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Mark Kretzschmar

@professthor.bsky.social

1K followers 790 following 1.5K posts

Shelter academic looking for a forever home and family. Writes academic stuff and then random video game blogs. Some of it is good. Speaks golden retriever. https://markkretz.com

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 5d

This thread got a little unruly since I haven't updated it in a while. I'll jump back into it, though, and have now made it through Volume 20. Halfway through! Here's my current breakdown based on what I've viewed thus far. Might be of interest to you, @optimstie.bsky.social :

Four quadrants of MST3K videos based on the following criteria: Boring, Campy, Entertaining, Sincere.

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3h

Day 12 of Spooky Season Save Room Music. This tune from SMT5: Vengeance is more melancholic than spooky, but it speaks to the fleeting safety of a save room. You want to stay, but you can't. After a specific point in the game, the happy-go-lucky demon haunt theme changes to this.

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3h

I have to admit there's something nice about having to get up to watch my team (the Broncos) at 7:30, meaning I can basically stop watching football by 11 AM.

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 13h

lol. Two of my favorite MST3K quotes in that batch!

"Ever since dad got murdered, things have been great!

"FIREWOOD FOR SALE!"

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 1d

Day 11 of Spooky Season Save Room Music. Let's go with Survival Spheres again. Now that I think about it, why haven't we seen Jill and Leon together? Granted she was kind of (shall we say) indisposed for a while after RE4 leading into RE5. I suppose that'll do it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xscH...

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 1d

Played and finished the Wii version of Shattered Memories for the first time on Sunday. That was a trip (in a mostly good way). Like, imagine a protagonist on their way to Silent Hill, but they take a detour to Twin Peaks first.

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 1d

As a Sega Kid, the first two RPGs I encountered that included epilogues were Shining Force II and Phantasy Star IV. Both were lovely for different reasons. In particular, some of the cast of SFII came to visit the MC a year after the final battle. Not everyone came, but my faves did (hey, Slade).

Micah @rincewind.run · 1d

RPGs are one of the most satisfying types of video games to finish in general - that's right, my ragtag band of heroes DID save the world - but it's astounding how much more satisfaction an epilogue adds

give me slides! letters! cute little cutscenes! let me see how I affected people!

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 1d

Crow (while watching Future War): Okay. My theory is the director shot this entire movie without looking at it.

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 2d

Day 10 of Spooky Season Save Room Music. Already a third of the way? Damn. Let's go with a track from The Sinking City OST. I included it last year, but it's too good not to reshare. It's a little wonky, but it's probably the best Lovecraft game we currently have.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwsb...

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 2d

Exactly. The human story actually didn't make much sense until the second act (even then, ehhhhhhh). Additionally, Gamera "got top billing," but it was Barugon's show. The puppy dragon wasn't a bad guy! He was just a victim of circumstance. On another note, Kyoko Enami was absolutely stunning.

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 2d

You're an angel. Thanks.

Gamera Vs. Barugon: This one's in the books. There were some great zingers, but I personally didn't find this one as funny as the first one. It's possible I wasn't in the right mindset. It's also possible that they didn't have as much to work with. Third time's the charm?

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 2d

@optimstie.bsky.social, are you ready for this prescient line from Gamera Vs. Barugon?

Character: It's our punishment for wanting so much wealth.

Servo: So what's going to happen to Donald Trump?

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 2d

Not too much else going on tonight. Might as well fire up Gamera Vs. Barugon. Let's see where this one takes me.

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3d

Speak of the devil! My random screensaver just now is an image or Tromso.

An image of Tromso, Norway at night with green Northern Lights dancing above the city.

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3d

Day 9 of Spooky Season Save Room Music. Hailing from Tromso, Norway, here's Biosphere with the sick sounds. I've followed him for about two decades and love his music. You could throw this song into any survival horror game and it would make sense.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0R1...

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3d

I planned my budget to a "t" in September. Then three bills were all, "HAHAHAHA. REMEMBER ME?!"

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3d

First Gamera in the books. That was a hoot! So many great jokes, and you could tell they enjoyed this one. As Joel said at the end, "Thanks for not giving us a bad movie this time, sirs."

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3d

All right, MSTies. I've decided to start Volume 21 tonight. This one features all five Gamera episodes/flicks, so I'm either going to be thoroughly amused throughout, or ready to check out by the third DVD. Interestingly, this was the most expensive set, so I hope that means something!

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3d

"Eat, damn you!"

This reminds me of when I saw No Retreat, No Surrender during the MST Roadshow with Joel shortly before quarantine. I had a blast. A few months later, I saw the same movie on Rifftrax. Both were funny in their own ways, although Joel's show was (of course) much more kid-friendly.

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 3d

Day 8 of Spooky Season Save Room Music. A YouTuber known as Hokabane occasionally makes some ambient RE- and SH-inspired music. This one might be my favorite.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w9s...

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 4d

And This Island Earth in the books. It definitely maintains the center spot for me. I loved it, but I wonder why "the movie" was shorter than an actual episode of MST3K. That's still odd to me 30 years later.

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 4d

Exeter: Place your hands above the rails. They're magnetized.

Crow: And if your hands were metal, that would mean something.

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 4d

I love that the movie grants us insight into Tom Servo's bedroom. He sleeps in a racecar bed.

a cartoon character says " i sleep in a racing car do you ? "

ALT: a cartoon character says " i sleep in a racing car do you ? "

media.tenor.com

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Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 4d

Servo: Soooo. This is Denver's new airport!

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 4d

Mike: So the aliens live in Hooterville?

Mark Kretzschmar @professthor.bsky.social · 4d

Exeter: I'm seeking scientists of exceptional ability.

Crow: Know any?