The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection - The Essentials (Manos, the Hands of Fate / Santa Claus Conquers the Martians)

Description

Join Joel and his "robot friends" as they're forced to endure two of the worst movies ever made. To maintain their sanity, they hilariously skewer the films' performaces, special effects and dialogue.

Customer Reviews:

MST3K The Essentials indeed!!.......2007-07-20

Watching Manos is down right torture. Joel and the Bots make this a more enjoyable torture. I read in the MST3K guide that the whole process of making this episode was difficult because the movie is so bad. After viewing it, I fully understand. What a horrible, god awful piece of garbage this is. The perfect movie for the crew in the Satellite of love and having Mike Nelson show up as Torgo in a skit , makes this one a must see. As for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, well, lets just say that Manos blows this one away. If there were any two movies to call essential for MST3K, they hit the nail on the head. I will keep my fingers crossed for Essentials 2!!!

TWO GREAT EPISODES , BUY WHY RE - RELEASE MANOS?.......2007-06-03

This is a great set,but I would have rather had another episode other than "Manos" that hasn't been released yet! If you are familar with the show, you know this set includes two great episodes "Manos Hands of Fate" and "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians". If you are not familar with it, it isn't a bad place to start. This is a very funny show for those who "get it". I just hope they can continue to obtain the rights to the movies and keep releasing these gems. The essentials DVD collection (2 disc set) contains all that was included on the first Rhino single disc release of "Manos". The "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians" episode is a classic and this is the first time it has been released on DVD.

DVD.......2007-04-11

The show is still funny BUT - I prefer the orignial cast and crew and would not pay over $10.00 ( shipping included ) for this DVD.

Good choice.......2007-03-14

Anything from the folks at Best Brains is a winner, as far as I am concerned, but I was hoping for more special features. Nonetheless, if you want to pick 2 essential episodes those would be it. Manos is one of my top 5 fave episodes, and it had been years since I'd seen Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. So, if you are a die-hard MST3K fan like me you'll still love it no matter what.

"Ziggy had Garfield nuetered? Now that's funny!".......2007-02-28

If anything this is one of my favorite MST3K collections, as it contains two of the funniest episodes ever produced:

"Manos: The Hands of Fate"? YES! This episode is definitely the best of the two, as one of top 100 worst films of all time has been skewered in every way shape, and form, even the opening sequence itself. This episode contains really funny riffings that run at a fast rate. And as you can tell from the title of this review, this contains my favorite host segment: the Cartuner, a device that mixes two unfunny comic strips in one and makes the comic funny. This a sheer way to end MST's fourth season with a bang. 10/10

"Santa Claus Conquers The Martians" is another favorite of mine, as Joel and the bots really rip on another Saturday-morning children's film involving Martians trying to find jolly ol' St. Nick himself to bring Christmas to Mars. As stupid as this film is, the commentary with Joel and the 'bots is uproariously funny, host segments and all. Let's have a Patrick Swayze Christmas for this one, why don't we? 9.5/10

In addition, you'll also get a funny half-hour outtake reel. 8/10

Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Manos, the Hands of Fate

Average customer rating:

COULD BE THE WORST MOVIE OF ALL TIME! THIS IS WHY WE NEED JOEL & THE BOTS
Any movie that has Dr. F and TVs Frank apologizing has to be bad.
Would be painful if it weren't for Joel and the robots
Oh.... Gosh, Hillarious!
"Manos" is the worst movie of all time. And making it a timeless classic is impossible...

Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Manos, the Hands of Fate
Starring: Trace Beaulieu , Patrick Brantseg , Frank Conniff , Bill Corbett , and Joel Hodgson
Director: Trace Beaulieu , Joel Hodgson , Jim Mallon , Kevin Murphy (II) , and Vince Rodriguez
Manufacturer: Rhino Theatrical
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00005S8L6
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Amazon.com

