Anyway's, onto the pilot. Overall, I had much more fun with this than any post-classic series Knight Rider attempts ever made.
Before watching I like many folks felt a little letdown that they didn't choose a car with a slope style front like a Trans-Am. I guess I'm very used to a sleek look for KITT. But the Mustang quickly began to grow on me especially because I think the way they worked in the scanner light to the Mustangs design was rather clever.
I thought the movie itself really did have the "feel" for lack of a better term like the classic series in many respects or at least like something from the era. It was a good balance between an 80's show and modern stuff. I'm just happy they didn't opt for CSI shakey -am nonsense or scenes where everything's always lit dark even at 12 in the afternoon. Ever notice nobody in CSI can be bothered to turn on an overhead light?
I was actually VERY pleased with Val Kilmer's performance as KITT. I thought he nailed it really. I haven't had this much fun listening to Val since he was Doc Holiday! The new voicebox was interesting with the horizontal equalizer effect combined with KITT using images as a way to convey what he's saying. While different, I think in tandem with that light effect serves exactly it's intended function. To give KITT a "face" when he's talking.
I can agree with some of the other posters here that the continuity is a bit dodgy in regards to the creation of the original KITT but I think there's wiggle room to work Graiman into that era without really corrupting anything from the classic series.
I only have two real issues. The fact that KITT's shell isn't bullet proof without the nanotech is wonky and really a downgrade from the original model. I would hope this is something that can be corrected it it goes to series. Heck they could even acknowledge in on-camera as something they apply based on the events of pilot.
The other was I actually wanted Michael Knight to have a bit more a role. But at the same time I understand that they want to let the new car and the new protag stand on their own. Still, the scene at grave sold me the moment Michael brought up Wilton telling him one man can make a difference.
Afterall, all the great or fun heroes have some sort of mantra somewhere in their stories that even if it's not something they themselves say, it sums up why they do what they do. For my money, that line is sort of the heart and soul of everything Knight Rider is about. KITT is an awesome tool of a new age like any technology, but it is still human beings who decide how to use it. One human. One man..makes a difference.
There's many questions the pilot leaves unanswered and all sort of little things they could have done, but I think it is important to keep in mind that this is meant to set up a series. So many of the things we looked for in the pilot could easily show up in the series with entire episodes devoted to them.
Here's hoping it gets picked up.
