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Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the movie-sign dept.

Laith writes "Former Mystery Science Theater 3000 writer and Satellite of Love castaway Michael J. Nelson has a new book out,'Mike Nelson's Movie Megacheese' in which he applies the same rapier wit to big-bucks Hollywood as the MST3K crew did to low-budget bombs. A story on it can be found at the Providence Journal."

13 of 70 comments (clear)

  1. Ah, if only MST3k did major movies... by Maul · · Score: 4
    It is too bad that Mystery Science Theater 3000 never got the chance to give a lot of major Hollywood films the same treatment they were able to give to the low budget B movies.

    I'd love to hear what kind of comments that Mike, Crow, and Tom would dish out to films such as "Independence Day" or "Mission to Mars." Even a good movie, or a movie with a lot of fans, could probably benefit from a good chewing out by Mike and his robots.

    What MST3k really did was squeeze the entertainment value out of even the worst of films. Films so bad that they make Jar Jar seem like the coolest character ever. What else could make these movies watchable?

    Mike, I salute you.

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

    1. Re:Ah, if only MST3k did major movies... by Michael+Woodhams · · Score: 2

      About all I could think about while watching "Independence Day" was how it was crying out for MST3King - and I'd only seen MST3K twice at the time. Given that it only took 40 comments before someone else brought this up, I suspect it is a common sentiment. (To add another to the list: 'Deep Impact': so they made caverns for 5 million people to live in for several years and kept it a total secret until the president announced it?)

      --
      Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.
  2. Re:This is wit? by hiryuu · · Score: 2
    Mystery Science Theatre is unknown outside the USA. Perhaps this is why - the "wit" involved is the kind that keeps "comedy" shows like SNL going after too, too many years without even the slightest piece of talent.

    In defense of the show, many fans (myself included) felt that the general level of wit (yes, there was some, once upon a time) and the modicum of intelligent humor that the show displayed just tanked after the departure of creator Joel Hodgeson (sp?). Mike Nelson didn't show nearly the sense of timing or have nearly as effective a delivery as Joel's droll, offhanded lines; the show's writing suffered similarly although whether by coincidence or by his hand is an exercise left to the reader and individual fan.

    --
    Karma: Excellent, but still won't get you laid.
  3. You've heard of straight to video... by Nova+Express · · Score: 2
    Well, Battlefield Earth should have been released straight to MST 3K...

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  4. Re:What we really need is... by K8Fan · · Score: 3
    I don't want to read a book about how sorry a movie is... I want MST3k dissing it in real time. In a book if you haven't seen the movie... well you're not gonna get it.

    What they need to do is take advantage of the multiple audio tracks on DVDs to let the MST3K crew have a crack at it. Take some stink-bomb (like "Mission To Mars") that only did what it did at the box office on sheer inertia. Do the full treatment on it for the people who want to see it straight. Maybe even have a commentary track from the director and stars offering their excuses for the film. The real enjoyment would be on the MST3K audio. They could even do like the Ghostbusters DVD, using the graphic overlay ability to put the silouettes in front. It might be able to sell the otherwise unsellable.

    --
    "How perfectly Goddamn delightful it all is, to be sure" Charles Crumb
  5. This and the 'video disinformation' bit. Novel. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2

    What, prey tell is to stop the likes of you, me, Mike or anybody from doing MST3K and distributing it as a seperate "overlay" that can be added to someone's DVD? The B-movies are great and all, but I'd love to see Mike an' da bots spoofing something more recent. Couple this with an easy to maintain budget and the high compression you can achieve on what is fundamentally a silhouette and you're onto a winner. Or at least something I'd enjoy. On a side note, Best Brains is still auctioning off all kindo of memorabilia on ebay. Search for 'MST3Kprop' to find (currently) a mock up of the 'door sequence', bobo's remote controlled brain, and more.

  6. Has to be said... by sdelk · · Score: 2

    Mike sucks!! Long live Joel!!!

    :)

  7. Home Theater Magazine by Randy+Rathbun · · Score: 2

    These look like they may be reprints of some of his articles in Home Theater, or at least re-writes. If so they are well worth reading. When I used to get the mag his column was always the first thing I read.

  8. I'm glad to hear they're keeping busy. . . by An+Onerous+Coward · · Score: 3
    The thing I always liked about MST3K was their willingness to let jokes go over most people's heads, while nailing the skulls of a select few. It was a strange feeling being the only one in the room who got a "gom jabbar" reference (hint: Dune). I'm busting up laughing while the rest of the family is giving me dirty looks. Obscure jokes like those are part of what keeps Fraiser so enjoyable.

    I would go so far as to say that jokes like those really defined the series: Not everyone is going to appreciate a guy and two robots mocking such Hollywood classics as "The Pod People" and "Gammurah." Some people will sit down, watch an episode, and demand those two hours of their life back. But those who did enjoy it enjoyed it immensely.

    Before I go watch "The Chicken of Tomorrow" for the bajillionth time, let me leave you with a thought that both fans and critics can agree with: As long as these guys are mocking movies, they aren't peddling drugs in your neighborhood.

    --

    You want the truthiness? You can't handle the truthiness!

  9. Other MST3K Alumnus Info by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3

    It is good to see that the MST3K crew has kept themselves busy since they wrapped up the show sometime last year. For those of you who are interested in finding out more about the new projects of former MST3K writers and performers, you can check out the following web sites:

    http://www.timmybighands.com
    The brainchild of Kevin Murphy, Mike Nelson, Paul Chaplin, Bill Corbett, and Patrick Brantseg.

    http://www.ironminds.com
    A great website that features a few articles from Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Mary Jo Pehl, and Paul Chaplin.

    http://www.gizmonics.com
    Jim and Joel Hodgson's home page, where they showcase some of the projects they have worked on over the years.

    Hope you find this helpful! Now I have to go and finish watching Episode 210: King Dinosaur. :)

  10. Mr Cranky by Michael+Woodhams · · Score: 2
    If you like seeing Hollywood movies abused, check out "Mr Cranky" - reviews of hundreds of movies, every one a pan.

    --
    Quattuor res in hoc mundo sanctae sunt: libri, liberi, libertas et liberalitas.
  11. test by aYhcrana · · Score: 2

    test

  12. Crow by The+Queen · · Score: 2

    Yes, preach on mah brutha.

    And Bill as Crow is not and could never be as good as Trace.

    (BTW, my license plate is SERVO. No sh1t.)

    The Divine Creatrix in a Mortal Shell that stays Crunchy in Milk

    --

    The House Between - Original Sci-Fi Series