| Actors: Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy, John Call Directors: Harold P. Warren, Nicholas Webster Creators: Joel Hodgson, Frank Conniff, Paul Chaplin, Harold P. Warren, Glenville Mareth, Mike Gandolfi Genres: Comedy, Horror, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Television Sub-Genres: Comedy, Horror, Family Films, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy, Science Fiction Studio: Rhino Theatrical Format: DVD - Color - Closed-captioned DVD Release Date: 08/31/2004 Original Release Date: 11/24/1988 Theatrical Release Date: 11/24/1988 Release Year: 2004 Run Time: 3hr 10min Screens: Color Number of Discs: 2 SwapaDVD Credits: 2 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 2 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages: English |
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Search - The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection - The Essentials (Manos, the Hands of Fate / Santa Claus Conquers the Martians) on DVD
  | The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection - The Essentials Manos, the Hands of Fate / Santa Claus Conquers the Martians Actors: Joel Hodgson, Michael J. Nelson, Trace Beaulieu, Kevin Murphy, John Call Directors: Harold P. Warren, Nicholas Webster Genres: Comedy, Horror, Kids & Family, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Television NR 2004 3hr 10min Join Joel and his "robot friends" as they're forced to endure two of the worst movies ever made. To maintain their sanity, they hilariously skewer the films' performaces, special effects and dialogue. |
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Member Movie Reviews Alice H. (singlegalkansas) from TOPEKA, KS Reviewed on 1/5/2010... An essential for all MST3000 fans who have collections! 1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful. Scott W. (smichaelwilson) from ARLINGTON, TX Reviewed on 10/25/2009... I'm not quite sure what the motivation was behind this two-disc release. While it is quite true that Manos is an essential MST3K episode that all fans of the series should own, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians was never a universal fan favorite. The Mexican Santa Clause with Lupita (Lupita, Nooo!) Would have been a far better Christmas choice, and even other fan favorites like Mitchell and Space Mutiny would have been more fitting choices. Regardless, these are still two excellent episodes to own of this timeless classic series, a show in which nearly all episodes could be considered "Essential." 1 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Movie ReviewsWonderful choice for an MST DVD Release! Echo | Western Hemisphere | 07/15/2004 (5 out of 5 stars) "It's about time that there was a release of one of the classic MST3K holiday experiments, just in time for the season. 'Manos' is the definitive example of an MST experiment - goofy, meandering movie with cutting riffs. The 'Poopie' outtake collection is a longer-than-normal selection of bloopers and alternate takes - a must have for any MSTie.But the real treat of this dual set is "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians". If you're tired of normal holiday fare such as "Home Alone", "A Christmas Story", and "It's a Wonderful Life" place this disk in the player and watch your kids' squeal with delight. "Santa Claus" is a bizarre tale about pathos and depression - among Martians! It seems the only way to cure the holiday blues on Mars is to stage a spectacular kidnapping of the Earthling Santa Claus. Four children (two from Earth and two from Mars) join forces with Dropo, a renegade Martian to rescue Santa, save Christmas on Earth, and bring holiday joy to the Children of Mars. The plot makes sense with the electric performance of a young Miss Pia Zadora. Ok, well maybe not. Sounds interesting, yes? No? Well, it's a truly awful film, a definite jaw-dropping example of bad cinema. Fortunately, the MST3K treatment is hilarious. Joel and the 'Bots even give us the classic Christmas standard, "A Patrick Swayze Christmas".I'm chucking my "Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" in favor of this twisted classic. Recommended." "Large Sausage And Mushroom Thin Crust?" Robert I. Hedges | 11/15/2004 (5 out of 5 stars) "This is an inexpensive, truly essential set from Rhino. I know that "Manos" has been released before, but it is, after all, the number one requested MST of all time, and for good reason. By now almost everyone knows that "Manos" is one of the worst movies ever made, appropriately by fertilizer salesman (really) Harold P. Warren. (Is he perhaps a distant relative of "Batwoman" director Jerry Warren?) The film is a tale of a family caught in the snare of pure evil, symbolized largely by Torgo, a caretaker with big knees. ("Uh, that's not how you wear your Depends, Torgo.") Everything about this movie is the worst in class; those people who believe that Ed Wood is the worst director of all time have clearly never seen "Manos." As if "Manos" weren't enough, the same episode features an otherworldly short ("Hired, Part Two") featuring a man on a porch in a rocking chair swatting at flies, and demonstrating that it is possible to look demonically possessed with a handkerchief on your head. ("Ah! Flying elves are back!") This is truly a wonderful short. Also on the disc is a reel of outtakes ("poopie") which range from amusing to hilarious. For my money the best of the bunch is the attempted "Torgo's Pizza" sketch. ("Let me just get your complimentary crazy bread." "No!") I would guess that I have seen "Manos" probably thirty-plus times over the years, and it still endures as the pinnacle of MST3K as a concept. The real treat in the set is "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians," an early Comedy Central episode, and one of the greatest of all time. The film stars nobody, but does mark the screen debut of Pia Zadora as Girmar ("Girl Martian," get it?) in what may be her most convincing role to date. The concept is awful, the costumes, acting, sets, and cold war, extraterrestrial Santa kidnapping plot must be seen to be believed. I am particularly fond of the comic relief provided by Droppo, the laziest man on Mars. Also prominently featured is the most inane theme song in movie history, composed by no other than Milton DeLugg. Who is Milton DeLugg? You might know him better as Chuck Barris' bandleader from "The Gong Show" (and you will definitely want to gong the theme song). This one really hurts, but in a good way. There has been some disagreement in the reviews, but my set did come with the bonus DVD, "Shorts Volume Three," and even though I have seen them all before, they don't disappoint. My favorite of all is the unreal "Once Upon a Honeymoon," which features some of the world's worst musical production numbers, featuring rhythmic telephone dialing. This disc is a wonderful bonus, and I am delighted to have all these shorts together in one place. For the price, this set can't be beat for a diehard MSTie, or someone new to the show who wants to start out with two of the best episodes of all time. This set is highly recommended. " Amazingly funny stuff, some of the best MST3K ever! Valnastar | Deep 13, USA | 08/02/2004 (5 out of 5 stars) "This is a two-disc set with Manos: The Hands of Fate and Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, two of the ALL-TIME funniest MST3K episodes. The Manos disc also has the "Poopie" 30-minute bloopers reel, a great collection of outtakes from the first few seasons of the show.
Manos: The Hands of Fate as a movie is an amazing curiosity it is so bad and so odd. A fertilizer salesman in Texas decided he wanted to write, direct and star in a scary movie and this is the result. It's scary alright! Wait till you see "Torgo" and the glorious inaction of this film. The staff at MST3K often named this film as the worst thing they ever had to watch while making the show. It is legendary among MST3K fans ('MSTies') because the movie is just so, so bad, but the jokes are so, so funny in spite of it. A real oddity and very funny stuff from the MST3K crew. There is also a short in this episode called, "Hired", an old corporate training film about teaching men to sell cars door-to-door; an interesting bit of history and very funny when Joel and the 'Bots get done with it. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is a grade-Z kids movie from the 1960's and it has just about the absolute goofiest costumes, acting and music of any film ever. The much less than great Pia Zadora is one of the kids in the film. However, the MST3K crew really wrote some of their best material making fun of this one. Wait till you hear Crow's Christmas Carol, "A Patrick Swayze Christmas." This is must-see comedy for anyone who likes a good laugh. Calling this set "Essentials" is not a misnomer, these are truly some terrific episodes of the funniest television show ever. Movie Sign! " |
