The Agony Booth: Difference between revisions
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{{website}}
'''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031214846/http://www.agonybooth.com/ The Agony Booth]''' (named after [[Agony Beam|a torture device]] on ''[[Star Trek]]'') is a website that for most of its history has posted recaps of [[So Bad It's Good]] movies and TV shows. Sometimes, its recaps-cum-[[MST|MSTs]] raise a work ''up'' to [[So Bad It's Good]]. The multipage, scene-by-scene recaps usually take longer to read than watching the movie, but that's a feature, not a bug.
Unlike many movie sites, Agony Booth isn't run by fanboys; most of the mods are older professionals (their ranks include a computer programmer, a teacher, a lawyer, a soldier, etc.), some of whom are (or have been) professional authors. The house style is therefore based around thoughtful criticisms of technical and storytelling faults as well as less tangible qualities. They are willing [[Deadpan Snarker|to mock anything]], but will almost never do so without backing it up. As such, the Booth tends to have a "nothing is sacred" policy. (While it's become more apparent with the shift towards videos, it's actually always been the case, as bad films with sizable cult followings were ripe targets from the start.) The writers also have a tendency to use [[All the Tropes Will Ruin Your Vocabulary|Troper terminology]].
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In recent years, in fact, the site's core mission -- while still fundamentally cynical -- has veered further and further into affectionate nostalgia, with a burgeoning TV-recap section that besides the Worst of Trek includes ''[[The A-Team]]'', ''[[Degrassi Junior High]]'', ''[[Jem and The Holograms]]'' and ''[[Knight Rider]]''. These now make up the bulk of the site's postings, while films or TV shows that aren't being recapped regularly appear more occasionally then they once did.
A relentless dedication to nosing out the most offbeat and obscure hunks of pop culture cheese (''[[Deafula]]'', anyone?) also marks the site off from the Bad Movie mainstream. Over the years their article subjects have also included music videos ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140312105913/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Heidi_Montag_s__Higher_.aspx Heidi Montag's "Higher"]), energy drinks ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140312124802/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Steven_Seagal_s_Lightning_Bolt.aspx Steven Seagal's Lightning Bolt]), interviews ([https://web.archive.org/web/20130917140456/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Interview_with_Lloyd_Kaufman.aspx Lloyd Kaufman], [[Golden Raspberry Award|Razzies founder]] [https://web.archive.org/web/20130917102712/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Interview_with_John_Wilson.aspx John Wilson], etc.), and even the website of a presidential "candidate" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140312105909/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Mercer_for_President_2008.aspx Lee L. Mercer, Jr.]).
In July, 2010, they began a shift towards video recap series. These include:
* ''[
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20121003214519/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Red_Suitcase_Adventures/ Red Suitcase Adventures]'', a more positive look at popular culture, hosted by Sofie Liv.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031035156/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Stuff_You_Like/ Stuff You Like]'', an analytical look at great film, great TV (and all kinds of tropes), hosted by [[Stuff You Like|Sursum Ursa]].
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031031958/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Blockbuster_Chick/ The Blockbuster Chick]'', celebrating big-budget bombs, hosted by Suzie [[Mc Ginney]].
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031052117/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Cartoon_Palooza/ Cartoon Palooza]'', a sarcastic look at recent animated features, hosted by Joey Tedesco.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031031944/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Cheap_Arse_Film_Review/ The Cheap-Arse Film Review]'', a look at film that can be purchased inexpensively (in England), hosted by Cheap-Arse.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031031955/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Film_Renegado/ The Film Renegado]'': a celebration of Mexican films and culture, hosted by [[The Film Renegado|Jerry Nava]].
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031032040/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Good_Bad_Flicks/ Good Bad Flicks]'', [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|a salute to films that are so bad they're good]], [[The Unseen|hosted]] by Cecil Trachenburg.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031024052/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mystery_Madness/ Mystery Madness]'', a look at what makes mystery films work, hosted by Full of Questions.
* ''[
* ''[
* ''[
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20130917205816/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Thoroughly_Manly_Musicals/ Thoroughly Manly Musicals]'', [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|a show about musicals]], also hosted by Stan Ferguson.
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20131031032102/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Movie_Skewer/ The Movie Skewer]'', hosted by each of the others in rotation, this is a show for the Boothers to review things outside their normal niches.
* ''[
The forums attached to the site have a reputation of exclusivity that is debatably deserved; the list of rules (and rationales for banning) are long and detailed, and intelligent argument on a par with the house style is expected whether for or against the subject in question. Likewise, poorly-handled comments can expect to receive the same treatment as any recap subject.
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* [[Accentuate the Negative]]: Sometimes they recognize a few things are well-done, but that's not why they're recapping the movies.
** Averted with Cecil Trachenburg; the movies he does are ones he thinks [[Needs More Love|Need More Love]] or are [[So Bad It's Good|So Bad They're Good]].
