Last Thursday, Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett of Rifftrax (and formerly of Mystery Science Theater 3000 of course) took aim at Paul Verhoeven’s schlocky, violent sci-fi satire Starship Troopers in front of a live audience and simulcast in movie theaters nationwide. The show was the result of a very successful Kickstarter campaign, which was necessary to secure the rights to such a big studio movie.
The event got Twitter support from some of the movie’s stars, including Casper Van Dien, Neil Patrick Harris, Dina Meyer, and Clancy Brown, for which the riffers were grateful, but which also led to several quiet apologies following particularly biting jokes. Yeah, it was pretty great.
As is common, the riffs were hilarious and accurate, especially pointing out that 80% of the film’s dialogue after a certain point contains the word “Move.” There’s also a running joke about whether there actually are any troopers in any of the starships.
I’d talk more about the various jokes and gags, but I wouldn’t want to spoil it for people who haven’t seen it yet. “But it’s over and done with,” you hasten to point out, I imagine. Well, good news! By popular demand, Rifftrax Live: Starship Troopers will be back in select theaters on Thursday, September 12th. It was one of the best riffs they’ve ever done so I would definitely recommend going this second time. Tickets will go on sale August 30th. Mark your calendars now!
And be on the look out for our interview with Casper Van Dien coming in the near future.
This is the trailer for the first one, but you get the idea.
My sister and I went to see it in Oldsmar, FL. We’ve been to every single one. We arrived 35 minutes early and got the best seat in the house. The theater was completely packed by the time the movie started. I haven’t laughed that hard at anything since Disney bought the Star Wars brand. Well worth the price of admission and it goes to a good cause: making sure these guys keep doing this sort of thing. I wish, so wish, they could have gotten Twilight but this was fantastic. Bravo!
I’ve been to every Rifftrax, except the very first one. It started with, maybe a dozen people. Now, the theater is usually 80% full and I have half a dozen people with me.
My favorite line was “Squint harder Jake” !!! OMG That was freakin’ awesome!
My ribs are still sore from laughing, too. Previous “live” experiences are available as DVD’s, and come with the shorts that were played with them. Well worth the bucks.
My only complaint was the Gorilla-grams. WTF? They ruined the only good parts of the movie!
My favorite line was towards the end to Denise Richards. “You should hold to that Charlie Sheen guy. He’s a catch.”
The riffs were great but the sound levels were atrocious.
I went to this in Royal Palm Beach, Florida and I loved every minute of it! Nothing can stop me from going to see them do there next show with “Night of the Living Dead”!
From the Kickstarter page:
“Pledge $20 or more
427 backers
RIFFTRAX LIVE SHOW DOWNLOAD! Digital download of the entire August 2013 Live show that this here Kickstarter is about on the Digital Release Date (approximately 60 days after the Live Show.) Plus your name personally thanked on a special thank-you page at RiffTrax.com.”
They will not be releasing this on VOD because of rights issues. Completely unfortunate since it was such a great riffing! They will, however, (as the article points out) be showing an encore on Sept. 12th. Also, get tickets to their Night Of The Living Dead riff EARLY, because it will most certainly sell out in most, if not all, theaters.
Hilarious as always! I love their live events! Hard to pick but I think my favorite line was “You’re in it until you’re dead or I find someone better” oh those were the same as my wedding vows!”
I believe they said an mp3 riff would be made available. They cannot get the rights to distribute the movie itself, however.
Unfortunately they said it was impossible to get the rights to have it to buy, so the 16th will be the last chance to see it. It was such great fun that we’re going back to see it again. We’ve seen each of the live shows, either at the time or on DVD, and I think this might be my favorite. Sounds like maybe Manos might be for sale at some point, and there’s the Night of the Living Dead in October!
Rico?
Polo!
Will this be made available to buy on the RiffTrax site?
I’m hoping so too, but chances are probably not due to the whole rights issue. I’m sure it cost them enough just to get the rights to show it twice, I’m sure it’s a buttload more to purchase the rights to redistribute it… unfortunately
“That’s some serious Neil Patrick Harassment!”
“I pledge Allegiance to GONDOR!
We are a part of the Rhythm Nation! Music is on our side!”
“Hey! My wedding vows!”
“Give… my hair… to Felicity…”
“Freddie Mercury already asked me that!”
This was my 5th RiffTrax Live event having seen their very first live Riff on Plan 9 From Outer Space, their holiday shorts special, House on Haunted Hill, Birdemic and now this classic of Startship Troopers. It did not disappoint in the least and has quickly become my favorite of them all… so far that is. I look forward to many many more of these including the upcoming Night of the Living Dead coming in October. To anyone who missed out on this one, I highly recommend seeing the encore next month. Hell, I might even catch it for a second time myself!
This wasn’t my first Rifftrax event, but my boyfriend and sister came along for the ride, and they LOVED IT! I had such a great time!
hilariously offensive!
I went to Manos live for a late birthday present, and it was awesome. I had tickets to this one but had to cancel due to family problems. I am so glad that they are encoring it, because I was desperate to hear what they had to say about this “classic.” They are even better live than they are on their rifftrax. And I adore those.
Always loved this in any incarnation, but favorite bit has to be…RAID! lol, never fails to make me laugh and look forward to the night of the living dead rifftrax, wish they did more of these in theaters! 🙂
It was epic fun (for once? I was too busy laughing so hard to give a flying fuck that people were pulling out their smart phones and using them) and a great time in theatres (which is more then I can say for Hollywood Studios continuing to dump loads of shit cinema – especially this summer) ….
It was my first time, as well, and it far exceeded my expectations. I’ve taken way too long to get into RiffTrax since I often just opt to rewatch an episode of MST3K that I had forgotten. This was hilarious. Great turnout at my theater, as well.
This was my first time seeing Rifftrax Live and I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. My favorite jokes were about Neil Patrick Harris and Dean Norris’ other TV/Movie projects.