Creepshow

Directed by George A. Romero
featuring Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau, Fritz Weaver, Leslie Nielsen, Carrie Nye
Two of the most venerable names in the horror field, author Stephen King and director George A. Romero, present this anthology of original twisted tales inspired by the E.C. horror comics of the 50's and 60's (themselves a more direct basis for the popular Tales from the Crypt TV series). The five stories are framed within the pages of a comic book which a boy's insensitive father has thrown in the garbage. The first tale, "Father's Day," features a zombie patriarch returning to claim his Father's Day cake; "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill" stars King himself as a slack-jawed yokel whose discovery of a radioactive meteorite turns him into a walking weed; "Something to Tide You Over" presents a deadly-serious Leslie Nielsen as a cuckolded husband who plans an elaborate seaside revenge; "The Crate" unleashes its ferocious man-eating contents on the enemies of a meek college professor; and "They're Creeping Up On You" pits obsessively-clean billionaire E.G. Marshall against a swarm of cockroaches in his sterile penthouse. The chapters are uniformly creative, filmed in garish comic-book colors, and Tom Savini's makeup effects are quite memorable (particularly the monster from "The Crate"), though the campy treatment does become exhausting after two hours' runtime. The final segment is the most impressive, thanks to Marshall's over-the-top performance, though the planned scope of the cockroach invasion was drastically reduced (no doubt due to budget constraints)

Tokyo

Three of world cinema's great visionaries: Michel Gondry (BE KIND REWIND, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND), Leos Carax (THE LOVERS ON THE BRIDGE), and Bong Joon-ho (THE HOST) each direct a segment of this surreal triptych set in the ultra-modern metropolis of Tokyo, Japan. In the tradition of such films as NEW YORK STORIES, NIGHT ON EARTH, PARIS JE T'AIME and its forthcoming sequel NEW YORK JE T'AIME, TOKYO! addresses the timeless question of whether we shape cities, or if cities shape us — in the process revealing the rich humanity at the heart of modern urban life.

Island of the Fishmen

It's 1891: Lieutenant Claude de Ross (Claudio Cassinelli), a military doctor, and a few newly escaped convicts are shipwrecked on a mysterious tropical island. They soon come across a strange couple: the sadistic Edmund Rackham (Richard Johnson) and the beautiful Amanda Marvin (Barbara Bach). The doctor finds out that Amanda's father, professor Ernest Marvin (Joseph Cotten), is a mad scientist who is experimenting on horrible human-fish mutations. While Professor Marvin is convinced that he's doing his research for humanitarian motives, Rackham has other plans, since he has discovered an incredible secret lying beneath the island.

American Scary

A DOCUMENTARY FEATURING ZACHERLEY, VAMPIRA, GHOULARDI, SVENGOOLIE AND MORE

Late Night TV Done Right on DVD February 17, 2009

A nostalgic homage to the glory days of the late night horror shows, AMERICAN SCARY, features interviews and archival footage of the most famous hosts from the 1950s to present day.

The birth of TV horror in the late 1950s also marked the rise of a new American folk art form: horror show hosting. Before syndicated programming and cable were introduced, hosts of locally produced shows were a staple of television. Local programs, such as "Creature Features" and "Mystery Science Theatre 3000," launched a spectacle of beloved kooky TV personalities, who will forever belong in the horror "crypt of fame" with their unforgettable farcical make-up, grimy costumes, grotesque props, and even freakishly altered bodies.

AMERICAN SCARY features extensive interviews with both celebrity fans and the hosts themselves on the genre's beginnings, the ups and downs of '60s and '70s, and modern revivals. AMERICAN SCARY is a wistful memento of that once significant local television programming and a yearning for its resurrection.

AMERICAN SCARY premiered at the Hollywood Film Festival, and has played in multiple film festivals across the nation, including Austin Film Festival, Ohio Independent Film Festival, Longbaugh Film Festival, and others.

SYNOPSIS: AMERICAN SCARY is a tribute to the popular hosts of the golden age of television. They transcended their local stations to become icons. Today, they continue to garner respect, admiration and fondness from fans all over the country.

