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Official Vol. XXI Press Release

Nothing new here, but for the record…

MST3K VS. GAMERA:
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000,
VOL. XXI (DELUXE EDITION)
5-DVD SET TO BE RELEASED
FROM SHOUT! FACTORY

IN STORES AUGUST 2

Shout! Factory, in association with Best Brains, Inc., is proud to announce MST3K vs. Gamera: Mystery Science Theater 3000, Vol. XXI (Deluxe Edition), will be released on August 2, 2011. The 5-DVD set is housed in a limited-edition tin, with 5 mini-posters, and includes the titles “Gamera,” “Gamera Vs. Barugon,” “Gamera Vs. Gaos,” “Gamera Vs. Guiron” and “Gamera Vs. Zigra.” SRP $64.99. Through a special offer only from Shout! Factory, fans who order the set at http://www.shoutfactorystore.com/prod.aspx?pfid=5257460#axzz1M5kMHWVk will receive a free Gamera postcard pack and MST3K Stress Ball.

What could possibly be better suited to the always-quotable wisecracks of beloved SoL captive Joel Robinson and his faithful robot sidekicks, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot, than a monster movie about a giant flying turtle? The answer is — four other movies about same flying turtle! Behold the first-ever themed collection of Mystery Science Theater 3000 classics: all five Gamera episodes from the particularly fertile third season of the long-running cult comedy television series . . . in their own shell!

In “Gamera,” East-West tensions literally ignite an atomic explosion in the Arctic, and scientists must find a way to stop one very unexpected fallout: the rampage of a giant, flying turtle unearthed from its glacial tomb in the lost city of Atlantis. If ever there was an argument for world peace, this would be it. On the Satellite of Love, a much more familiar version of the reptile is celebrated in the now-legendary torch song tribute to Servo’s pet turtle, “Tibby, Oh Tibby!” Bonus features include the “MST Hour” host segments, original Japanese trailer, and “So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera.”

In “Gamera Vs. Barugon,” Gamera is back, only this time he’s playing for our team. In color! When a private expedition to retrieve a mysterious opal unwittingly unleashes a monster lizard, Gamera returns to Earth for the ultimate reptilian rumble. Climate change meets Theatre of the Absurd as our favorite fire-spewing turtle takes on a larger-than-life lizard with freezing breath. On the SoL, the jokes fly faster than an airborne turtle, and Crow and Tom fan the flames of another battle of the ages: PC vs. Mac. Like it’s even a question. Bonus features include the original Japanese trailer and “Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers,” in which the acclaimed special effects team (“Killer Klowns From Outer Space,” “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Elf” ) waxes nostalgic about Gamera, Japanese monster movies and men in rubber suits.

Gamera solidifies his new status as protector of humanity in “Gamera Vs. Gaos,” when he’s called upon to defeat Gaos, an enormous bat with deadly spit-lasers. What Gaos is prepared to do with those lasers to survive, you’ll have to watch and see — but feel free to make your own “I Kept My Eyes Open For 92 Minutes” T-shirt. Much like Gaos, the riffs are relentless, strange and funny. And so is the SoL’s extremely short-lived production of “Gameradamerung.” Bonus features include “Gamera Obscura: A Brief History” by August Ragone (author of “Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters” ), and the original Japanese trailer.

Gamera comes to the rescue of two young boys abducted by alien women with a taste for growing brains in “Gamera Vs. Guiron.” As if that doesn’t keep the heroic turtle busy enough, there’s Guiron (part monster, part cutlery) to contend with. Yes, it’s another heaping portion of giant monsters going at it and not “using their words” — fortified with essential messages about trust and kindness. Also, live from Deep 13 and the SoL: a very special evening of tributes to the “Gamera” theme song. The “MST Hour” host segments and the original Japanese trailer of the film are included as a bonus features.

The final installment of the original “Gamera” series, “Gamera Vs. Zigra,” was completed shortly before Daiei Studios went bankrupt, and it’s not hard to see why. Gamera returns to save Earth from yet another alien with Earth envy. But lest you worry that it’s another portion of more of the same, this time the monster can talk, and this time it looks like a fish. Zigra (it’s a ship and a monster and a planet) blames our “Earth science” for rendering his home planet’s oceans uninhabitable. Needless to say, we are all punished for it. Invention exchanges, dioramas and two more wildly different takes on Gamera’s theme song . . . the wait is over. The original Japanese trailer is included as a bonus feature.

