Episodes featured:
For the twentieth volume of Mystery Science Theater 3000's DVD collection, Shout Factory has decided to dish up an all Joel era celebration! And why not? We've had two all Mike sets so far (volumes 4 and 5) and the closest we've had to a Joel exclusive set was Volume 6, which featured a few Mike-riffed shorts in its shorts compilation disc. Joel fans will definitely want to pick this set up.
As for the episodes, the first thought that comes to mind is "MASTER NINJA THEME SONG!" It's a Master Ninja double feature as we have both Lee Van Cleefe/Timothy Van Patton adventures in one sitting. Though neither one of these episodes are my pick for the highlight of the set, which goes to the hilarious Magic Voyage of Sinbad. Even the first season episode that has been grouped into this set, Project Moon Base, is probably the funniest episode of its season. Master Ninja II is the closest thing to a slouch, and even that one isn't too bad.
Episode Rating (out of 4): 3
The episodes all look pretty good and feature excellent audio. The bonus feature that everyone will be interested in is Tom Servo vs. Tom Servo 2010 Dragon*Con, which is a con panel featuring Kevin Murphy and J. Elvis Weinstein discussing our favorite little crimson bot. On a more technical level, there is an interview with cinematographer Jeff Stonehouse on the camerawork on MST, which has great details for filmmaking buffs. There is also an intro by Trace Beaulieu for Magic Voyage of Sinbad and an interview with Master Ninja I guest actor Bill McKinney. Rounding out the set is a trailer for Project Moon Base and MST Hour wraps for Magic Voyage of Sinbad.
The box art is of course Shout Factory's stock cover. The MST logo is in the upper left hand while the theater seats sit on the bottom of the cover, with the roman numerals XX painted in the center in red. But as always, what we're here for are really the the interior case covers with art by Steve Vance. Project Moon Base features Crow and Tom Servo dressed in the space duds featured in the film looking up at the stars from the moon's surface. Master Ninja I features Crow and Servo as ninjas in a sword duel to the death. Master Ninja II features Servo as the Master and Crow as Max Keller in an open grave. Magic Voyage of Sinbad has Servo as Sinbad with Crow as a blue bird on his arm as they sail to adventure.
The disc art is the usual movie logos against a starry backdrop. The episode menus continue to be a kick though, as they create bonus skits with CGI and episode audio. Project Moon Base features Crow and Servo using the tech from the movie to turn off the gravity on the Satellite of Love bridge. Master Ninja I features Crow and Servo making stew as the Master continually jumps around them and irritates them. Crow and Servo continue to cook during the Master Ninja II menu, only to be threatened by George Lazenby, who is taken out by the Master. Magic Voyage of Sinbad concludes the menus with Crow and Servo sailing with Sinbad, only to get increasingly irritated by him.
Those who love the Joel era more than any other era will want to pick up Volume XX, because as it doesn't venture outside of it there is very little disappointment in it. The one exception is that it has a first season episode featured, but luckily it's a prime candidate from its season. Master Ninja fans will also want to pick this set up, as it's both episodes in one package. That's not even accounting the best episode of the set, Magic Voyage of Sinbad, which brings enough laughs to the table to justify the purchase of the set alone. It's a good set that journeys through several iterations of MST3K's original host, and it deserves to be on every fan's shelf.
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