Across the nation, people remember their local hosts fondly: from Bob Wilkins and John Stanley in the San Francisco Bay area, Chicago's Svengoolie, to Sir Cecil Creepe in Nashville. Follow this American art form from its glamorous beginnings, through repeated waves of popularity and get re-acquainted with those who are a part of television history, featuring interviews

Otaku Unite!

Explore the world of otaku, the devoted fans of Japanese animation. Otaku Unite! is the first documentary to follow the evolution of this phenomenon from its humble beginnings to its current state as a major influence of pop culture.

King Of Kong ( A Fist Full Of Quarters)

In 1982, Billy Mitchell, the "Gamer of the Century," set a score of 874,300 points on Donkey Kong, a record which many in the gaming world thought would never be broken - until Steve Wiebe not only surpassed the record but ended up with a thought-to-be-impossible 1,000,000 points. In the months that followed his feat, Steve and Billy engage in a cross-country duel, filled with publicity, scandal and frustration, to see who could set the highest score and ultimately become the King of Kong!

Lucha Libre

This DVD contains two great "lucha" movies. Side one, "The Champions of Justice", and side two, "Mystery in Bermuda" ; yes folks it's a flipper!

The first movie concerns the nefarious, La Mano Negra ( Black Hand ),who, on kidnapping several Miss Mexico contestants, the reason why is never fully explained, but who cares anyway, enrages their "uncles", the Champions of Justice, featuring Blue Demon, Thousand Masks, ( well about four ), the Avenging Shadow and the Killer Doctor. What you end up with, are, several fight scenes between the wrestlers and Black Hand's super-strength, vertically challenged, red lyca-clad army. This film is so not P.C.

The second film concerns the top three "lucha" fighters - El Santo, Blue Demon and Thousand Masks, dangerous mission to protect the Princess of Irania from evil forces, sent to stop her from signing a peace treaty. This means plenty of wrestling, scene chewing villains and totally illogical plot; coming across like The A-Team on acid.

The disc itself is very good, the picture is sharp, the colours nice and rich.The print for both movies have varying degrees of damage but not to spoil the general viewing. Both have only Spanish audio, in stereo or 5.1, but the English subtitles are on the whole fine, if not a little smirk inducing at times, ".... I believe you knew her in the United Stated."!!

So sit back, pull on the spandex, fasten that cape, adjust that "lucha" mask, and spend a few hours bathing in the glow of El Santo, Blue Demon, et al.

King Kong vs. Godzilla

I am always amused when people say this is a terrible movie. I want to ask "What were you expecting? The title is `King Kong vs. Godzilla' not `King Lear.'" It is a movie with two guys in rubber suits or giant puppets tap dancing on a model Tokyo and beating the snot out of each other. There is no great philosophical debate going on. There is no look into the human soul for answers or guilt.
If you are looking for great acting, plots or heck even FX this is sooo not for you. However if you love this genre or like me, you have fond memories of the Japanese rubber suit movies, then this is a gem for your collection

Pee Wee's Playhouse

The secret word is overdue in regard to a DVD release of the delirious Pee-Wee's Playhouse, but this boxed set, packaged with the assistance and approval of series creator and star Paul Reubens, brings back all the bizarre charm and energy of this terrific Saturday-morning series. In creating Pee-Wee's Playhouse, Reubens blended the innocence of early children's television shows with the surreal visual style of music videos and Reubens' own gleefully manic creation (Pee-Wee grew out of Reubens's stint with the legendary comic improv group the Groundlings). The end result was the rare '80s children's program that encouraged creativity and individuality (and screaming, which was the proper response whenever the "secret word" was uttered) in its younger viewers, and delivered sly, subversive humor for Pee-Wee's older fans that had seen his live shows and movies. Critics were tickled by his antics as well, and gave the show the Television Critics Award for Outstanding Children's Program in 1987 (it would also pick up numerous Emmy awards and nominations for writing, editing and art direction through its five-season run).