MST3K vs. Gamera Bonus Features:
So Happy Together: A Look Back At MST3K & Gamera
Gamera Obscura: A History by August Ragone (author of “Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters)
Gamera Vs. The Chiodo Brothers
MST Hour host segments
Original Japanese Trailers
5 Exclusive Mini-Posters By Artist Steve Vance

23 Replies to “Official Vol. XXI Press Release”

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  1. georgewendt says:

    Hmm the post-card pack doesn’t really do anything for me, and I’ve already got the stress ball. It’s still cool that they add little extra things like that for ordering from SF, but looks like I’m sticking with Amazon this time around.

       2 likes

  2. Zee says:

    I also got the stress ball last time, and the postcards are probably going to be more lame Steve Vance art, so I guess I’m going with amazon this time around…

       0 likes

  3. me says:

    #2 “….more lame Steve Vance art…” very well said. Glad I’m not the only one who wishes for a new artist.
    Other than that, I wonder if a non-deluxe edition will be
    appearing sometime down the road and if so, what would make it non-deluxe? No tin?

       0 likes

  4. Laura says:

    I’m sticking with my Amazon preorder. I didn’t go the way of SF the last time they did the stress ball because I just didn’t want one. I have no use for it. And, honestly, I don’t care for the postcards. Who am I going to send one to?

       1 likes

  5. BathTub says:

    Yeah I don’t care about postcards and tins, as long as the episodes are there. But I admit I do like the figures, I have the first 3 sitting on my PC case at work.
    But as long as Shout keeps producing these bundles, I will pick them up.
    Keep up the good work Shout!

       2 likes

  6. Pete From Canada says:

    I’m going with Future Shop. When I tried to order it direct last time, Rhino cancelled my order without telling me, leaving me waiting for weeks before I contacted them. Then they offered a lame excuse that I didn’t provide a street number, so the order was cancelled… possibly the dumbest reason to cancel mail to a man with a Post Office box. All in all, not very impressive.

       0 likes

  7. smirkboy says:

    Somebody’s not paying attention:

    “Behold the first-ever themed collection of
    Mystery Science Theater 3000 classics”

    Set #XIX had a Monster/Devil theme as well as interconnected behind the scene extras.

    and Set #XX was all Joel themed.

    Yes it is a small point but I get this obsessive thing with advertising.

    And I disagree about the mini posters: I like Steve Vance’s artwork.
    The thing I’m not keen on are the “BIG HEAD” illustrations for RIFFTRAX.

       2 likes

  8. Bill Millican says:

    I’m a fan of Steve’s artwork, also.

    And the big heads crack me up. Guess they remind me of those mammoth orbs on the shoulders of my amigos.

       2 likes

  9. gargonshepard says:

    I Personally like the Steve Vance art although having a poster that is exactly like the covers is overkill and not necessary. Can’t wait for the tin!

       0 likes

  10. Gary Bowden says:

    The mini posters don’t do anything for me as far as being an extra because they’re the same as the dvd covers,so what’s the point? To each his own who likes them,but for me,I would much rather prefer an interview with someone from MST3K or from the movie or maybe trivia of each movie.Other than that,I couldn’t be more satisfied with SF.. :yes:

       0 likes

  11. Cabbage Patch Elvis says:

    Agreeing with others, I’d also like to see a new artist, or artists. Some variety would be very cool. As for the “extras” that Shout! wants to lure me with, I just don’t see it. Admittedly, I’m a fan, but I don’t need to have every trinket, just the show and a few choice extra things. I cherish my MST3k: the movie poster and coffee mug, but I don’t think a foam ball and a few postcards are necessary, for me anyway.

       0 likes

  12. radioman970 says:

    I like the artwork too. They could be framed…try doing that with your DVD case doods. :p To me it’s just something a little different and a nice touch.

    Still, I’m sticking with the amazon one for now. If it was free shipping over at Shout! I might cancel out on amazon and go with Shout! ;)

       1 likes

  13. Mattmst3k says:

    I feel that the artwork is great for autographs. I love that they are putting new energy in my favorite tv show!

