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Mystery Science Theater 3000 - The Crawling Hand

Mystery Science Theater 3000 - The Crawling Hand

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $17.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Absolute junk - the movie's bad as well
Review: There have been some very weak MST3K episodes released on video ('Atomic Brain, 'Catalina Caper', 'Beginning of the End', 'Shorts Vol. 3') but this episode smashes all competitors, then dances on their mediocre graves. If you saw this episode alone, you could never know or even imagine what all the MST3K-hype was all about.

This episode was spilled in the first local Minnesota small-fry season - 2 years before Joel/Crow & Servo got the major cable deal. The skits and general commentary are very lax, with every actor who isn't Crow often missing their vocal cues & pace. The voice of Robot Tom Servo is done by Frank Conniff (later 'TV's Frank'/Dr. Forrester's henchman). Yawn. I'm happy to report TV's Frank ended up just where he belonged, having his pumped blood replaced with antifreeze. With chief writer Mike Nelson writing and scheming...

This video does have some value - it shows MST3K got very good very fast. Just not on this episode. So it's valuable history - but if you wanted that, you'd go to the library.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hi, I'm Tom Servo. AHHHHHHHHHHH!
Review: These people who are giveing this video bad reviews don't knowa work in progress when they see one! ........ says (quote) "Season 1 is a work in progress". Besides,it couldn't have been that bad for the show to get a second season. Unlike most other people, I found this early episode interesting to watch. I didn't find Josh Weinstein annoying in any way. The host segments are good (except for the second one) and the riffing is low but entertaining. At least the riffing isn't as bad as Shorts volume 1 (Shorts volume 1 being he worst MST3K tape available at the time).

Favorite riff-Tom Servo: That isn't freezer wrap, that's a hand bag!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: The Crawling Hand is a yawn!
Review: This classic MST3K episode is from season 1 (episode #106). If your new to MST3K then this isn't the video for you, but if your a huge MSTie, like me, then you'll enjoy seeing an early version of MST3K. Season 1 is way differant than all of the other seasons. For one the riffs are lame, slow and pointless. Second, The special effects and the sets are very low budget, and bots are green when they're in the theater. Third, this episode doesn't have Frank as Dr. Forrester's helper and Tom Servo has a differant voice cause Josh "J. Elvis" Weinstein was still on the show. Even though this episode isn't that funny it's still a great episode for the true fan of MST3K. I thought it was a good effort for MST3K at it's time since it was made in 1989, and they were just starting out so that's why I gave it 3 stars. As Larry would say, Enjoy!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Haven't we all had a crawling hand in bed?
Review: This DVD set is from the cable tv show, "Mystery Science Theater 3000". They sometimes cut the film down and on-screen throughout the entire film, they mock and criticize it. Just as if you are in the real movie theatre with people talking during the film.
But if you would like to see the entire, uncut version of the movie without MST 3000 intervening, just turn the DVD over for the entire, uncut version in all its glory.
This is the second space mission to go wrong. While space engineers Peter breck and Kent Taylor haggle over the failure of no communication with the astronaut Lockhart who is running out of oxygen, the astronaut begs for space operations to press the red button. This would explode the craft instantly. After merciful pleading from the astronaut, operations comply. This is the second man they have lost upon return entry. Only four astronauts left. They need these men to handle the lunar rocket. What is it on the moon that is driving these men crazy to the point of near-death?
The debris from the exploded space craft has landed like a meteorite. What terror will escape and attack the young teenagers in this California beach town?
Haven't we all had a crawling hand in bed?
Also in the cast: Rod Lauren as "Paul". Allison Hayes as "Donna". Allan Hale Jr as "Sheriff Townsend" (Gilligan's Island tv series). The Crawling Hand was Joseph F. Robertson.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Haven't we all had a crawling hand in bed?
Review: This DVD set is from the cable tv show, "Mystery Science Theater 3000". They sometimes cut the film down and on-screen throughout the entire film, they mock and criticize it. Just as if you are in the real movie theatre with people talking during the film.
But if you would like to see the entire, uncut version of the movie without MST 3000 intervening, just turn the DVD over for the entire, uncut version in all its glory.
This is the second space mission to go wrong. While space engineers Peter breck and Kent Taylor haggle over the failure of no communication with the astronaut Lockhart who is running out of oxygen, the astronaut begs for space operations to press the red button. This would explode the craft instantly. After merciful pleading from the astronaut, operations comply. This is the second man they have lost upon return entry. Only four astronauts left. They need these men to handle the lunar rocket. What is it on the moon that is driving these men crazy to the point of near-death?
The debris from the exploded space craft has landed like a meteorite. What terror will escape and attack the young teenagers in this California beach town?
Haven't we all had a crawling hand in bed?
Also in the cast: Rod Lauren as "Paul". Allison Hayes as "Donna". Allan Hale Jr as "Sheriff Townsend" (Gilligan's Island tv series). The Crawling Hand was Joseph F. Robertson.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: A Lesser Episode From A Lesser Season
Review: This episode from Season One (the first season on Comedy Central, but the second actual season) isn't a very good watch. First off is the differences, this being the first season the set for the SOL is very different and much cheaper. Tom Servo's voice is done by Josh Weinstien who's voice for Tom is dramatically different from Kevin Murphy's. Frank is gone with the Dr. E who isn't half as funny. Also, the shadow-rama is green.

