R2 DVD of 'This Island Earth' on German Version of MST3K; The Movie

Available from Amazon.de is the 2-disc (Region 2) DVD set ‘Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie’.

Disc 1
‘Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie’ (English & German language alternative dub + German subtitles option for both tracks; no English subtitles): 73 mins.
Extras include
i) Behind the Scenes:
a) Making Of (1997) This is a 16 minute German language interview with the three actor/comedian principals (Oliver Kalkove, Andreas Liebold & Oliver Welke) responsible for the German overdub of MST3K: The Movie.
b) 8 Years Later. A 75-minute, German language, 2005 interview with Oliver Kalkove & Oliver Welke recalling the 1997 production of the German overdub of MST3K: The Movie.
ii) Trailer for the German overdub version of MST3K: The Movie (German language).
iii) Trailers for seven unrelated Universal releases (German language).
iv) Kalkofes Mattscheibe ‘Trabant 601LX Deluxe’. A 2-minute, German language sketch from an Oliver Kalkoves TV show satirising a 1986 motoring review of the Trabant 601 Deluxe car.

Disc 2
‘'Metaluna 4 Antwortet Nicht' (‘Metaluna 4 Does Not Answer’), that is, ‘This Island Earth’. This is the full-length (87 min) version of the film with both German & English language soundtracks and the option of German subtitles for both tracks, but no English subtitles.

To order on the Amazon.de site, click ‘HILFE’ (Help) and scroll down the resultant left-hand menu to ‘Information for English Speaking Customers’ and proceed with a DVD order for Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie.

Price is € 9.82 + € 7.05 p&p to UK; € 16.87 (£ 11.40).

The real gem here is, of course, the wonderful region2 print of ‘This Island Earth’. Apart from the main title credit shown in German: ‘Metaluna 4 Antwortet Nicht’, all other titles & credits are in English, although the lack of English subtitles is a minor shortcoming.
I just love this film. Back in the early 1980s I videotaped ‘This Island Earth’ when it was shown on (UK) Channel 4 as part of their science fiction season. I had read about the film which even then was highly regarded classic. Having lost the tape shortly thereafter I’ve been searching in vain for a region 2 DVD for a long time. Although not perfect, the MST3K: The Movie set offers the best option for devotees of this film to get their hands on a copy until Universal deign to issue an official r2 version of the film.
I have to say that I’ve never seen any Mystery Science Theatre 3000 material before, but on the basis of viewing MST3K: The Movie, I wouldn’t go out of my way to do so: it’s about as funny as a broken leg. The movie review sections are just feeble & unamusing and while there are several recognisable nods to other SF films & TV shows in the live action segments (2001, Star Trek), the overall thrust is unfocused, to say the least. Absolutely dreadful!