As people noticed upon the release, this is a big package. Well, its size is that of a regular DVD, but the thickness of the package is where you notice the difference. It is relatively square in dimension. So what exactly is in this great boxed set? Well, before we explore, just to give a brief history, it was announced about a week before it's release, that Shout! Factory has shipped all orders and sold out before the release date. Which means, that all pre-orders were fulfilled as this was in high demand. The requests were so great that Shout pushed forward the release date of the standard set with the same material (sans the special stuff). Just recently, MMM had announced it as discontinued, just about 30 days after its release on October 28th. A very quick sell out! So, lets open this box and find out what is in it! (click photos to enlarge)

The Limited Edition Tin

Ok, so here is the box in all its glory before opening. The cover is embossed planet. The tin is latched on so it will open and stay attached by the hinges. Upon opening is the DVD set itself. It looks like it will be the same as the standard set. Each set is going to be in a slimline case, rather than matching Rhino's digi-pack editions. The artwork on the disc covers are whimsical modeling the 50's sci-fi poster art incorporating the MST crew into the action. 

The discs themselves are just the logo of the title of the film with basic disc information. The back cover as well is pretty straightforward as well, in fact a little plain looking on the back.

The DVDs are presented well, they look clean and sound well. The menus are pretty easy to navigate. Each DVD includes a special feature (extra info provided by mst3kinfo.com:

 

   FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS - The History of MST3K Pt. 1, and trailer of film.

First shown: 12/29/90.
Opening: Adjusting Servo's sarcasm sequencer.
Invention exchange: Junk drawers.
Host segment 1: Crow and Tom make a robot that speaks in foam.
Host segment 2: Tom soothes a gorilla on the Hexfield.
Host segment 3: Klack commercial.
End: Discussing the film (Tom's head explodes), letters & Dr. F. is sick.
Stinger: Alphabet people wave good-bye.

  LASERBLAST - The History of MST3K Pt. 2 and original trailer of film.

First shown: 5/18/96
Opening: With Mike tied up, Crow and Tom present the "Thunderdome" joke
Intro: Dr. F.'s funding has been cut, so he cuts the SOL loose! But Tom gets the thrusters working
Host segment 1: The SOL picks up Monad, an annoying robot
Host segment 2: The SOL hits a field of star babies--and one of them needs changing!
Host segment 3: With the SOL heading toward a black hole, Mike undergoes a terrifying but useful transformation!
End: The SOL reaches the edge of the universe and its inhabitants become beings of pure energy! Meanwhile, Dr. F. becomes unstuck in time, has a revelation and is reborn
Stinger: "Faaar out!"

  WEREWOLF - The History of MST3K Pt. 3 and original trailer of film.

First shown: 4/18/98
Opening: Mike thinks he's James Lipton
Intro: After being de-Liptonized, Mike attempts to escape down a ladder to Earth, only to arrive at Castle Forrester
Host segment 1: Mike and Tom present who would be in their werewolf movie, but Crow isn't as good at it
Host segment 2: M&TB sing "Where, o, werewolf"
Host segment 3: Mike has become a werecrow!
End: Mike is still Crow, Tom has become Mike; in Castle Forrester, Bobo ruins Pearl's attempt to create a werewolf
Stinger: "This is absolutely fascinating!"

  FUTURE WAR - 2008 San Diego Comic-Con International Reunion Panel, original trailer of film, and a Variation on a Theme Song.

First shown: April 25, 1999.
Opening: The Bots calculate how many times a lady Gypsy is.
Intro: Pearl conducts LSD experiments on the bots.
Host segment 1: Tom makes a pair of legs so he can kickbox, but Gypsy has a leg up on him.
Host segment 2: M&TB thank Pearl for not killing them, which puts a crimp in her plans.
Host segment 3: Droppy the Water Droplet visits.
End: Mike has a biiig chin; Pearl explodes Bobo and Brain Guy's plans for going on the road.
Stinger: The future warrior's shirt is head-butted right off.

