I'm guessing since nobody's started a thread, noone really gives a crap.
I didn't think it totally sucked. The car's cool. I liked the little shots of the original car laying around the warehouse, though it begs the question, what happened to the original KITT? He could've been put in another car or even in something else I suppose.
This series seems to be ignoring the TV movie, Knight Rider 2000, which is probably good since they assumed we'd all be super advanced and using cryo-prisons by then. However, if it does ignore it, then it leaves questions like the fate of Devon Miles and the Two Thousand open.
Hasslehoff's guest spot at the end was horrific. I wanted him to show up, but they just did it really badly. The LEAST they could've done was have him climb into a black car with a red sensor on the front. Just to leave some possibilities open. I mean, what? Is he just retired? He's gotta be doing *something* with FLAG still.
So ok... same deal as Bionic Woman: It's got five episodes to impress me, then I pull the plug.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
I enjoyed it for what it was: fun, mostly mindless entertainment. I think a lot of people are having the same issues with this as they are with re-imagined Transformers, in that they're remembering through rose-colored glasses. I watched the original KR when I was my son's age, and most of the story lines were pretty hokey.
That said, I only really had one problem with it. Why do you need the computer running to be bullet-proof? Seems like a downgrade from the original, which was just inherently bullet-proof. (And if this goes to series, I hope he gets a "Turbo Boost" button.)
Posted by Mark Nguyen (Member # 469) on :
The original KR had new gadgets on KITT in practically every other episode, plus the very heavy overhauls it had now and again. Don't know why this car had no turbo boost, which was the signature move of the original, but it's got plenty of other stuff.
This new KITT's skin is made of a mimetic poly alloy (sic) that is shaped (and presumably strengthened by the computer running current through it - sorta like the most recent Batman's cape/wing thing. My bet is that they want to give KITT some form of vulnerability, thus incrasing tension. The original was almost TOO invulnerable sometimes, and saved the day as part of the formula. I guess this was a gimmick set to shake it up some.
One thing I *do* miss though is the characteristic red voice modulator of the original KITT. While the original modulator was a simple blinking light panel, the three bars of Kitt's speech were definitive. Here, KITT's voice is seen on a screen, but with "suporting" pictures relevant to whatever KITT's taling about. Reminds me of the Master Control Program from TRON, really...
Mark
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote:Originally posted by Aban Rune: So ok... same deal as Bionic Woman: It's got five episodes to impress me, then I pull the plug.
I have a "three strike" system. That is if a new show makes me wish I didn't bother 3 episodes in a row, then it's bye bye. Bionic Woman came very close, but just about squeaked through. One hopes the strike has given time for the writers to fix some of the problems on what could be either a very good show or a very cancelled show. That's assuming they're getting picked up to continue filming. One assumes the networks are desperate for new material so it stands a good chance.
As for the new Knight Rider, I'm about to have a goosey right now.
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Except that the standard industry form is "the first 6 episodes are the pilot."
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Yeah, but I'm not the industry. Seriously though, if I'm watching a show and for the third week running thinking I just wasted an hour, then I'm not going to stick around for the forth. Otherwise I'd be one of those people that bleats on about how crap a show is, yet continues to watch it week after week. I recall allot of that going on during the run of Voyager & Enterprise.
Posted by Omega (Member # 91) on :
I didn't see this, but... it's made of a mimetic poly alloy? I think John and Sarah Connor might want to be hunting down this particular AI...
Posted by Peregrinus (Member # 504) on :
For those who missed it, it's re-broadcasting Saturday evening here in the U.S. Also, most of us should be able to watch it [url=]here[/url].
I think it has potential. The new Michael needs to clean up a little from the over-used Gen X "I can't be bothered to grrom myself" look. I like the inventor. One of the glittering gems of dialogue was when he was asked exasperatedly if he'd built it into another Trans-Am. "No, this one's a Mustang." *hee*
I like Val Kilmer as this new KITT's voice, but I also miss the original voice display. One thing I hope they change is the scanner. I think it would look better going all the way across through the upright, and then back, rather than the "cross-eyed" version they have now.
--Jonah
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Ok, I've seen it and it is indeed good and true to it's origins. I'm not a huge fan of the look of the car itself, but that's probably more to do with growing up with the sleek look of the Transam than anything intrinsically wrong with the Mustang. I'm sure it will grow on me.
Val Kilmer did a good job here, I think. I'm glad they didn't give the car an 'edgy', aggressive attitude. KITT needs to be a good mix of deadpan, qualified confidence and to a point, slightly naive.
The music was a bit disappointing, though it started out like the old theme it lack that iconic melody, or submerged it in so much noise as to be unrecognisable. A good theme should be something you can hum to yourself!
