Rating: 
Summary: Large sausage muhsroom, thin crust
Review: This is easily the worst movie I have ever seen in my life, but then again it may be the best movie ever made by a fertilizer saleman from Texas. This is a Comedy Central "Joel" episode for those Msties who still think that matters, and it's simply outstanding. From the bizarre opening of the film that shows a lot of stock footage of travel by auto, to the random couple making out in a convertible who really like kissin', to the cops working a really long shift whose search of the desert entails standing and pointing a flashlight, Joel and the bots have plenty of riff-able material in this dog of a movie. And they make the most of it. Mike Nelson as "Torgo the pizza man" is a hoot, but it becomes even funnier when you see the outtake from that skit on the "Poopie" reel that Rhino tacks onto the DVD version of this episode. The question is, When will the father/husbdand in the movie ever show basic competence? And how does his wife's scarf keep disappearing from scene to scene? Now you see it, now you don't.
Rating:
Summary: The most famous episode of the show, but not for beginners!
Review: This DVD contains the most famous episode ever of the brilliant comedy TV show 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' (or MST3K for short), when the hosts of the show took on perhaps the worst, ickiest, vilest, most incompetently shot movie in history: 'MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE.' If you're a fan of the show, YOU MUST own this DVD, but doubtless you already do. ('The Master wants you to own this'he loves beautiful DVDs!') People new to show, or curious about it, need to be warned, however: DO NOT start your experience of MST3K with this episode! Try the collections from Rhino (I recommend Vol. 1 & 2) or 'Red Zone of Cuba' or 'I Accuse My Parents' first. To put it simply, 'Manos' is so utterly bizarre an episode, that even though it's one of the funniest episodes in the whole series, a newcomer may be more stunned by the sheer weirdness of the movie and be unable to focus of the wisecracks of the hosts. And even Joel and the 'Bots have a very different 'style' of comedy in episode; the movie stuns them as well, often reducing them to bizarre mumbling and repeating of the show's title in a daze of amazement and horror. In case you are REALLY new to MST3K, I better explain a bit about the show: each ninety-minute episode features a silhouette of a man and two robots in movie theater seats projected in front of a terrible movie. The hosts provide side-splitting, satiric, and culturally-savvy wisecracks to accompany the movie. Each episode also includes sketches and songs and adds up to some of the most hilarious comedy you will ever see. 'Manos: The Hands of Fate' is the last episode of Season 4, probably the best period in the show's ten season history. Host Joel Hodgson and the two robots, Tom Servo (voiced by Kevin Murphy) and Crow T. Robot (voiced by Trace Beaulieu), had reached a level of comfortable brilliance and camaraderie in their riffing on the movies and in the sketches outside of the theater. But 'Manos' taxes them to the limit. Even the mad scientists who inflict these films on them both have to apologize for making them watch this THING: 'Even I have to admit, we really went too far this time,' one of them explains. Before 'Manos' begins, however, Joel and the 'Bots get a bit of a warm-up and watch a short subject: 'Hired! Part II.' This training film for Chevrolet salesmen of the late 40s teaches them how to bully customers until they buy, whether they like it or not! A funny short, very typical of the fourth season'but then the nightmare begins! 'Manos: The hands of Fate' (since 'Manos' means 'hands' in Spanish, the title literally is 'Hands: The Hands of Fate') was shot in 1966 by Harold P. Warren, an El Paso Texas fertilizer salesman ' now there's a bad place to start! The film was shot on the ranch of ex-El Paso County Judge Colbert Coldwell at night, and Mr. Warren (who is also one of the stars) rushed the cast and crew through the shoot so he could return the camera equipment on time, resulting in the slapdash, surreal, and ugly quality of the film. The cast, all local community theater people and other relatives, were working for 'shares' in the film's grosses, which none of them saw, and all were aware they were making a stinker and amused themselves with the hope that the 'film developer' would somehow save the awful footage they were shooting. What's the film about? You got me. A family of three drives into the wastelands on vacation and become trapped in the mansion of 'The Master' (a Freddy Mercury look-alike wearing black robes with silly red hands painted on them) and his bevy of nightgown-wearing wives who occasionally wrestle to Gene Krupa drum solos. The Master's assistant is a stuttering pervert named Torgo with big thighs (he's supposed to be a satyr), who gives the oddest performance in MST3K history, and is a legend unto himself. (The actor, John Reynolds, later committed suicide, although no one knows if it had anything to do with this movie.) Meanwhile, a couple smooches somewhere and the cops bother them. The sound is muffled, the editing bizarre, the photography awful, and the whole things makes you feel like you're having a fever dream. The comedy from Joel and the 'Bots is strange but hilarious. ('Joel, this is going to turn into a snuff film, isn't it?') The comedy peaks when, near the end of this marathon of awfulness, Tom Servo makes the deadpan understatement of the decade: 'You know'there are certain flaws in this film.' The breaks away from the movie are also hilarious, as Joel and the 'Bots try to find some way to survive this monstrosity. Yes, 'Manos' is one of the highlights of MST3K history, if not THE highlight. But it is simply too bizarre for a beginner. You need to have absorbed some of the show's style, the characters' personalities, and their relationships before you watch them tackle this film that seems to have come from another planet. Watch a few of the other episodes available on DVD. Get to love to show. Get a feel for it. Then you're ready for 'MANOS: THE HANDS OF FATE.' But I warn you, you may never be the same again. (Final note: There is actually a bonus feature on the DVD, 'Poopie!', a reel of bloopers from the show covering many seasons. It's a half hour of hysterical stuff for die-hard fans. But again, newcomers won't quite understand this.)
