Negative Rifftrax effect

[Tarantulas]

CGI has mostly created an era of lazy film making...

[ScottotD]

would it be possible for the mods to move this thread to 'General Discussion'?

[torgosPizza]

would it be possible for the mods to move this thread to 'General Discussion'?

After taking your question into consideration, and reading the posts - I also consulted with Uncle Rufus, who scolded me for interrupting his 'regenerative mudbath time' - it is apparent this topic has much more to do than just the Rifftrax commentary that spawned it. The thread has been moved.

As far as a negative effect, I don't think that's necessarily true. Much like the Legend Films DVDs, the user always has the option (and oftentimes the curiousity) to watch the movie sans commentary. There is also the possibily of a "positive Rifftrax effect," which would perhaps lend some interest to the movies (or the series, such as Star Trek or the Living Dead) being riffed. Perhaps a far-off possibility, but you never know what those crazy kids are up to these days.

I also wanted to address Tarantulas' comment about lazy filmmaking. I agree, and so does Ray Harryhausen. If anyone here doesn't know who he is, shame on you! Look him up on Wiki. I attended a screening where he spoke and did Q&A and he is baffled by, in his words, all the movies with "all special effects and no story."

[SmilinJackRoss]

The "negative rifftrax effect" is definitely something that can happen.  Watching a movie is such a subjective thing, if you're sitting down to watch a movie knowing that Mike is going to make fun of it the whole time, you already know you're probably not going to walk away from it going "hey, that movie was really good!" 

Along the same lines, but more generally, I've found that there's two subjective factors that can play a major role in whether or not I like a movie.

One is expectations.  If a movie is hyped up, and you're really excited to see it, you are setting yourslef up to be let down if it doesn't blow you away.  Conversely, if you happen to watch a movie that you know nothing about and haven't heard of, and it turns out to be pretty good, you're more likely to think highly of it. 

The other is my mood.  If I'm feeling jovial, A comedy will likely be funnier.  If I just got dumped by my girlfriend, and then I watch a poignant drama about heartbreak, it's likely to hit me in that soft spot, and I'll love the movie even more. 

My point is, if you're sitting down to watch a movie that is going to be made fun of the whole time, you're already halfway there to not really liking the movie all that much.

[mrbakasan]

I could only imagine rifftrax having a negative effect if it was on a movie that I thought was exceptionallly beautiful.   For example, one of my favorite movies is a Japanese movie called Fireworks (Hana-bi) and while obviously it won't be riffed, nor would it make much sense to riff it, it would in many ways probably ruin the emotional attachment I feel for the film.  On the other hand, my favorite movie of all time is Big Trouble in Little China and I would absolutely love to see it riffed.  Halloween is another favorite of mine, but I loved the rifftrax for it.  I will be able to watch it fine sans rifftrax as well. 

I think great movies can and should be riffed.  If it is a movie that you don't want to laugh at then I would likely just not buy the rifftrax.  If it makes you laugh, when you'd rather cry, etc. it would probably be best to avoid it.  Although, movies like Casablanca, etc. are so ingrained in our culture and we have been so overexposed to it that it would likely be a great rifftrax, even though its an amazing movie.

I guess my point in this post is that while I would avoid watching any rifftrax for movie that I feel I have some deep connection with, I certainly doubt that the Rifftrax team would likely never do any movies like that anyway.  Unless of course you feel that way about X-Men or Road House.

[SaucyRossy]

I really dont see how any Rifftrax have a negative effect unless when you laugh you bleed internally. This thread is starting to get alittle to serious for my likes. I mean come on people do you really want to go down the path of is MST3K bad for Scifi?!?!

[mrbakasan]

I really dont see how any Rifftrax have a negative effect unless when you laugh you bleed internally. This thread is starting to get alittle to serious for my likes. I mean come on people do you really want to go down the path of is MST3K bad for Scifi?!?!

I totally agree.  My only point was that I think that the only thing that could possibly have a negative effect is having an emotional attachment to a movie.  I suppose my post probably does seem kind of heavy. :-",

[torgosPizza]

I really dont see how any Rifftrax have a negative effect unless when you laugh you bleed internally. This thread is starting to get alittle to serious for my likes. I mean come on people do you really want to go down the path of is MST3K bad for Scifi?!?!

Saucy, what's your favorite movie?? 

[SaucyRossy]

Star Wars Episode One......what?!?!

[SaucyRossy]

Seriously though Torgo I get your point and I am surely not trying to discourage people from sharing their opinions. My favorite movie is probably The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, or Gladiator, or Saving Private Ryan. One of those three. Whats yours Torgo?

[mrbasehart]

My perspective is this:  The Rifftrax commentary playing alongside the film is a different entity to the film playing without it.  The films I felt were bad before the commentary (Top Gun, XXX) are still bad, and the films I liked that Mike riffed on (X-Men, Halloween) are still good.  I think possibly the best example is a music video of a particular song you like: the video may be terrible, but the song may rock. 

[mrbakasan]

I think possibly the best example is a music video of a particular song you like: the video may be terrible, but the song may rock. 

Like the Journey song Seperate Ways...oh wait that video ROCKS.  It has air key-tar and everything.

[SmilinJackRoss]

My perspective is this:  The Rifftrax commentary playing alongside the film is a different entity to the film playing without it.  The films I felt were bad before the commentary (Top Gun, XXX) are still bad, and the films I liked that Mike riffed on (X-Men, Halloween) are still good.  I think possibly the best example is a music video of a particular song you like: the video may be terrible, but the song may rock. 

The point is if you see a movie with the rifftrax that you've never seen before, will it ruin the movie for you?  I think it has the power to do that.  My friend had never seen X-Men before the rifftrax, and afterward he couldn't really understand why I liked it, he found it quite silly.

[Pak-Man]

Well I just watched Halloween for the first time ever, and I did it with Rifftrax. I found that, between sniggering at Mike's Riffs, the movie had done a good job of creating an air of suspense and tension. I'm very impressed with the movie and I probably never would have seen it without Rifftrax (I tend to avoid slasher films like the plague.) So the blade both lifts AND seperates. :^)

[mrbasehart]

The point is if you see a movie with the rifftrax that you've never seen before, will it ruin the movie for you?  I think it has the power to do that.  My friend had never seen X-Men before the rifftrax, and afterward he couldn't really understand why I liked it, he found it quite silly.

Maybe you should tie him to a chair and make him watch the movie without the Rifftrax commentary.  Then make him watch the second one, then maybe he'll get why the movies have been received quite well.