My NBC Movie Impressions
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:30 am
Hey all,
Hope nobody minds a separate thread - this'll be semi-long, so I thought it might be more appropriate.
I was excited but nervous about the Knight Rider NBC movie, and I got more nervous the more I heard about it (especially after seeing the production K.I.T.T. in the form of a Ford Mustang Shelby). I grew up with Knight Rider, so it's one of my favorite early sci-fi shows that I remember.
After watching the new version, my impressions were mixed.
THE GOOD:
--------------
- I thought the guy who played Mike (sorry; dunno his name) did a pretty good job.
- I thought the voice of the new K.I.T.T. (Kilmer?) did quite a good job. Seems less human than the original K.I.T.T. and frankly sounds a bit more like K.A.R.R. to me, but in a way, I like that better. (That said, he lacks some of the personality of the original K.I.T.T., but again, that can be taken either way - sometimes I liked that; other times I didn't.).
- The concept of using GPS, satellite imaging, and radar to navigate was pretty neat (though to be fair, no way the 80's KR could have anticipated current technology, and they did pretty darn well with the original navigation system back then).
- Some nice one-liners from K.I.T.T.
THE MEDIOCRE:
-------------------
- The car isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Granted, it's not as good as I'd like it to be either, but it's got a nice sounding engine, is a hot car in its own right, and it works. It still doesn't look as sleek as the old K.I.T.T., and I don't like what they've done with the scanner at all by splitting it (or the change of sound for that matter). I also don't particularly like that the scanner disappears completely when he morphs - that just bothers me, but is a nitpick.
- I think I would have preferred a modern reimagining over a continuation overall, for reasons I'll touch on in a bit. However, if they do make a series and tackle the subjects of what happened with the original K.I.T.T. and K.A.R.R. (and I'm hoping against hope bring them into the mix, at least for cameos or special episodes), that would make it worth it to me. That said, I'm pretty dubious about this happening as I don't frankly think Ford would allow a GM product to be featured in a positive light in a show they so heavily sponser.
- I liked that they used some of the original theme, but I don't like the direction they took and feel they could have done much better by it.
THE BAD:
-----------
- The new K.I.T.T. (and one of the reasons I think making it a continuation was a mistake) feels in many...even most respects like a step backwards from the old one. Why is a new A.I. necessary, and why does it seem staler (less sarcastic) than the old? [Granted, it is a baby.] Why was the original K.I.T.T. bulletproof, and this one gets damaged and must heal, but can only do so with the computer online? At least if K.I.T.T.'s computer was screwy, the car itself could protect its driver. Also, logically the fact that the new K.I.T.T. is initially damaged by bullets would mean that a high enough fire rate at the same spot should pierce him completely (like a Dalek's shields for Doctor Who fans). Seems like a downgrade to me. Also, why when they pull in front of the casino couldn't K.I.T.T., with all his morphing abilities, tint the windows to prevent them from being seen? The old K.I.T.T. could (and as an update, they could have had him project the image of different looking drivers or something). Why can't the driver manually access critical defense systems if necessary? And a computer that advanced and not yet comprimised that can't simply shut down all incoming wireless transmissions (the hack)? My Trend Micro Antivirus can do that. =oP Wired would be believable, but unwired seems a stretch. [They could have maybe explained this away if they'd said there was a special frequency in the stolen specs that couldn't be blocked in case the car went rogue or something.] Even the interior of K.I.T.T. looks like a step backward - the original still looks much more high-tech, and I thought a lot of the computer graphics they used (for K.I.T.T's voice modulator for example) were pretty awful - they even look old by today's standards (wireframe - he should be able to handle full 3D topogrophy or at the least a more complex wireframe).
- This is more a personal pet peeve, but I hated the organic-looking morphing and such. (Honestly I preferred the way Viper did it to this...smooth and neat). It just...looks ugly and bothers me somehow...reminds me of bugs - lol. I realize nanotechnology is coming and this was an interpretation of that - I just didn't care for it. And if you're going to do it, let's see you morph into something besides another Mustang in a different color.
- Not crazy about the actor who plays the head of the foundation (forget his name in the show).
- The whole money situation Mike was in never really went anywhere - why bother wasting our time with it?
- I couldn't help but feel the whole show was mostly a commercial for Ford. Some advertising and commercials (the date ads I actually thought were cute) are expected, but Ford seems so omnipresent in this I honestly wonder if they control most of the development of the show. And as I mentioned earlier, it casts serious doubt in my mind that they could do things like make K.I.T.T. morph into other types of cars or even bring back the original K.I.T.T. or K.A.R.R.
- They went overboard with CGI and a lot just looked fake to me. I know they did some cheesy things in the original KR (guy dressed as a seat - lol), but I frankly prefer that to bad CGI.
- The baddies were cheesey and forgettable - 'nuff said.
- Too predictable. No twists or turns (that weren't anticipated) to keep me interested.
- Four guys are chasing you with guns with a clear intent to kill, and you stand around the practically invincible car talking casually about what to do next? Seriously???
- The semi felt right; the plane just didn't to me (though being international's cool). Actually, at the start of the scene, I was semi-excited because I thought he might have a bit of a drop and some nifty system to land safely or something, but alas, not the case.
Overall, I have to say it didn't leave a great impression with me. If it comes to NBC as a show, I will probably watch it, but as it stands now, it'll never live up to the original for me (and I can't see it lasting more than a season, but you never know). But, it could still be a fun ride, and especially so if they can somehow resurrect the original car for a cameo or two.
Just my two cents - please nobody who liked it take any offense - I *am* a picky one. lol.
