It’s Doomsday…

 

 

I finally got to see CT’s “Doomsday Machine,” and I shall post my thoughts, but before I do I’d like to just go back and to what I wrote of the first installment: “The Oozing Skull”

 

January 15, 2008

“The Oozing Skull”

What can I say, it IS the closest thing I have seen to the original show vibe, particularly amongst the uprising of interest to bring the concept back. Rifftrax, The Film Crew, The ‘Bots Are Back…..Cinematic Titanic is what we’ve been waiting for!

The riffing has very much a “Joel era” feel. It’s funny, silly, cute, and sometimes downright puny! I would go so far as to say a family friendly venture, much more then The Film Crew and Rifftrax for sure. Joel was not lying when he called it “gentle riffing.” And speaking of Joel, he and the gang seem like they are really getting back into the swing of things, shrouded in a new kind of Shadowrama, they seem to fit well on the side of the screen rather then the theater seating we were used to. I have no problem adjusting myself to it, though my TV does. No matter, doesn’t hurt the enjoyment one bit!

My favorite riffers, in just the way they were in this installment, are probably Joel, Trace and Josh.

The movie was prefect, just the right blend of crap and fun, without making it just crap! Enjoyably bad!

The downside?

No premise, to explanation, “in between” segments were forgettable to okay. (The “Visitor” seemed to have no point, and the first segment with the throwing up trumpet legend was just a little pitiful.) I’ll give it to them for knowing their strength at least. They spent very little time with this stuff and stuck mostly to their fun’n the movie.

All and all, it was a great first CT. The next is coming out sometime in February by all accounts, so look forward to that one. I wish I could say I’ll be renting it, but as of now I must buy. Ah, well, I can deal with that. So far so good.

Story -n/a

Riffing – A

Content – B

Overall – B+

 

 

 

 

Now to the present: “Doomsday Machine.”

It was sort of a disappointment, I’m not beating ’bout the bush with this. I found it far from good, far from passing. The riffs were their strongest at the very beginning, before the setting changed to outer space in the “movie,” after that it felt as though they were just throwing comments at the screen, good, bad, or indifferent, they just said anything. It all seemed at times too rushed, like they were in a hurry not to repeat the tedious wait as last time, trying to get on a schedule more then getting out good quality.

The movie was, well, almost too bad. See, when a movie is bad like, “Manos” bad, they’re is just SO much bad, it’s funny. But “Doomsday,” it got into it to a formula and almost stayed there for the whole “movie.” Towards the end, it was like going blank, coming to, and it was a totally different “movie.” It almost came to a full stop, the pace slowing down so unbearably, even our riffers sort of gave up. But it wasn’t fun, just boring as hell and you felt relief with the end in sight.

 

The host segments, I’m starting to believe they’re just aren’t any. “Oozing Skull” didn’t leave me with a very optimistic outlook, and this was worse. The first one was annoying, the second one was dull, and the third, did the third even happen?

 

Lastly, what people bitched about last time, a premise. Granted it’s always nice to have a firm foundation, gving the thing depth and structure, albeit “goofy” like mst3k, but it’s a nice fuzzy sort of familiarity you build with. CT stated, premisless. (I can’t say I’ve minded it with returned viewing.) This time they tried to fit something in the very beginning, and it’s really hard to say what that is. Mostly, they made reference to the past, but it was vague and overall they may as well have forgotten ii. I did.

 

It had potential, it did. But the gang just wasn’t there. Maybe doing three at a time is not the best, maybe a preview audience, and time to polish was the best recipe. Whatever, it just didn’t work for me this time.

Hopefully, we’ll see better the third time around.

 

Story -C-

Riffing – B-

Content – C

Overall – C-

 

 

Later Notes: After second viewing, I guess I can ease my review by saying at least half of “Doomsday Machine” is alright, not as good still as “Oozing Skull,” but better the next watch around.

Riffing – B

 

By the way, one of the best riffs, in my opinion: “You are ruining the Apocalypse for EVERYONE!”

Very nice, Mary Jo!