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I decided to buy this 3 DVD set because I'm a huge fan of Joel, Mike, and the 'bots. The two films in the set "Manos:Hands of Fate" and "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" are truly awful fims and Joel and Company do a fine job of ripping them to shreds. These are two outstanding episodes, and I think they really are essential to any MST3K collection. The set comes with a third DVD that has 7 classic shorts. This extra perk adds plenty of fun to an already hilarious set of 2 DVDs (one for each movie). The "Manos" DVD also comes with a blooper reel. The only downside is that the DVDs do not feature the movies by themselves without the witty comments of Joel and the 'bots, so you can't give your own MST treatment to the movies (although Joel and friends do such a good job that you really won't have to). Overall, this is an outstanding set, and I highly recommend it. 5 of 5 stars!Read full review
Mystery Science Theater 3000 made its name making fun of bad movies—from ‘50s sci-fi flicks to the ‘80s experiments in mullet-haired fantasy. But few of the B-rated movies the cast of MST3K lambasted comes close to the dreadful incompetence of “Manos”: The Hands of Fate. For those not in the know, Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) was originally a Minnesotan public-access show on KTMA-TV when it premiered in 1988. It was immediately picked up by the then-fledgling Comedy Channel for its first two seasons before the channel became the still-fledgling Comedy Central in 1991. After five additional seasons as a cult hit for the network, it was eventually canceled, only to be picked up by the Sci-Fi Channel for three more seasons between 1997 through 1999. Despite a somewhat successful underground film (1996’s Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie), the show was finally dropped, much to the dismay of a decades’ worth diehard fans. Since then, those fans have clamored for its return, but after a decade of being off the air, the chances seem slim. Thankfully, Shout! Factory, the self-proclaimed home for the “best music, movies, and video for the discerning Pop Culture Geek”, has taken on re-distribution of the DVD versions of MST3K’s copious catalogue from previous distributor Rhino. Its latest release is among the favorites of MST3K’s fans: Officially MST3K Episode 424, “Manos”: The Hands of Fate. This Special Edition contains the original episode of the show—the premise of which is that in an undisclosed future (presumably 3000 C.E.), a mad scientist (Dr. Forrester [Trace Beaulieu]) and his lackey (TV’s Frank [Frank Conniff]) inflict “experiments” on a hapless human (Joel Robinson [Joel Hodgson]) and his robot sidekicks (Tom Servo [voiced by Kevin Murphy] and Crow T. Robot [voiced by Trace Beaulieu]) by forcing them to watch terrible movies and observe their reactions. The show comprises its usual format of an opening exchange between those imprisoned on the “Satellite of Love” (SoL) and the “Mads,” stationed in “Deep Thirteen,” a screening of a “short,” usually culled from thousands of semi-instructional public-domain educational and corporate films from the past (in this case the second part of Hired!—a car-salesman instructional video), and ultimately a viewing of the entirety of the day’s “experiment”: 1966’s “Manos”: The Hands of Fate. In usual fashion, the unequivocally terrible movie is viewed from its extendedly drawn-out and unsubtle start (basically five minutes of a man’s hands operating a steering wheel) to its inexplicable conclusion, with three short breaks in-between in which Joel and his robot pals make fun of the film’s ineptitudes, including its poor cinematography and acting, repetitive dialogue (almost every line in Manos is repeated, probably to extend it running time), and silly characters and interactions. Manos, in a nutshell, tells the story of a family (Father [and director/producer/writer] Hal Warren, Mother [Diane Mahree], young daughter [Jacki Jones], and their poodle) who unwittingly drive to the headquarters of some sort of cult, which worships a being called “Manos,” keeps a harem of “brides” chained in the basement, is ordered about by a semi-divine, mustached “Master” (Tom Neyman), and watched over by a Pan-like creep called Torgo (John Reynolds). More Under Part 2 (Released as its own DVD on 11 September 2011).Read full review
I have been a MSTIE since maybe 1992 or 1993. This is a good 2 episode package. Episode 424 Manos The Hands of Fate A following on this episode. Mike did the character in later episodes & the theme music also appeared in later episodes. This is an OK episode for me. Not a stand out in my eyes. The short "Hired! Part II" is good. Episode 321 Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. I have always enjoyed this one. One BAD Christmas movie. You watch the "Invention Exchange" to see how Dr Forrester (Trace) & TV's Frank (Frank) change the gifts by turning the boxes upside down. It is funny, bad polar bear & robot costumes. IF you get depressed at Christmas time watch this episode it will make you laugh. Both of these are Joel episodes. There is a disc of shorts. Shorts have both Mike & Joel. And, it has a "blooper reel".Read full review
MST3K...Always funny and a good laugh. The characters are a mish mash of different personalities that blend well together to make any show they are forced to watch better then the original movie, A must have.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Two episodes included. The first is "Manos: The Hands of Fate" which is definitely an essential episode; the second is "Santa Conquers the Martians" and while it's pretty good, I wouldn't classify it as "essential." This set is worth it if you get it on the cheap!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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