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Now Available from RiffTrax… … and at the risk of a whole ‘nother stupid “you shouldn’t riff good movies” argument (I beg you all, please refrain): STAR WARS EPISODE 5: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. [Sampo ducks, and reminds all concerned how really really funny the “A New Hope” riff was.] Mike, Kevin and Bill will again be joined by special guest riffer Chad Vader. 60 Replies to “Now Available from RiffTrax…”Commenting at Satellite News
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HOW DARE TH…oops, sorry.
Arrghhh!! I can’t believe they would stoop to such things!! I only like it when they do movies that were made by monkeys with learning disabilities!! Rage, rage, rage, rage, rage, rage!!!
Am I doing it right?
I love when they riff on good movies! :lol:
I’ll be pretty disappointed if they didn’t finish out the original trilogy.
If they do Jedi at least we won’t have to hear people raging about them riffing “good” movies.
I mean come on, the Ewoks were hitting Storm Troopers over the head with sticks.
Help! I need the sense of closure that only a “Return Of The Jedi” Rifftrax can provide!
As a serious Star Wars fan, I have only this to say about the Rifftrax release:
Awesome.
“If they do Jedi at least we won’t have to hear people raging about them riffing “good” movies.
I mean come on, the Ewoks were hitting Storm Troopers over the head with sticks.”
You know, minus that obviously unsatisfying element, ROTJ was fine – somewhat better than TESB, in my opinion. More atmospheric and more climactic.
To me, you cant watch Empire without next watching Jedi. Empire’s only flaw to me is that it leaves you wanting more. They’re both like two halves of a movie. Unlike A New Hope, which would have still been great had they not made any sequels at all. I dunno about better but I like ROTJ cause it had more of the cheesy elements ala the first one. (Rehash)
But any extra reason to watch the trilogy again is fine by me. The ANH riff was fun. They are ALL riffable as far as I’m concerned and have been riffing them for years myself anyways.
BTW, I’m a pretty big Star Wars fan myself. I was just literally catching up on the “Star Wars Empire” comic right before I came and saw this post. :twisted:
Now “Empire” is a great movie!! :lol:
The A New Hope riff was brilliant, one of the best ever including mst3k. I loved it. April 14th can’t come fast enough.
My only complaint about Ep1-3 riffs were that they seemed too mean-spirited instead of funny.
Is it wrong to say i miss the fighting? :wink:
YAY! As someone who finds the original Star War movies entertaining but frankly somewhat overrated (DON’T HIT OR YELL) I’ll look forward to this.
Looks like Kevin and Chad settled their differences, too. Thank the Lord. :)
I’m with Kris. This is my opinion:
The Star Wars movies are popcorn, pulp adventure movies. They were intended as such – they’re paeans to the old serials and similar movies.
Yes, if your universe of movies starts at “Star Wars”, passes through “Superman”, and ends at “The Dark Knight”, then “The Empire Strikes Back” is one of the best movies in that universe.
But come on, it’s not like they’re riffing “Last Year at Marienbad”.
I realize that many people here will take umbrage at that opinion, but I’m sorry, that’s what I think.
I’m with the Talon guy. I liked ROTJ better than ESB, but I think I’m biased because I like movies with real endings.
The Ewoks were silly though, and I will grant that I would like to hear Rifftrax go after them with fury and anger.
I’m totally down with the original “Star Wars” movies being subjected to The Treatment. Especially when Chad helps out. Chad’s good people.
But that’s as far as I’ll go. There so much garbage out there that’s just begging for the professionals at RiffTrax that probably won’t be tackled by CT. “Iron Eagle”? “Baby Geniuses”? “Wing Commander”? “Devil’s Advocate”? “The Blair Witch Project”?
“I’m with the Talon guy. I liked ROTJ better than ESB, but I think I’m biased because I like movies with real endings.”
I hadn’t thought about it when I posted that, but in retrospect, yeah, I need proper closure too. Very unsatisfying otherwise.
I’ll also echo the sentiment that TESB and ROTJ are best taken as different halves of the same movie.
Hooray! I also enjoy lightsaber duels where all the ridiculous force leaping around is kept minimal.
#7
Think about it though. The very best movies are the ones that DO leave you wanting more. My opinion at least.
I have to reply to the replys.
NO WAY is ROTJ better than Empire, look at the usually awesome Harrison Ford’s acting in that movie. The crying Rancor wrangler. The dialogue that seems like Lucas wrote it for 9 year olds. On it’s own it’s just OK, but compared to IV and V “it stinks”.
