(MST3K) Making Fun of Raiders of the Lost Ark

nezobiwan

New member
I've always been a fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000. The movie and the television series. My favorite host is Joel and my favorite bot is Tom Servo. My favorite episodes are "Manos: Hands of Fate" and "I Accuse My Parents."

Now since the MST3K series got canceled, the boys have still been continuing the tradition through projects like "Film Crew" which is basically MST3K without the robots/space/scifi angle. (Already watched their riff of "Hollywood After Dark" and it was HILARIOUS, my friend.)

Recently I decided to give Mike Nelson's "Rifftrax" a try. The concept is quite ingenious: whereas before the guys had to get rights to the horrible movies they were riffing, this time they found a way so that they could riff any movie regardless of paying studios for permission to use them etc. They are selling MP3 files that you sync up with movies you have already bought or rented on DVD.

Now, that means that they can make fun of any movie that's been released on DVD! That opens up infinite possibilities!

So far the site has quite a few "rifftrax" to major movies such as Independence Day, Lord of the Rings, (practically all of) the Star Wars saga, Aeon Flux, Transformers. The list is limited, but if successful enough I'm sure their library will grow in no time.

My husband and I had been thinking about trying out "Rifftrax" and last night we finally did. And the movie we chose: "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

There were things I liked and things I didn't like about the experience.

LIKES:
--The guys are still funny. I had a couple of belly/extended laughs during the movie.
--MST3K episodes used to be "hit or miss" because sometimes the movie they were riffing was so awful/boring that even the jokes couldn't come fast enough to entertain. With watching a movie that's good on its own, I didn't get bored between the jokes.
--The syncing methods. I was skeptical at first, but they have made syncing the DVD with the MP3 easy. I only had to adjust it about 3 times. What they do is you start the MP3 first and then Mike will say "I'm going to ask you to pause this track and start it again. The Paramount logo will disappear from the screen, and when it is completely gone press play on the track." Throughout the movie, there is an audio cue to tell you whether you're still synced or not. A robot voice will occasionally say a line in the movie--if the robot and the character match up, you're still in sync. And if it's a little off, all you have to do is pause which ever one is ahead briefly and start it back up again. No prob.
--The selection in the library is not limited to tracks with the three main guys. There are tracks with Mike and the lady who played Pearl and the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory track has Neil Patrick Harris on it! Talk about random.

DISLIKES
--Since you have to sync things up, this makes it difficult to go to the bathroom or get up and get some popcorn during the movie. It can be done, but it could be a pain.
--I wish the site was easier to navigate. The main page is uber-crowded and the user/member functions could use some work.
--Actually, that's about it.... the price is reasonable considering that a 3-4 minute song on iTunes costs about 99 cents. You get a 1.5 hour or more long track from Rifftrax for $2-5.

I recommend the service, but it may not be for everyone. Being an established fan of their past work probably helps.

:hat:
 
I've kicked people out of my HOUSE for talking during a movie... I don't put up with it in the theatre, nor am I about to watch a movie about people taking during a movie.

MST3K had a few cute moments, back when it started, but the appeal just didn't last...
 

metalinvader

Well-known member
I love MST3K.I even tried to get into building the bots a few years ago but never finished any of them.

But as for Mike Nelson and team doing Raiders? Sorry,That is something I do not want to see. A cheesy B-movie,Yes.But not Raiders of the Lost Ark!
 

nezobiwan

New member
metalinvader said:
I love MST3K.I even tried to get into building the bots a few years ago but never finished any of them.

But as for Mike Nelson and team doing Raiders? Sorry,That is something I do not want to see. A cheesy B-movie,Yes.But not Raiders of the Lost Ark!

They're actually respectful of the movie; these guys love the movie (how can they not?). And as many times as I've seen Raiders it was a different experience to see it with the track. It's all in good fun.

:hat: I understand what you mean and I respect your opinion. But it's different for me: my love for Star Wars does not get in the way of my enjoyment of Mel Brooks' Spaceballs. The fact that I respect Mel Brooks just as much as George Lucas probably has something to do with it. I guess I don't let parody get to me as long as I know the person performing it loves the subject as much as I do.

If it makes you feel any better, they also have tracks for modern turkeys like Glitter, Eragon, and Battlefield Earth.

So if you thought any of those movies were horrible...
 

nezobiwan

New member
ClintonHammond said:
I've kicked people out of my HOUSE for talking during a movie... I don't put up with it in the theatre, nor am I about to watch a movie about people taking during a movie.

MST3K had a few cute moments, back when it started, but the appeal just didn't last...

I guess a certain amount of tolerance is essential to enjoying MST3K style comedy. I hate it when people talk in the theater also.
It's quite an adjustment in taste to expect talking during a movie.

I distinctly remember going to see Cast Away on Christmas Day and this lady in front of us would NOT stop talking. And she wasn't even whispering; it was like she was on the phone, or alone at her house. She had an obvious comment for everything:

[Box washes onto shore]
LADY: "What's that say? FedEx?"
(duh wait until the close up and you'll find out, moron)
[Tom Hanks catches a crab and cracks it open, an ooze drips out of the cavity]
LADY: Ohh, you've got to cook that first.
(ya think???)

It's like she had to vocalize every thought she had.

