It's nearly Lent, which means it's carnival time, so let's take a look at how meat is made. Though whether this will make you want to go to town on the remaining flesh products or become a vegetarian is an open question, I suppose. The short opens with brothers Brad and Greg seeing a long … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘This is Hormel’
Rifftrax
It Came from Rifftrax: ‘House on Haunted Hill’
Life's been busy lately, but I wanted to make sure we got this one up for Halloween (more or less: it's late, but under the wire). In another live show (I really like grabbing these when I can; you get shorts, ad-libbing among the riffers, and the added energy of the crowd), Mike, Kevin, and … Continue reading It Came from Rifftrax: ‘House on Haunted Hill’
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘How to Keep a Job’
Since I've been preoccupied with job-hunting and related issues lately, I thought this week we'd take a look at Coronet's (yep, them again) film on How to Keep a Job. Meet Ed, an 'ambitious' young man who is laid off from his current job and sets about applying for another one. At his interview, he proceeds … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘How to Keep a Job’
It Came from Rifftrax: “Jack the Giant Killer” LIVE
I thought we’d do something a little more ambitious this week; our first feature length Rifftrax. While the shorts are fun and tasty, it’s the feature films that are Rifftrax’s bread and butter, as with Mst3k before it. Among other releases, they periodically do live shows with the guys … Continue reading It Came from Rifftrax: “Jack the Giant Killer” LIVE
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘The Myths of Shoplifting’
This week's offering takes us back to the affluent, synthesized world of the 1980s to learn the truth behind common misconceptions of shoplifting. Like most of these shorts, it's actually makes a pretty good point, though while being melodramatic and heavy-handed, which makes for a good combination for the Rifftrax crew. The short depicts a … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘The Myths of Shoplifting’
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Flying Stewardess’
This is one of those shorts that's as fascinating as a window into the past as it is amusing. In this case, a look at air travel in the 1940s. I do not recommend watching this short just before taking a trip, as thinking of the roomy seating, tasty-looking four-course meals, and sleeper berths of … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Flying Stewardess’
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Courtesy: A Good Eggsample’
So, let's do one from the 'completely insane' school of educational shorts. This one is well-summed up by Kevin right out of the gate as "Batman villain Egghead's brief foray into educational films." That actually would make a lot more sense than the idea that this was seriously intended as an educational film. Basically, it's … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Courtesy: A Good Eggsample’
It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Understanding Your Ideals’
One of the hundreds of educational films made by Coronet (not an exaggeration, by the way), this is kind of a special case. Typically, these '50s educational shorts are centered around basically ordinary, blandly decent kids dealing with a single, common problem (how to ask a girl out, being shy, etc.). Not this one! This … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: ‘Understanding Your Ideals’
It Came From Rifftrax: You’re the Judge
I would call this one ‘charming;’ vintage 60s high school romance used to promote Crisco shortening (seriously). The plot has two high school girls trying to tempt the objects of their affections to a party by goading them into a cooking contest. The girls use Crisco and produce a sumptuous meal, while the boys use … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: You’re the Judge
It Came From Rifftrax: “Remember Me”
As a lifelong fan of 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' and its follow-up 'Rifftrax', I figured I'd start writing up a few of my thoughts on their various projects. "Remember Me" is a short designed to teach customer service practices. It focuses on the Customer: the Least Respected Man in America, as he runs a gauntlet … Continue reading It Came From Rifftrax: “Remember Me”
Serpent's Den 