Rifftrax Forum Untitled Film Club Movie Page Number One!!!

[Dr. Whopoopeepee]

I've seen this twice before, and love it.  I'm going to watch it again later tonight to remind myself why (and because I suggested it, it would be wrong to suggest a movie I've seen, and then not watch it again when everyone else does).

I loved watching Vincent Price acting only with his eyes and his body language.  I am a huge fan of Vincent Price.  I also grew up on Marvel comics.  I know this isn't a comic book movie per-say, but it sure feels like one.  Actually, it feels like what comic book movies SHOULD be - fun.  This is the closest we'll ever get to seeing Price play a comic book villain, the way comic book villains should be played: over-the-top, and larger-than-life, acting as if they're on a stage in front of an audience.  Instead we get young and handsome actors without personality (Julian McMahon as Doctor Doom).

I absolutely LOVE the secret lair of Dr. Phibes.  Animatronic band?  Check.  Secret elevator under the organ?  Check,  Dead wife?  Uhh, Check.  Self-embalming kit?  ....  Check?

[Dr. Whopoopeepee]

I do like the movie though: It's completely demented.  It really sets its stall out early in the opening 20-25 minutes, with the organ scene and the vampire bats.  I don't think Phibes is Jigsaw Monty, he's more like Darkman.  Darkman if doctors killed his wife rather than hoodlums.   

An interesting bit of trivia about this:  Comic book writer Alan Moore lists Dr. Phibes as an influence for his V for Vendetta series.  Which totally makes sense.

[Relaxing Dragon]

I am wondering why the film makers even brought the book of Exudes into the plot.  I mean 1)They used curses that were not even in it and 2)they never give a reason for it.  I mean it would kind of make sense if Price or Cotton were Jewish,but they weren't so it kind of came out of left field and made know sense.

Well, they did mentioned that Phibes had gotten a PhD in Theology, so there's a reason right there.

All in all, I think I'd have to also give it a 6 out of 10.

(Would love it if everyone rated the films, then we could figure out the averages at the end of the year and see which ones were most/least popular. But then I am a bit of a nerd like that).

I wouldn't mind ratings either (even if mine will probably always be higher than everyone's, since I'm way too forgiving when it comes to rating movies. My scale basically starts at 6). My score is 7/10 (it's actually 8 on imdb, but that's another matter).

[MontyServo]

I'll go with a  7/10 myself.

I like your riff-style format.  All that's missing is the readme file!

It was fun just jotting down notes as I was watching the movie.  I wasn't meaning for it to be a riffing, but I guess a few of the comments come across that way.

We just finished watching the movie, I have to say I enjoyed it a whole lot more than the first time I saw it. So as not to effect anyone's expectations, I kept quiet, but the first time I saw this film, I hated it. In fact I had to watch in in three sittings because I found it so dull. This time I thought it was above average.

This is the type of movie that I would have found boring if I had watched it when I was a kid.  But now I think I can appreciate a lot of the little touches in the movie.  I don't know if I saw this one or not, but I remember seeing some Hammer films on the local UHF TV station's Saturday night horror show (And come to think of it, on Elvira's show as well.)  Those movies would always bore me to tears.  By that point (early '80s), I was already into the Friday The 13th films and most of these films seemed tame in comparison to my younger self.

I think I need to revisit some of the Hammer library, I might be pleasantly surprised.  Any recommendations?

[Dr. Whopoopeepee]

I think I need to revisit some of the Hammer library, I might be pleasantly surprised.  Any recommendations?

The other night I watched Hammer's Rasputin: The Mad Monk with Christopher Lee (he starred in it, I didn't watch it with him).  I really liked that one.  The next night I played it with commentary by Lee and a couple of the supporting actors.  Christopher Lee really knows his Russian history.  And he's Ian Flemming's cousin! 

[Dr. Whopoopeepee]

I hate rating movies.  I don't know how you can rate all movies on the same scale.  Apples and oranges.  But if I had to, I'd give this an 8, or an A-.  Without Vincent Price it would be lower, actually, I don't think there's a movie without him.

[Edward J Grug III]

I wouldn't mind ratings either (even if mine will probably always be higher than everyone's, since I'm way too forgiving when it comes to rating movies. My scale basically starts at 6). My score is 7/10 (it's actually 8 on imdb, but that's another matter).

So you would give Monster A Go Go a 6?

I hate rating movies.  I don't know how you can rate all movies on the same scale.  Apples and oranges. 

It's not about comparing a movie though to another, it's just about grading it on it's own terms.

It's not a thing to over-think, just go with a gut feeling.

I am wondering why the film makers even brought the book of Exudes into the plot.  I mean 1)They used curses that were not even in it and 2)they never give a reason for it.  I mean it would kind of make sense if Price or Cotton were Jewish,but they weren't so it kind of came out of left field and made know sense.

My guess is it was also more faithful in the original script before the director came in and did his massive rewrite.

[Doctor Who?]

Yeah that makes sense.

If you liked this movie you should try any of the Hammer horror movies,my favorites are the ones that star Peter Cushing.

[Relaxing Dragon]

I wouldn't mind ratings either (even if mine will probably always be higher than everyone's, since I'm way too forgiving when it comes to rating movies. My scale basically starts at 6). My score is 7/10 (it's actually 8 on imdb, but that's another matter).

So you would give Monster A Go Go a 6?

I said basically, not always

[Sharktopus]

Am I too late? Hopefully my interweb will hold out long enough to let me Youtube it tonight. Maybe I should try that downloader thingy...

OOH! Also, I was rewatching Beast Of Yucca Flats the other day. How about the RiffTrax Forum Film Anti-Preservation Society? RiffFAPS?

[Edward J Grug III]

Am I too late?

Not at all!

(Heck, there's no reason discussion of a film can't continue after we've watched the next film etc)

[Relaxing Dragon]

Am I too late?

Not at all!

(Heck, there's no reason discussion of a film can't continue after we've watched the next film etc)

Speaking of which, who decides that? Does basehart pick the next film-choosing person, or does the person who picked this one do that?

[mrbasehart]

I'll do it.  Probably in a few days.

I am wondering why the film makers even brought the book of Exudes into the plot.  I mean 1)They used curses that were not even in it and 2)they never give a reason for it.  I mean it would kind of make sense if Price or Cotton were Jewish,but they weren't so it kind of came out of left field and made know sense.

Well, they did mentioned that Phibes had gotten a PhD in Theology, so there's a reason right there.

He's also a loony.  He uses the curses as a punishment to take revenge for a wrong done to him.  It not only metes out justice Biblical style, but it aligns himself (as he probably sees himself) as some kind of God.  Which he kind of is, in his mechanical world.

[Doctor Who?]

Yeah i guess.  I still find it funny that he used brass unicorn,why on earth would you think that was even in the Bible?!

Still it is a fun movie.

[Edward J Grug III]

Yeah i guess.  I still find it funny that he used brass unicorn,why one earth would you think that was even in the Bible?!

It was meant to be the curse of 'beasts.'

Still an odd choice though.