 

  As mentioned by some reviewers and forum members, removing the boxed set from the tin can be a daunting task and requires a little patience if you want to remove it successfully without damaging either the tin or the box. It fits very snug, so be careful removing this. It is not sealed, so you might be able to grab onto some of the sides. 

Once you get the box out, beneath that lies the 4 posters or postcards. They are described as "lobby cards", but in fact they are just printed pieces of paper. They are original art by artist Steve Vance and they look great!

Beneath these lies the little Crow T. Robot statue. He sits snugly in a plastic mold. You cannot just reach in and pull him out, you have to remove the outer cardboard layer, and then pull the plastic shell out to untie the little wire and then he can come out. Its a nice little statue that you can put on your monitor or if you are feeling inventive, hang from your rear-view mirror. I am sure there are many more uses that you can come up with. If you still play with Star Wars figures, maybe you can do a live action version of Mystery Science Theater and make fun of your Star Wars characters.

Once you are done perusing through the elements of the boxed set, it might be time to watch the movies. They are, as always, classic Mystery Science Theater. These are all great episodes, starting from the second season through their last season 10 with Future War. MST was so well known during its time that when Werewolf was premiered, Joe Estherhauz guest starred in a movie he wrote himself! Shows how some celebs know they they churn out crap, and can make fun of themselves in the process. Below are scans from one of the discs which serves as a model for the rest as there is little variation from disc to disc and case to case. For more photos of the set, view the Mystery Science Theater 3000 details page.

The Last Laugh

Ok, so this is the bottom line on the set. Its a great package and Shout! Factory put together a well designed set. The package is designed really well to withstand shipping. Although some people are getting dinged or damaged copies, for the most part they are withstanding the shipping. The fact that Crow is held down by wire and molded plastic is another example of Shout's care for the shipping process that it does not float around during travel (a miniature seat-belt?). The biggest worry would be the paper "lobby cards" that would shift and get dinged or folded corners from slipping into the sides of corners of the case. The History of MST3K is almost (almost) worth the set alone, running total about 90 minutes (30 minutes per part). This copy survived any movement, luckily, but I can see that as a potential issue. 

THE PROS - A 4-disc set of new episodes of MST3K is welcome any day of the week. The bonus features are even better, especially the 3-part history of MST3K. The artwork on this set looks great and creates a new look for Shout and MST that fits the name perfectly (more comicbooky than comical). And the little crow robot is a cool little extra. The very big tin is actually cool because it is so big! Also, that this package is so well put together that I feel safe shipping it, and that nothing will get damaged in a copy if I decided to order one (bear in mind, that throwing it in a bubble mailer may not survive USPS's meat-hooking way of handingling their packages, but it could survive media mail in a box if you decided to go that route). With previous Rhino releases of MST, specifically Collection 9 and Collection 10, this is definitely one for the fans!

THE CONS - My biggest gripe of this whole set are the "lobby cards". They are literally paper. I mean, the same kind of paper used to print DVD info that they stick on the back cover that you throw away when you open it up. When I hear the words "card", I think some a cardboard stock, something sturdy, stiff, like a postcard. The other issue I have is the Crow robot. Let me justify that. He is cool and all, but the plastic bubble they put him in takes up way too much space. They could have easily put something else in addition, or added a Tom Servo robot in there as well. To me, the plastic justifies the size of the tin itself, which does not seem reasonable. Maybe this is minor overall, but there is room for other stuff. There are no inserts.

IN SUM - Ultimately it is a great collection and given the short amount printed, this will definitely become a collector's item. Christmas sales at this time are showing a very promising future for this title as well. Very much recommended, especially now if you can still grab one at retail cost, you will enjoy it more. But it will stand quite proudly (and comfortably) among your current DVD collection. Highly recommended!

PACKAGE DESIGN - A+

PACKAGE QUALITY - A 

PACKAGE CONTENTS - A

COLLECTABILITY - A- 

 

For the complete collection of Mystery Science Theater 3000, they are as follows: