Release Date: December 4, 2012
Episodes Featured:
Operation Double 007 (retitled on cover as Operation Kid Brother)
Also Featured:
Volume XXV is one of the most important box sets in Mystery Science Theater's DVD history, as Shout Factory showed in one swoop that they were ready, willing, and able to walk up to the negotiation table with major Hollywood studios and come out with a win. In the case of Volume XXV, all the films featured have been licensed by either MGM or Universal, bringing four episodes nobody would ever thought would be released on DVD, and unlocking the possibility of even more. This was an exciting time to be a home media collector of the series, because it became clear that Shout was doing everything they could to release the entire series for collectors.
As for the episodes selected, it's a little bit of a mixed bag, but I think the Mike episodes are worth owning. Revenge of the Creature is a must own based on being the Sci-Fi Channel premiere and Bill Corbett's debut as Crow (we actually hadn't seen a Bill Corbett episode in a box set since Volume XIX at this point), but it is also pretty funny and likely the highlight of the box. Kitten with a Whip is almost as good, with solid laughs making the episode one of the better episodes in the box set. The Joel episodes are a bit below par, though Robot Holocaust's movie is just funny enough by itself to make the episode worth watching. I'm not too huge on Operation Double 007, but it's an interesting oddity of a movie if nothing else.
Interestingly Operation Double 007 was retitled on the box as an alternate title, "Operation Kid Brother." I think the assumption is that while MGM was willing to license the film, they didn't want it to be advertised as a part of the James Bond franchise, which they are understandably protective of. Also an interesting side note, this set came out just after the Bond adventure Skyfall hit theaters, which makes Double 007's release a cute little tie in. Unfortunately they couldn't advertise the tie-in, which makes it almost nonsensical, but there is an effort put in.
Also worth noting is that the set came with a bonus disc if ordered through Shout Factory's website, a shorts compilation of all the Radar Men from the Moon chapters featured on the show, marking the first shorts compilation since Mr. B's Lost Shorts from Volume 6. Watching all the Commando Cody shorts in a row can be a bit cumbersome, but it's a solid inclusion. Though it's interesting that this set also features one of the shorts in the Robot Holocaust episode, so if you watched all the discs in one go you watched the short twice!
Average Rating (out of 4): 2.75
Audio and video were mostly good, though Kitten with a Whip sported blemishes. The centerpiece of the set is Jack Arnold At Universal, a documentary covering Revenge of the Creature director Jack Arnold's time directing films at Universal. This set also brings two Life After MST3K features, one for J. Elvis Weinstein and one for Bill Corbett. Completing the special features are introductions for each episode, two by Joel and two by Mike. Also, Radar Men from the Moon has an introduction by J. Elvis Weinstein.
The box art is again Shout Factory's stock cover, featuring the MST logo in the upper left hand corner and the theater seats down below, while the roman numerals "XXV" are painted in the center in teal. As always, the art on the individual casings is what we're here for, each featuring artwork by Steve Vance. Robot Holocaust features Tom Servo trapped in a spider's web as Crow charges a monster with a sword. Operation Double 007 Kid Brother features Crow in a spy tuxedo and Servo all dolled up as his lady spy, while they stand back to back in front of a giant target. Kitten with a Whip features Crow as Ann-Margret, threatening Servo's John Forsythe with a broken bottle. Revenge of the Creature sees Crow and Servo as scuba divers looking up at the Gill Man towering above the logo. Radar Men from the Moon features the original Radar Men theater poster, but with the theater seats at the bottom and the number of chapters erased and "8 1/2" written in its place.
Disc art is the same disc art most Shout sets have, with a starry backdrop and episode logos on each disc. Menus continue the tradition of creating skits from CGI doubles of the bots and audio from each episode. Robot Holocaust features Crow and Servo escorting Valeria to the Dark One, who electrocutes her. Operation Double 007 sees Crow trying to mimic the James Bond gun barrel opening on a monitor while Neil Connery watches. Kitten with a Whip features Crow and Servo confronting Ann-Margret while she fixes her hair. Revenge of the Creature features a diving suit POV shot as we swim under water with Crow, Servo, and the Gill Man. Radar Men from the Moon is just the regular poster featuring the Radar Men opening theme.
While the episode rating might be a little bit below the average, Volume XXV features some solid laughs, while Revenge of the Creature is an important transition episode for everyone's collection. And the bonus disc is a minor treat if you like to collect your shorts. And while it might be my choice for the least episode on the set, Operation Double 007 is a cute little curiosity for James Bond enthusiasts. And if you're a Bond fan AND a MSTie, how can you resist seeing your two favorite franchises cross over?*
*Question is still valid if you're a Creature from the Black Lagoon fan. :)
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