As far as the Hoff's cameo goes, I think they did the right thing. If the series goes ahead then there's plenty of room to answer the obvious questions.
I really liked the twist at the end where you think he's backing down the ramp of what you'd assume is a truck like in the old show, only for it to turn out to be a Hercules.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
The scientist girl is a perfect meld of Cameron Diaz/Kirsten Dunst in look and ditziness, after she'd heard her dad was dead the first time she spent ten minutes wisecracking and joking with KITT while they where being chased by the former lead singer of Savage Garden. The writing isn't the best I've seen.
And the fight scenes between Darren Hayes and Mike "underwear model" Traceur where groan-worthy, reminded me of Kirk-vs-Gorn. I started watching "Chuck" this week and the fights between his female CIA protector and others where so much better, and that series is a comedy! And the plot's more believable.
I like the mustang car, but to have every transition-scene they make on the road be filled with "edgy" closeups of the car's snake-logo, Mustang-logo, trunk-logo and hubcaps, it gets old fast. It's not even doing anything, it's just rolling forwards promptly!
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
I had to do a double-back on myself for that "twist" at the end. Before they opened the ramp, I was thinking that it *was* an airplane, because the interior was round and too big to be a truck. But then they opened the ramp, and we could see them "driving" down the road, so I thought "wait, it's not an airplane but a huge truck?" Then he backed out, and I saw I was right the first time. Although I question the ability of any C-130 to drive down any length of road without hitting a telephone pole or power line, it was a pretty cool twist on the original. At least now the team can be anywhere within a reasonable amount of time, and not be confined to SoCal.
Posted by Peregrinus (Member # 504) on :
I kinda hope this will evolve into a good Team Knight Rider, projecting FLAG's mission into all corners of the country.
--Jonah
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Yah, the edgy close-ups got old. And the song was a little annoying. I'm hoping that both of these elements are just pilot-versions. The extreme letterboxing during the song looked cool at first, but I kept waiting for it to open up. I even found myself leaning forward to try and get a better view...
I miss KITTs voice modulator too. The wavy version they use here isn't as cool. But the interior of the car as a whole rocks. The dual sensors in front even grew on me.
One of the let-downs of the main character (aside from his dumb last name) is that there's relativly little mystery to him. They blew the connection to Hoff way too early. Michael Knight was the "man who does not exist". This guy is just an ex-ranger who needed cash. Let's just say they need to work on his back-story some.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
Which reminds me; is Tracer's mother a character from the old series, or something they just made up? I haven't seen the series (beyond catching the odd glimpse on Bravo) since I was 10 and can't recall anything plot wise that could account for him having a son. Or is he technically Michael Long's son?
I agree, the dialogue is ropey in places and the "we've seen the Jason Bourne films" quick cutting was poorly done and over used. Hopefully this is just normal Pilot naffness and will improve in time. I do wonder if Val Kilmer will stick with it if it becomes a series, I don't think I've ever heard of him working in TV land before.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Well, Michael had no shortage of female interests in the original show. Any one one of these could've gone R-rated at some point the cameras didn't catch. Presumably her last name was Traceur, either that or she changed her name, but I think they just made her up.
I don't know... Spending one day a week saying 10 minutes of lines in the same voice seems like a pretty juicy gig. I can't recall... did he even get a credit during the intro?
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Probably not, but then, William Daniels never got credited, either.
Posted by Peregrinus (Member # 504) on :
I thought I remembered seeing his name in the credits. Alas, I was wrong.
I don't like Mike's friend being the tech-head. I miss Bonnie. I liked seeing the pieces of the original KITT in Charles' garage. And that fits with KITT being disassembled for Knight Rider 2000. I wonder if that is somehow in continuity, and Michael Knight has KITT mounted in some other car. *heh*
Oh, and that section of road was "outside Prague" or somewhere in that vicinity. So FLAG's mission seems to be global now.
I like the themse song -- but not as a theme song. It makes a good "action sequence" remix, but for theme tune purposes should have more of the original running through it.
I hope Val warms his performance up a bit. William Daniels didn't play for Tuvok-level Vulcan-ness and I don't mind KITT having simulated emotions.
--Jonah
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
It was okay. There was some potential there but it runs the risk of becoming Bionic Women-esque. Let's just hope they bring back KARR. Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
Fuck KARR, I wanna see Garth Knight & Goliath.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
You know, KR was the only series I can think of where both the main character *and* his vehicle had evil twins.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
The Mirror-verse has a mirror Enterprise... but i guess it's not really evil.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Of course they're evil, they have beards!
Posted by Shik (Member # 343) on :
And they...talk...like....THISSSSSS.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
And their women are sex objects.
Posted by Mars Needs Women (Member # 1505) on :
Well they do that in the regular universe too, at least until TNG.
