Watch Mystery Science Theater 3000- War of the Colossal Beast

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) is a cult classic television show that first aired in 1988. The show's premise is that a human host and his two robot companions are forced to watch terrible B-movies by their evil captor, Dr. Clayton Forrester, as part of an experiment to determine which movie will break a person's spirit the most.

In the MST3K episode "War of the Colossal Beast" (1991), the crew's mission is to survive the 70-minute duration of the film without losing their minds. The movie itself is a 1958 American black and white horror film that was directed by Bert I. Gordon, who was known for his work in the "giant creature" film sub-genre. The plot of the film revolves around a massive creature who terrorizes Southern California, and the attempts of the U.S. Army to stop it.

The film opens with footage from the previous film "The Amazing Colossal Man" (1957), which details the story of Lt. Colonel Glenn Manning, who was exposed to radiation from an atomic blast and subsequently grew to a height of over 60 feet. At the conclusion of that film, Manning fell off the Colorado River Bridge and was presumed dead. However, "War of the Colossal Beast" reveals that Manning miraculously survived the fall and has been living in a mountainous region near Mexico.

The majority of the film centers around the efforts of Glenn's sister, Joyce Manning, and a team of military officers to locate and capture Glenn before he causes any more destruction. In typical B-movie fashion, the acting in the film is heavily criticized by the MST3K crew, with particular focus on the portrayal of Joyce Manning, who is depicted as a weak and hysterical character. The film also utilizes several questionable special effects and distracting music choices, leading the MST3K crew to constantly mock and riff on the film.

In addition to the film itself, the episode features several segments in which the characters of MST3K interact with each other and provide commentary on the film. These segments include the opening theme song, in which the characters introduce themselves and the premise of the show, as well as several commercial breaks that parody real-life commercials from the time period. These segments are often some of the most memorable and quotable parts of the show, and are beloved by fans of the series.

Trace Beaulieu, Joel Hodgson, and Jim Mallon are all core members of the MST3K crew, with Beaulieu and Hodgson playing the roles of the robots Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo, respectively, and Mallon serving as the voice and puppeteer for Gypsy. All three contribute to the comedic commentary throughout the episode, riffing on everything from Glenn's lumbering movements to Joyce's constant screaming.

Overall, "War of the Colossal Beast" is a prime example of the type of movie that MST3K was known for riffing on: cheaply made, poorly acted, and with a ridiculous premise. The MST3K crew's commentary adds an additional layer of entertainment to the film, making it enjoyable to watch even if the movie itself is not. The episode also gives viewers a taste of the humor and camaraderie that made the show such a beloved cult classic.

Mystery Science Theater 3000- War of the Colossal Beast is a 1991 science fiction movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.1.