…”The Rebel Set,” with its well developed characters and intertwining plotline. A *hokey* plotline – sheesh! – but apparently a storyline that was thought out and delivered at least a meager serving of pathos. Honorable mention? Recent DVD release “Zombie Nightmare.” Did you realize that a lot of the characters from the start of the film show up near the end of it?! Zounds
I think my pick for best written movie would be “Parts, The Clonus Horror.” Yes, it’s executed poorly, but the basic idea and the plot twists are well-plotted and thought provoking.
What’s your pick?
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This is a tough one. I agree that since Best Brains ended up doing some editing of their own, it makes it very tough to figure out if the script was better at one point. Also, anything that has been redubbed has to be thrown out. The dub script is usually not what the director intended. This is especially the case in the Russo-Finnish flicks. And then I throw out “Hamlet” because the as someone else mentioned, it’s the execution of the play, not the play itself that is horrible.
For me, I think “I Accuse My Parents” might be one of the best made films on MST3K. It has flaws, sure, but for the time, the script and the idea behind it were solidly delivered. Casting was an issue too, Jimmy just looks too old to be playing the naive young man. Any way, with some different production choices, this could have been a solid 40’s film.
“Clonus” is tough, because the idea is sound, and some moments of execution are actually very good. But some of the actual dialogue is very clunky. (Besides the clone dialogue, which was supposed to be child like) I think the script could have used a bit more reworking, especially with the lines to make it click.
I think that “Time Chasers” might also have a solid script. Again it was the production elements that ended up weakening the film, but the story idea and actual dialogue was pretty good.
“Kitten with a Whip” is also solid for it’s time. It may seem dated now, but the dialogue works pretty well. For me the casting could have been a bit better for the thugs, as someone else mentioned, they aren’t very intimidating.
“Tormented” isn’t bad either, but better than the original “The Haunting” with Claire Bloom? Um, no, not even close.
“The Magic Sword” is also a solid script for a fun fantasy flick for kids. This could be remade into a great animated film too.
“Mitchell” and “Final Justice” aren’t bad scripts, a bit routine, but still solid. Again, production choices harm these two more than dialogue or scripting.
Hmmm, more than I thought
I must apologize. I mentioned Stranded in Space, when I meant Space Travelers, i.e. Marooned, as being the best movie MST3K ever did. Sorry!
Stranded in Space is possibly the first episode I ever taped back in ’91/’92. And for years I was sure the star was Ross Hagen!!!
I vote for “The Final Sacrifice”. It actually has an interesting Indiana Jones-type script but extremely low production values, bad acting and an unfortunate choice for a character name sink the film.
Rowsdower!!
I’ll take some of that Red Zone Cuba action. In the hand of a competent director and living actors, you could make a solid, dark little flick. Think “In Cold Blood” or “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Except with Cuba…
As Joel said it himself about ‘The Magic sword’ ‘You know guys this is pretty good for Bert I gordon!’
And he’s right; ‘The Magic Sword’ is pretty well done and written for Bert I. It’s your basic ‘Knight saving the damsel in distress’ story; but it has certain appeal. For one thing, young George (Soon to be recognized as St. George) is trying hard to follow his dreams (or hormones) to be with the princess .His mother forbids him and tries to persuade him to stay by showing him the gifts she would have given him. But he lives nonetheless.
I also like how they named St. George’s sword correctly; his sword’s name really is Ascalaon.
Basil Rathbone does a good job as an evil sorceror Lodak, and his seven curses (albeit most hokey) helped move the story along nicely. George travelling with the company of knights (One who is secretly trying to back stab them) go through that classic adventure that puts in mind of the Ray Harryhausen Sinbad epics. (Yeah we lose a few men, but all is not in vain.)
And to be honest; of all the mst3k movies, this one had some pretty damn good special effects for the time: the little people, the monsters, the setes, and most of all…that two headed dragon! It looked awesome for its time and it still does!
All the dialogue is based off that classic ‘Tales of daring young knights’; which isn’t ocntinued much anymore. Again reminds me of those Ray Harryhausen epics. It’s pretty awesome so my pick for best ‘written’ mst3k movie is ‘The Magic Sword!’
Again like Joel said: “This is pretty good for Bert I. Gordon.”
I’m going to go with The Rebel Set, Catalina Caper(confusing near the and but it was fun), and I accuse my parents from the Joel era. From the Mike era: The Final sacrifice, Teenage strangler, (not bad for a hometown production) and Red Zone Cuba.(don’t hurt me)
” “Tormented” isn’t bad either, but better than the original “The Haunting” with Claire Bloom? Um, no, not even close.”
My bad for not being clean, I meant the 90’s CGI-laden remake, not the original….
” “Tormented” isn’t bad either, but better than the original “The Haunting” with Claire Bloom? Um, no, not even close.”
My bad for not being clear, I meant the 90’s CGI-laden remake, not the original….
107 – Timber
I hoped that’s what you meant. That was one remake I was kinda excited about, and then when I saw the execution… uggghhh. Should have known what I was in for with “from the director of ‘Twister'”.
Can’t believe no one’s mentioned Monster A Go Go.
I agree with #25, SCtM would make a good Pixar movie… However Pia Zadora must be banished!
A Touch of Stan (excluding the part about where fish live) has somewhat… a passable script for a good movie… maybe?
Oh yeah, by the way,
WHAT ABOUT ROWSDOWER?????
I hate to say it, but Pod People really does it for me…sure it’s dumb as hell but in a way it is really creepy. While the atmosphere may be a little overdone, it sure makes for a very unique mood.
Hamlet of course is wonderful, but it was never meant for the screen. Seeing it at American Players Theater with a full moon on a warm summer evening is about perfect…hell even Branaugh’s version has people who blast it….
Hamlet shouldn’t count; it’s a straightforward adaptation. My vote is This Island Earth.
Wouldn’t it be fun if you could hybrid movies? Say Manos and Pod People (“I am Trumpy. I take care of the place while the master is away.”)
Or Joe Don Baker as the Amazing Colossal Man…?
:cool:
“The Undead” was a far out concept I liked. Altering a person’s history through past-life regression is a neat idea. :idea:
“Danger: Diabolik” was based off of a campy comic and was suitably campy.
The mental disintegration of Col. Glen Manning was a bit disturbing to see and good character writing in “The Amazing Colossal Man.”