MXE

"MXC" (also known as "Most Extreme Elimination Challenge") is the ultimate take on extreme reality sports competition. A side-splitting cross between Mystery Science Theater 3000 What s Up Tiger Lilly and the X Games each episode pits two teams (such as America s Meat Handlers and the Cartoon Voice-Over Actors) competing in some of the funniest most hazardous games ever conceived on television.Equally compelling is the hilarious rapid fire commentary by hosts Vic Romano and Kenny Blankership field marshal Captain Tenneal and sideline reporter Guy LeDouche

Happy 09: First post of the year

Crimewave
Extermination is not just a business. It's a way of life!

When Ernest Trend of Odegard-Trend Security decides to hire a pair of exterminators instead of a hit man to rid him of his business partner he thinks he has found the perfect solution. But when they murder the wrong person accidentally and realise their crime has been witnessed, they seek to frame a poor video surveillance man for the murder, whatever the cost!

Featuring a special appearance by Bruce Campbell (The Evil Dead Trilogy), this goofy comedy comes from director Sam Raimi (Spiderman) and writers Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo).

You the Living

One of the funniest and most original films of the year, this absurd and surreal comedy from acclaimed director Roy Andersson takes an amusing left-of-centre look at a delightfully eccentric assortment of characters. Through a series of brilliantly entertaining sketches, Andersson observes with empathy and wry humour the highs, lows and tragicomic happenings that affect their everyday lives. Shot with highly distinctive visual flair, this unique and universally resonant snapshot of modern life is both touching and laugh-out- loud hilarious

Ultrachrist

What would Jesus (Jonathan C. Green) do if he returned to Earth and discovered that he was wildly out of touch with today's youth? In Ultrachrist!, he dons a Spandex costume and goes out into the streets of New York City to fight sin wherever it rears its ugly head. His disapproving Father (Don Creech) wants him to minister as he did 2000 years ago. The Antichrist, in the guise of the New York City Park's Commissioner (Samuel Bruce Campbell), resurrects a legion of famous sinners to destroy him. And when the beautiful seamstress Molly (Celia A. Montgomery) tempts Ultrachrist with Earthly love, his own inner hang-ups guarantee that redemption will not come easily.

Throg

Forget the Highlander, King Arthur, and Conan! Throg the Younger, the adopted son of Throg the Elder, has come of age! Armed with nothing but eternal optimism and his trusty rock, the immortal Throg must now confront his DENSITY. Of course, no pain, no gain. As Throg stumbles through the centuries, he leaves behind a trail of chaos and comic carnage. His nemesis, a word-challenged behemoth named Urshag the Destroyer, thunders at his heels, hungry for high-fat meat. Prepare to laugh and wince, as our hapless hero staggers from medieval England to the post-modern present, ever closer to his inevitable, idiotic showdown with evil. Leave all sharp objects at the door. Throg is on the loose!

Naked Monster

Using soundtracks and extensive footage from many old movies, this spoof/homage of 1950's science-fiction films brings back many favorite actors from these classic movies, some reprising their former roles, to help destroy a giant stop-motion monster that is threatening to destroy Los Angeles.

Monster Squad - 2 DVD

Count Dracula adjourns to Earth, accompanied by Frankenstein's Monster, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and the Gillman. The uglies are in search of a powerful amulet that will grant them power to rule the world. Our heroes - the Monster Squad are the only ones daring to stand in their way.

Lurking in Suburbia

Joe Egender gives a “breakout performance” in this film festival hit as Conrad Stevens, a lackadaisical writer who finds himself evaluating his raucous, beer drinking, non committal life on the night of his 30th birthday party. Feeling trapped in his suburban hometown, where he lives with his childhood friends in a bachelor pad they call ‘The Palace’, Connie decides that it’s time to face his biggest fear…Growing Up!

Joysticks DVD

Totally Awesome Video Games!

When a top local businessman and his two bumbling nephews try to shut down the town's only video arcade, arcade employees and patrons fight back.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter

The second coming is upon us, and Jesus has returned to earth. But before he can get downi to the serious business of judging the living andithe dead, he has to contend with an army of vampires that can walk in the daylight.

Combining Kung-Fu action with biblical prophecy and a liberal dose of humor, the film teams the Savior with Mexican wrestling hero El Santos against mythological horrors and science gone mad, and also manages to address contemporary sexual politics. And did we mention that it`s a musical? This sure ain`t Sunday School.

Heavy Metal Parking Lot

HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT is considered one of the greatest rock & roll movies of all time, although it's actually a hilarious documentary tribute to rock & roll's GREATEST FANS. Filmed in 1986 at a Maryland concert arena parking lot before a heavy metal show, HMPL is an unvarnished anthropological study of American metalheads in their mid-'80s glory. It is the quintessential '80s magnum opus, made complete with a vast display of muscle cars, spandex, bleach-blonde frizzy perms, bare-chested dudes, Mullets From Hell, faded denim metal chicks, and the largest collection of late '70s Camaros ever seen in one location. Virtually unknown to mainstream audiences for two decades, HMPL was a VHS bootleg favorite among musicians, movie stars and cult-video fanatics worldwide. This limited-edition DVD includes a pristine digital-video transfer of the original uncut 16-minute documentary, plus over two hours of exclusive content! Viewer discretion: explicit language, drug references and loud music.

Harry Knuckles and the Pearl Necklace

From the makers of Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter, its a punch-drunk dream come true as Canada's favorite super spy, Harry Knuckles makes his feature film debut in "Harry Knuckles and the Pearl Necklace" A valuable necklace has gone missing, and Harry is on the case. Teamed with his loyal friend (who believes himself to be Mexican wrestling hero El Santos) and armed with a lethal arsenal of kung-fu moves, a hair-trigger temper and a seemingly endless supply of potassium-rich bananas, Harry's ready to knuckle up against any and all comers. See Harry go toe to toe with the hinterland horror of the Bionic Bigfoot! This is one flick you cant miss!

Frighteners

From Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson (King Kong, The Lord of the Rings) comes this wicked comedy-thriller.
Michael J. Fox stars as Frank Bannister, a small-town “ghostbuster” in league with the very spirits he’s supposed to be exorcising. The scam works well until a powerful spirit goes on a murderous rampage, forcing Frank to find a way to stop the diabolical ghoul in this special-effects-packed supernatural chiller that’s so fiendishly entertaining, it’s frightening!

Freaked - 2 DVD

Alex Winter (of BILL & TED'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE) stars as Ricky Coogin, an arrogant former child star who becomes the celebrity spokesman for toxic fertilizer Zygrot-24. But when Ricky is taken prisoner by demented sideshow impresario Elijah C. Skuggs (Randy Quaid), he is transformed into a hideous mutant freak to join the likes of The Bearded Lady (Mr. T), Sockhead (Bobcat Goldthwait), a human worm, a giant nose, and their fearless leader, Ortiz The Dog Boy (an uncredited and unforgettable performance by Keanu Reeves). Can a hack actor-turned-genetic nightmare now survive an evil conspiracy of corporate sleazebags, desperate milkmen, Rastafarian eyeballs, canned cheese and most horrifying of all, Brooke Shields? It's time to get FREAKED!

Foul King

Dae-Ho is an unproductive bank clerk who is late to work every morning and the object of his manager's frustrations. He was a fan of TV wrestling as a child, but can't get out of a headlock. He finds a local wrestling trainer and through a series of events eventually starts to train. He is slowly transformed as he begins his second job as the cheating villain wrestler known as the Foul King. He starts to stand up for himself in odd ways that are not really in his own best interest. Events get out of hand as conflicting influences come together.

