Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume 6 DVD Retrospective

Release Date:  October 26th, 2004

Re-Release Date: October 17th, 2017

Buy Rhino Set Here!

Buy Shout Factory Set Here!

Features the following episodes:

Attack of the Giant Leeches

Gunslinger

Teenagers from Outer Space

Also featuring:

Mr. B's Lost Shorts

Plenty of people might be put off by the fact that these MST DVD volumes have only four episodes per set, making collecting the show on physical media a hobby of the die hard collector.  Even still, some of these sets sting just a bit more, offering only three episodes and a bonus DVD of shorts instead of another episode.  But if you were to only buy one of these sets that features a shorts disc then Volume 6 would get my vote.  A definite classic is included in Teenagers from Outer Space, while the other two episodes are quite jolly as well and the shorts disc offers up a strong selection (though I think Shorts Volume 2 is overall more well rounded).  Mike fans should be warned that this set is for the most part an all-Joel affair, as the second host of the series is only present for two shorts in the compilation disc.

Average Rating (episodes only, out of four):  3.33

Presentation of the episodes is pretty solid across the board.  Mr. B's Lost Shorts looks to be from a weaker master than the actual episodes, but all of the shorts themselves can be seen with the released episodes in later volumes in better condition.  Rhino's release of the set had no special features, however Shout Factory's re-release features an interview with Rick Prelinger, the archivist who provided MST with these short films.

The theme of this Rhino set is drive-in theaters.  The cover to this set is pretty gorgeous, with the silhouettes of Joel/Mike, Servo, and Crow sitting in a convertible and watching a movie screen with the MST logo on it.  On the inside we see theater marquee's for the "Satellite Drive-In Theater," which gives us an episode list as well as letting us know it stars Joel Hodgson, Tom Servo, and Crow.  The disc art replicates the cover image, though behind each disc is a theater screen with a still from each episode playing on it.  Moving on to disc menus, Attack of the Giant Leeches gives us a greyish-green look at the titular leeches lugging around a row boat, while footage from the film plays against the side of a cabin.  GunslingerOffers silhouettes of Servo and Crow wandering around in a color background that's reminiscent of the film's opening titles.  Mr. B's Lost Shorts gives us a classroom chalkboard while clips from the shorts play on a projector screen.  Finally Teenagers from Outer Space closes us out with a 3D shot of a flying saucer that looks to be flying over a desert (maybe even Mars).

Shout's set is standard for their re-releases.  It's in a slimmer DVD case and cover art is the theater silhouettes looking up at a centered MST logo against a starry backdrop.  Disc art is just a starry backdrop and the title of the episode.  Disc menus combine the two by having the theater seats at the bottom looking up at the episode title against a starry backdrop while the closing theme plays.

In presentation of the episodes, the sets run about even.  Rhino has the better packaging, while Shout offers up a bonus feature.  Personally I was very interested in Prelinger's occupation so I'd personally favor Shout's release, though for those who don't care I'd say pick whichever one is more opportune.