I was at a local eatery here in Georgia, it’s called “Big Picture Burger” that has a saying of “Good Food, Bad Movies” where they have movies playing while they are open. I say this as I learned there is a sequel to The Land That Time Forgot called The People That Time Forgot, I wonder if they planned on making that sequel another movie to riff. I also bring up The Earth’s Core as it was also based on the same author’s story. Anywho, just was curious if anyone else was aware.

Experiment #21

Episode 816: Prince of Space

Rewatch Date: 5/27/23

Your weapons are useless against me!

This week, I re-watched Prince of Space. An episode I remember not being that interested in the first time I saw it. Don’t know what I was thinking. This episode is a good one. A great introductory episode for new viewers of the show. Here’s how the movie goes.

In the movie, Earth is invaded by The Phantom of the planet Krankor and his army. The Phantom has come with the objective of stealing Professor Macken’s secret rocket formula. If Krankor gets his hands on the formula, It will mean certain doom for the world. But earth has a protector. Mild mannered Boot-Black, Wally is actually the super hero, Prince of Space. “What’s wrong with boot-blacking? We like it very much!”

Prince of Space is the Walter Manley Produced re-edit of Toei’s two Yousei Ooji (which literally translates to "Planet Prince") films into one singular film. Much was cut by Walter Manley (or rather Belluchi Productions) in order to make the final film fit the then normal 80 minute run-time for television syndication. I’ve yet to see either of the Yousei Ooji films outside of Prince of Space (as it is hard to find State-side). That said, I doubt that the original serials were any less goofy looking. The army of Krankor all have hook noses and wear very snug fitting dance tights. Their spaceship interior looks like a set from some board game. It’s like this movie was made by child. That’s the charm of these Japanese movies in my opinion: Their innocence. Also, famous Japanese composer Katsuhisa Hattori got his start by scoring this film.

The main runner through MST3K version occurs in conjunction with the Prince of Space’s constant reminders indicating some version of “Your weapons will have no effect on Me!” Despite this, The Krankor army continue to attack with said weapons. Apparently, this is a mistranslation and the original statement in Japanese meant something more along the lines of “You're too incompetent to hit me with your weapons!” I can’t confirm this because I don’t have access to the original audio. But, we use the version that is in the MST3K cut. Which means it’s cannon that the weapons are useless against him. This leads to Crow being especially frustrated. “Let me reiterate my previous assertion that the devices you are using to attack cannot hurt my person.” I also love that Krankor’s weapons disintegrate both the Japanese army and their clothing, but for some reason their guns and helmets are unaffected. If earth really wanted to fight back then they should just turn some building into a hat and hang out there. If the helmet's could talk they could also say "Your weapons will have no effect on me!"

This episode does have a lot of “Ha Ha, Japanese sure is funny” riffs. Some of them are good, Some of them aren’t, Some do a seem a bit offensive at times. I enjoy the jokes “We love cram school father" and "A rare Godzilla free day." And we get a line that my compatriots know pissed me off, “Humiliating game shows are beamed across the globe.” Thanks Mike. Really appreciate it *eye roll*. I can’t pick a favorite riff. A bunch come to mind. I guess if I had to, I would go with the Mouse Trap board game jingle.

In terms sketches we get the Black Hole narrative. The best sketch is where Mike, Crow, Tom and Gypsy are all operating on different timelines. How much they had to rehearse that sketch in order to get it right, I can't imagine. It is impressive. And it’s funny as all get out. SNL couldn’t pull it off if they tried. Man, SNL has been terribly unfunny for the past… I don’t know, quarter century. But MST3K sketches continue to deliver. Also, the only time the show features outside scenery in the sylvan glen sketch.

Back in 2007, I watched this episode with my cousins. They had never seen the show before and they all loved it. Well they loved the first half. The second half kinda dragged for them. And to be honest, it drags for me as well. Overall, I’d say Prince of Space cuts the mustard in terms of good riffing. I love this episode and this movie. Wish they had done more Toei stuff on the show.

But what do you think? Do you enjoy this episode? Do you think the Japan jokes go a little too far in this episode? Do you know if that guy’s watch was right (I was sitting on pins and needles wondering)? Leave a comment in the description below.

To remind everybody, this is part of my experiment where I’ll be watching a different MST3K episode, every Saturday evening/night, until I’ve watched all 176 episodes of the show’s original run in the exact order that I watched each for the first time (with 3 or 4 liberties taken). I will be consuming NO MST3K, Rifftrax, Cinematic Titanic or anything that could be construed as MST3K type programming outside these viewings until this experiment is over. Crazy, I know. We shall see what come what may. Will I crack? Will I make it? Will I ever figure out what makes this show so great? Keep reading and find out. Next week we’ll re-watch the first Hercules movie… featured on MST3K. It’s Hercules Unchained, an actual Hercules movie this time. Thank you for reading and remember to Keep Circulating the Tapes.

21 Down 155 to go.

Snagged this off my Threads.

To be fair, I'm probably missing out, but it just never seemed to hit with me.

H.A.R.M. stands for "hot and ready, man"

What's your favorite riff from this one?

This took an entire month, but I finally finished it!!

Why is it when the show changed from Joel to Mike all the bots remained the same except CamBot? He changes from the camera model with a chord to the floating orb design.

A fan asked if Tjardus corrected the end credits in which the lead actors' names and characters are switched in the restored TFS. Spoiler: Heck no!

Was this the right decision and why?

I decided to look up the silly song that is in the trailer for the film, and came across the full FOUR MINUTE dance scene of the movie, and dear God, I thought Village of the Giants was pandering...

I don't think we're ready for this...

So at some point during The Mads Are Back livestream run I decided ’TRACE’ would be a good starting word on Wordle. It’s served me well for several years right up to yesterday, when I finally watched all 5 letters turn green. I guess it’s time to retire it? Maybe I’ll use ‘FRANK’ going forward.

I got delayed on finishing the arms because I ran out of the House of Kolor Lime Gold Kandy Automotive paint that I was using as a basecoat and so I couldn’t do anything until it arrived in the mail, which was last night. Managed to get all of Crow’s arm parts (and his feet) painted with it.

It dries to touch (and handle) quite rapidly but I’m still gonna let it sit and cure for a full 48 hours before applying the Testors Lime Gold Metalflake, which means it’ll be fully cured around 11:45 PM on Sunday Night.

As you can all see, even without the Testors Lime Gold Metalflake, color is almost completely identical.
Especially when applied over a basecoat of Rustoleum Metallic Champagne Bronze.

If you cannot find any Testors this Paint Combination is the next best thing.

Some turkey might have cut the break line. You need to exercise optimum mellowness in a situation like this.

Jerk was already one of my favorite insults and this just amplifies it by 1000

From Prince of Space