Martians! It seems the only way to cure the holiday blues on Mars is to stage a spectacular kidnapping of the Earthling Santa Claus. Four children (two from Earth and two from Mars) join forces with Dropo, a renegade Martian to rescue Santa, save Christmas on Earth, and bring holiday joy to the Children of Mars. The plot makes sense with the electric performance of a young Miss Pia Zadora. Ok, well maybe not.

Sounds interesting, yes? No? Well, it's a truly awful film, a definite jaw-dropping example of bad cinema. Fortunately, the MST3K treatment is hilarious. Joel and the 'Bots even give us the classic Christmas standard, "A Patrick Swayze Christmas".

I'm chucking my "Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" in favor of this twisted classic.

Recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If Coleman Francis had never existed, he would have been invented by the writers of MST3K just for the perverse enjoyment of ridiculing him. Here the director of the jaw-droppingly inept The Beast of Yucca Flats tries his hand at a jailbreak film, which takes a surreal veer into an American invasion of Cuba apparently hampered by military budget cuts ("Once all seven of them are in place, the invasion really begins") before ending up in an American tungsten mine. Why? Who knows, but the bots have a ball skewering the film with some of their funniest comments ("I want to hurt this movie but I can never hurt it the way it hurt me") and Mike Nelson becomes so disturbed he turns into Carol Channing. Believe it or not, costar John Carradine rasps out the theme song "Night Train to Mundo Fine" (which was the film's original title). --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (179)

Manos is Positively the Worst Film I've Ever Seen
The five stars are for the MST3000 version. You think "Plan Nine from Outer Space" was bad? This film makes "Plan Nine" look like "Citizen Kane." It's worth seeing just to see how bad a movie can be. One sees such scenes and what can say, but, "Salieri!"

a true classic of MST3k
Please ignore the 2 star review below. This guy is obviously commenting on the movie itself, while this page is about the MST3k episode. As for Manos, taken on its own it is undoubtedly the worst, worst, worst movie ever made. Some people say Ed Wood was the worst director ever. Well, at least he knew how to keep the camera focused! What can you say about a movie that's so bad even Dr. F and Frank apologize for it?

However, the MST3k episode is fantastic. The worst movie ever makes for one of its best episodes. I was lucky enough to tape it while it could still be shown, but you can get it on video now. So what are you waiting for? Pop the tape in the VCR and get ready for an experience you'll remember forever!

Look, it's a field! And another field, and another field...

One of MST3K's trademark episodes.
It has quite a few of them. Episodes that immediately come to mind when you think MST3K. There's "Red Zone Cuba." And "Prince of Space." And "Mitchell." In fact, I'd estimate there's about a dozen or so in all.

But this is THE trademark episode, the one that MSTies--usually a very divided community--can all agree on as being wonderful. And wonderful it is.

The only bad thing I can find in this whole episode is Joel's invention of the Cartuner. It just didn't work for me and the skit lasted too long. But everything else is nigh-perfect. Hired! Part II (Electric Boogaloo); the riffing on the Master and his ridiculous robe; "I don't believe it, they just dissolved to the same scene"; the Mads apologizing; "She's my baby, she'll understand"; the anguish caused by the teenagers and the cops; HANDS: THE HANDS OF FATE; and so much more!

And we mustn't forget Torgo!

Hands of Boredom
I am normally a die hard fan of MST3K, but this is their best work. I bought this video because I heard it was funny and it was a waste of money. My friends and I coundn't stay awake durring the film. We tried many times to whatch it but it never improved. If you are looking for a good MST3K movie whatch The Angels Revenge or The Pod People, don't waste your time on this movie.

...Huh?
Yeah that's right...Huh? This is, without question, one of the worst movies Joel and the Bots have EVER been forced to watch! Here's a run-down of the plot: 1)A family is seen driving in open country for about an hour. Why? Who knows. 2) The family arrives at a run-down...err...house or motel and these four (or is it five) innocent people meet the scariest, most horrible thing you will ever see in a MST3K episode...a peg-legged creep with disturbing sudden urges to touch people. 3)Plot cascades in to non-sense as the family dog gets killed by something, and these people meet up with 'Master' and his wives.

The commentary throughout this movie is hilarious. I couldn't tell you about the skits in-between movie sections cuz I never watch them...but nevertheless, the movie part, anyway, is great! I can tell why Manos(which means 'Hands' in spanish): Hands of Fate is the most popular episode of MST3K. I can also tell why Torgo is one of the most joked about characters in MST3K.

So, this episode is in my top five favorite episodes, along with... "Mitchell", "Cave Dwellers", "Eegah", and "Shorts II". See them all! ... Read more

Description

Have you ever seen a movie so bad that you had to shout back at the screen? So have the ingenious creators of "Mystery Science Theater 3000." The award-winning series is now a major motion picture, complete with all the hip wisecracks and explosively funny barbs that fans have come to expect. Your movie today: 1955's "This Island Earth." ... Read more

Reviews (123)

The funniest movie ever
This movie was hysterical. They took a horrible 60's B rated film and transformed it into something worth watching. This movie was so funny.

AN AWESOME COMEDY!!!!
This movie is SWEET!! It is so funny! Their comments are the best!!! SEE THE DAMN MOVIE!!!

Two Thumbs Up
You haven't lived until you see this movie

Hilarious !
The best comedy film I have ever seen . It beats Jim Carrey by miles

making fun of bad movies...
This movie brings to the public what we all do whenever we see a horribly ridiculous movie: we make fun of it. This group of one man and his two robot friends will crack you up saying things about the mother of all stinkburgers, "This Island Earth." Be especially alert to hear their comments about Weenie Man and his Weeniemobile. ... Read more