Cinematic Titanic goes live with East Meets Watts on DVD
by John Scott Lewinski, posted Dec 23rd 2009 1:00PM
Take one barely skilled Chinese martial artist. Add a beefy hunk of traditional blaxploitation, and top off with a complete selection of Asian actors who played bad guys on M*A*S*H. Stir rigorously.Bake for two hours under the high heat of Mystery Science Theater 3000-inspired quips, and you end up with the new live DVD from Cinematic Titanic, "East Meats Watts."
This latest release from MST3K veterans Joel Hodgson, Trace Beaulieu, Josh Weinstein, Mary Jo Pehl and Frank Conniff features a clunky 70's mess on celluloid mocked before an affectionate live audience. While Cinematic Titanic's earlier DVD releases all pack more than the U.N.-mandated share of laughs, the energy provided by the comics' interactions with the crowd make this the comic troupe's most successful DVD release so far.
There's no need to waste words reviewing the movie's plot because there really isn't one identifiable under the meandering action sequences and the thick racial stereotypes. But, the film's grimy Grindhouse feel makes it a perfect target for 21st century MST-riffing by Hodgson and his crew.
Keep in mind this is a PG13 style project. Some of the language and situations are a touch saltier than past antics on the Satellite of Love. But that's quibbling. Fetch yourself a rice bowl's worth of "East Meets Watts" with all speed.

1 Comment