DVD Review: “Cinematic Titanic Presents Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Movie mocking has a new silhouette these days with “Cinematic Titanic,” the latest project from Joel Hodgson, creator of the cult hit TV series “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” and former MST3K cast members Trace Beaulieu, Frank Conniff, Mary Jo Pehl and J. Elvis Weinstein.
The group is still mocking old B movies, though they appear in a different silhouette than the trademark MST3K view of the host and the robot puppets in the bottom right corner of the screen.
For its first Christmas DVD, the “Cinematic Titanic” crew makes the bold move of riffing on “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,” which Hodgson and the MST3K gang gleefully ridiculed back in the show’s third season.
The horrible 1964 sci-fi film follows a group of Martians, all dressed in hideous skin-tight green outfits and outlandish headgear, who set out to kidnap Santa. The film is so bad its claim to fame is that it stars Pia Zadora as a Martian child.
The movie certainly oozes enough awfulness to warrant a second round of ridicule, and Hodgson and the gang get in plenty of funny zingers. But “Cinematic Titanic” doesn’t offer the hilarious skits that made MST3K so fun.
-BAM
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
I actually liked it better this time around. However, I’m young enough that I only know the other version through the DVD release. So, this version felt much fresher to me. Also, it is really nice to hear people like Mary Jo and Frank (who only got to go in the theater in one episode of MST3K apiece) get to participate in the actual riffing.
You’re right about the skits though. Who could forget a “Patrick Swayze Christmas?”