Let the experiment begin!
"Turn Down Your Lights (Where applicable)"
Experiment #314 ~ MIGHTY JACK (1968)
Original Air Date: September 21, 1991
Genre: Action/Sci-Fi
Studio: Tsuburaya Production, LTD. (Distributed by Sandy Frank Productions (1986))
Starring: Hideaki Nitani, Naoko Kubo, Hiroshi Ninami, Hideyo Amamoto
Directed By: Kazuho Mitsuta
Theatrical Running Time: 90 Minutes
Tagline: N/A
Film Synopsis: The top-secret international espionage team known as "Mighty Jack" (utilizing a flying submarine by the same name) attempts to rescue a kidnapped cartographer and battles terrorist plots against the world which have been instigated by the evil organization known as "Q".
Intro: "CARNAGE! On The SOL!" With emergency sirens blaring, smoke filling the Bridge and "silly-string" flying everywhere, Joel and the Bots toss out some of the most intense lines of movie climax dialog ever, (i.e.,
"Something is WRONG on SATURN 3!", "That thing CUT me, MAN!" and "Don't you do it! Don't you give up on me! You've never given up on anything in your life! Now, fight! FIGHT!!!".) The viewer (us), just got
faced. "We'll be right back."
Invention Exchange: Joel and the Bots have a good laugh. The Mads are not amused. They decide to "rage on" with the Invention Exchange. "My name is Bond. Frank Bond." "You know, when you're a 'top secret agent with a license to kill' you always find yourself in scuba gear. But not only that, there's the endless series of formal parties, dances and dinners that you have to attend. I mean, it's really easy to fit a tuxedo under a wet-suit. But what about footwear?" The Mads present the "Formal Flippers", dress shoes with swim fins on the toe. Joel presents ethnically proper "ear-shaped earmuffs." (Not only is Joel the founder of "Ear Club for Men", but he's also a customer!)
Host Segments:
Host 1: Tom, Crow and Gypsy pitch to Joel the "Mighty Jack Dog Food" commercial campaign, ("Great tasting feed made with the mature member of your family in mind. Uh..., mature
dog, that is..."). "Comes in three delicious flavors, 'Original', 'Mailman' and 'Cat'."
Host 2: Tom (as the evil "Q") and Crow (as "Q's" pet cat) trick Joel into the "blinding light compartment" as seen in today's experiment. Joel outwits them. (
"Boy, is he smart")!
Host 3: Joel pitches to Hollywood a series of "underwater-themed movies based on cartoon characters." Weird concept.
End: Joel and the Bots sing a pirate shanty titled "Slow the Plot Down". Frank has a parrot on his shoulder, is wearing an eye-patch and quoting Herman Melville. Dr. F. just wants to "push the button".
Stinger: He died as he lived... loving his work.
Items of Note:
~ The movie was edited from the first and last episodes of the original 13 episode Fuji television series "Maitei Jakku'", first broadcast in 1968 in Japan.
~ The Bots are wearing down-filled vests during the Invention Exchange.
~ Great call-back riffs to past experiments
Ring of Terror,
Sidehackers and
Cave Dwellers.
Personal Notes:
~ A daring riff when one of the characters on screen is smoking a cigarette, Joel and the Bots make noises as if the actor is toking a marijuana joint. It played well for "Cheech and Chong" on vinyl, but was it appropriate for television? Very bold!
~ What in the hell is the weird puppet that Crow uses in the "Mighty Jack Dog Food" presentation?
~ The "Mighty Jack Fighter Jet/Submarine"/"Crest" toothpaste joke is priceless
~ Does "still another banked turn" spark anybody's memories of this experiment?
The 'Riffs':
~ (
Crow): "Ah, we're coming to the 'fork' in the plot!"
~ (
Tom): "Why is my internal voice
different from my external voice? Inside, I'm tan and handsome. Outside, I'm the 'Grinch who stole Christmas'."
~ (
Joel, when a character on screen takes one of his shoes off): "
Oh, Man! You need 'Dr. Scholls'! It either smells like 'bad meat' or 'good cheese'!"
~ (Actual lines of movie dialog) (
Bad guy): "Those lights are capable of blinding you!" (
Good guy): I'm not afraid! I'll keep my eyes closed!" (
Crow): "Wow! Is he smart!"
~ (
Joel, remarking on a character's wardrobe): "Powder Blue. Spies ask for it by name!"
~ "Hello, Mudder. Hello, Fodder. Here I am in, Okinawa!"
~ Pop culture references as diverse as 'Glen Campbell', 'Mayor Jesse Ventura' and 'Modigliani', as well as 'the Tet offensive', "The Sunshine Boys" and 'Sy Sperling'. The riffs come so fast you won't even think about how incoherent the plot to the film is. An above average outing.
Rating: 3-1/2 "flying models making a banked turn" out of 5.
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