* [[All-Star Cast]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312125825/http://www.agonybooth.com/video441_The_Help_2011_Emma_Stone_Viola_Davis.aspx Mendo's review of] [[The Help]] featured upwards of 10 guest stars.
* [[Alternative Character Interpretation]]: Among others, they've declared that [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312134623/http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Repo__The_Genetic_Opera_2008.aspx Rotti Largo] of ''[[Repo! The Genetic Opera]]'' is a pedophile and [https://web.archive.org/web/20160328052504/http://www.agonybooth.com/movies/Its_a_Wonderful_Life_1946.aspx Mary Bailey] is the real villain of ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]''.
* [[Angst Dissonance]]: In-universe, Mr. Mendo opens a serious question in his ''[[Scott Pilgrim vs. the World]]'' review with a sarcastic acknowledgement that this movie doesn't speak to him in the way it does a lot of college students since he had to join the army.
* [[Badass Mustache]]: Mr. Mendo.
* [[Batman Gambit]]: Referenced and inverted on [
{{quote|'''Ryan''': "Then Malhavok shows up, so Batman tosses out a lame taunt to get him to break the dragon's chain. Somehow, I doubt this is going down as one of the great Batman Gambits." (Accompanied by a screen shot of that very page!)}}
* [[B-Movie]]: In the site's early years, they focused almost exclusively on these.
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* [[Brick Joke]]: Just who ARE the Overlords of the UFO, anyway?
** Ditto Mr. Mendo's kickboxing obsessed teddy bear.
* [[Broken Aesop]]: As Mr. Mendo [https://web.archive.org/web/20110928171627/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Forrest_Gump.aspx points out], [[Forrest Gump]] teaches us that one man can make a difference, as long as he never thinks or makes a decision for himself.
** Or, [
* [[Buffy-Speak]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110821013209/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Never_Say_Never_Again.aspx This episode of] MMHA: "But really, [[Johnny English|that]] was a good movie, and [[Never Say Never Again|this film]] and a good one are as dissimilar as two completely dissimilar things...in a bag."
* [[Catch Phrase]]: "[[Wikipedia]] is your friend."
* [[Cloudcuckoolander]]: The forums tend to attract some rather... strange people.
* [[Conspiracy Theorist]]: Parodied. During [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312133308/http://www.agonybooth.com/video397_Last_Unicorn_Movie_Farrow_Arkin.aspx a sleepover] with The Omega, Mendo came to the conclusion that ''[[The Last Unicorn (animation)|The Last Unicorn]]'' was "an elaborate metaphor for a woman's menstrual cycle".
* [[Cool and Unusual Punishment]]: When Mr. Mendo forwards a bunch of his hate mail to the Film Renegado's site, Renegado [https://web.archive.org/web/20131104183145/http://www.agonybooth.com/video337_Atletico_San_Pancho_Never_Too_Young_to_Dream.aspx forces him] to watch Atletico San Pancho. And, when that doesn't work, he starts playing Menudo!
* [[Cool Shades]]: Mr. Mendo's Guccis.
* [[Darker and Edgier]]: The [
* [[Deadpan Snarker]]: The raison d'être for the site.
* [[Department of Redundancy Department]]: On Luigi Largo of ''[[Repo! The Genetic Opera]]'': "You know how [[Danny Trejo]] often plays Danny Trejo? Well, in this movie, Danny Trejo is played by Bill Moseley."
** Sofie Liv: [https://web.archive.org/web/20131027122242/http://www.agonybooth.com/video316_Antichrist_2009_Movie_Review_Lars_Von_Trier.aspx Actual Danish Person (From Denmark)].
* [[Determinator]]: Mr. Mendo managed to write and film the first two episodes of his show despite being ''in the middle of a war zone!''
* [[Did Not Do the Research]]: Given the level of detail in the recaps, the occasional error tends to stand out.
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** "Don't forget now!"
* [[Early Installment Weirdness]]: Comparing the early recap-plus-snark (with rare, off-center images) of fairly obscure terrible movies, to the later work, with both Agonizer analysis and recaps which go from box office bombs to [[Love It or Hate It|divisive]] [[Contested Sequel|work]] (with frequent, large images) is jarring. And then there's the video reviews...
* [[Eat the Dog]]: Mr. Mendo [https://web.archive.org/web/20110916051615/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/A_Team_Heart_of_Rock_and_Roll.aspx has claimed] he needs to "eat at least one puppy every day" in order to survive.
* [[Entertainingly Wrong]]: In her [https://web.archive.org/web/20130917053851/http://www.agonybooth.com/video336_Twilight_2008_Movie_Review.aspx review] of Twilight, Miss Liv came to the conclusion that Mr. Mendo was a [[The Care Bears|Care Bear]]. Which isn't [[The Bear|that far off]].
* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: Mr. Mendo may eat puppies, but [
** Conversely, they determine that, while Salo may be the more disturbing film, it still claims the moral high ground over Ilsa, since at least Salo isn't intended to be titilating.
* [[Everything's Worse with Bears]]: [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312121855/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Top_9_Celebrity_Bear_Fights.aspx More like everything's BETTER with bears!]
* [[Fanfic Fuel]]: Noted a few times [[In-Universe]].
{{quote|'''Ryan''': "Fanfiction writers, you have your new assignment. Don't let me down."}}
* [[Fauxlosophic Narration]]: Parodied. Mr. Mendo [https://web.archive.org/web/20130917204103/http://www.agonybooth.com/video326_Beast_of_Yucca_Flats_1961_Coleman_Francis.aspx took issue] with [[The Beast of Yucca Flats]] for this, only to have his own narrator suddenly appear.
* [[Fun with Subtitles]]: From the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130917210250/http://www.agonybooth.com/video340_Pink_Lady_Movie_Japanese_Spider_Man_Marvel_1978.aspx review] of the [[Pink Lady ...And Jeff|Pink Lady]] movie:
{{quote|'''Mr. Mendo''': No surprise, then, that they got their own motion picture with the catchy title of:
'''Subtitle''': ピンク・レディーの活動大写真
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* [[Have I Mentioned I Am Heterosexual Today?]]: The ''[[Mamma Mia!]]'' review.
{{quote|'''Jordon Davis''': (Repeatedly) "...I'm not gay." }}
* [[Hero with an F In Good|Heroine With An F In Good]]: From [https://web.archive.org/web/20131031045049/http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Myra_Breckinridge_1970.aspx Myra Breckinridge]:
{{quote|'''Albert''': Let's take a moment to appreciate the character of Myra. As far as I can tell, Rusty's only crime is being homophobic. Oh, and he also has the outrageous desire to actually get married and have children. So what does Myra do to him? She ties him down, rapes him, and then demands that he thank her afterwards. Ladies and gentleman, our hero.}}
* [[Hilarious in Hindsight]]: Several things noted [[In-Universe]]:
{{quote|'''Ryan''': "This episode was making fun of [[Paris Hilton]] before Paris Hilton even existed!"}}
* [[Hitler Ate Sugar]]: Parodied in [https://web.archive.org/web/20130918024305/http://www.agonybooth.com/movies/Tron_Legacy_2010.aspx this review] of ''[[Tron: Legacy]]''.
{{quote|You know who else was a genocidal maniac? '''Hitler!'''}}
* [[Hypocrisy Nod]]: To cap off [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312143620/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Rubber.aspx a review of Rubber], a pointless, nonsensical film that is being watched from inside itself, Mr. Mendo and The Omega get into a pointless, nonsensical argument that is being watched from inside the review.
{{quote|'''Mr. Mendo''': "[http://www.agonybooth.com/video326_Beast_of_Yucca_Flats_1961_Coleman_Francis.aspx Trying to pick] the worst Coleman Francis film is like deciding what kind of cancer you'd like to have." *Lights cigar*}}
* [[Hypocritical Humor]]: When [https://web.archive.org/web/20130918001411/http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Star_Trek/The_Next_Generation/The_Outrageous_Okona.aspx recapping] the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "The Outrageous Okona", Albert noted that the mention of lasers having no effect on the ''Enterprise'' led to a lot of "[[Star Trek|Enterprise D]] could beat [[Star Wars|a Star Destroyer]]" debates. Then commented: "Some people just have ''way'' too much time on their hands, don't they? And now, back to my six-page dissertation on a Star Trek episode."
* [[Insistent Terminology]]: They do not ''review'' movies, they ''recap'' them. Get this wrong at your own peril.
* [[Jump Scare]]: To illustrate how over-reliant on these ''[[The Haunting In Connecticut]]'' is, Fear Fan provided a [
* [[Kill It with Fire]]: One of the mods, a soldier who served in Afghanistan, had this reaction to a particularly bad episode of [[Pink Lady ...And Jeff|''Pink Lady...and Jeff'']].
* [[Left It In]]: Articles will sometimes have the writer make a rather perverted comment, followed by a note to themselves to edit it out before posting. "Don't forget now!"
* [[Logical Fallacies]]: A charge they often level at the TV shows they feature.
* [[Lost Forever]]: Both the old forums (which were split to a separate website during a redesign) and the topics on recaps and Agonizer content in the new one.
* [[Nostalgia Filter]]: Mr. Mendo and Ryan avert this trope HARD. For example: a [
{{quote|'''Ryan''': "After watching an episode like this, I laugh at anyone who accuses [[Michael Bay]] of raping their childhoods."|'''Mr. Mendo''': "You know, in spite of [http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/A_Team_Heart_of_Rock_and_Roll.aspx everything mean I've said], a lot of people really like [[The A-Team|this show]]. A lot of people are quite clearly huffing spraypaint."}}
* [["Not Making This Up" Disclaimer]]: Comes up so often it's practically a catchphrase.