Just because it has an ending does not make it better. Final Justice had an ending too.
For me, Ep. V was the best of the bunch, but there’s still enough Lucas cheesy dialogue and WTF scenes to make it riffable.
Riffing Ep. VI would be the crown jewel. I hate ewoks, I hate ewoks, I hate ewoks……
There is a line in ESB that always bothered me and is begging for a riffing: “A death mark’s not an easy thing to live with.” OF COURSE IT IS, it’s a *death* mark!!
The riff of A New Hope kicked all anus. The best Rifftrax in a long time.
I can’t wait for this one
Like I said before, I’m still waiting for them to do Schindler’s List.
Nice pick, Klisch. I’d like to see them do Citizen Kane, or maybe West Side Story.
“Think about it though. The very best movies are the ones that DO leave you wanting more. My opinion at least.”
That’s true in a sense, but just ending on a cliffhanger is not very fufilling in and of itself. I wouldn’t want a great TV series to just end on a cliffhanger, for example. That would suck. A lot.
—
“NO WAY is ROTJ better than Empire, look at the usually awesome Harrison Ford’s acting in that movie. The crying Rancor wrangler. The dialogue that seems like Lucas wrote it for 9 year olds.”
I have to disagree about the rancor guy – I thought that was pretty awesome. Here we have a huge, vicious monster, but the guy who cares for it has apparently developed such a human attachment to it, probably through long hours of dedicated work, that its death saddens him. (In fact, the EU material expounds on this by explaining that rancors are normally quite intelligent and loyal, unless kept starved.) I think the idea that the rancor was, itself, a victim adds another dimension of complexity to the whole concept.
“On it’s own it’s just OK, but compared to IV and V “it stinks”.”
Compared to IV? I think ANH, despite being all groundbreaking and whatnot, was the least satisfying in the series. It’s too isolated, without enough character development by comparison to the others. TESB was good, because it was darker and grittier, but thematically it’s supposed to be the low point in the story where the heros are losing. Jedi brings it full circle, with matured relationships between the characters and the final fulfillment of their responsibilities to themselves, each other, and the galaxy. Plus it has the battle of Endor, which, Ewoks notwithstanding, is the most epic of the series. And let’s not forget McDiarmid’s outstanding performance as Palpatine, whiom we barely see in any of the other non-prequels.
I’ll also point out that Ewoks are no more and quite possibly much less ridiculous than gigantic walking tanks. Sure, AT-AT’s look cool, but they make no friggin’ sense.
“Just because it has an ending does not make it better. Final Justice had an ending too.”
Actually, Final Justice kind of just stopped abruptly – much more so than TESB, even. “What kind of great last line is that?!?”
I wish episodes 7, 8, and 9 would be produced – partly for their own sake, but also so Rifftrax could have at them.
Q: Why aren’t there scene selections on the MST3K DVDs from Shout Factory?
A: I’m not a big fan of scene selections.
So one person doesn’t like scene selection and the whole world suffers?
If they’re going to complete a trilogy, they should riff on X-Men 3.
Yeah we keep trying to get them to riff X-Men 3, Return of the King, and The Matrix Revolutions.
Any praise I have for The Empire Strikes Back goes to seasoned director Irvin Kirshner, writer Lawrence Kasdan and famed science fiction author Leigh Brackett. The only thing I really credit Lucas himself with is coming up with the characters I love.
Maybe they should have a new one of them “RiffTrax Presents”, just to tide us over ’til Empire.
I’d be interested in the sort of fireworks that’d happen if they riffed on “2001”. It’d be more fun seeing serious film scholars freak than “Star Wars” fans.
As much as I would love them to do 2001, I don’t know if it would work. The movie is 2 hours twenty minutes. 45 minutes is completely dialogue free. Not to mention when there is dialogue, it is sparse. I want Planet of the Apes (original).
Or The Omega Man.
#28
Preach on brother/sister (choose the appropriate one) Trilaan.
I’ve always said the same thing. Much like the old 1000 monkey theory, Lucas had a pretty good movie with American Graffetti and made an absolute piece of gold with A New Hope. Beyond that he’s been a little better than Roger Corman but not that much better. The only difference is he doesn’t turn out the volume of Corman.
Empire’s credit goes to Kirshner and Kasdan. I’ve often wondered what Return of the Jedi had been like if Kirshner had directed that one too.
