Release Date: December 11, 2011
Episodes Featured:
Also Featuring:
Oh the Japanity! Hot off the previous Gamera set we have another helping of Japanese deliciousness. This set offers up a couple of Sandy Frank imports of Eiji Tsuburaya shows edited together into movies. There are also a couple of dated black and white cheapies on back-up, including one written by the legendary Ed Wood! Of the episodes, Time of the Apes and The Brute Man are just about even in greatness and if you asked me to pick between Japanese apes and the delicious Chicken of Tomorrow, then I might favor Brute Man. The Violent Years is a very respectable third while Mighty Jack just isn't that mighty.
Average Rating (out of 4): 3.25
Audio and video are both solid. Included in the set is an official special on the making of the series which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel during the eighth season. The Making of Mystery Science Theater 3000 was used to promote the show after its move to the channel and offers up some cool behind the scenes footage and even exclusive jokes by Mike and the Bots. We have some introductions here too, with one by Mary Jo Pehl, who discusses The Brute Man. Japanese media historian August Ragone is back for two more intros, this time discussing Time of the Apes and Mighty Jack. We also have a making of retrospective on The Brute Man and MST Hour wraps for Time of the Apes. Rounding out the set is a special feature devoted to the DVD menus Rhino and Shout had been creating for the series.
The artwork reverts to the basic Shout art after switching it up the previous volume. It's just the Mystery Science Theater logo in the upper left hand corner with the theater seats down at the bottom again, while the roman numerals XXII are painted in yellow and orange against a starry backdrop. But we do have another selection of Steve Vance posters here to please our eyes as well! Time of the Apes sees Crow and Tom Servo getting out of a cryo capsule only to find an army of apes looming above them. Mighty Jack sees Servo dressed up as a Mighty Jack agent in the arctic, while Crow is a Q agent firing a gun above the title logo as a white cat chills next to him. The Violent Years sees Crow and Servo dudded up as the bad girls of the film opening fire through a broken window. The Brute Man sees Crow as the Creeper sneaking up on defenseless damsel Servo.
The disc art is basic logos against a starry backdrop. DVD menus offer up more fun, which, as discussed in the bonus features, are little sketches in CG using episode audio. Time of the Apes sees Crow and Tom Servo waking up in cryo capsules and monkeying around with Pepe. Mighty Jack sees Servo playing with a ray gun and accidentally shooting Crow. The Violent Years features Crow, Servo, and Gypsy attending a pajama party thrown by the movie's lead, where Crow reluctantly makes out with her. The Brute Man sees Servo cooking eggs while Crow is romanced by the Creeper.
With three great episodes (some personal favorites), this is absolutely a set for the shelf. And if you're a admirer of the Japanese arts, Eiji Tsuburaya, or what those crazy kids call "tokusatsu," then this set is a must-own for Time of the Apes and Mighty Jack just for the craziness of it all. It's a blast full of laughs and any collection is just that much better with it in it.
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