Rating:
Summary: Wow MST3K REALLY saved this monstrosity
Review: Rhino Home Video has seen fit to deliver another episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" on DVD, and they've picked a winner this time. In the season finale of season four, show #424 sees Joel, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot suffer through the hideously awful Manos: The Hands of Fate. The story begins with a young couple driving out into the desert with their young daughter. They become lost and arrive at a small shack at nightfall where they are entreated to spend the night by a odd bow legged man. They soon discover that the shack belongs to "The Master" and that he intends to keep the woman as one of his undead wives. Now I think this is what the "film" was about. Doesn't matter because Joel, Tom, and Crow are here to save us, but boy oh boy was this movie terrible. It's a good thing they had ALOT of material to work with. 1966's Manos: The Hands of Fate might very well be the worst movie I've ever seen on "MST3K" and is the only film that could give Plan 9 From Outer Space a run for it's money for being the worst film in hystory. Even though the jokes from Joel and the bots come fast and furious, you can still feel the painful burn of this massive stinkaroo. It has something to do with a family lost in the desert who end up staying with some guy with huge knees named Torgo. Torgo stumbles around like a drunk on COPS, muttering about "the Master", someone who doesn't approve of children and dogs. Later, a half-dozen women in nightgowns kinda wrestle for 20 minutes straight. Then, Torgo is almost slapped to death. The music, the story, the acting, just everything is wretched. Oh and ya know what, even Frank and Dr. Forrester apologize to Joel for forcing him to watch this one. I still don't know what was going on with the film. Maybe that's why I tried to explain it twice. This is a must have for any MST3K fan. Hilarious!!!
Rating:
Summary: Review by the keeper of Torgo.org
Review: This by far is one of the very best episodes of MST3K, all be it due to one of the worst movies they've ever watched. This is deffinately an episode that needs to be watched by anybody who considers themselves a fan of MST3K. And don't forget to take a look at http://www.torgo.org/torgo/, for more information on this episode (Note: cheep plug)!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Dark days on the satellite.
Review: As many already know, the purpose of Mystery Science Theater 3000 is to take a very bad movie, watch it and make fun of it until the cows come home. I've been an avid fan of the series for years now, and I've watched all the Sci-Fi era episodes and more besides. I sat through Hamlet, Final Justice, Invasion of the Neptune Men and Gozilla Vs. Megalon, to name only a few. Not only did I sit through them, I enjoyed them.
But Manos was still like being smacked across the face.
Like always, the boys manage to do their absolute best, and it's definitely funny, but it's just not as good as the typical episode, not because the movie is bad, but because the untiring repitition and blank silences make it very tough to MST. Joel and the bots were obviously struggling with this one, and I found it a struggle too, but there are still good laughs to be had by all. If at all possible, find a way to watch this before purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Great MST3K
Review: Oh my. This is one awful movie and the MST3K boys really go to town. However, I don't think it's the worst movie ever made. Pirhana II: The Spawning, anyone? Directed by James Cameron, no less.
Rating:
Summary: "Manos.....Hands Of Fate"
Review: Honestly This movie Was So Awful That MST3K was the only way this film can be seen. Then Again...Joel and the Bots made a meraculous Work making fun of this movie...Dr. Forrester and TV's Frank were even giving symphany...And Has One of my favorite quotes in MST3K History "Manos Hands of Fate Was Filmed in a Vacant Lot"
-Joel Robbinson So Snuggle up, Bring your Ham Dingers and Watch MAnos:Hands of Fate..You Will be glad you Did
Rating:
Summary: I almost died laughing
Review: Oh my god this is one funny movie. I've grown up with Mystery Science Theater, my father introducing it to my brothers and I at a very young age. Its so bad that we ourselves can't make it through even a decent movie without some helpful comments of our own. Of all the episodes I have been exposed to over the years this is the absolute funniest!!! The movie is soooo bad...the first time you see it you really don't have any clue what is going on....but the bots make it so funny that it doesn't really matter what is really going on...all you know is that you are enjoying yourself. And that is the ultimate point of entertainment...Is it not?
Rating:
Summary: So Funny
Review: Manos Hand of Fate is one of the worst movies ever made. It's basically about a dark cult that uses innocent (but stupid) travelers in their rituals. It completely goes off the deep end. The story is pure nonsense and the travelers make the most illogical and unbelievable decisions. The first 10 minutes of the movie just shows scenes of driving or the passing fields. THe "monster" of the film just looks like a wino with monstrous knees. It's just completely worthless junk, which makes this an excellent target for the Mystery Science Theater 3000 crew. The crew's skits in this one are really some of the funniest. I was laughing out loud throughout this movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Best and Worst Movie Ever!
Review: This is one of those movies that you have to see to believe! I remember watching this episode air on MST3K years ago and words can't describe just how awful it is! Thank goodness Joel and the bots are there to turn it into what is arguably one of the best MST3K episodes ever! Imagine my surprise to find out that this classic is now a DVD! Of course I had to have it and it's just as good/bad now as it was 10 years ago when it first aired. Even my husband (who just doesn't "get" us Mysties) laughed like crazy.
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