Hope nobody minds a separate thread - this'll be semi-long, so I thought it might be more appropriate.
I was excited but nervous about the Knight Rider NBC movie, and I got more nervous the more I heard about it (especially after seeing the production K.I.T.T. in the form of a Ford Mustang Shelby). I grew up with Knight Rider, so it's one of my favorite early sci-fi shows that I remember.
After watching the new version, my impressions were mixed.
THE GOOD:
--------------
- I thought the guy who played Mike (sorry; dunno his name) did a pretty good job.
- I thought the voice of the new K.I.T.T. (Kilmer?) did quite a good job. Seems less human than the original K.I.T.T. and frankly sounds a bit more like K.A.R.R. to me, but in a way, I like that better. (That said, he lacks some of the personality of the original K.I.T.T., but again, that can be taken either way - sometimes I liked that; other times I didn't.).
- The concept of using GPS, satellite imaging, and radar to navigate was pretty neat (though to be fair, no way the 80's KR could have anticipated current technology, and they did pretty darn well with the original navigation system back then).
- Some nice one-liners from K.I.T.T.
THE MEDIOCRE:
-------------------
- The car isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Granted, it's not as good as I'd like it to be either, but it's got a nice sounding engine, is a hot car in its own right, and it works. It still doesn't look as sleek as the old K.I.T.T., and I don't like what they've done with the scanner at all by splitting it (or the change of sound for that matter). I also don't particularly like that the scanner disappears completely when he morphs - that just bothers me, but is a nitpick.
- I think I would have preferred a modern reimagining over a continuation overall, for reasons I'll touch on in a bit. However, if they do make a series and tackle the subjects of what happened with the original K.I.T.T. and K.A.R.R. (and I'm hoping against hope bring them into the mix, at least for cameos or special episodes), that would make it worth it to me. That said, I'm pretty dubious about this happening as I don't frankly think Ford would allow a GM product to be featured in a positive light in a show they so heavily sponser.
- I liked that they used some of the original theme, but I don't like the direction they took and feel they could have done much better by it.
THE BAD:
-----------
- The new K.I.T.T. (and one of the reasons I think making it a continuation was a mistake) feels in many...even most respects like a step backwards from the old one. Why is a new A.I. necessary, and why does it seem staler (less sarcastic) than the old? [Granted, it is a baby.] Why was the original K.I.T.T. bulletproof, and this one gets damaged and must heal, but can only do so with the computer online? At least if K.I.T.T.'s computer was screwy, the car itself could protect its driver. Also, logically the fact that the new K.I.T.T. is initially damaged by bullets would mean that a high enough fire rate at the same spot should pierce him completely (like a Dalek's shields for Doctor Who fans). Seems like a downgrade to me. Also, why when they pull in front of the casino couldn't K.I.T.T., with all his morphing abilities, tint the windows to prevent them from being seen? The old K.I.T.T. could (and as an update, they could have had him project the image of different looking drivers or something). Why can't the driver manually access critical defense systems if necessary? And a computer that advanced and not yet comprimised that can't simply shut down all incoming wireless transmissions (the hack)? My Trend Micro Antivirus can do that. =oP Wired would be believable, but unwired seems a stretch. [They could have maybe explained this away if they'd said there was a special frequency in the stolen specs that couldn't be blocked in case the car went rogue or something.] Even the interior of K.I.T.T. looks like a step backward - the original still looks much more high-tech, and I thought a lot of the computer graphics they used (for K.I.T.T's voice modulator for example) were pretty awful - they even look old by today's standards (wireframe - he should be able to handle full 3D topogrophy or at the least a more complex wireframe).
- This is more a personal pet peeve, but I hated the organic-looking morphing and such. (Honestly I preferred the way Viper did it to this...smooth and neat). It just...looks ugly and bothers me somehow...reminds me of bugs - lol. I realize nanotechnology is coming and this was an interpretation of that - I just didn't care for it. And if you're going to do it, let's see you morph into something besides another Mustang in a different color.
- Not crazy about the actor who plays the head of the foundation (forget his name in the show).
- The whole money situation Mike was in never really went anywhere - why bother wasting our time with it?
- I couldn't help but feel the whole show was mostly a commercial for Ford. Some advertising and commercials (the date ads I actually thought were cute) are expected, but Ford seems so omnipresent in this I honestly wonder if they control most of the development of the show. And as I mentioned earlier, it casts serious doubt in my mind that they could do things like make K.I.T.T. morph into other types of cars or even bring back the original K.I.T.T. or K.A.R.R.
- They went overboard with CGI and a lot just looked fake to me. I know they did some cheesy things in the original KR (guy dressed as a seat - lol), but I frankly prefer that to bad CGI.
- The baddies were cheesey and forgettable - 'nuff said.
- Too predictable. No twists or turns (that weren't anticipated) to keep me interested.
- Four guys are chasing you with guns with a clear intent to kill, and you stand around the practically invincible car talking casually about what to do next? Seriously???
- The semi felt right; the plane just didn't to me (though being international's cool). Actually, at the start of the scene, I was semi-excited because I thought he might have a bit of a drop and some nifty system to land safely or something, but alas, not the case.
Overall, I have to say it didn't leave a great impression with me. If it comes to NBC as a show, I will probably watch it, but as it stands now, it'll never live up to the original for me (and I can't see it lasting more than a season, but you never know). But, it could still be a fun ride, and especially so if they can somehow resurrect the original car for a cameo or two.
Just my two cents - please nobody who liked it take any offense - I *am* a picky one. lol.