Rank a 70's Shark Attack!

[Conor]

Was this one written by more people than usual?  Or maybe by a different group of writers?

No.  But the very funny Sean Thomason has been writing with us for the last five or so riffs:

http://blog.rifftrax.com/2008/12/12/give-em-a-hand/

[Conor]

It has nothing to do with isaac and I am not mad it's just i thought it was in bad taste to riff the story of the USS Indianapolis,it's a true story and i really couldn't laugh after that.

Still I love the line "We got nothing,all hail our new overlord the shark"

I think this actually brings up an interesting question to look at. I think that the monologue is great, it was well written and well acted and works in the movie.

However, was it in bad taste to use it? It's using a real life event, with a horror and tragedy of real people, to add to a fictional story. The victims of the USS Indianapolis and their memories are being exploited for this scene.

In Drama, it's seems to be OK. However, in Comedy it's not. One form of art it's fine, and in another it can be called out. I always placed comedy under the banner of "art", but it seems to be placed under a different set of rules as other art. I mean, a drama about Indianapolis is OK, a painting, a poem, all OK. However, using it comedy seems to be considered "bad taste".

Another good example is mental handicaps. If you address the topic dramatically you get Forrest Gump and I am Sam. However, if you address the topic in humor, you will be yelled at.

I think it's an interesting discussion topic. Personally I feel everything should be fair game, and I do have a dark gallows sense of humor, but YMMV.

I didn't even know the monologue was referring to a real life incident until Mike told me.  Now that I know, I'm incredibly offended that we riffed it.

[Conor]

Okay - who wrote this one? Was there a contest or something?  I can't find a thread about it.

What are you suggesting?

[RVR II]

Okay - who wrote this one? Was there a contest or something?  I can't find a thread about it.

What are you suggesting?

He might be refering to the JAWS Photo riff contest..

[CHF01]

Doctor Who,

I see what you mean and understand what your saying 100%. If you reauthor DVDs, I recommend removing the volume from that section of the riff. At least then you can enjoy the film with riff.

[Conor]

In addition, I suggest muting the riffs at 54:30, 1:17:19 and 1:32:09, out of respect for my grandmother who was herself a bowlegged woman.

[Doctor Who?]

Ok sorry I made such a big deal out of this.

If your riff is even off by a fraction of a second you know it when you get to the shark singing part.

[mearnest]

10/10 for me.  The singing tiger shark made me laugh and laugh and laugh.  I actually thought the Indianapolis scene was handled pretty well by the riffers.

[CHF01]

In addition, I suggest muting the riffs at 54:30, 1:17:19 and 1:32:09, out of respect for my grandmother who was herself a bowlegged woman.

Wow, talk about apathetic...

[Gamera]

And Who's the Bozo that gave it a 2

Sir, I am that Bozo.  I'm surprised this Rifftrax has been met with such approval. Am I the only one who feels it was really forced?  It was little more than a string of lame unrelated pop culture references wedged in-between recycled Rifftrax/MST jokes.  The entire riff smells suspiciously like the Batman & Robin riff, or the Oracle's apartment scene in The Matrix.  It lacks a singular point of view.  Mike's voice is missing.

Therefore, I question the writers involved, and I give it a 2.

[RVR II]

And Who's the Bozo that gave it a 2

Sir, I am that Bozo. 

Well thank for being honest, now Go Be Friends to All Children!

[Bill Corbett]

And Who's the Bozo that gave it a 2

Sir, I am that Bozo.  I'm surprised this Rifftrax has been met with such approval. Am I the only one who feels it was really forced?  It was little more than a string of lame unrelated pop culture references wedged in-between recycled Rifftrax/MST jokes.  The entire riff smells suspiciously like the Batman & Robin riff, or the Oracle's apartment scene in The Matrix.  It lacks a singular point of view.  Mike's voice is missing.

Therefore, I question the writers involved, and I give it a 2.

Interesting theory.  For the record, the writers:

1)  Mike
2)  me
3)  Kevin
4)  Conor
5)  Sean Thomason (see Conor's link earlier in thread)

Very sorry you didn't like it.  But that there's the truth, my turtle-y friend.

[Gamera]

I'm sorry Bill. I love you.

[Bill Corbett]

I'm sorry Bill. I love you.

Aww, ya giant bipedal tortoise, I could never be mad at YOU.

Sincerely sorry it was a dud for you.  We never like to disappoint. 

[Darth Macho]

I think this actually brings up an interesting question to look at. I think that the monologue is great, it was well written and well acted and works in the movie.

However, was it in bad taste to use it? It's using a real life event, with a horror and tragedy of real people, to add to a fictional story. The victims of the USS Indianapolis and their memories are being exploited for this scene.

In Drama, it's seems to be OK. However, in Comedy it's not. One form of art it's fine, and in another it can be called out. I always placed comedy under the banner of "art", but it seems to be placed under a different set of rules as other art. I mean, a drama about Indianapolis is OK, a painting, a poem, all OK. However, using it comedy seems to be considered "bad taste".

Another good example is mental handicaps. If you address the topic dramatically you get Forrest Gump and I am Sam. However, if you address the topic in humor, you will be yelled at.

I think it's an interesting discussion topic. Personally I feel everything should be fair game, and I do have a dark gallows sense of humor, but YMMV.

Not having heard the rifftrax yet I can't comment directly. However it seems to me that the jokes would be several generations removed from the history. Rifftrax is making light a movie scene talking about an actual event. Quint's monologue, while moving, is a story told by a fictional character. He's got no feelings to be hurt. As for the actual survivors of the ship I'd doubt a bunch of disembodied voices synced to a DVD is going to insult their patriotism. Freedom's a good enough legacy.

More 70's classics, please.