Welcome back to not-on-nez's-ignore-list-dom. You won me over with your supportive Patrick Bateman comment in the Top 5 Villains thread.
:hat:

Don't make me regret the decision. Or have I sealed my own doom with that last sentence?
;)
 

metalinvader

Well-known member
nezobiwan said:
They're actually respectful of the movie; these guys love the movie (how can they not?). And as many times as I've seen Raiders it was a different experience to see it with the track. It's all in good fun.

:hat: I understand what you mean and I respect your opinion. But it's different for me: my love for Star Wars does not get in the way of my enjoyment of Mel Brooks' Spaceballs. The fact that I respect Mel Brooks just as much as George Lucas probably has something to do with it. I guess I don't let parody get to me as long as I know the person performing it loves the subject as much as I do.

If it makes you feel any better, they also have tracks for modern turkeys like Glitter, Eragon, and Battlefield Earth.

So if you thought any of those movies were horrible...

I totally understand your point.I'm just picturing them making fun of Raiders in the same way like 'Red Zone Cuba' or "Time Chasers''.But now that they make fun of Battlefield Earth I may have to check this out.

Oh and BTW Mel Brooks is a genius!
 

Michael24

New member
Haha!! I had no idea they had a RixxTrax for RAIDERS. I'll have to try and check that out. All the MST3K crew are so talented, they can even make me laugh at movies I like. Heck, even my friend and I riff on movies we love and otherwise think are very good movies, so I'd had no problem listening to them cover RAIDERS.
 
If I was on your ignore list, how did you read my comments in ANY thread?

In all honesty, I couldn't care less if you were ignoring me or not.

"Don't make me regret"
I'm not responsible for your emotions in the least. Your emotions, your reactions are your responsibility, and yours alone.
 

nezobiwan

New member
metalinvader said:
Oh and BTW Mel Brooks is a genius!

Yeah, Men in Tights is one of my favorites.

[Blinkin embraces Venus de Milo replica, instead of Robin Hood]
"Oh, Master Robin! You lost your arms in battle! ....but you grew some nice boobs."
 

metalinvader

Well-known member
nezobiwan said:
Yeah, Men in Tights is one of my favorites.

[Blinkin embraces Venus de Milo replica, instead of Robin Hood]
"Oh, Master Robin! You lost your arms in battle! ....but you grew some nice boobs."

Haha,Awesome flick.My fav would have to be High Anxiety.The shower scene in my opinion is the greatest spoof Mel has done!

"That boy gets no tip!"
 

Matinee Idyll

New member
ClintonHammond said:
"Don't make me regret"
I'm not responsible for your emotions in the least. Your emotions, your reactions are your responsibility, and yours alone.

Come now Clint, you're always saying that - it's a bit of a cop out.
 

Katarn07

New member
nezobiwan said:
Yeah, Men in Tights is one of my favorites.

I think it's his best.

I loved the very few episodes of MST3K I saw. I can see how they can rip on good movies as well as B-movies. My sisters do it to me all the time when I'm watching my movies. Everything has to be funny for them. I sometimes join in if I've seen the movie more than 5 times. It can be quite refreshing to knock some of your favorite movies.
 

Michael24

New member
Surprised to see such love for Men In Tights. Typically I see people bashing all of Brooks' later movies. I know I don't care for his older films (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, etc.), but I do find Men In Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It hilarious. Spaceballs is pretty funny, too, even if I never saw it until it was already ten years old.
 

nezobiwan

New member
Michael24 said:
Surprised to see such love for Men In Tights. Typically I see people bashing all of Brooks' later movies. I know I don't care for his older films (Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, etc.), but I do find Men In Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It hilarious. Spaceballs is pretty funny, too, even if I never saw it until it was already ten years old.

Ok, I think we have a winner.

My official answer for Best Mel Brooks film is undoubtedly Young Frankenstein.

Werewolf?

No, there wolf. There castle.

Why are you talking like that?

I thought you wanted to talk like that...
 

nezobiwan

New member
I just have to say...

AH-HA!

Now theraider.net is advertising the 'Raiders' track from Rifftrax!!!

Ah-hahahahahaha!

*crazy dance*

Trust me people--it's worth it. Hilarious commentary. (y)
 

bonoferox

Active member
I've got most of the other rifftrax but stayed away from the Raiders one. But since it seems like you're saying they totally respect it, I'll give it a shot.
 

MaxPhactor23

New member
ClintonHammond said:
I've kicked people out of my HOUSE for talking during a movie... I don't put up with it in the theatre, nor am I about to watch a movie about people taking during a movie.

MST3K had a few cute moments, back when it started, but the appeal just didn't last...

Man! I bet you're the life of the party. You sound like a ball of fun.
 

|ZiR|

New member
nezobiwan said:
*crazy dance*

Trust me people--it's worth it. Hilarious commentary. (y)

I guess I was the only one who was disappointed with this, then?

I downloaded it forever ago and never even finished watching it, I thought it was so... well, not bad. Just not great.

Which is weird because the merging of two things I love (MST3K & IJ) should result in awesomeness, no?

Eh, here's hoping they do TOD or LC soon. :p
 

nezobiwan

New member
bonoferox said:
I've got most of the other rifftrax but stayed away from the Raiders one. But since it seems like you're saying they totally respect it, I'll give it a shot.
I feel that the Raiders one is worth it. Do you have the Willy Wonka one? I really want to listen to that one because it has NPH on it! I'd love your review of any of the other Rifftrax you have.

I only have Raiders and Casino Royale. The CS one wasn't that great though. (n) It just kept making fun of how long the movie was.
 
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