Predator

[ScottotD]

I still think it's a weak choice when there's SO many Arnold movies that aren't as much fun but MUCH more riff-able.

I just got the movie the other day in preparation for the rifftrax. I forgot how violent it was... even for a movie from 1987 it's pretty gory.

seriously?

[Nunyerbiz]

I still enjoy the ones with just Mike in them - the man is very good at what he does.

But the back and forth exchanges are what really made MST3K and Rifftrax great for me - without the banter and random off-topic diatribes, I feel that you really lose some of the heart of the comedy.

I think it depends on the situation... with Rifftrax, mainly with the Mike & Kevin efforts, they sometimes seem to be forcing the issue. With MST3K they had the host segments to take a reach and setup a joke. It sorta takes me out of the groove a lot of times when they disconnect from the movie to go back and forth for a minute or whatever. I don't think those situations were as prevelant in MST for the most part. I still think these parts are usually at least amusing, but something is lost when you have to concentrate on the riffers instead of the movie being riffed.

[RobtheBarbarian]

I know what you mean. Their disjointed rants can be pretty funny (especially the Horse of July bit), but I think it kind of misses the point.

[Chaos]

I think it depends on the situation... with Rifftrax, mainly with the Mike & Kevin efforts, they sometimes seem to be forcing the issue. With MST3K they had the host segments to take a reach and setup a joke. It sorta takes me out of the groove a lot of times when they disconnect from the movie to go back and forth for a minute or whatever. I don't think those situations were as prevelant in MST for the most part. I still think these parts are usually at least amusing, but something is lost when you have to concentrate on the riffers instead of the movie being riffed.

I know what you're saying here, and at times I find that to be true. But usually (especially with the Rifftrax), it seems to me that they intentially use the off-topic distractions at the times when you need them the most - i.e. when the movie is particularly hard to watch. The riffing conversations help ease you through the parts of the movie that you don't need to be watching and are being caused physical pain by anyway.

As you say, it was less of an issue with MST3K - I think I remember reading in an article once that Mike said with MST3K they tried not to overcut the dialogue of the movies too much, because at that time the networks carrying the shows expected the material itself to be watchable. Did Comedy Central / Sci-Fi actually believe people were watching MST3K to see the movies? I dunno...

With Rifftrax, that stipulation is no longer required, so they can do what they feel is best for comedic and watchability purposes.

[SmilinJackRoss]

You're right, but there also this to think about.  Mike said in an interview that with MST they could chop out parts of the movie where there was little going on, or nothing good to riff.  With Rifftrax, they have no choice, they have to riff 100% of the movie, so the "off-topic rants" (and the like) are probably a neccessity during sections of the movie where there is little material to work with, basically padding out the track.

[Nunyerbiz]

Don't get me wrong... I realize that the little off-the-cuff banter is going to happen and it does serve a purpose.... It's just that I usually don't find it terribly funny. Of course, there are exceptions and even when they aren't "terribly funny" the guys are still at least amusing... Still, most of those 'set pieces' strike me as forced... and that's a feeling I rarely, if ever, get with the "in the moment" riffs.

I guess my perspective is that, for the most part, I don't need the guys to go out of their way to make a joke. I don't mind letting the movies breath a bit if there isn't anything funny to be said at a particular moment.

[starfighter]

   Forget about the movie for a second, are there any songs in the closing credits for Dis to sing along with?

[Nunyerbiz]

Well, the director's cut features "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence over the end credits... which when you think about it, doesn't make any sense at all. Everybody knows Predator took place in Kentucky.

[RobtheBarbarian]

There is that scene where they're all listening to Long Tall Sally in the Huey...

[MarkAndrew]

Oh baby, gonna have me some fun

[Just Some Guy]

I like Predator.  It's a fun, over the top (not in the double elimination sense) action movie with a cool hook.  Which of course makes it great for riffing as well.  In general I prefer team efforts, but I'm sure this one is going to be a lot of fun.

[Principal_Skin-trade]

Speaking of... when are we going to see a preview clip of the rifftrax? 

[Nunyerbiz]

I still think Commando will be the perfect convergence of Arnold's goofy one-liner wheelhouse and ideal riffibility... but I think Predator will work just fine. I'm happy that they are keeping a good mix of solo and team efforts, as I think both setups have their respective strengths.

[Bob]

I still think Commando will be the perfect convergence of Arnold's goofy one-liner wheelhouse and ideal riffibility... but I think Predator will work just fine. I'm happy that they are keeping a good mix of solo and team efforts, as I think both setups have their respective strengths.

I am sure they will get to Commando at some time.......

[kodiakthejuggler]

I still think Commando will be the perfect convergence of Arnold's goofy one-liner wheelhouse and ideal riffibility... but I think Predator will work just fine. I'm happy that they are keeping a good mix of solo and team efforts, as I think both setups have their respective strengths.

I am sure they will get to Commando at some time.......

Considering that Commando has a rediculous quotient a good 10 times worse than even a movie about an intergalactic sport hunter, that's a definite YES.