Season Three Episode Twenty-Three: The Castle of Fu Manchu
Network: Comedy Central
Riffers: Tom Servo, Joel Robinson, and Crow T. Robot
Mads: Dr. Clayton Forrester and TV's Frank
Plot Synopsis: In the 1920s England, Fu Manchu plots to freeze the world's oceans with a diabolical new device. He shows off his invention by destroying the Titanic via stock footage. With his evil daughter, Lin Tang, his army of dacoits, and the help of the local crime organization led by Omar Pashu (whom Fu Manchu doublecrosses), Fu Manchu takes over the governor's castle in Istanbul which has a massive Opium reserve, to control the largest opium port in Anatolia, a fuel for his machine. He needs the help of an intelligent scientist with an ailing heart whom he has imprisoned so kidnaps a doctor and his wife to give him a heart transplant from one of his obedient servants. Opposing him from Britain's Interpol, is his arch-nemesis Nayland Smith and Dr. Petrie.
Host Segments:
Prologue: Joel and the Bots sings a jaunty tune about their situation. They are optimistic about the whole thing.
Segment One/Invention Exchange: The crew celebrates with a wrap party. The Bots create a new Long-Distance Telephone Transducer when Joel forgets the invention and re-presents the Big Head, something the Mads point out. The Mads create a Stinky Bomb that turns anyone into Joe Besser (including Frank, who does a pretty damn good impression of my least favorite Stooge.)
Segment Two: Crow tries to present his sardonic editorial on the Miss Saigon Syndrome, only to break down partway through it. The Mads are delighted with the data.
Segment Three: The crew tries to do the Shriner Flying Carpet sketch, only to have Tom Servo burst into tears. The Mads order out for a victory dinner.
Segment Four: Joel tries to cheer the Bots up by explaining who Fu Manchu really is via artist renderings, only to succumb to the horror of the film. The Mads celebrate with pie, believing success is inevitable.
Ending Segment: The spirit of JatBs is utterly broken, and try to read a letter, but completely fail. In a show of power, the Mads toast to their triumph. Joel then challenges them to riff the film themselves, and the Mads fail miserably. JatBs win again!
Stinger: A castle guard falls to ninja guys.
Review:
What a terrible movie. It's bad enough we got Christopher Lee of all people in yellowface, but why do we got stock footage from some random Titanic movie (in black and white while this movie is in color) in this flick? Why is Fu Manchu the most dull villian ever? Why why why?! WHY THE **** AM I STILL DOING THIS ****?! Oh, this is the only one I got to watch? Oh good.
The riffs are funny, and it's fun to watch as everyone eventually breaks down in tears during the host segments but damn.. This movie is tough to watch. It's not the worst of Season Three (not by a long shot) but I wouldn't want to watch this movie again. If this movie wasn't so damn dull it would be a great riffable episode. 5.5/10
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