Chunky Monkey

Mr Donald Leek (David Threlfall), is a simple hot-tempered man from Burnley who likes vegetables and takeaway curry, and strongly dislikes single-testicled men (like his odious, terrapin-crushing cousin Frank (David Schofield)) and negligent takeaway managers (like Mr Azam, whom Donald has just sliced up into little pieces).
Donald's "number one ambition in life", however, is to smear Julie Andrew's posterior with 'Chunky Monkey' ice cream and get her to sing 'The Hills Are Alive' before indulging in prolonged "back-passage sexual activity" (hence all the lawsuits) - and he has even found a woman who has some singing ability, a passing resemblance to Ms. Andrews and a willingness to indulge his fantasy on a once monthly basis...

Calamari Wrestler

Straight from its exciting theatrical release, The Calamari Wrestler is a hilarious action comedy about a young girl who falls in love with a Giant Squid, who is a Championship Wrestler. Things go out of control when an evil Giant Octopus and Lobster scheme to take over the Championship for themselves.

Boy Eats Girl

When love-struck teenager Nathan (David Leon) finds himself incapable of approaching the object of his affection, Jessica (Samantha Mumba), his two best friends conspire to set up a date with her on his behalf. But following a series of mishaps and misunderstandings, the evening ends with Nathan alone, drowning his sorrows and becoming the unfortunate victim of a tragic, fatal accident. Unwilling to lose her son at such an early age, Nathan's mother Grace (Deirdre O'Kane) borrows an old voodoo book she has discovered in the local church where she works and uses it to perform a restorative ritual on Nathan, bringing him back to life. Unknown to Grace, however, the ritual was incomplete and Nathan is reawakened without a pulse but physically stronger than before and with an insatiable desire for human flesh.
Later, at the school disco, Nathan has a bloody and highly infectious run-in with the school bully, Samson (Mark Huberman), after being caught in a compromising situation with Samson's flirtatious girlfriend, Cheryl (Sara James). In no time at all, the local neighbourhood is overrun with hordes of mindless, bloodthirsty zombies. As Grace races to find a way of undoing the voodoo spell, Nathan is struggling to save his friends and gorgeous Jessica before his hunger turns him against them.

exploitation cinema double feature

Cemetery Girls
While traveling by wagon, a quartet of beautiful women discuss Dracula mythos on the way through the Carpathian Mountains. After losing a wagon wheel, the four unwavering women are stranded at the sanitarium of the eccentric Dr. Wendell aka Count Dracula. One of them will be Dracula's lover. Prepare for the shocking conclusion of Cemetary Girls.

Vampire Hookers
Horror legend John Carradine stars as John Richmond, a smooth-talking vampire with a bevy of sexy negligeed vampires who lure unsuspecting sailors to their crypt for a small blood donation. Also starring Bruce Fairbairn (The Rookies) and Trey Wilson (Raising Arizona). Santiago produced Roger Corman's women in prison classics The Big Bird Cage, The Big Doll House and Women In Cages.

New Bits!!! - Shriek Show Presents Mutant Monsters Triple Feature

The Dark Well-acted wild cross-genre mix of sci-fi and horror starring William Devane as a writer who takes a personal interest in a series of baffling decapitation murders in L.A., all of which seem to indicate some kind of supernatural force at work. Every night "The Mangler" stalks the streets, killing and mutilating one random victim. Also on the murder trail is a TV reporter (Cathy Lee Crosby), and a police detective (Richard Jaeckel), but despite their efforts only a mysterious psychic DeRenzy (Jacquelyn Hyde) knows what the killer really is.

The Being Starring Martin Landau (Ed Wood) and Ruth Buzzy Directed by Jackie Kong (Blood Diner) An evil Being lurks in the local disposal dump attacking all in its wake. The Being, a genetic freak driven psychotic by radiation waste, mutilates and decapitates. The being leaves no survivors.

Creatures From The Abyss Five bright young teenagers decide to go for a ride in a small rowboat on the open ocean. Strangely, they come across an abandoned yacht with mysterious biology laboratory! Two of the kids decide to make love on the boat, but radioactive plankton from the lab infects them. How will they escape when monsters begin running rampant on the boat?

