Release Date: March 26, 2013
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Featuring the following episodes:
The Magic Sword
Alien from L.A.
Danger!! Death Ray
The Mole People
There is almost a theme to this set, at least there seems to be an attempt to sway it. There are three fantasy adventure movies here, two of which involve explorers venturing into caverns and stumbling upon underground civilizations, but then there is a spy movie thrown in. Diversity? Those who love episodes that sway fantasy may want to pick up this set, and the good news is that the odd man out episode is arguably the funniest episode of the bunch, making it worth checking out as well.
That odd duck episode is Danger!! Death Ray, a fabulous bit of fakey nonsense that is too delicious to pass up. Those who love the spy caper episodes will definitely want to add this treasure to their collection, because it is probably the best of the bunch. Depending on how you like your silly fantasy films, the runner-up episode is a toss up between The Magic Sword and Alien from L.A. I lean toward Alien, because I have an affection for those crappy 80's kids movies that try desperately to be hip, though I won't argue to hard if one held a preference for Magic Sword. The Mole People comes up the rear, with a movie too dreary to keep up with the other films in this set, but it has a few laughs.
Average Rating (out of 4): 3
Picture quality on these releases tended to be somewhat problematic, but nothing worth raising a huge fuss over as the episodes are perfectly watchable. The one good transfer of the set is Magic Sword, which is pretty great. Audio is excellent across the board. On the extras side, we have MST royalty in the house! Director Bert I. Gordon, who directed eight films featured on the show, is here to talk about his career! What a treat! Also here is Alien from L.A. director Albert Pyun, who has a few interesting stories about working on the Cannon production, and there is a pretty good documentary on the making of Mole People, called Of Mushrooms and Madmen. Life After MST3K is back, this time focusing on former host Michael J. Nelson, who discusses his novels, Timmy Big Hands, and, of course, his titanic riffing project Rifftrax. MST Hour wraps are provided for Magic Sword, and all four movies have theatrical trailers.
Aesthetically, it's yet another Shout Factory box set with the stock art of the logo in the upper left corner, theater seats at the bottom, and a roman numeral in the center. The slim cases inside the set, as always, have the good stuff, with art by Steve Vance (and mini-posters of each). The Magic Sword features Tom Servo as our heroic lead, wielding the titular sword, while Crow plays Basil Rathbone's villain, looming over him in a castle tower. Alien from L.A. has Crow as Wanda running from a TV screen that has Servo with an eyepatch searching for her. Danger!! Death Ray features Crow as heroic spy Bart Fargo, while Servo, as the villain, shoots the peaceful death ray at him. The Mole People is an image of intrepid explorers Crow and Servo being dragged under the earth by the Mole People. Disc art is once again Shout's standard episode logo against a starry backdrop.
Menus once again put together little sketches inspired by each episode. The Magic Sword features Crow and Servo fawning over Estelle Winwood through an opening in the film's set. Alien from L.A. features the two Bots driving a buggy through the underground tunnels and stumbling upon Kathy Ireland. Danger!! Death Ray has Crow and Servo playing with the death ray, while Bart Fargo invades the Satellite of Love, shooting out all the cameras in the theater doorways. Mole People is a funny little bit that has Servo and Crow exploring caverns, only to have the Mole People drag Crow underground.
The bottom line is that the episode line-up is pretty solid, and there are some big laughs in Volume XXVI, with Danger!! Death Ray being the big must own of the set. It's hard to imagine anybody being too disappointed with picking this one up, though it does end on a bit of a slow note with Mole People. But it's amusement factor is constant, and the bonuses are delicious. I say pick it up!
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