Mystery Science Theater 3000 (TV Series) Cave Dwellers (1991) User Reviews

This is why the show was created

[TPPMorris · 10/10 · 18 September 2006]

Many people (not on this site, but in popular media) have taken MST3K to task for picking on bad films. Some columnists have complained they were taking pot shots at east targets. In their review of the theatrical version of show, the Chicago Reader (in the worst movie review I have ever read) suggested they should give this treatment to "respected" movies, such as Woody Allen's "Interiors". The reviewer then went on to complain that the chosen target was a movie he liked. Moron.

Watching this installment proves why they picked on bad movies. Not only is it easier to get the rights to broadcast them, but such stunning ineptitude deserves ridicule. But they take it even further. They find riffs off of moments the film makers were obviously not paying attention to and turn them into artistic comedy. It is like making an impressive sculpture out of plop of mud. In this case, the quotes excerpted do not even touch the surface of how funny this episode is. You really have to see it. The effect is staggering. I have seen this episode numerous times and I always laugh so hard and so continuously I have to pause the tape for breathing breaks.

"It's the speedy delivery guy and has he got a package!"

[teasippingnerdymom · 10/10 · 31 October 2016]

I love this episode so much. Its one of my top 3 picks of MST3K best episodes ever.

From simulating sounds to added dialogue to overall comments about the ridiculous filmmaking, Joel and bots are on top of their game with this installment of MST3K. Their reenactment of the opening credits in segment 2 is fantastic.

The movie's plot, per the below-listed website, is: Ator (Miles O'Keeffe) is a renowned swordsman / body builder / scholar / scientist / healer / warrior whose trademarks include a well-developed fat-free physique, little pants, a resplendent mane of freshly-shampooed locks complete with adorable Samurai top-knot, leather accessories (including leather-fringed leg warmers), a pointy little visor and the ability to fight - poorly - with two swords at once. He is a one-time disciple of Akronas and dwells in a remote castle/cave of his own "at the edge of the Earth." Ator sets out to aid Akronas who's castle has been overrun by the evil faux-Asian warlord Zor (David Brandon) and his henchmen. But he's in no particular hurry and leaves with no visible supplies for the journey except a fabulous floor-length lavender cape, aided of Thong and Mila.

Honestly, there are a few jokes that still fly over my head. Some of the jokes are going to be outdated for my kids. But the overall mayhem in this episode will delight viewers!

There are just too many quotes to pick from in the hilarious riffing, but one of my favorites is, "by the stubbing of my thumb, something stupid this way comes." What's yours? MST3K is at its finest with this episode.

Learn more about this episode here: http://mst3k.wikia.com/wiki/Cave_Dwellers

Un Epic Fantasy

[hellraiser7 · 10/10 · 16 October 2020]

This is another of my favorite episodes of the show number seven in my book. It was one of my first from the Joel era and still one of the best as it really showed the show begin to gain altitude and find its warp drive. After "Conan the Barbarian" came out it put the fantasy genre into full gear, but also there were plenty of knocks off this property that came faster than Conan could swing his sword. This film is a sequel to "Ator the Fighting Eagle" which was a not so epic 80's fantasy, this sequel isn't any better.

There is just almost not one dull moment, there are so many memorable riffs that are just comic gold. Really like what they say at the beginning, where we see an odd beginning. From title that looked like they were just typed in and above them we see some sort of images that move very slowly which is a scene that has nothing to do with the movie at all. Seeing this obviously this was a ploy to save money as they either couldn't afford or just didn't want to put in effort to make a title sequence for the film. Of course, there are riffs in a recap segment of the film, another ploy to save money as the first film is summarized.

One favorite moment which really cracked me up is when we see Ator on a glider, really love the guys reaction to that scene which was the same as mine, I thought "Oh, give me a fraking break." I know this is a fantasy film, but they were just reaching with that one. Where the heck did, he get the hang glider and aerodynamics weren't even invented back then, so how could this glider exist at all. And another I like is when Ator and his mentor are in a lame battle against invisible enemies, this leads to one of my favorite quotes from Joel, "Ah man, I don't believe it they were too cheap to hire villains in this movie."

The host segments are good, one which is one of my favorites is when Joel and the Bots reenact the title sequence from the film. It's just hilarious as we see them all just moving like electric football players and do a bunch of random things, while the title credits at the bottom title random things as well.

This episode is an epic, well sort of.

Rating: 4 stars