Arguably the worst movie that our lovable pals Joel, Crow, and Tom Servo have ever had the pain of watching, Manos: Hands of Fate is destined to be an MST3K classic for this very reason. Not only is there a sparse, illogical plot, but the cinematography is nonsensical (note Servo's point about the endless countryside ride in Texas). That said, Manos must be watched, and cringed at, and commented on by its viewers because of the director's amazingly awful vision of what a horror film should be. What plot there is involves a vacationing family being trapped in a remote ranch house in the desert that's "managed" by a greasy, what looks to be stoned, oversize bow-legged keeper named "Torgo." As the movie goes on, and one finds the "master" and his harem of semi-dead women clad in see-through white dresses, one wonders more and more what the hell this movie was supposed to be about. Even Dr. Forrester and Frank feel a little sorry for Joel and the boys' being forced to watch this one. Still, you'll find yourself spiraling into hysterics when the women get into a big catty brawl while Joel and the boys liken their antics to a Ladies Guild performing A Midsummer Night's Dream or female dirt-wrestling. An episode you'll love to suffer through. --Karen Karleski

Customer Reviews:

COULD BE THE WORST MOVIE OF ALL TIME! THIS IS WHY WE NEED JOEL & THE BOTS .......2007-06-03

This is a horrible movie on every level. Forget Robot Monster,Bride of the Monster or any other film with a reputation for being really bad! None of them hold a candle to "Manos the hands of fate"! This movie moves at a glacier pace with the most inane dialogue I have ever heard! Joel and the robots can't catch their breath trying to keep the zingers flying at every opportunity. This has been re-released in the essentials two disc set with Santa Claus conquers the Martians. If you don't own this one buy the essentials as it has all the goodies included on this released and you get the Santa episode too!

Any movie that has Dr. F and TVs Frank apologizing has to be bad........2007-01-24

Manos: The Hands of Fate is by far the worst movie ever made and at the same time one of the funniest MST3K episodes. I am curious how this movie ever saw the light of day. It is that bad. The movie had a premiere in November of 1966 in El Paso, and actually aired in the cinemas. I know for a fact that without the Robots and Joel, I would never have made it through this movie.

The Satellite of Love does a tremendous job with this movie, with Mike dressing up as his rendition of Torgo, the half man/ half goat. I know the purpose of Mystery Science Theater is to take bad films and make something positive out of them. This truly has to be their masterpiece, because they've taken the most horrible piece of film to ever come into existance and make it into a watchable show that makes you laugh until you have tears in your eyes.

This is a true demonstration of how amazing Mystery Science Theater is. It is the ultimate demonstration of how the most horrific film can be made into something entertaining. If you are planning on losing your MST3K virginity, I don't recommend this as your first. It's a bit intense for that. I'd recommend one of the Gamera episodes or purhaps Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. Manos is a bit intense for your first MST3K experience, but a must for all who love the show.

Would be painful if it weren't for Joel and the robots.......2006-08-08

Manos is kind of like "The Wicker Man" if it were made by a guy who ran a feed store. Everything about the production is poor, which makes it a perfect target for the MST3K crew. And they hit a hilarious bull's-eye here.

The original version is also available for purchase. With the MST3K version, you also get a cheesy educational film called "Hired!"

Oh.... Gosh, Hillarious!.......2006-06-01

Okay this movie is my fiance's and I's favorite movie. We quote it all the time. Without Mystery science theater taking it on it's not all that great, but aside from Eddie Izzard skits we've never laughed so hard. So if you need a pick me up at the end of the day watch this!

"Manos" is the worst movie of all time. And making it a timeless classic is impossible... .......2006-03-31

...but it did become one! Joel and the bots just riffed their way through this horrible movie and made it a Grade A classic horror film! The riffs, as usual, are timeless and laugh out loud stuff. The final skit will leave you in stitches. The DVD is excellent, it features the out of print Blooper Reel which (finally) contains cursing and are very funny. Hal Warren, the director of the unbearable piece of crap known as 'Manos', should be thanked because of making that movie. Because if it wasn't made, then there would be no MST3K! You know, when I first bought this, I thought it was another DVD version of 'Manos'. And when I read the details at the back, it said that there was a blooper reel and a collectible postercard. I was like, "I must buy this!" But when I popped it on my DVD player, I was shocked to see something totally unrelated to that movie. But that made me feel even better, since it was the first episode I ever watched on MST3K, and made me a huge fan of the show. So, if you want to enjoy the worst movie ever made being made fun of, then you should buy this. And if not, then you should buy this. Enough said.

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