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{{quote|...no, no, it's just too stupid. You'll never believe me if I just blurt it out like this. }}
* [[No Yay]]: [[Invoked]]. Recapper Jessica describes the relationship between [[Bruce Willis]] and his sidekick in ''[[Hudson Hawk]]'' as "The Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name For A Damned Good Reason".
* [[Oh Crap, There Are Fanfics of Us]]: Inverted. Mendo not only ''encourages'' people to write fanfic about him, but [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312124947/http://www.agonybooth.com/video417_Mendopiece_Fanfic_Theatre_Scott_Pilgrim.aspx will read it on the show!]
* [[Overly Long Gag]]: From the recap of ''[[Mamma Mia!]]'': "(Amanda Seyfried's) blazingly hot in a very not-[[Natalie Portman]] kind of way, if you get my meaning. I'm saying Amanda's more of a nordic beauty. She doesn't celebrate Shemini Atzeret too gaudily. She can't get wholesale prices on diamonds. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312184814/http://www.agonybooth.com/agonizer/Mamma_Mia__2008.aspx?Page=2 Jewish. She's not Jewish.]"
* [[A Rare Sentence]]: The line "Desirée! You could have gotten mustard all over his brain!" from ''[[Overdrawn at the Memory Bank]]'':
{{quote|'''Albert:''' Yeah, just take a second and stare at that line for a while. It's a beauty. Lines that insane only come along once every so often.}}
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312172303/http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Star_Trek/the_original_series/Spock_s_Brain.aspx?Page=3 "Brain and brain, what is brain?!"]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20140312204352/http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Santa_with_Muscles_1996.aspx?Page=4 "Watch out!] ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20140312204352/http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Santa_with_Muscles_1996.aspx?Page=4 He's got a candy cane!"]''
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20130917183016/http://www.agonybooth.com/video449_American_Virgin_2009_Movie_Rob_Schneider.aspx "Yeah, this is all well and good, but, um, when is Rob Schneider gonna show up?"]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20131031045049/http://www.agonybooth.com/recaps/Myra_Breckinridge_1970.aspx "You don't want flammable tits, now do you?"]
* [[Rule 63]]: For their review of [[Sherlock Holmes (film)|Sherlock Holmes (2009)]], Sofie Liv and [[Stuff You Like|Sursum Ursa]] dressed up as Holmes and Watson.
* [[Running Gag]]: Frequent in the individual recaps, and a few (including the Overlords of the UFO & [[Mr. T]]'s guest explanations) that cross over. The TV series recaps are much more prone to ongoing gags; Albert's Degrassi recaps are typical:
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* [[Smoking Is Cool]]: Mr. Mendo is almost never seen without a Black and Mild (or a cigarette). A cigar even features prominently in his portrait...
{{quote|Although this has been parodied [http://www.agonybooth.com/video312_Twilight_Saga_Eclipse.aspx at least once.]}}
* [[Special Guest]]: [[The Cinema Snob]] showed up for [
* [[Suckiness Is Painful]]: It's implied by the site's name.
* [[Take That]]: A [
{{quote|'''Mr. Mendo:''' (Regarding [http://www.agonybooth.com/video312_Twilight_Saga_Eclipse.aspx Twilight: Eclipse])[[Stephenie Meyer]] is a lonely, unfulfilled woman. I think we may have finally found the perfect girl for [http://www.sonichu.com/cwcki/Main_Page Christian Chandler]
'''Sofie:''' Oh, go read some Spider-Man comics, [http://www.agonybooth.com/video323_Batman_Returns_1992.aspx you big baby!] }}
* [[The Bear]]: Mr. Mendo.
* [[The Cast Showoff]]: Miss Liv can sing, dance, play the piano AND the trumpet.
* [[Uncle Tomfoolery]]: Leprechaun: Back 2 Tha Hood [https://web.archive.org/web/20130918013232/http://www.agonybooth.com/video280_Leprechaun_6_Back_2_tha_Hood.aspx was raked over the coals for this.]
{{quote|'''Mr. Mendo:''' Sure, throw in a [[wikipedia:Mantan Moreland|Mantan]] impression, that's always cool!}}
* [[Unwinnable Training Simulation]]: ...and why it [https://web.archive.org/web/20110821013209/http://www.agonybooth.com/video_shows/Mr_Mendos_Hack_Attack/Never_Say_Never_Again.aspx does not belong] in [[James Bond (film)|James Bond]] movies.
* [[You Gotta Have Blue Hair|You Gotta Have Anime Hair]]: Mr. Mendo [
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