#29 That’s a good idea. I think, though, that a Rifftrax Presents should veer away from the sci-fi genre and do an action movie. May I suggest the Bruce Willis classic Die Hard?
A New Hope Rifftrax wasn’t funny. It implied that A New Hope was not the pinnacle of film making.
I hope they get around to Return of the Jedi. I’d like it if they released a CD of riffing for both Star Wars trilogies.
As for The Empire Strikes Back, if they do nothing with the line, “Come, good food. Come,” then it will be a failure of Space Mutiny proportions.
Sounds good! I haven’t seen ANH rifftax yet, but I am sure I will like it. And personally I think ROTJ gets way too much criticism. I mean, fans love Chewy, a 7 foot tall carpet, who can’t speak English and walks around with a crossbow, but they get offended by Ewoks???
Yeah, I like ROTJ and I like Ewoks. What is so implausible about Ewoks fighting, and winning, over guys in clumsy, plastic costumes?
“I wish episodes 7, 8, and 9 would be produced – partly for their own sake, but also so Rifftrax could have at them.”
Me too but considering the couple decent to good stories they’ve done in the EU (Thrawn), you know it’d never be anything but disappointing.
“If they’re going to complete a trilogy, they should riff on X-Men 3.”
Or the other Bourne movies. The Bourne Identity Riff was a good one. I had never seen it and it made me wanna check out the sequels instead of waiting for them riffed.
“Me too but considering the couple decent to good stories they’ve done in the EU (Thrawn), you know it’d never be anything but disappointing.”
Assuming he’d want to make them, Lucas should take a big steaming reset on the EU and do whatever the hell he wants with his universe.
How about the Godfather trilogy?
How about the Sleepaway Camp trilogy?
It seems that the consensus here is in favor of an Empire and a Jedi rifftrax. And for once I agree with the consensus. ANH was very amusing and totally worth it.
Wootini!
So who are these people that are supposedly against it?
As far as future riffing, I’ll add Westworld to the list of suggestions.
“…and at the risk of a whole ‘nother stupid “you shouldn’t riff good movies” argument (I beg you all, please refrain)”
I dunno, I think that discussion brought up a lot of interesting things like is there a “mission” to riffing, should parody have ethics, etc. To paraphrase: It’s just a forum about a show, you should really just relax.
“You know, minus that obviously unsatisfying element, ROTJ was fine – somewhat better than TESB, in my opinion. More atmospheric and more climactic.”
Oh, so you liked it when the desert monster belched after eating Boba Fett?
“Oh, so you liked it when the desert monster belched after eating Boba Fett?”
Does that actually make less sense than a giant slug which apparently evolved to eat small starships, despite living in random isolated asteroid fields?
And I again point out how utterly absurd it is to use giant walking tanks in a civilization where perfectly good hovercraft and treaded vehicles are available.
C’mon, this is Star Wars. Not everything makes perfect sense, and the occasional bit of silly humor is expected. C-3P0 is a walking (or dismantled) attempted-comedy routine in virtually every scene he’s in, for example.
It’ll be interesting to see which of the two films – TESB and ROTJ – has more of its subtle absurdities pointed out via Rifftrax. Ewoks and AT-AT’s are too obvious, but there’s plenty of other head-scratching stuff that doesn’t jump out at you.
Uh oh! They profaned the sacred ‘M’ word.
If anything, I’m just disappointed that the next feature wasn’t Twilight as previously rumored, but based on the sample this looks quite funny as well.
as a Star Trek fan I’d be happy if they’d do the rest of the movies, even the good one. I mean ones.
I love the Star Wars movies, but I’m not so into them or myself as to think they’re unriffable. I think it’s funny whenever folks around here get all up in arms over riffing on supposed “good” movies. In my view, the only movies that are off-limits are things like “Schindler’s List” or hyper realistic films depicting brutal acts like rape or the like. Anything else can be made funny. And be serious, in Empire, Yoda is goofy, Stormtroopers act like morons, Billy Dee Williams hams it up as Lando, and C3PO lays out some whoppers too. In full disclosure, I like “Halloween”–it’s considered a horror classic BUT I think the rifftrax is funny. Similarly, I like The Dark Knight, I think it’s an incredible FILM (not movie), but the rifftrax was funny. I LOVE Jaws, have since I was little. But, yes, the rifftrax was funny. Remember the old addage: First, murder your darlings.