       1 likes

  14. mst3ktemple says:

    I ordered from Shout! I want the Gamera postcards and besides I already wore out my first stress ball. (It’s been kinda rough lately) I personally like the mini-posters too. Keep ’em coming.

       1 likes

  15. CatraDhtem says:

    Yeah, I’m going to chime in on not seeing the point of the mini-posters. That is not a slam on Steve’s artwork. The covers for the individual discs are fun and they have a charming “midnight movie” touch to them, and the idea behind them complement the menus nicely, having the ‘bots “interact” with the movie in a unique way…but I really think having an extra copy of each one exactly the same size is quite redundant. They barely qualify as fliers let alone “posters” I would want to affix to a wall. It just seems like a bit of a waste of paper.

    If Shout! really wants to offer the artwork as a product, then maybe they should take a page from Cinematic Titanic and offer full-size posters of some of the covers on their web site…you know, maybe like the best one from each set or something.

    What it seems to boil down to is that it’s kinda hard to come up with appropriate covers for DVDs like this without going the lazy route of merely framing the original movie’s poster with characters. I have to agree that the Rifftrax DVDs don’t pull it off well either, and the last few live Cinematic Titanic DVDs seem a bit off as well. But honestly, I’d take anything over Rhino’s final few overly-Photoshopped “scenes”…where’re Crow’s legs?? Where are his LEGS?!?

    Anyway, I pre-ordered from Amazon. I already have the stress ball from last time and have no plans on wearing it out, since I merely use it as the “planet logo” for my ‘bot figurine display.

       0 likes

  16. Mr. B(ob) says:

    @ “I’m going to chime in on not seeing the point of the mini-posters.”

    I also don’t really care much about them. I don’t dislike them, I think they are humorous, but they don’t matter much to me one way or the other. If it would lower the cost of the sets I would gladly do without them. I’m mostly concerned simply with getting good DVD transfers of as many episodes as possible as quickly as possible and having good extra DVD features like interviews with cast and crew of the show and the movies used. The figurines and Planet Logo stress ball were nice little extras.

       0 likes

  17. Droppo says:

    I love Steve Vance’s artwork! I framed my favorite eps. Don’t understand the negativity.

       4 likes

  18. Ned R. says:

    Happy fan of the mini-posters here — in fact I’m looking at nearly all of them right now as they’re posted up here where I work, helping me keep my sanity for another day…

       4 likes

  19. Captain Cab says:

    Oh my, sooooooo much negativity over the mini posters made by Steve Vaaa-a-a-a-ance! (crazy Barbara Hale voice) I personally love them. I agree it’d be nice if the DVD cases had their own separate art (I also don’t like how he draws Crow with the same exact weird gaping mouth-open expression on every single one, minor gripe) and maybe it’s time for a break from them altogether. But any way you cut it, they’re nicely done pulp art which spoof their respective titles well and they reflect E-F-F-O-R-T which Rhino never put into their sloppy, dull boxset art and menus.

    Anyways, probably going to skip the Shout pre-order. I plan on eventually buying Shout’s standalone Gamera DVDs which come with the same postcards and already have the stress ball.

       0 likes

  20. KJB says:

    I’m also not a fan of the mini posters. I guess you could stick them in a frame but personally that seems kind of excessive. I reserve frames for original pieces of art and family photos. And if I were going to get it autographed then I would have it autographed by the artist, Steve Vance. If I want an autograph of a cast member then I would have them sign one of their books or a photo of themselves. That’s just my opinion though. Obviously some people like the posters so to each their own.

       0 likes

  21. Clint says:

    I’m not a fan of anything mini that can posted.

       0 likes

  22. Danny says:

    The posters don’t do anything for me. They’re just a waste of paper IMO. I also don’t like how they keep falling out of the box each time I want to remove one of the DVD cases.

    If sacrificing the mini-posters would mean making the boxsets a few bucks cheaper, I’d say “go for it”. I can do without them.

       0 likes

  23. Mr. B(ob) says:

    Amazon has dropped the price on this Gamera set to just $40.99, that’s 37% off of list price. If you didn’t already order this it’s now about as cheap as it will get for some time to come!

       0 likes

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