Customer Reviews

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Gunslinger

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

And this is no exception. Maybe you just have to see it a few times to really appreciate it. I bought this video when it first came out even though The Gunslinger didn't thrill me when I saw it on Comedy Central the first time. But after the 3rd and 4th viewing I was howling with laughter. I love Jake (Wormie) the best. Every time Joel or one of the bots made a comment about him I just about died laughing. Roger Corman really knew how to make 'em. And check out the "seething sexual tension" between Beverly Garland and John Ireland, well... just don't miss this sleeper episode!

When her lawman husband is plugged in the opening moments of the film, Beverly Garland decides She's The Sheriff and sets out to clean up this one-hoss town.

'The Gunslinger' is a reunion of MST veterans, including Corman, Garland, Allison Hayes, Bruno VeSota, screenwriter Marc Hanna, and many more. They combine to pitch a softball to Joel and The Bots, who oblige by really knocking this one out of the park.

The host segments are just as good as the riffing on the schlocky movie -- from J&TB's game of Kaboom! in the opening, to their planning their own funerals ('I'll lie in state at the Cow Palace for several days while "Hooked on a Feeling" is sung by a choir of castrati.'), to Tom Servo's warping of time and space. Also, this is Joel's second-to-last episode as host, so it's memorable for that, too.

This is one of my two or three favorite MST episodes, and I recommend it very highly.

I thought both Servo's explanation of how the characters in the movie get around so fast and him communicating to Joel about what he wants for lunch via Pony Express were quite funny. I also thought the comments were great - like noticing the door to the guy's room opens backwards and then going off on how he must really be in the hall. "Well, now she's in my room! What the..?" Maybe it's just me but I really liked this one.

This one hasn't gotten that great of reviews, but let me say that I thought it was great! The comments thrown out during this film were priceless (for example, a scene opens with dance hall girls going at it to which we're treated with "I don't care what you say, Reverend, it brings the parishoners in.") All in all, great stuff!

Of all of the MST3k's to release, I'm surprised that this one came to video. I've watched MST3k religiously since the 1st season, and I've observed that some films are just so boring/stupid that not even our intrepid friends can make it entertaining. This is such a film. Perhaps you'll enjoy it if you really are in to westerns, but I suggest you put your money into "Manos" instead.

This is actually kind of a dark film for MST3K to do. Just about everybody in the thing dies. But any MST3K that can break me up BEFORE the opening credits (Joel: Cue the horses!)is darn near essential.

This movie isn't necessarily the best MST3K episode. For one, it's a Western (albeit a Roger Corman Western) and thus violates some of the show's spirit. Secondly, it's a remake/ripoff of an even weirder film, JOHNNY GUITAR, where Mercedes McCambridge (a.k.a. the voice of Satan from THE EXORCIST) goes after Joan Crawford's 1870's wide shoulderpads with poor Sterling Hayden as the befuddled middleman. However, La Bev (She Who Must Be Obeyed) is actually credible as a woman gunfighter, and John Ireland manages to keep a straight face even in the scenes where he's required to spout romantic dialogue at Garland while simultaneously trying to fill her full of lead. The best part of the show? Crow's experiment in co-locating teleportation, of course! (g)

As MST3K movies go, "Gunslinger" isn't really that bad. The basic premise, assassin falls in love with the person he's supposed to kill, is certainly different from your regular westerns. After the sheriff (or marshall) is killed, his ballsy widow Rose steps in to take over his job until a replacement arrives. As the days fly by (literally), Rose admirably cleans up the small town of Oracle which seems to be teeming with crime. Guess her late husband wasn't that good of a sheriff. The town's evil madam, one of the regular Roger Corman Players, brings in hired gun Cain to kill the sheriff. Complications ensue when Cain and Rose find themselves falling in love with one another (Rose conveniently forgetting her husband isn't even cold in the ground yet.) After everyone in the entire town is killed (minus one wuss who doesn't earn the right to have a name), Rose and Cain discuss their relationship while shooting at each other. Ah, the tragedy.

If you like lame, unfunny MST's such as Manos, Red Zone Cuba, and Angels Revenge, you'll hate this one. However, if you enjoy MSTs such as Cave Dwellers and Eegah, get this one as well! I loved it! The people who didn't also enjoy what I consider the worst episodes of all time, so to each his own....

This western is just like "El Dorado" without the talents of Robert Mitchum and John "Duke" Wayne. The MST wasn't necessary for "Gunslingers," but it did make it a little more interesting.