Yet Another Web Site

First - via Satellite News:

Beginning November 5th, BBI will be launching its very own website at MST3K.com. The site will feature brand-new animated adventures of Crow, Tom Servo and Gypsy. We’re told the goal is to have one new adventure each week (though “some settling may occur with shipping,” they added). The Web site will also feature work from the original series (which BBI is now calling “the legacy series”), behind-the-scenes footage and other material culled from the BBI vault.

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The new adventures of the ‘bots are being produced by BBI President, MST3K series writer and the returning voice of Gypsy, Jim Mallon. He will be joined on this new experiment by veteran MST3K series writer and performer Paul Chaplin (who will be on the writing team and will be providing the voice of Crow) along with new writing and performing talent.

Second - via Cinematic Titanic:

It’s been just amazing the last few years: what with MST3K being honored as a top 25 science fiction show and top 25 “cult” show by TV Guide, and, most notably, in September being listed as one of the “Top One Hundred TV Shows Ever” by TIME – whew! Never saw it coming. Even mo-better are the really nice people that I’ve met who’ve had, and still have, great experiences watching horrendously great movies along with me and my funny friends. Thanks for mentioning it, thanks for keeping the dream alive, and thanks for buying the DVDs. It’s all been strange and mysterious and lovely, and it makes me want to do it all over again. And now, almost 20 years later, I am. I’ve decided, in collaboration with the other bold souls who “started it all,” to do a new project that is strong enough for our diehard audience, and also gentle and easy to swallow for those that are new to movie riffing. Wait for it….wait for it…. meet Cinematic Titanic!

It’s going to be powered by the original cast of MST3K! Trace Beaulieu, J. Elvis Weinstein and yours truly, along with some friends who came along later to make the show great: the beloved Frank Conniff and the scathingly brilliant Mary Jo Pehl.

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Happy Halloween,
Joel Hodgson

Cool!

Looks like Michael J. Nelson, Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy are back…

MST3k reunion!:

…the Film Crew reteams for a series of DVDs launching this July from Shout Factory! Each volume will feature this trio of wits as they struggle to make sense – or nonsense, more likely – from a different psychotronic classic. Which movie gets the Film Crew treatment is entirely up to you. Well, not you specifically, but you collectively, as a special voting booth has been set up at FilmCrewOnline.com where you can vote for your favorite feature. You don’t even have to be 18, or a US citizen – it’s anarchy!

The infamous short film, “Mr. B Natural” can now be seen on Google Video.

In what is essentailly an ad for the old C .G Conn company, “Mr.” B Natural introduces Buzz to the “wonder and beauty of music” (and gender confusion) by showing off instruments made by Conn (i.e. no percussion or string instruments). Note: this version includes the MST3K treatment (for additional laughs).

(via Satellite News)

“Clonus” director says he’s seen this clone story before:

Here’s an irony alert — and a lawsuit alert: a new movie about clones appears to be an uncredited clone of another movie.

Director Michael Bay’s new science-fiction blockbuster has drawn comparisons to the ’70s classics “Logan’s Run” and “Coma.” But “The Island” looks so much like 1979’s “Clonus,” aka “Parts: The Clonus Horror” (available on DVD from Mondo Macabro, $19.95) that its director says he may seek a federal injunction to stop “The Island’s” distribution.

“Clonus” is an obscure cheapie with a fascinating premise, best known now because of the ridiculing it took in a “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ episode. Viewing one after the other will make you do a double take.

In Bay’s movie, the closely monitored, mod-clothed, naive residents of a futuristic colony win a lottery to go away to a promised land called “The Island.”

In “Clonus,” the closely monitored, mod-clothed, naive residents of a futuristic colony are chosen to go to a promised land called “America.”

In both movies, a male resident goes on the run when he discovers that the promised land is a lie, and that he’s part of a colony of clones being grown to harvest their organs when the rich human originals ail. Both feature an evil scientist keeping his project a secret from the public at all costs by sending assassins after the runner.

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Press materials for “The Island” tout its “original screenplay,” which an enthusiastic Steven Spielberg sent to Bay. The story is credited to Caspian Tredwell-Owen, who co-wrote the screenplay with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. There’s no mention of Bob Sullivan, who wrote the “Clonus” story and co-wrote the screenplay with Ron Smith, with an “adaptation” credit going to Fiveson and Myrl A. Schreibman.

Although he’s been talking with lawyers, Fiveson said he doesn’t know what he wants from “The Island” filmmakers or its studio, DreamWorks. “I’m not in this to make money, frankly.” However, he said, “I wouldn’t mind if this thing went to a jury trial at all.”

More:

• Clonus: The Island Horror
• Deja Vu?

If there are lots of flashes and bangs, and smoke and fire, either your car has just rear-ended a Pinto or Michael Bay has made a new movie. Sometimes, both are disasters.
– James Berardinelli (on the film The Island)

I recently saw a trailer for Michael Bay’s latest crapfest, The Island. Something about the premise was awfully familiar, then I remembered an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 where they gave the movie, Parts: The Clonus Horror the MST3K treatment. Here’s the plot summaries for both movies from the IMDb.

The Clonus Horror (1979):

A young man escapes from a govenment run project called Clonus only to find out that Peter Graves (Jeff Knight) a candidate for Presidency is a conspirator to keep Clonus a secret. Top government officials are aware of it and support the super secret project, because they are cloning themselves to live longer and better lives, at the expense of their clone counter-part, who is no more than a “slave” as far as human rights are concerned. The ethical and moral values are explored as the escapee (Tim Donnelly) known as Richard returns full circle back to Clonus, only to find his girlfriend lobotimized for government security purposes.

The Island (2005):

Lincoln Six-Echo (McGregor) is a resident of a seemingly utopian but contained facility in the mid 21st century. Like all of the inhabitants of this carefully controlled environment, Lincoln hopes to be chosen to go to the “The Island” - reportedly the last uncontaminated spot on the planet. But Lincoln soon discovers that everything about his existence is a lie. He and all of the other inhabitants of the facility are actually human clones whose only purpose is to provide “spare parts” for their original human counterparts. Realizing it is only a matter of time before he is “harvested,” Lincoln makes a daring escape with a beautiful fellow resident named Jordan Two-Delta (Johansson). Relentlessly pursued by the forces of the sinister institute that once housed them, Lincoln and Jordan engage in a race for their lives to literally meet their makers.

(via Satellite News)

Check out 20 Questions with Cory Geryak.

Cory Geryak is the cinematographer (and other assorted credits) for Future War (immortalized by Mystery Science Theater 3000 in episode 1004).

Heres a sample:

15. When did you become aware that FW was selected for an MST3K episode? What was your reaction? The reaction of your fellow crew members?

I found out that it aired on MST3K through the internet. I was thrilled! It is the only way that the movie is remotely watchable, so I’m grateful that MST3K made it somewhat entertaining.

Psychoanalysis?? I thought this was a nude rap session!!!