Mystery Science Theater 3000: Manos the Hands of Fate

Tres Manos ?
Shout Factory has surprised us all once again with a new edition of Manos, the Hands of Fate ..one of , if not the most famous MST3K experiment of all time.Manos is the most inept film out there, rivaling Creeping Terror, Beast of Yucca Flats in pure ineptitude. This also is one of the best episodes of MST3K – the jokes, the segments (Joel as Manos !) are hilarious. MST3K has given Manos all new heights of popularity ..it is the Citizen Kane of Bad Films..Now as far as this release goes, it is packed with all new bonus features as reported on both the Satellite News and TV shows on DVD..* Disc one will feature the classic MST3K episode, a featurette-“Group Therapy: Wherein Joel, Trace, Frank & Mary Jo relive the horror”-and the MST3K Hour wraps.* Disc two will feature the original unMSTed movie, “Jam Handy To the Rescue!” A Daniel Griffith/Ballyhoo Production featurette (written by and starring Larry Blamire), BOTH parts of the short “Hired!” “My (Educational) Short Life,” an Interview with Joel Hodgson and-wait for it-“Hotel Torgo”. Also includes an exclusive mini-poster by artist Steve Vance.Yes we get both versions of Manos on this disc…Ive seen Manos uncut and wrote a review about it already…there are a few shocking (sort of) moments that were cut for the film..The question is “Do I get this version – I already have 2 copies of Manos”Many are on the fence due to the two previous releases..Obviously the new bonus features make it difficult for those of us who own the previous releases..Personally speaking Im getting this because of the featuresWhat I would suggest however so we as consumers do not need to own three DVDs of ManosPort over the Poopie from the first releaseORRelease Santa Claus Conquers the Martians as a stand alone which would then (at least for me) unload the Essentials..I do think this release will be the best of the three, but it really is a judgement call depending on your interest in the supplements and owning a NON MST3K version of Manos 🙂

Okay, three copies then.
I already have the MST3K version of “Manos: Hands of Fate” twice: once as a standalone DVD, and once in conjunction with “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians” as part of the “The Essentials” two disk set. Meanwhile, the unMSTed version has had its own video release, which I also have on my DVD rack.Shout!, however, has figured out what it takes to sell their new special edition that includes both the episode and the original movie, and yes, it’s in the specials. Not only is there a session with Frank, Trace, Joel and Mary Jo talking about doing this movie on MST3K, but there are the ‘host segments’ from the “MST3K Hour” version (with Mike doing his oh-so-perfect Jack Perkins), and both parts of the short “Hired!”.But wait, as they say on late night infomercials, there’s more!Also included is the 2004 documentary “Hotel Torgo”, which tracks down the (surprisingly few) surviving cast and crew members and the house it was filmed at.What ticked it over into the buy column for me, though, was that it also included work by Larry Blamire, the mind behind The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (among others). Larry writes and stars in a wonderfully surreal featurette about “Hired!” creator Jam Handy, and another segment with Joel talking about Manos.It’s a fine addition to the library. And I think it looks like they cleaned up the unMSTed print a little, but I wouldn’t swear to it. Even if you have one (or both) of the earlier releases, it’s worth it for the extras.

Mystery Science Theatre: Joel Robinson and his robot pals watch the worse movies ever made.Manos: The Hands of Fate: cited to be THE worst movie ever made.Joel, Tom and Crow have their work cut out…Generally I don’t subscribe to the view that the worse a movie is the better the episode of MST.However… Manos may be the worse film ever made… and makes for a very funny show.The first time I saw the opening sequence of Manos it literally had me howling with laughter. I say opening sequence, because there are no credits. Hal Warren, perpertrator / director of Manos could not afford them apparently. So what remains is 10 mins of bleak American wasteland seen from a car window. This becomes hilarious as Joel and the Bots offer riffs such as “visit beautiful ground zero” and “every shot in this movie looks like someone’s last known photo” and then push decency with “this is going to turn into a snuff movie isnt it?”This episode is worth watching for Torgo, a truly unforgettable character that would become an occasional regular in the host segments thanks to Mike Nelson’s spot on impression (the ending skit with Torgo’s Pizza is brilliant.Qoutes out of context will simply not work – you have to see Torgo!If you are truly psychotic, the bonus disk includes the un-MSTIED version (aaarrrggghhh!!!!), plus a funny and clever documentary about Jam Handy, creator of many of the shorts the gang watched, in the style of a 50s short. very funny.Plus there is a 20 minute Group Therapy session with Joel, Mary Jo Pehl, Trace and Frank talking about Manos.If like me you are a UK MSTIE, treat yourself and import one of the most have episodes of the show.