Posted by Sean (Member # 2010) on :
Well, in the regular universe, I don't recall there being a position of "Ship's Slut".
Posted by Lee (Member # 393) on :
Val Kilmer? Seriously? Has his career gone totally down the tube, or something?
Posted by Guardian 2000 (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sean: Well, in the regular universe, I don't recall there being a position of "Ship's Slut".
That was filled by Kirk (no pun intended).
It was a dual-role thing. Like Spock was science officer and XO, so too was Kirk the CO and Ship's Slut.
As for Knight Rider . . . I don't know. I mean it was kinda neat on its own, but not in attempted continuity with the old series.
That said, the attempted continuity leaves me wondering where the hell the original KITT went off to . . . we see pieces, but hear nothing about his fate.
(Speaking of which, it was a nice touch. That car in the garage is a real 80's Firebird, as you can tell by the engine. Of course, the Knight 2000 wasn't running with a Firebird engine, but on a turbine engine, which is why the car sounded like it did. And, the car could accept regular gas to turn into liquid hydrogen for the turbine engine's operation.)
Even the technical readout of the vehicle lists it as basically just having the nanotech uberskin and leet haxor capabilities. That's a good place to start from, and I appreciate the somewhat more "hard sci-fi" approach, but is basically a downgrade from the Knight 2000.
And, even though they're obviously not including it in the continuity, K3K is a definite downgrade from the Knight 4000 . . . a good thermal expander or ultrasonic stun-gun thingy would've been good additions.
In other words, K2K could've kicked K3K's ass. And won any verbal sparring matches at the same time. K4K could've done it even moreso.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I think we're going to find the upgrades in the K3K are more software based than hardware. The resources KITT can tap into now seem to be alot greater.
I'm also guessing there will be a Greatest American Hero thing going on for awhile as Mike learns new things about what the car can do. I don't imagine it came with an owner's manual. So KITT will probably mention capabilities as they're needed.
Posted by B.J. (Member # 858) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lee: Val Kilmer? Seriously? Has his career gone totally down the tube, or something?
Why is this said for just about every actor that goes from movies to TV shows? Some actors *like* having the different challenges/roles that you have on TV. Just like other actors go back to doing stage shows, because that's what they like to do.
.....although I did just look at his IMDb profile. "The Ten Commandments: The Musical"?!?? But it's not like he's been wanting for work, either.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
Also... did anyone else notice the casino they were in was the casino from "Las Vegas"? They did the same thing in a few episodes of Heroes.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
OK... what's the deal? Last week they just replayed the pilot and this week it's not on. And I don't see it listed on the schedule next week at all on NBC's site. Did it not get picked up? Because this is a real good way for everyone to loose interest.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote:Originally posted by B.J.:
quote:Originally posted by Lee: Val Kilmer? Seriously? Has his career gone totally down the tube, or something?
Why is this said for just about every actor that goes from movies to TV shows? Some actors *like* having the different challenges/roles that you have on TV. Just like other actors go back to doing stage shows, because that's what they like to do.
.....although I did just look at his IMDb profile. "The Ten Commandments: The Musical"?!?? But it's not like he's been wanting for work, either.
Kilmer is a bit of an odd one, from what I've seen. I think he's made enough money that he and his family are secure and now he treats acting more like a hobby than a career. So I doubt he cares what people think about his career. As far as I'm concerned; the dude got in a fist fight with Tom Cruise so he get bonus points just for that.
quote:Originally posted by Aban Rune: OK... what's the deal? Last week they just replayed the pilot and this week it's not on. And I don't see it listed on the schedule next week at all on NBC's site. Did it not get picked up? Because this is a real good way for everyone to loose interest.
Assuming they're making their decision based on the reception of the pilot, I imagine it'll be a month or two before the bureaucratic gears start to move. I'm confident it'll get a pick up, given the void left by the writers strike, if nothing else.
Posted by Nim (Member # 205) on :
Just rewatched "Kiss kiss bang bang" yesterday, god I love that movie. And Kilmer is great. I hope he gets something big soon.
Posted by Aban Rune (Member # 226) on :
I did a quick googling. Apparently the pilot was ordered as a stand-alone movie and the decision to order a series would be based on audience reaction. If they hadn't even ordered a series when the movie aired, it'll be at least a couple of months, like you said, before anything can be shot and aired.
Posted by Reverend (Member # 335) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nim: Just rewatched "Kiss kiss bang bang" yesterday, god I love that movie. And Kilmer is great. I hope he gets something big soon.
Wasn't he just in that Denzel Washington/Tony Scott film about time travel? That makes his third Scott collaboration if memory serves (the other two being Iceman & Elvis) so Tony apparantly has a high opinion of him at least.
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