I spent far too many hours following the Satellite of Love across various cable networks, beat-up VHS tapes and the occasional Mystery Science Theater 3000 DVD collection. Now, with Shout Factory!’s latest release, Volume XX, I have fallen in love with the series again and might be even more distracted than ever before.
The collection might be the finest one yet, boasting an all-Joel collection (Like everyone, I like TV’s Mike, but he’s no Joel) with four memorable, awful films that thanks to Robinson and the Bots, are magic to watch.
First up, is the double feature of Master Ninja I and it’s sequel, Master Ninja II.
Master Ninja I finds a Korean War veteran turned master ninja living in Japan who learns of a daughter back in America , and makes it his personal vow to find her despite the consequences of breaking the ninja code he swore to uphold many years ago. Get your tuning forks and pitch pipes ready! It’s time to warm up the ol’ vocal chords for an awful-ly hysterical rendition of Master Ninja’s very own theme song! Sing (and laugh) along with Joel and the Satellite of Love gang as they riff on not one, but two episodes of the series The Master starring Lee Van Cleef and Timothy Van Patten and featuring a young Demi Moore — a combination so deadly, it’ll kill you with laughter. Bonus Features include a new interview with Master Ninja guest star Bill McKinney.
In Master Ninja II, the ongoing adventures of the aging American ninja in search of his long-lost daughter do, in fact, go on . . . and so does the derisive discourse of our MST3K team of “expert”commentators. As if riffing only two episodes of this Lee Van Cleef classic was enough! The crew aboard the Satellite of Love — Joel, Crow and Tom Servo — take on improv, the Cryptkeeper and, of course, two more hilarious episodes of The Master. Tom Servo Vs. Tom Servo Panel At Dragon*Con 2010 is offered here as a bonus feature.
Also included are the films Project Moonbase and The Magic Voyage Of Sinbad (Take that, Avatar and Prince of Persia!).
On Vol. XX’s Project Moonbase, the fate of the free world is in jeopardy when a trip to the Moon to begin establishing a U.S. military foothold in space uncovers a sinister foreign plot. In this classic episode from the series’ first official season, Joel, Tom Servo and Crow invite you to sit in and enjoy as they lovingly mock this sci-fi TV show gone awry, complete with: The wit! The laughter! And, of course, the SPACOM you’ve come to love over the last two and a half decades!
Also includes the shorts Commando Cody & The Radar Men From The Moon, Chapters 7 & 8, as well as bonus features including Exploring The Look Of MST3K With Director Of Photography Jeff Stonehouse, and the original trailer.
In an effort to bring joy to his people, Sinbad takes off on a mission to find the elusive Bird of Happiness in the Russian morality tale, The Magic Voyage Of Sinbad. No movie is safe from the uproarious, laughter-inducing riffs of the SoL crew, and that goes double for Venice Film Festival Silver Lion Award–winners from Russia . But Joel, Crow and Tom are having their own awards ceremony. Can Magic Voyage Of Sinbad compete? Or, for that matter, survive? Bonus features include a new introduction by Trace Beaulieu, and Mystery Science Theater Hour Wraps.
In addition, the site features the original trailers and 4 exclusive mini-posters by artist Steve Vance.
After the jump, read ten things that make this set beyond amazing and an immediate must own.
- Legendary science fiction writer Robert Heinlein co-wrote Project Moonbase. It doesn’t help.
- How many other purchases will you make this week featuring two American Ninja films, a Russian fantasy film and an outer-space thriller in a single box set?
- Did I mention that he’s an indestructible ninja?
- And has a pet gerbil?
- Sinbad makes his girlfriend stand on a roof for six years.
- “Have some Prozac.”
- Did I mention FOUR Joel episodes?
- “Yes, remember to always have your ninja spade.”
- “Spanking is protocol in the high echelons of NASA.”
- “The Rat Pack was sort of the drinking man’s Justice League of America.”
