Amazing Colossal Grade: To paraphrase Kevin, leave it to Germany to turn a bleak brooding play into an even bleaker, broodier movie
Movie Pain: High - I dig Hamlet, but this version is a snoozer
Riffing: Better than its reputation, there are gems sprinkled throughout
Skits: I liked the set-up and the Hamlet figure, the rest, 'shrug'
Movie Pain: High - I dig Hamlet, but this version is a snoozer
Riffing: Better than its reputation, there are gems sprinkled throughout
Skits: I liked the set-up and the Hamlet figure, the rest, 'shrug'
The great Dane done German-style: Hamlet is considered one of the very worst, if not the worst MST ep in the modern era. And for years that was an opinion I held as well. The movie's dry as dust, and at times it seems they're not as rapid-fire with the quips (perhaps due to them not wanting to speak over the dialogue, and this play is naturally, dialogue-heavy). The guys go lowbrow (par for the course in season 10) with Schoolboy wisecracks about farts, boogers, condoms, and the like. But while I do wish they tapped into the play, spoke to its history, a little more, the anachronisms were cute, and in at least one instance -the "cut his throat in a Church" bit- I roared with laughter. Yes, The Hamster is a challenge, but if I stay focused I'm rewarded with some fine comedy. It's not the best, but neither is it a total disaster. Hamlet's a decent, mid-level experiment I dost think.
Host Segments
Intro: Tom changes his name to "Htom Sirveaux". Segment 1: Crow also changes his name. Pearl loses at Mike's game, so he gets to choose the movie. But Pearl gets the last laugh. Segment 2: Mike foils the "Bots as Ghosts" plan. Segment 3: Crow and Tom present the percussive version of Hamlet. Segment 4: Alas poor who? End: Hamlet action figures and Fortinbras enters Castle Forrester. Stinger: Cladius makes a face.
"Meet the Beatles" - Mike
Notable Riffs
* "Alas Poor Who?" - Mike
* "Flights of angels sing thee to thy rest." - "Unfortunately, they're Northwest angels, so they'll be late." - Horatio/Crow
* "If he but blanche, I know my course." - "But if he parboils..." - Hamlet/Mike
* "May four captains bear thee like a soldier to the stage." - "Captain Spaulding, Captain Kangaroo, Captain Crunch..." - Horatio/Crow
* "I'll take 'To Be' for $500, Alex." - Crow
* "Danish clowns: The damp, smelly, silverfish infested basement of the clown world." - Crow
* "I suppose there's no chance there's going to be a jet ski chase in this movie, is there, Mike?" - Servo
* "Couldest thou walk slower!? Geez!" - Crow
* "I see a cherub... "In thy nose." - Hamlet/Crow
* "But it's cherry-flavored kid's poison, he should love it!" - Crow
* "And the king peels off his skin and becomes a dinosaur from Mars! Oh, I guess not." - Servo
* "Hey, Hamlet, why don't you Ram-let?" - Crow
* "Well, Mike, this has convinced me not to kill your dad and marry your mom." - Crow
* "What is it, 'cold water on the groin', I mean Polonius." - Crow as King
* "The Nuns sent me home, my skirt is too short." - Crow as Hamlet
* "Give us the foils" - "We shall some potatoes bake." - Hamlet/Servo
Riff Explained
"King Richard Thompson" - Crow
Richard is a bearded, beret-wearing singer/songwriter who does look like a thinner version of King Claudius.
Stuff & Nonsense
Dubs? Ricardo Montalban (Fantasy Island/Star Trek The Wrath of Khan) provided the voice for Claudius. While John Banner (Sgt Shultz/Crash of Moons) did Polonius.
Available on DVD: Collection volume 4
< Previous * Next >