Cutie Honey

So begins the otaku reign of Eriko Sato as anime's most buxom babe-android crime fighter, CUTIE HONEY! In this live-action adaptation, Sato portrays Honey Kisaragi, mild mannered Tokyo office lady by day. But when evil is afoot, Honey loads up on musubis for that last jolt of energy, touches her fly choker and (in true Shazam! style), screams those magic words and transforms into Cutie Honey! Evil comes in the form of the fabulous, semi-cross-dressing "Panther Claw" Gang, who kidnaps Honey's eccentric scientist uncle. Sato was clearly hired for her "assets" that contribute to the full embodiment of her character, but she does bring a sense of innocence and comic timing that raises the film above the genre. Is it hentai? Hardly. But you do get a visually stunning action comedy that easily transfers the tropes of anime into the live-action realm, borrowing motifs from henshin heroes of yore. Oh yeah, and Cutie Honey's hot!

Just Buried

Oliver (Jay Baruchel - Tropic Thunder) is destined for an uneventful life until the day he and his brother Jackie breeze into town to attend the funeral of their estranged father. To everyone's bewilderment, Oliver inherits his father's estate - a funeral home. Oliver learns from the handyman Henry (Graham Greene) that the home is on the verge of bankruptcy. That night, his life gets increasingly complicated when he takes a drunken drive with the bewitching enbalmer Roberta (Rose Byrne-Damages) and collides with a hiker. Roberta cleverly disguises the fatality as an accident, providing Oliver with his first paying customer and launching the duo into a merciless killing spree that evolves from accidental to intentional.

Mystery Science Theater 3000- 20th Anniversary Edition”

Mystery Science Theater 3000- 20th Anniversary Edition” is a must own DVD set.
It’s been over a year since it was announced that Rhino would no longer be handling “Mystery Science Theater 3000” DVDs and that Shout Factory would be releasing all future sets. Last week, Shout Factory released their first MST3K box set and I have to say it was absolutely worth the wait.

For those who are unaware of what “Mystery Science Theater 3000” is all about, it is a show in which evil scientists torture a helpless janitor (who is aboard a spaceship in deep space) and his robot pals with excruciatingly bad movies. The only way they get through the movies is to make fun of them. Included in this 20th anniversary set are the films “Laserblast,” “Werewolf,” “Future War,” and “First Spaceship On Venus.”

“First Spaceship On Venus” is a second season episode in which Joel Hodgson, Tom Servo, and Crow T. Robot riff on a dull sci-fi flick that revolves around a group of scientists who head to Venus to discover where a mysterious recording came from. As with most of the early season episodes, the riffing is a bit rough around the edges, but the ending boasts some truly hilarious jokes about Devo, the goofy robot, and so forth. The best part of this episode, however, is the host segments. I really got a kick out of the junk drawer invention exchange and the bizarre/gross dinner commercial of sorts.

The season seven finale episode “Laserblast” finds Mike Nelson, Crow, and Servo blasting apart a schlocky late 70’s science fiction clunker about a small town slacker who finds an alien weapon that transforms him into an alien killing machine. It’s near impossible not to laugh at the gang’s jokes about football, “Star Trek,” film critic Leonard Maltin, Jim Carrey or their mocking of the turtle-like aliens and the dumb cop characters.

As an added note, I must mention that this episode marks Trace Beaulieu’s final appearance as both Dr. Forrester and Crow T. Robot. I thought the “2001” ending was a great send-off myself.

The season nine episode “Werewolf” is hands down the gem of this set, but I may be biased as I am a huge fan of Bill Corbett as Crow. Personally, I find his witty one-liners and joke deliveries to be pitch perfect. His talent is especially evident in this episode in which he, Mike, and Servo trash this so-called horror film by cracking jokes about Joe Estevez, a character’s ever-changing hair styles, the editing, Billy Jack, foreign accents, dogs, and even Steven Tyler. One of the best moments, however, comes during the end credits of the film in which Mike, Crow, and Tom bust out a song medley.