But if you put aside all the differences the episode is still bad. In season one, the riffing pace wasn't as fast as the seasons after, so there aren't that many jokes. Also, the jokes that they did say just weren't as funny. The movie is very boring and slow and the riffs just can't save it. The host segments also aren't very funny and just go nowhere really fast.

The bright points are that this IS MST3K, so it is still funny in some parts and also it's just an interesting glimpse of the first season.

Reccomended only IF you are a fan of the show who must have every episode.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great on its own
Review: This episode is great in it's own distinctive way. When compared to Mitchel or any other MST classic, of course it's no contest. My advice is while you watch this episode (which is very buyable, if for nothing else than one joke in particular involving a glass of milk which deserves many repeated views) pretend you're wearing your acid-washed jeans, W.'s dad is in the White House, and you come across this show. Do all these things and you will see the all the reasons why you learned to love this show and expect so much from it. A great step in the MSTK road to greatness. Throw your deservingly high expectations in the toilet, flush it, buy it, watch it, and enjoy the budding genius.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: "Mrs. Burke, I thought you...were Dale!"
Review: This episode is just one of many that contain the "deathless" line: "Mrs. Burke, I thought you...were Dale!"

Naturally, our whole family likes these episodes, because we starred in the original 1968 Grape-Nuts TV commercial from which this riff comes. (Yes, Mrs. Burke AND Dale are real, alive, well, and living in the USA.)

Many thanks to MST3K's Best Brains for riffing our commercial decades after it ran (and to Mr. Murphy for helping to clear up the trouble about the origin of this riff)!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: "Mrs. Burke, I thought you...were Dale!"
Review: This episode is just one of many that contain the "deathless" line: "Mrs. Burke, I thought you...were Dale!"

Naturally, our whole family likes these episodes, because we starred in the original 1968 Grape-Nuts TV commercial from which this riff comes. (Yes, Mrs. Burke AND Dale are real, alive, well, and living in the USA.)

Many thanks to MST3K's Best Brains for riffing our commercial decades after it ran (and to Mr. Murphy for helping to clear up the trouble about the origin of this riff)!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Beginning of Greatness
Review: This is a great video for any MST fan because it shows the origin of one of the best programs on TV. The timing is not quite as strong as Joel's later work and some of the jokes don't work quite as well. Still it has some wonderful moments and it is great to see the show in this embryonic stage. I would not recommend it as the first tape to purchase though. It is better appreciated as a rough draft of what would become a damn fine show!!!


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