And last, but not least, there is the season ten episode “Future War,” which centers around a slave from future Earth who is being tracked down by dinosaurs and cyborgs (yes, you read that right). While all of the films in this set are terrible, “Future War” is the worst. The movie is plagued by never ending credits, scenes filled with boxes, a Van Damme wannabe, laughable voice overs (and voice dubs), and an overall terrible script. Luckily, Mike, Crow, and Tom manage to make it watchable via their jokes.

The Best Of Rifftrax Shorts Volume One

“The Best Of Rifftrax Shorts Volume One” will cause fits of laughter.
In their first DVD release, “Mystery Science Theater 3000” alumni Michael J. Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy (AKA the “Rifftrax” gang) mercilessly make fun of 9 shorts titled “Buying Food,” “Drugs Are Like That,” “Right Or Wrong,” “Skipper Learns A Lesson,” “The Trouble With Women,” “Down And Out,” “Patriotism,” “It Must Be The Neighbors,” and a new DVD exclusive short “Shake Hands With Danger.” The shorts include such topics as how to prevent falling, patriotism (obviously), not impulse spending, a dog learning to be nice, moral choices, drug addiction, job safety, sexism and public health issues.

Seeing as how the Sci-Fi channel era of “MST3K” was my favorite, it was a no-brainer that I would find “Rifftrax” funny. I did, however, underestimate how funny it would actually be. While a few shorts are too short and thin in the comedy department (“Patriotism” and “Right Or Wrong”) many of them had me laughing quite a bit. In fact, as I watched “Skipper Learns A Lesson” and “Down And Out,” I was laughing so hard I was crying. For some odd reason, the jokes about sidewalk chalk, a jumpsuit, talking dogs, a racist dog, and Buckwheat really got to me.





One of the other elements I really enjoy about “Rifftrax” is that that Mike and gang are constantly making observations that I myself was thinking. There’s simply no denying the fact that Mike, Kevin and especially Bill are quick witted and know exactly when to crack a joke. Plus, they do it so well!

Note: “Shake Hands With Danger” includes an animated Mike, Bill and Kevin riffing on the short. It’s an interesting experiment, but I can’t say it works entirely well.

The fullscreen video quality is worse than usual. The shorts are in really bad shape and are plagued with lines and severe scratches. Still, it doesn’t really matter as the riffing is what counts here.

As for the video quality, some of the audio tracks for the shorts (namely “Drugs Are Like That”) are in bad shape, but at least the riffing sounds clear as day.

No extras unless you count the odd “Rifftones” songs during the menu.

Summary: “The Best Of Rifftrax Shorts Volume One” is an absolute must buy DVD. I hope we will see many more short film collections in the near future.

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians

The wretched classic “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians” is re-riffed just in time for the holidays.
For those that have been fortune enough to avoid the actual movie, the plot of “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians” revolves around a group of Martians who kidnap Santa Claus (and two Earth children) in order to spread the joy of Christmas to children on Mars. Naturally, the plan turns out to be a big fat failure.

As “Mystery Science Theater 3000” fans know, “Santa Claus Conquers The Martians” was previously riffed on in season 3 of the series. Now, the “Cinematic Titanic” gang has wisely decided to re-riff the movie in time for the holiday season. As it turns out, the second time is a charm as the riffs here are even sharper and funnier than the “MST3K” episode.

What really benefits this ‘Titanic’ release are a host of new jokes about recent celebs (and events) such as Perez Hilton, Comic-Con, Dane Cook and even John McCain again. Naturally, there are also plenty of timeless jokes about booze and religion as well as riffs about the lousy production values, the goofy costumes, and the painfully unfunny comic relief character known as Dropo.

Fans should also know that this ‘Titanic’ release contains a greatly improved new opening that introduces the cast. ‘Martians’ also contains the best sketch to date which sees Joel giving fake silhouette presents to the rest of the gang. Hopefully, we will see more amusing openings and sketches like this in future releases as it certainly makes the DVDs an even more enjoyable experience.

The video quality is hideous as the ‘Martians’ print is filled with scratches, dirt, ad grain. The audio quality is generally fine for both the film and the riffing.